SLBM is giving away Junius tickets on WQMC, today at 6PM EDT. Listen in, call in when Juan plays Junius, win tickets to their Gramercy Theater show.
7189973987
An affiliate of WQMC and a personal good friend of mine Cristina Guarino recently posted up on her blog a really awesome article about Bamboozle, I wanted to actually share it with all of you!
Whoever said that 60’s culture was a thing of the past has clearly never been to The Bamboozle Festival.
Every year, thousands of people from across and even out of the country attend the annual two-day music festival in East Rutherford, New Jersey. While it is known primarily for its focus on post-hardcore music and overpriced food that makes Yankee Stadium look like a soup kitchen, The Bamboozle has more to offer than the critical metalhead or classical music major might discern from its first impression: namely, community, love, and a chance to shake free the bonds of oh-so-constricting society.
But all teasing aside (and, let’s face it, even those who flock to that community have grounds on which to make fun of it. Laughing at yourself is just a fraction of the fun there), the festival is more than a congregation of post-hardcore, pop-punk, and the occasional rap artist. Every year, the parking lot of Giants Stadium gets transformed into a bubble-like community, one that many—with the exception of the occasional hothead out to start trouble—use as a venue to express what might not be comfortable or acceptable in the outside world.
Music fanatics of all ages spend two full days listening to music, socializing with fellow fans, and getting literally as dirty as humanly possible. Washable paints and markers are passed around to decorate oneself and others and usually result in the now-traditional “Free Hugs!” invitation written across bared skin every year. Concertgoers sprawl out on the pavement in-between bands, napping or rolling their clothing up for a tan without a single concern for the grimy pavement beneath them or splattered ketchup packets only inches away.
And although skinny jeans may have taken the place of long, flowing skirts and the waist-length hair has been cut short and flipped to the side, the “peace and love” mentality of a 60s festival still linger. In this year’s Bamboozle, which took place over three days (April 29, 30, and May 1) rather than the traditional two, lead singer Andrew McMahon of VIP surprise guest Jack’s Mannequin interrupted his set to break up a fight.
“Hey, you over there, break it up,” he snapped, pointing stage left into the crowd. “This is a place to love each other, not to get into fist fights.” His words were followed by loud cheers and the support of the audience.
Even this description, though, is lacking. It is difficult to pinpoint exactly what The Bamboozle is, which can be seen from the variety of performances it now hosts. This past year alone saw everything from underground hardcore and moderately popular “ska” bands to huge mainstream artists like Lil’ Wayne, as well as old favorites such as Motley Crue, a huge difference from what the festival is commonly known for.
But The Bamboozle’s founder John D’Esposito prefers it that way. “We never set out to be strictly about ‘the scene,’” he told Alternative Press magazine in a December 2010 interview concerning the controversial lineup for 2011. “From the beginning, it’s always been about breaking new artists of all styles and providing an interesting show that will keep the audience watching.”
Which “beginning” D’Esposito was speaking of is uncertain, as there are technically two beginnings to The Bamboozle, but what is certain is his dedication to variety. The very beginnings of Bamboozle took place in 2003 as “The Great Bamboozle” in Asbury Park, New Jersey, when D’Esposito strayed from the most popular New Jersey festival at the time—the Skate and Surf Festival—with the decision to start his own. The first Great Bamboozle showcased jazz-pop artist Keller Williams alongside bands such as The Roots and Dark Star Orchestra over three days in late spring. My Morning Jacket and Sonic Youth attended the 2004 Great Bamboozle, which took place at the same time and place the next year.
It was not until 2005 that the name changed to simply The Bamboozle, now affectionately shortened to Bamboozle. This is the first year that the festival’s website, http://www.thebamboozle.com, recognizes in its past lineups as well as the last year the festival took place in Asbury Park.
2005 was the year that began to see Bamboozle as a predominantly hardcore and pop-punk venue. The lineup consisted mostly of then-growing, now-popular alternative rock groups such as Alkaline Trio, Fall Out Boy, My Chemical Romance, and The All-American Rejects, many of which also attended the following year, the first year the festival was relocated to the Meadowlands Sports Complex in East Rutherford. However, D’Esposito was quick to keep a variety in the lineup in 2006, adding more pop-influenced mainstream bands such as the Jonas Brothers into the mix.
From then on, the lineups consisted of previous and new acts, underground and mainstream, from rap to metal. They typically span two days, which are often kicked off by a lineup called “Hoodwinked” on Friday night. Occasionally, three full days of lineups are booked.
Even extremely popular groups such as Linkin Park, who attracted large audiences to the venue, played as early as 2007. By 2010, unexpected artists such as Ke$ha and Hanson were popping up on the list of acts that had grown to include over one hundred performances on nine different stages. While some of these unexpected additions often earn criticism from the avid annual attendees, D’Esposito continues to expand the lineup’s horizons with each passing year.
The growing popularity of the festival has allowed for its expansion into a small side project called The Bamboozle Road Show, a mini festival that takes place on one day in June every year. The Road Show typically features more pop-based bands, such as All Time Low and The Ready Set, but has recently reflected The Bamboozle’s dedication to variety by leaning toward hip-hop. This year’s Road Show, which was canceled “Due to unforeseen routing and lineup issues,” was originally due to feature such artists as Chiddy Bang and Pusha T.
Another impressive extension is the festival’s expansion across the country. The Bamboozle Left, essentially a copy of the New Jersey Bamboozle that takes place in California for the West coasters, began in 2006. Since then, it has taken place in 2008 and 2009. While it does not occur annually in a fixed place and time as the original Bamboozle does, it does host many of the same bands as the original Bamboozle during the years it does take place.
According to D’Esposito, Bamboozle helped put many of today’s popular artists such as My Chemical Romance and Taking Back Sunday on the map. At the time they first participated in Bamboozle, these bands were only up-and-coming, and have since become names that sell out within minutes on Ticketmaster. These bands would not seem to disagree, either, as they chose The Bamboozle over the Skate And Surf festival when the competition became known. However, although the family-like feel of the community prevails, the festival has had its fair share of problems.
“[2005] was a big fight because the guys at Skate And Surf were still in Asbury trying to tell the bands to play for them,” D’Esposito reported to Jonah Bayer, writer for Myspace Music, in April of 2010. “But the bands loved me because they knew I was there for them and they knew what we were trying to do. So they all chose Bamboozle.” He even went on to explain the significance of the Bamboozle logo, two clowns with stubbly beards and X’s for eyes. “That’s why the Bamboozle logo was two clowns. Those idiots wanted to dampen our spirit.”
According to D’Esposito, the Meadowlands welcomed Bamboozle with open arms—literally, as he described those at the Sports Complex hugging the newcomers upon their arrival—and that spirit seems to have lived on through the festival’s colorful and affectionate attendees. Since the drama, the Bamboozle has created a comfortable place for itself as New Jersey’s most popular festival and, possibly, the most frequented concert festival on the East coast. Although it continues to earn an occasional uproar from more traditional fans as it grows and continually transforms, it seems that the festival has achieved and continues to pursue its purpose of bringing a variety of music and people together for a weekend that can only be described as an escape from reality.
Check out her blog at http://cristinaguarino.livejournal.com/
Listen in tonight at 6PM as the drama department takes over WQMC’s airwaves! Just click the link below to tune in!
Random Access will start at 6 Tonight and every Tuesday Night, but ROMPER ROOM is back !!!!
TUNE IN TONIGHT
5-6 ROMPER ROOM
6-8 RANDOM ACCESS
8-10 The Late Show with Ben Starr
TUNE IN TONIGHT for MUSIC AND MOVIES ON RANDOM ACCESS !!!!!
AND STAY TUNED AFTER FOR THE LATE SHOW WITH BEN STARR
So WQMC has finally jumped on the Twitter band wagon, please feel free to follow us at @WQMC!
Just a heads up guys, the new semester has rolled around and with that a new schedule for WQMC will be approaching us. If you are interested in becoming a DJ feel free to visit our room in the Student Union building in the basement LL49. The meeting will take place during free hour at around 12:20-30.
Alright well from the meeting yesterday I was able to pull together some requests for time slots from our DJs. As the shows become named or renamed I will be changing the normal names to the name’s of the radio show on the schedule page. But more spots to be filled in, some new faces to be trained and a new website to show it all off on!
