Ryan ChartrandWe’re all in it together now. Or at least that’s how Sunday’s show at Mitchell Park felt. Ten local bands pulled together to put on an afternoon event in the gazebo. Bands drove in from out of town and biked over with equipment to the park to set up a symbol of the local scene ‘s growing strength.
As per the usual, the event started late. However, with no labeled headliner, the show turned into a free-for-all with bands setting up in various spaces on the gazebo. The mixture of equipment was impressive alone. The musical landscape brought ukuleles, drum sets entirely built out of found objects, an alligator-shaped xylophone, and numerous shared guitars with members playing over into each other’s various sets.
Local youngsters Neato Bandito opened the show with a display of youthful exuberance as they threw themselves into the middle of the gazebo with a mission of do-it-yourself and punk aesthetics. Whatever you were lacking in musicianship was made up for by youthful spirit and a handful of self-made zines.
Meal launched in next to bring a full noise set to the table. The two members utilized various tape decks and homemade equipment. The most interesting part of the performance was the rapt attention that the audience of punks and popsters gave the band. Let’s face it – noise always has a huge struggle at keeping an audience. Perhaps even more surprising was their commitment to playing covert shows in bathrooms and on rooftops with anyone who wanted to.
The event continued with out-of-towners asking whoever wanted to come in and play along with them to their songs. I was forced to leave early and get up to the station and DJ but was left with the warm buzz of the growing local scene. To be honest, each day strides are made. The members are old and young from various areas around town and the community. People came from Santa Barbara, Paso Robles and other areas just to take part. Watercolor Paintings made their second trip up with their mini-drum kit talking shows in front of the line for events. Cub Scout Day Camp came down again with their various toys used to make sound during their set. Each band is pushing and pulling for more venues, more shows and a closer scene.
So, as the elitism begins to leave the scene, the reasons to not be a part of it are less and less. All these artists are helping each other. Getting shows set up. Loaning equipment. Playing together. Pretty soon they will be everywhere with a mission of putting your friend’s Sublime cover band to shame. And it’s about damn time that happened.
Show tip: Tara Jane O’Neil will be playing with Sir Richard Bishop tomorrow at the SLO Art Center. The event is being co-promoted with the Women’s Center for their Run to Remember. So, go to the run at 4 p.m. in front of the Health Center (I will be DJ’ing) and then come to the concert for a soothing display of guitar work.
Graham Culbertson is a journalsim junior and general manager for KCPR.