I figured that the Side-Line forum would be the best place to post this. It seems like the only real place to have, uhm, a discussion on these types of things but I'm not holding my breath.
"The Most Massive Undertaking of The Alternative Kind in the History of New York." - DJ Templar
Can you say L M A O?
It's advertised on their MySpace as "The Most Epic Festival in the USA." Please, seeing Diary of Dreams perform on West 30th between 7th and 8th avenues was epic, and that was only one band. The truth of the matter is that the Triton Festival is a sad, half assed attempt of putting together a dark/alternative/whatnot "festival" in the U.S., but specifically here in NYC. It's a clear representation of how pathetic this scene here is in NYC. If the Rugrats were "dark" and had income this is exactly how it would play out. It's nothing more than a mere fashion show where the music is secondary. They all claim to be "unique individuals" but they're just the same as any other scene group, you just wear different clothes and like different music. You look like 25-30 year olds but seem to be stuck in the bodies and minds of 13-18 year olds.
Before I get to the "festival" let me just say something about the club nights here in NYC. Wake up! It's not 2001 anymore. Stop playing regurgitated songs and or having "Hellektro" or whatever you call it these days on rotation. The port has been calling its ships to port but you refuse to let go. 2005 also wants its played out "Hellektro" back because a good number of those acts can't write half decent lyrics, much less sing, so they have to distort their vocals to sound all tough and mean like the rest of that assembly line. The monopoly that runs these club nights here, you know who you are, are the biggest bunch of stale, boring, predictable, uninspired, and undiversified group of self proclaimed promoters that I have seen.
These so called promoters and DJs continue to sew the web of mediocrity. The DJs play it safe by continually playing dated songs or they play it "cool" by having the harsh EBM on constant rotation because they're afraid of how the crowd might react. God forbid that chick with multi colored dreads and piercings dances to something else and doesn't give off her pseudo militant-like tough chick persona. This is why this scene here in NYC is in the place that it's in, the garbage. There obviously can't be any direction, much less future, when there are no fresh faces who aren't just body doubles of the status quo. It's time for all of you here to get out of your treehouse that you've all been sitting so comfortably in and give us some refreshing diversity that you're all too stupid to realize is what is needed when organizing these club nights here.
Going back to the "festival." Who are you kidding, really? You've got about almost half of the acts on that bill who can play in NYC at anytime really and ones who haven't even put out new material since 2003/2004. Epic? Give me a fucking break. Clan of Xymox and Apoptygma Berzerk are your only saving graces on that bill. Check out the bill for Amphi or M'era Luna. Don't give me the typical bullshit answer of "Oh, it's easier to do it in Germany," or whatnot. I heard it before and I don't buy it.
The monopoly that pretty much runs this scene here in NYC should have the appropriate resources to pull off a quality and diversified event. Plan it out a year in advance, possibly even earlier. Book bands well in advance and get everything that needs to be worked out with them worked out. Don't have a bill of 25 when half of them can play here at anytime really for the most part. Get bands who have never played in the U.S. before and give it a diverse spin while you're at it. Don't give me the money excuse because not having your shitty events/club nights here for a while could help you save all of that income up for the outcome of a greater good. I think that you have the power to pull it off but at the same time I know that you'd rather not by playing it safe and rather continue to flock together with birds of a feather.
What it ultimately comes down to is that the Triton Festival is a ghost of what it should be. It'll probably end up being the next Blacksun. You're contributing nothing new and exciting to this scene here in NYC. You and your so called DJs continue to spin this web of constant mediocrity and try to pass it off as if it's something more than that. This is all just my subjective opinion, of course, and I can only speak on how it is here in NYC because that's what I know. But please, really, wake the fuck up.
