Ready for a pop quiz? Quick — name three Madison-based bands that rock. How about two? Even one?
In a town that boasts of hundreds of bands — dozens of which are actually more than a couple friends messing around and are actually worth hearing — there is no excuse for failing that quiz.
Never fear, extra credit is on the way. Doing his best to combat student ignorance of the local music scene, Jake Shimon, front-man for the acoustic rock outfit Secondhand, is ready to give all the answers behind his current project, Rockfest.
"The idea came together from what I've learned over the last two years of playing music in Madison. Great bands play music of all different styles and genres all over the city. Every day of every week there is a show you could go to in the downtown area," Shimon said. "However, generating interest and getting new people to come out to see the show is much more difficult than it sounds, regardless of the quality of the music. There are tons of other places to spend your night that don't charge a $5 cover to get in, and why go see a band you've never heard, or even heard of for that matter? Well that's where the vicious cycle begins: 'I've never heard it so I'm not gonna go, and I didn't go so I've still never heard it.'"
In attempts to break that nasty cycle, Shimon and friends of the bands Lockwood and Bascom Hill will cut out the cover charge, cut out the need for fake IDs, even cut out transportation for many students by hosting the first-ever Rockfest Sept. 17 at the Sellery Backyard.
Having the event at a University Residence Hall became a feasible idea after helping at an Acacia Fraternity rush event. Seeing Madison rockers Wax Machine, The Debut and Blue Room Hero play sets on the basketball courts, Shimon knew there was space, permission and PA system power.
"As far as generating interest," Shimon said, "having the event at the dorms at the beginning of the school year was ideal to bring the bands to Madison's newest residents, and the location will allow for — and we hope for — a campus-wide turnout. Simple enough, right?"
Simple enough indeed. There was enthusiasm from residence hall coordinators and interest from bands to which Shimon brought the perspective event.
"I mean, it's an all-ages performance, outside, right in the backyard of over 3,000 new UW students," Shimon said.
Unfortunately, positive vibes do not always correlate with positive outcomes. For Shimon and the fate of Rockfest, the road was not without its bumps.
The Residence Hall coordinator Shimon worked with transferred, forcing him to halt plans until the position was again filled. The bands Shimon expected to perform encountered scheduling conflicts.
"Then came the PA problem," Shimon said. "I first assumed that with eight bands we would be able to put together a PA of acceptable quality for the outdoor performance. This task turned out to be a lot more difficult than I had assumed. In the end, it came to possibly renting one, but a quality PA and professional sound guys would have cost a fortune."
Without the ability to have a sponsor on University of Wisconsin property, it suddenly looked like the bands would end up having to pay themselves to play the show. At this point, that cost did not seem to outweigh the benefit of bringing music to the masses. "With the lineup cut to five and me out of ideas, I decided I would forget Rockfest this year and try to put together a similar event for Halloween or Mifflin Street Block Party," Shimon said.
Luckily, Rockfest did not have to wait until next April or even October to make its debut. By cutting the line-up from the initial eight bands down to three, each playing about an hour set, the PA crisis came to a resolution.
With festivities running from 1:00 – 4:00 Saturday afternoon, it may not be the daylong extravaganza Shimon initially envisioned. In the end, however, it is more than enough time to have a positive influence on how students look at music made locally.
"I just really think that there are some great bands here that a lot of people would love if they had the chance to hear them. I have heard some really great bands all over Madison in the last few years that I would definitely go see again. Of course, I have heard a bunch I wished I hadn't heard at all, but that's the beauty of it; I don't have to see them again if I don't want to.
"By getting involved in your music scene you may just find something amazing and rare to add to your collection that no one else you will meet will have," Shimon continued. "Or what if they do? Madison bands are here for you, and can only do so much and go so far without your support. So go see a show every once in a while! See an interesting flyer? Check out the website. You just might like what you hear!"
Simple enough, right? Discovering bands and shows is nowhere near as complicated as making the music or planning the events, especially when aided by the enthusiastic Shimon.
"Rockfest is rooted in my commitment to my music and music in general and is intended to help create awareness of and generate more interest in the Madison local rock scene," Shimon said. "To put it simply, Rockfest is my way of bringing all of this directly to you, and is my invitation to you to participate in this amazing thing we call rock music."
Such is one difficult invitation to refuse.
