Seeing as how most of you only know me through this here site you might not realize what a music freak I am. Love me some tunes, especially various forms of rock. Before MP3s I was the guy that made crazy mix tapes and totally understood what John Cusack was talking about in High Fidelity. And I love live shows, so I’m especially pumped about another opportunity I’ve worked myself into this week.
I grew up as a typical Gen Xer who watched hair metal rise then fall to grunge, but I also experienced adolescence before a lot of the faith-based scene merged with the mainstream about a decade and a half ago. Some of you might remember Christian artists like Amy Grant or DC Talk and how they “crossed over” to secular music. Sounds funny but that was such a big deal at the time.
Since I liked heavier stuff I had to go and find it myself. The artists on the radio were simple to track down, but what about the bands I really loved (who you’ve most likely never heard of)? Well, one way to see my faves was through summer festivals where thousands of people would camp in the middle of nowhere for days to see dozens of performers do their thang. I discovered a marvelous place called the fringe stage where my unknown heroes shredded and then hung out with eager kids like me after the show.
Turnin' tribal at a festival last year.
Dakoda Motor Co. became one of my fixations in the mid-90s. Meeting folks like bassist, professional surfer, and future MTV DJ Peter King kept me excited for a year straight. Many others took a few minutes with me and made my year.
I still have those guitar picks.
I’ve been to hundreds of shows in my life at just about any type of venue you can imagine. The scene described above occurred at a festival called Creation where tens of thousands of people show up annually. It’s been over 15 years since I was last there, so imagine my excitement when some friends told me they were going!
But times have changed. I’m savvier these days and all about creating opportunities as most of you know. That’s why I came up with the idea to get a press pass to this year’s festival. Why not, right? I’m a successful blogger and freelance writer with some media experience.
I contacted the organizers who politely informed me that they couldn’t give out press credentials to everyone who asked. I needed a legitimate media outlet backing me. So I said thanks and gave up because that’s how things get accomplished.
Yeah right! Most success happens during Plans B-Z, so I started brainstorming.
I contacted a radio host I knew from being on air with him last fall to promote a film festival I help run. He and the program director graciously offered to send me in exchange for attempting to get promotional liners from the artists. You know those quick bursts you hear in between songs on the radio?
“Hi, this is ________ from _________ and you’re listening to …”
Yup, that’s the assignment. Of course, you know I’m hoping to come up with some other fun stuff, but I’m a rook and will have to make nice with the gatekeepers. Too bad I’m so shy when it comes to that type of stuff. 
Many of the bands at the festival this week are in the middle of international tours. The quality lineup draws upwards of 75,000 people! Some of my personal faves (Skillet, FF5, Red) will be there. Lots of fans will be ramped up to see Owl City, Chris Tomlin, Toby Mac, and plenty others. One cool thing about my press pass is that I get to sneak in the artist’s gate and bypass a line that takes hours to get through. Score!
So that’s my story for the week. Hopefully my laptop will cooperate with the remote wi-fi. If not I’ll sneak in some updates via Twitter and Facebook, so be sure to find me there [details on Contact page] if you haven’t already.
Have a great week!
What’s the best live show you’ve ever seen?
Got any good questions for me to ask during interviews?
Smooth Clay, very smooth
Look at you, Member O.F. Lapress. (It’s French.) I’ve always wanted a press pass. Doesn’t matter to what. Except you’ve got one to a pretty sweet musicfest. Am I jealous? Microscopically, if you rearrange the letters to spell insanely.
Give Tomlin a kiss for me, thanks for being the messenger just kidding we’re married but not to each other that would be sooooo awkward for me hahaha I mean you.
Seriously, way to finagle your way in there. You inspire me like Patch Adams.
Wow. Sounds amazing. Best show I’ve ever seen was actually dc Talk. For me it was better than even seeing U2. Crazy huh?
I remember DC Talk and Amy Grant very well…and it WAS such a big deal when they “crossed over”. What was up with that?? Very jealous that you get to see Chris Tomlin, and (obviously) Toby Mac…classic.
Kudos to you for getting a press pass.
Hmm…best live show may have been Bon Jovi. They’re old, but they still know how to put on a good show.
Dude, I always get backstage! Did you try batting your eyelashes? It’s like magic.
Happy mosh pit!
Nicely done! Sounds like a great time. Best show ever? Tough call. Some standouts, from the audience: every Rush show I’ve ever been to; Son Volt at The Bluebird in Bloomington, IN; Iron Maiden Seventh Son tour. While working: Dick Dale in a parking lot in Tempe, AZ when I finally got the monitors loud enough for him; GWAR in a club in Scottsdale, AZ (I was never quite the same after that one).
My daughter loves all three artists..lucky…
Great,Clay! I am yealous of you!
Best live show? It was such a small,church crowd,but oh so fun. Ready for these bands? Petra and DeGarmo & Key! It was so not Hosanna music! As I watched my uncle,who was our pastor rock out,a new excitement for music was birthed! You can create the hardest sound yet have the sweetest heart and message.I do also remember having Vengeance play at our church too. Pah! Headaches all around!
Have fun on your work related trip!
I remember Petra….We are strangers…we are aliens…we are not of this world….
Haha! I remember Petra as well…the sleeping giant gets a wakeup call. Oh, and DeGarmo & Key…I haven’t thought of them in years! Love it.
One of my most fun Christian concert memories is when SuperChic was at our church before they were famous. They had barbie dolls and popped their heads off…I guess it was a statement on rejecting the idea of a “perfect” body?? It was strange, but fun…
Secretly, I wish grunge would make a comeback. I’m just biding my time, eyeliner, and flannel until then.
The festival sounds awesome. Biggest festival I did was two years ago at the 10,000 Lakes Festival in Minnesota. The biggest bands were Dave Matthews and Widespread Panic. However, my favorite band of the weekend was Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings, who have since performed on the Stephen Colbert Show. Great funk R & B group! Have fun Clay!
Way to be persistent Clay! I grew up going to Ichthus and Cornerstone, so I get the excitement of being at these festivals. Hope you have a great time. After meeting you for only 2 days, I know you are NOT shy and will have a blast.
best live show: either blindside or the format. both excellente.
please just make things as uncomfortable as possible in the interviews. ask the same question around 7-8 times. ask if they’re ever met someone famous then start talking and asking about that person. please, for the kids.
“Most success happens during Plans B-Z” – most powerful words in the post. So true! Thanks for sharing your successes with us. Enjoy!
Woohoo! Great blog. It’s so true about Plans B-Z. As I always tell my kids, “No” is where you start negotiations. Except when I tell them that, of course.
And I remember when Amy Grant went to the Dark Side. Caused many a devoted PTL Club family to face the horrible dilemma of whether they should allow their impressionable young darlings to continue to buy her music. Not joking about that. You’d think she had become some kind of slut or junkie or even *gasp* a Methodist.
As for questions, I’m wondering if that fellow from Owl City ever got some sleep. I heard he began writing songs in his basement while staying up all night with insomnia. He seems like a nice young man, and I love his music, but as a mom, I’m interested in knowing whether he ever learned to get in his eight hours. Or at least six of them.
Can’t wait to hear how it goes for you, Clay.
Oh man, sounds like you’re going to have a lot of fun!!
The best live show I’ve seen is a Nickel Creek. So…if you see Fiction Family there give Sean Watkins a kiss on the cheek from me and tell him that he’s amazing.
Clay, you’re the coolest. Seriously. Have fun!
Thanks for all the comments. So far so good. Great new experience to see an event of this size from this perspective. Being one of two people photographing a show that tens of thousands of people are at is awesome!
Best live show? Aerosmith in the rain in Houston, TX….I think I cried like five times and I’ve been back to see them at least three times since.
Can you get interviews? That would be fun.