drew.nerdahl.us

Okay so, the BBP is almost a week past. However, I’ve decided to post about it anyway.

For as long as I have been old enough to understand what 1) a block party is, and 2) what a music festival is, I have always had a soft spot for the BBP. Sadly I have only ever been twice, and boy have things changed in the 13 years between visits.

13 years ago I attended my first BBP with my then friend Mike, his dad, and my newly reacquainted friend Lena. The bill that year was pretty impressive and the big draw, for me at least, was Kid Jonny Lang & the Big Bang and The Freddy Jones Band. I was never a huge Gin Blossoms fan but there were there too.

This years BBP was a gift from my mom, my birthday present if you will. Both of us being fans of Counting Crows thought it would be fun to get out and see them together. However, being the kiss ass mom that she is, my mom bought 2 – two day passes. My mom was taking a friend to the hospital for surgery on Friday so I had an extra ticket. Mr friend who joined me Friday was only able to make it out for the final act of the night but that’s alright.

Friday was a whirl wind. The BBP has grown quite a bit since it’s 2nd year, now celebrating it’s 15th, it has grown to encompass nearly two square city blocks from its meager beginings of just taking up the Basilica’s property. The main stage now takes up a city parking lot nearly two and a half blocks away from it’s original location in the back parking lot of the Basilica. Friday’s bill looked like this:
Medica Stage:
* Erin McCarley * Mat Kearney * Black Crowes

Sun Country Stage:
* Junebug * Serena Ryder * Jayhawks

Happy Hour Stage:
* Rocket Club * Romantica

I didn’t catch Junebug or Romantica. I did start the day off with Rocket Club, fronted by KFAN morning personality Chris Hawkey, who were a great start to the day and Erin McCarly was amazing. But Serena Ryder was alright, Mat Kearney was down right boring and I was starting to get worried as the first four songs of the Jayhawks reunion only mildly entertained me. Then my friend joined my to go catch the Black Crows. Who were nothing short of amazing. So I ended the night at home with good vibes and blisters on my feet.

Saturday I met up with my mom at the Basilica ready for a killer list of bands for day two:
Medica Stage:
* Green River Ordinance * Matt Nathanson * Counting Crows

Sun Country Stage:
* Section 30 * Tapes N’ Tapes * The Hold Steady

Happy Hour Stage:
* Tim Mahoney * Tyrone Wells

Mom and I started off the day with some Tim Mahoney, who is always good, and then headed over to catch Section 30 and talk. Section 30, I picked up, is from Albert Lee. They had a good sound and were a good show. From there we headed over and caught the end of Green River Ordinance, who were quite good. We stuck around the main stage to catch Matt Nathanson who put on a great show. I think Brian Oaks said it best, this is one of the few shows where the in between song banter is almost the best part of the show. Matt Nathanson is a dirty dirty man, and I loved it. We missed Tapes N’ Tapes to fill the need for food and beverages and then headed over to catch The Hold Stead. I’ll get into The Hold Steady in a minute.

After about 40 minutes of The Hold Steady we went to sit on the hill behind the Basilica. There were two reasons for this. 1) you can hear the music from the main stage there, and 2) we didn’t feel like fighting over half those in attendance already at the stage. I was a bit disappointed with the Counting Crows. It wasn’t the knock me over show I was hoping for. So I split ways with my mom and caught the end of The Hold Steady and met back up with her on the hill for the last 20 min of Counting Crows.

The Hold Steady was the show stealer for me. They were, hands down, the best show I had caught all weekend. Period. If you’re from or have lived in Minnesota and you haven’t heard The Hold Steady… You should… NOW.

Well, this post is probably my longest ever on this blog. So I’m going to close things up. I hope you all had a great weekend past, readers, because I know I did!

(note: For those of you on facebook, I have pictures posted from the event.)