milsrocks wrote:so let me just ask all of you Moondance flag wavers, if they stop bringing in bands, are you still meeting here each year to camp and drink? I don't think so. the quality of the music is what brings in the crowds and that's what will keep moondance going. you can't argue the fact that the years (or days) that the lineup has been stellar, the crowds are bigger. yes, you have all made good friends and you love the atmosphere and all the rest, if they stop bringing in good bands or bands all together, that's the end of moondance! it seems that the core group on here is trying to stand up for mdj at every turn. do you get some kinda special privileges if you support it no matter what? are you afraid to * off the powers that be? they want input, they want to hear the good and bad. if they don't get negetive feedback, nothing will change. as is the case with any music fest, if the music stops, the people stop coming. all of this "i'm here for the people and friends" bull drives me nuts. it's a music fest, bring in the bands and people will stop complaining and start showing up. how many people on here have said that they know multiple people that aren't coming this year because the lineup sucks? seems pretty cut and dry to me. you can camp and drink with friends anywhere and anytime, this is a music fest, first and foremost, the majority of people want good music! supply a quality product and the people will come. i am attending this year(at least part of the weekend), but only because i won tix. i would not pay for this lineup and obviously i'm not the only one who thinks that way.
No one says you can't be upset with the lineup. Even us 'flag wavers' have not been touting the greatness of this lineup. Everyone has their own musical tastes and the reasons they come to Moondance. I personally think all 3 headliners are worthy since they have closed either Moondance or similar festivals. After the headliners though, this lineup is not up the standard that Moondance has set in years past. I think they should do everything they can to have 12-15 national bands. Does that mean I am going to bash them constantly on this forum? No. I let the JWG know personally if I think the lineup is weak, if I think they should reconsider a bands time slot, if someone is not closer material, etc. Constantly bashing on here and getting people riled up about the festival I enjoy so much is not something I will do. I have too many years of fun at Moondance to just throw the jam under the bus for a lineup I don't like.
As for going nuts for the "i'm here for the people and friends" people, those people do exist. They aren't lying. I know people who regularly see less than half the bands and spend the majority of time hanging out at camp. That is what the jam is to them. There are also plenty non-campers who just come in for the last couple bands. That is what the jam is for them. Myself, I don't miss a mainstage performance and I try to catch at least part of every saloon performance. There aren't many who see more bands than I do. However, I now look forward to seeing the friends I have made just as much as the bands. It is 4+ days to forget about everything and just enjoy everything Moondance has to offer. That is what the jam is to me. If you have to take a year off, take a year off and maybe next year it will be better for you. I can't imagine swearing off the jam forever for one year that didn't meet my expectations.
I am confident that those in charge know how people feel about this year's lineup. For whatever reason, the lineup isn't what most have come to expect. I hope we still get good crowds so the jam can continue. I would think most people who consider themselves jammers would want the same thing.
