Sunday, March 16, 2008

UPDATED: St. Patrick's music festival gets its lucky charms

By Andrew Gaug

YOUNGSTOWN — Normally, when a music festival's best and most enthusiastic band is called Asleep, it could conjure a number of puns and play on words to describe a less-than-excited crowd.

For the last two to three hours of Salty Grog's pre-St. Patrick's “Winter Music Festival,” that could not be said as a giant crowd gathered to dance, sing along and cheer on Youngstown's Asleep and Acoustic Juggernaut. It was a claustrophobic's nightmare as any empty space near the stage was quickly taken by someone, usually drunk, clad in almost all green.

The more than 10 hours leading up to those two bands was a gamble. Audiences wanting to stay warm could go inside and listen to middle-of-the-road bands such as the reggae/hip-hop of 5 Elements or alternative rock of Captain Braskey. Meanwhile, those looking for harder acts such as Grey Dealer and Grand Fury had to brave the cold of the outdoor patio stage and huddle around space heaters far away from the stage or drink the frigid air away at the bar.

Blame it on the gloomy March atmosphere or a busy Saturday, but crowds for bands playing in the afternoon and early evening were small. Luckily, they were enthusiastic.

“We played last year and I think there were more people,” Lead singer of Captain Braskey, Andrew Bero said, “But it seems like more people are here today for the bands than just to party.”

Each band pulled their “Easy Cheer” card when their audience seemed to be dying down by asking them the question of the day — “Who's getting drunk?”

Needless to say, many people cheered any and every time that question was posed.

Despite being overcrowded and most people being way past their “point of no return” in terms of inebriation, the night got better as the outdoor stage shut down and everyone filed inside to hear soulful covers of bands such as Jack Johnson and Incubus by acoustic/soul band Acoustic Juggernaut.

And if you asked most in attendance, it was either them or Asleep that was the act to see.

“You know, I like anything [event promoters] Third Arm Productions does because it seems like they really care about the Youngstown scene,” Tom Paige, 31, of Niles, said, “I've been here all day and they've had some decent bands. But what I'm really looking forward to Asleep — they just rock harder than any band out here.”

With a group of friends clutching green beers and wearing shamrock glasses, Chris Wayne, 24, of Youngstown, and friends said they love the whole event.

“Sure, it's crowded as hell and pretty cold outside, but this is Youngstown music! There's a ton of people and I think we're going to bring Youngstown music back!” Wayne said.

As Acoustic Juggernaut took the stage followed by closing band Asleep, all earlier memories of fully-drunk, half-hearted crowds and bland music acts were forgotten.

The crowd seemed to agree as they finally came alive and showed that they were there for more than just $1 green beers and to show off their novelty St. Patty's Day shirts.

They came for the music.