I went on Saturday for the Dr. Know show, and all the bands were pretty good (I thought Dr.Know was not at their best but still rocked ok. Rabies was excellent, I thought...) I know there were a ton of shows around last weekend and $15 is a bit pricey for folks around this area who chafe at even having to pay a $2 membership fee at FF, but the fact remains that unless there is one or two of the trendier local acts playing nobody cares, and nobody goes out...I didn't make it out myself on Sunday but I know Escapement and Shenanigoats played, and I hope the turnout was better than on Saturday. My understanding was that only 23 people paid at the door on Friday night, not sure how many on Saturday or Sunday.
Further, IMO, it's all well and good to get these weird, twisted noisebands that come up here (or are from here) and play every other weekend at $3 basement/house shows, but there really was a wide array of good, heavy punk bands at the Mess in the West Fest over the weekend and despite the price tag the entertainment was well worth it...the only potential downer being that none of these bands will probably ever want to play this area again since so few people showed.
Maybe the problem wasn't the high cover charge (full disclosure: I got in for free), or the perception that the bands playing were all from the same 1981-1985 punk/hardcore/thrash school, but maybe it's that people DON'T go out in this area unless they know someone in the band, or at the door, or it is a band they've already seen many times before.
I generally see many of the same people on a consistent basis when I go out, and the entertainment factor can vary depending on venue, act, etc. but I really think we all need to start supporting all the shows that happen in this area. I may not like a lot of the noise bands I go to see but I still try and make it out to some of those shows to show support for the bands, booker, venue, etc. in hopes that when my band plays, or when I book a show, there will be some reciprocity.
Unfortunately, my experience in this has often proven otherwise, but I still think it needs to be said...spend your entertainment dollars with discretion, sure, but also rememember that there are lean times when shows and touring bands are scarce...so we need to support one another.
:Hmmm-- why did no one (or almost no one) show up to the first couple of days of messyfest -- some of the best punk bands I've seen in Sac in a long time?