The Song Fight Bulletin Board

UPDATE! The venue and dates are set!

Songfight Live 2009
ROCK and ROCKER!
Empyrean Coffee House
Friday July 17th and Saturday, July 18th.
154 S. Madison
Spokane, WA 99201
509-838-9819

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I'm aware that there isn't a whole lot to do in Spokane, but with the emphasis being on the shows themselves, I guarantee I could secure a venue, I'd have a couple of local people who would likely be willing to help with transportation, and we might even get some people to show up to see us! I've also got a house and a basement where we could hold rehearsals.

Having said all of that, here are a few things that 'might' be of interest to you if you'd like to see what the town offers:

Experiencespokane.com REALLY seems to have their act together, and it looks like it might be the best guide online to tell you about the food, activities, entertainment and lodging that Spokane has to offer.

Riverfront Park - This is one of the biggies in town. This was the site of the World's Fair in 1974. With an Imax theater, a hand-carved wooden carousel that is nearly 100 years old, a gigantic Radio Flyer wagon that is actually a slide, and gondolas that overlook Spokane Falls, this would definitely be a stop you would want to consider.

Manito Park - I am going to take this description directly from their website: "Manito Park is a dazzling 90 acre city park located on Spokane's South Hill. The Friends of Manito encourage you to experience the many gardens at Manito Park which include the distinguished Nishinomiya Japanese Garden, the Renaissance style Duncan Garden, the Joel E. Ferris Perennial Garden, Rose Hill, the Lilac Garden, Gaiser Conservatory, and experimental dahlia and iris gardens. There are areas for family gatherings and two separate play areas and a softball field." We highly recommend the Japanese Garden area. It is beautiful, and they have big koi fish in the ponds.

Wonderland Family Fun Center - Indoor and outdoor mini golf. Batting cages. Go-karts. Arcade games, and a small laser tag area. Speaking of laser tag...

Laser Quest - They claim to have over 140 locations worldwide. We happen to have one of them in our downtown area.

Silverwood Theme Park - Rachael calls it the Northwest version of Disneyland. She's not far off. It's not actually 'in' Spokane, but it's less than 50 miles away.

Anyway, that's some ideas. We don't have a 'lot' to do, but I'm sure there are worse places where we could hold a Songfight live. I'm willing to put in the effort to make it a success should Spokane be chosen as the setting this year.

ROCK!

Glenn Case

i'd come if you'll play in my band.

i hear spokane is pretty nice actually. spok-ane.....it's runnin all round my brain......

GlennCase wrote:I'm willing to put in the effort to make it a success should Spokane be chosen as the setting this year.

And I'm here to ride his ass if this happens.

SPUD

Is it easy to get to Spokane from LAX?

GlennCase wrote: - Indoor and outdoor mini golf.

Indoor and outdoor!!!!
This Spokane you speak of does sound like a wonderous place!

Alaska Airlines flies direct. So does Delta. United connects through Seattle. US Airways connects through Phoenix. Seems like there's plenty of options.

SPUD

Caravan Ray wrote:Is it easy to get to Spokane from LAX?

Southwest flies to Spokane from LAX, with one stop, for... looks like $112 on a weekday.

I’m guessing around August?
I would love to do some hiking in the Pacific North West.

Hmm, about the quickest flights are 7 hours from BWI with stops. I think that's probably going to be too much vacation time from work for me, oh well!
-bill

Glenn, I'd love to come visit you and see your city (about which I've heard EXCELLENT things from independent sources), but this year I am definitely not attending SF Live. (I know this declaration is of limited interest, but Hoblit mentioned me not coming as a minor factor in his decision.)

So, yeah....I'm secretly hoping you decide against it for this year and maybe I can come visit you next year. (Well, not so secretly, since I just posted it to this thread. )

frankie big face wrote:So, yeah....I'm secretly hoping you decide against it for this year and maybe I can come visit you next year. (Well, not so secretly, since I just posted it to this thread. )

Well, you heard the man! Spokane for 2009! I'm nominating Hoblit and Tampa for 2008!

First of all, it might work better for Bill (Heuristics) who I would like to meet in person. (I can't promise that Rach and I will be able to make it to Tampa, but we would surely try.)

Secondly, I may be biased, but if all that separates Frankie Big Face from visiting Spokane is a year? I am all for holding off until 2009 to hold it here. That gives me a year to play "Locked Box" and "Crinkle Binkle" for every music loving citizen of our fair city until they're all as excited to have him here as Rach and I would be...

It could actually work out to be a great thing to have a location positively set in stone over a year in advance. That's PLENTY of time to know where it's going to happen, and to make arrangements if you're thinking about going.

On that same note, it's only a little over three months away from the beginning of July. We definitely need a solid city choice that most everybody can agree on, and I do trust that Hoblit would do a marvelous job. Has he ever missed a Songfight Live? I don't think he has. It's about time to hold one in his city for that reason alone!

ROCK!

Glenn Case

I missed the FIRST one.

I don't want to tread on toes or anything and there didn't really seem to be that much interest in Tampa...even from another Floridian so...

However, I'd be glad to hear opinions on Tampa here... if there is enough interest then we'll move to the next step and start a new thread.

Between the guitarist in my band and I, we could rent out a place and have all the gear we'd need to put on a good show. Excepting keyboards, excepting anything 'special'. This would be my first choice.

IF the most of the artists are of solid quality, (and enough advance notice) I could get the show booked a night at a venue in Tampa and another venue in St. Petersburg. (which is across the bay if anybody was interested in THAT) This would be my second choice. While entirely possible, it is discriminating I know.

There's plenty to do in Tampa and in the Tampa Bay area.

yay tampa

easy for me

i'd definitely be in

i could even bring lots of (shoddy) equipment

Tampa is a possibility for me. So was Spokane, really; my brother is out near there, and it would be a good chance to visit him. He'll probably still be there in '09.

But yeah, Tampa. SFLive, catch a Rays game, soak up some sun... sounds good to me. I've got bookings through the summer, but can get out of most of them if I know the date well enough in advance.

not to be a party pooper, but we've so far alternated years and parts of the nation. pennsylvania, seattle. austin, boston. santa cruz, atlanta. east, west, south, east, west, south. Maybe it's no big deal to anyone else, but I think it's a good balance we shouldn't abandon.

But it's not really balanced as there's been no north. Plus the pattern seems more coincidental than planned.

There has been a conscious effort to move it around, to maximize the opportunity for the greatest number of people over time. That said, it is more important to me that the person who takes it on had the motivation, time, and skills to pull it off, regardless of the part of the country in which it is held.

SPUD

i vote for somewhere in the midwest (solely because that's where I live).
the closer to indianapolis the better.

Niveous wrote:But it's not really balanced as there's been no north. Plus the pattern seems more coincidental than planned.

I too hadn't noticed any particular pattern...and it always just seemed to actually have enough interest in general that people would want to go to it no matter where it was.

As stated in the Cleveland proposal thread, I think that is the underlying issue with it now. The excitement and interest surrounding the concept of Songfight LIVE (as the annual event) seems to lack enthusiasm in general.

It used to not matter all that much WHERE it was...it was almost always a WHEN it was question. People talking about all through the winter and people making plans well in advance and the turn out was interested in the artistic side of this internet get together. There was enough interest in it that people didn't care so much WHERE IT WAS, they just wanted to be there. (eh, maybe thats just how *I* have felt)

Naa, I think your right hoblit.
In addition I think its lacking enthusiasm and participation from the new comers (if any).
It might be time to start thinking about passing down the baton to some of the new songfighters to keep the tradition alive and fresh.
Unfortunately, it appears theirs not that many songfighers inbreeding right now, due to the low volume of female participants (antim…and who else?)..
So I propose we start a new marketing campaign to attract fertile and aspiring female musicians (optional), by making the image of Songfight Sexier!! With sparkles and glitter, and the promise of guess handbag with matching shoes if their entry wins a fight.
We need to do anything to keep this village alive.

i know this post took a harsh turn somewhere, but it seems to happen when I have a lot of time in my hands.

I would be far from definite anywhere - but still definitely a possibility. In a similar position to what I was 2 years ago - I need a lot of variables to fall into place before I commit. 2 years ago they did fall into place and I went, That could happen again. If we decide to move to Papua New Guinea - I won't go. If we move to New Zealand I might. If we stay in Brisbekistan, I probably will go.

If I was in NZ and decided to go, my list of preferences for a US location (based on ease of travel) would be:

1. Pago Pago (American Samoa)
2. Honolulu
3. Los Angeles
4. Cities I can get to with Qantas Frequent Flier points (San Diego, Denver, San Franscisco, Las Vegas, Seattle, New York, Boston, Chicago, Miami, Dallas, Washington DC)
5. Any other US city with direct flights from LAX
6. Any other US city
7. Moscow, Idaho (I've heard on good authority that that place is as hilly as a motherfucker, and It's like living in a living nightmare).

Either way - unless you decide to have it at Nome, Alaska or something - location probably won't affect me much. Actually, I quite liked the idea of Cleveland, simply because it is probably a place that I would never have any other reason for visiting. And Cleveland is a suburb of Brisbane. So that's sort of funny. Sort of.

Anyway - as Spud said:

Spud wrote: it is more important to me that the person who takes it on had the motivation, time, and skills to pull it off, regardless of the part of the country in which it is held.

SPUD

As a relative newcomer here, the Santa Cruz show was the first organized while I was paying attention, but I wouldn't have dared think about playing after only a couple of songs submitted. I'd love to play at a live event, and I mean play, not torture anyone with my vocals, but don't really feel as if I am part of the club. I understand and respect the bond between old timers and would love to see them play, but I wouldn't want to travel to X and have the senior class members all decide to go out for pizza when my turn came up, even if/though I suck. If anything, Dre, perhaps there's too much inbreeding.

Many years ago, I read an interview with Jerry Garcia where he talked about having the Grateful Dead have a permanent base where their fans would come see them, instead of following them around the country all the time. I'm sure he was half joking, but I liked the idea. Like a Grateful Dead Disneyland. I don't necessarily think it applies here, but maybe there's an idea in there somewhere.

Hoblit wrote:IF the most of the artists are of solid quality

I'm not attacking you, Hoblit, but what does this mean? Who would determine that?

I'd like to add that many of the old timer's bonds were made AT Songfight Live. At least for me, I remember the end of my first Songfight Live: Seattle and it was tough to say goodbye to everyone after a weekend of making music together. 5 or so years later those bonds are still going strong.

Ken