Matthew Krouse Down the tube
It’s said that it’ll be the crowning act of global youth culture, set to stop the century in its tracks. This weekend, half- a-million people will pay in excess of $150 each for a bash at what they believe will be the first and greatest millennial party scheduled.
Woodstock ’99, the commemoration of the 1969 washed-out gathering that changed the face of rock, has kicked in with great American aplomb. Only they could make virtual religion out of the combination of greasy hair and electric guitars. Now, 30 years later to the month, a whole new generation will do what their daddies and mommies once did, and more.
Most people who care, know that this year’s Woodstock isn’t happening in its original location of Yasgurs’ Farm, outside the hick town of Bethel. The original location will of course have its moment, and rumour has it that ’69 survivors David Crosby, Arlo Guthrie and Melanie will perform on the farm in one of the three apparently vastly different concerts to be held this American summer.
This weekend, world focus rests on Woodstock ’99, the officially official concert that will draw hundreds of thousands to a disused military base in the New York state town of Rome. Commentators have, of course, been quick to point out the irony in the fact that the commemoration of this largely anti-Vietnam war subculture will be held in a place built for war itself.
It’ll be another kind of a war, though, what with 500 000 kids traipsing into the enclosures where they’ll do hippie revival stuff like hair dancing on LSD. The list of attractions will include two big stages – known as East Stage and West Stage – and an aeroplane hangar will house an indie festival and a 2am rave. Extreme sports events, a cyber-village and an arts-and- crafts-tent will give this Sixties celebration a distinctly Nineties feel.
It’s a new world now, and although the babies may once again be spraying Volkswagen Combis with daisies, they’re also lucky enough to be able to watch the entire Woodstock ’99 concert on the Internet, for free! On the web site , one finds a form to fill in, in order to gain a “webstage pass”, to watch the concert on the site that featured the first pay-per-view concert of singer Sarah McLachlan earlier this year.
Otherwise, for South Africans, Woodstock ’99 comes in only one form: SABC3, who procured the rights and will be showing three edited sessions a day later than they take place.
Our “feed” will come mainly from the more commercially-based East Stage, and because of time constraints the broadcaster has selected a popular run of bands to show between 10pm and 1am, after dark. On Saturday July 24 the line-up includes James Brown, Sugar Ray, Jamiroquai, Live, Sheryl Crow, DMX, The Offspring, Korn and Bush.
On Sunday July 25 see The Tragically Hip, Kid Rock, Wycleff Jean, Counting Crows, The Dave Matthews Band, Alanis Morissette, Limp Bizkit, Rage Against the Machine and Metallica.
On Monday June 26 see Al Green, Willie Nelson, Brian Setzer, Everlast, Elvis Costello, Jewel, Creed and the Red Hot Chilli Peppers.
Then drink lots of coffee on Tuesday at work.