Summerstage
1 rating since posting on Monday, April 25, 2005
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Overall Rating  based on 1 rating |
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Okay, half of the acts are hokey, but they slip in a free concert by Erykah Badu or Wilco to keep you on your toes. At this point, damn near all the major parks in NYC have a free concert series during the summer--the other major venue being Prospect Park in Brooklyn (see review). Pluses: thousands of beautiful people come out and revel in good, free music with you, creating an atmosphere conducive to light flirting; the sound system is usually decent; the events happen rain or shine. Minuses: bringing in your own food is a covert operation worthy of the CIA, and the concession items are marked up about 400% (no exaggeration...want water? 4 bucks); the police presence tends to heighten significantly during hip-hop concerts; you have to get to Central Park 3-4 hours early to get a good patch of grass when a high-profile act comes to town. I learned that the hard way at a free Nas concert where I and 300 other people were shut out (by the aforementioned cops who just love to show up at hip-hop shows) of the capacity-filled bandshell. Lastly, although most of the biggest name acts are reserved for the $35-$50 benefit concerts that are used to keep Summerstage afloat, they generally maintain a good balance between free events and benefit shows featuring renown artists. I'm looking forward to the day they get Radiohead to do the Summerstage concert. That'll be a lovely day. - Unsubscribed , posted 04/25/05 |