I’ve lived here in Idaho for almost a year now, and in all the time I’ve been here I haven’t been to a single concert. Actually, I’ve been to a few in the past year, but they were all out of town — a few in Portland, dozens during an April weekend in New Orleans. This is pretty unusual for me, because I used to see live music all the time, a few times hitting up shows every night for an entire week or more. But when I first arrived here in the Boise area I didn’t really know the local scene, and I was hanging out with my family during the evenings most nights, so live music slipped off my radar. I figured I’d start seeing shows again soon enough, but wasn’t in a big hurry. But once I started working evenings in January, concerts became a casualty of practicality, for the most part.
I’ve missed the live music, but have rationalized that most of the musicians I would have gone to see in Portland or DC don’t often make it to Boise anyway. So it’s a loss, but not a great loss considering my location. Then, a few days ago, I noticed that Camper Van Beethoven played here on the 23rd. They came, played, and left without me being any the wiser. It’s no secret that they were a fountainhead band in the development of my musical taste, or that seeing them live was a momentous experience. They’re still making great music today. So this is the first time since I moved to Idaho that I’ve really regretted not knowing the local scene well enough to hear about this show in advance and see it.
Truthfully, I might not have managed to make it anyway — I was scheduled to work that night, and there was nobody to work my shift. One copy editor was on vacation; another had been fired the day before; the other two had already covered for my shifts during my four-day hospital stay. So if I took the night off, somebody would have had to work a 12-hour shift or so. Still, though, it’s the kind of show I’d be inclined to move heaven and hell to see. Or, at least, stick somebody with the chance to earn time-and-a-half for a few hours
But as I spent a few seconds searching online for reports of the Boise show, I came across a comment on the band’s MySpace page:
I wanted to say I’m sorry for the dumb asses at the big easy (in Boise, Idaho). That place has always been hated by fellow boise musicians. But, it’s the biggest mid-sized venue to play at. So, how do you boy cot a place that has some good shows. But, I’m glad you guys spoke up about it. It’s been a long time coming that a band would do that. Hope they paid you guys well. Camper Van was awesome, and I never listened to much Cracker, but Cracker was really bad ass too! Good show, and props for speaking your mind. Hope they “heard” you.
The Big Easy franchise appears to have alienated music lovers in Spokane, as well. It’s not enough to make me glad I missed the show, but I can sympathize. I’ve never been to the Big Easy, but I know from experience that crappy venues can serve as an arrow through the heart of good music, killing it before it really has a chance to soar.
