Who's on first?
The Thursday evening pre-fest party, open to everyone for free and traditionally thrown as a kind of thank-you to the people of Naeba, has basically become an integrated part of the festival. Every year, more and more people show up so you might as well refer to Fuji as a three-and-a-half-day rock festival. Focused on a big old bon-odori blowout and climaxing with fireworks, the pre-fest party is the most Japanese thing at the festival, but the organizers always ask artists who happen to be there whether or not they'd like to play at it. In fact, some of the best performances we've ever seen at Fuji were at the pre-fest party: Dropkick Murphys in 2001, Electric Six and Danko Jones in 2003. We won't know until the 24th which 5 or 6 acts will deign to perform at the Red Marquee, but it wouldn't hurt to predict.
Obviously, the artists would already have to be at the festival site to perform, it's usually people who are appearing on the first day. In our humble estimation, these are the most likely volunteers.
Rodrigo y Gabriela: Buskers at heart, these two versatile guitarists will be all over the festival so it wouldn't be surprising that they'd play the pre-fest party. Also, they open the Green Stage the next day, and statistically the artist in that slot is very likely to play the pre-fest gig.
Galactic: This New Orleans funk group used to be lumped in with jam bands, though their latest incarnation as the ultimate hip-hop instrumental band has changed a lot of people's minds about them. Still, their most cogent attribute is a love of playing, and so I can imagine them saying, "sure, why not," when asked to participate. With or without the rappers.
The Whigs: This indie-rock power trio from Georgia is on a sort of mini-roll, meaning they're probably up for any sort of exposure. And for sure they can probably generate more word of mouth with a hot Thursday night set than with the mid-afternoon slot they've been given on Friday.
If we had a vote in the matter, we'd choose The Gossip, since Beth Ditto's incendiary stage presence is exactly the sort of thing that gets the festival off to a blazing start; or Gogol Bordello, since their inclusive Easter European punk rock sets the proper communal tone: everybody party RIGHT NOW! TOGETHER! We won't hold our breath, but we'll definitely keep our fingers crossed.
Phil
Comments
Primal Scream anyone?
Posted by: Vim Fuego | July 21, 2008 7:23 PM
No, I hear they'll be playing in the Prince Hotel bar that night.
Posted by: Phil | July 22, 2008 12:09 AM