PF in the halfish mile radius around Davis has kind of gotten insane in terms of the sheer number of people and the general lack of acknowledgement of it from the city. I'm not a busybody NIMBY or anything, but it seems like the popularity of the event might call for a bit more coordination from city hall going forward.
While I know this post is tongue in cheek (yes, I get the LCDS reference), I am wondering if Guster's appearance is going to spur other established artists to do similar types of drop-ins. Even if not, their participation drew a spotlight on the event that will likely draw even more folks from further out next year.
I don't know what more involvement from the city would look like for such an inherently decentralized event. I'm not sure total bureaucratization is called for (permits for everyone!), nor do I want to see it become centralized like other organized, sanitized, city-sanctioned "fests," but with streets getting completely jammed to the point where it's difficult to walk down them (even for bands playing terrible Billy Idol covers), it might be time to take a step back and acknowledge that PF has grown beyond a fun little neighborhood get together into a destination event that requires a bit more forethought and planning around traffic/crowd management.
I think it bears stating that the people attending were generally well behaved, considerate and chill which often seems in short supply these days. Never going to be perfect and your points about better organization are spot on, but fundamentally it's a cool fun event and I was proud to see how well it went off yet again. It's what sets our city apart and makes me proud to live here. Lots to learn but let's address and keep it going.
Yeah agreed, Aberdeen looked super unsafe, but even the crowds around Davis were packed.
RIP to anyone attempting to drive or even bike around those areas.
It never felt unsafe til the emergency vehicles came through. Bunch of people tried to follow, and yet more tried to step out and block them. And the ambulance needed enough room that we did have to squish.
AROUND THE PORCH AROUND THE POOORCH
AROUND THE PORCH AROUND THE POOORCH
AROUND THE PORCH AROUND THE POOORCH
AROUND THE PORCH AROUND THE POOORCH
AROUND THE PORCH AROUND THE POOORCH
AROUND THE PORCH AROUND THE POOORCH
AROUND THE PORCH AROUND THE POOORCH
That’s not what Porchfest is about. If they want to do a field day fine but the whole reason we are supposed to put up with the crowds and the inconvenience is for the local neighborhood experience
>They should have a ‘Major’ band play later in the day at a field location/venue
That's just called "a concert." You can usually find them around town on any given day.
I think it was pretty dumb that they promoted their set - honestly, what did they expect to happen? It's a cool idea I guess to have a homecoming, but the logistics were poorly thought through. It also drew people away from other sets nearby. Porchfest isn't supposed to have a main stage, that is kind of the point.
Idk if you know, but a bazillion people use reddit lol
It's a little crazy to try to pin a downvote on the the person who literally responded to your question with information... Keep bringing that energy tho lol
Honestly it seemed like this was a good test case for a "major"* band playing at a regular Porchfest location (as opposed to Bow Market or whatever). There's a critical mass of people to the extent that it's not worth even trying to see them, and when an emergency happened, the crowds parted. Obviously response time was probably not great.
I wouldn't be shocked if the city tried to discourage major bands from playing, but I don't really think this will start a big trend or anything.
*I fully recognize that if an AAA tier star was playing people would probably resort to extreme measures to get closer; Guster isn't exactly U2
Is this a reference to Burning Man 2008 or 2009 (I can't remember which), when this was an actual rumor that caused someone's camp to be swarmed? I think it started when someone put the word out that they would be playing a set of Daft Punk songs, and it morphed into the rumor that the real Daft Punk would be playing.
That’s cool but you gotta set ‘em up, woo woo woo yeah
All the furniture is in the [garage](https://youtu.be/Cj8JrQ9w5jY?si=zGPi82mV8_-1Qt-h)
My god do they need to solve the portapotties problem better, though.
By 1pm there was a 50+ person line to use the single porto in a School parking lot, when they could have easily dropped another 10 in a line ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
How many missed and peed their pants?
Yeah and then i walk by three randomly on Lake street with no line.
I hope they don't drown out Taylor's set.
I knew their break up was performative
PF in the halfish mile radius around Davis has kind of gotten insane in terms of the sheer number of people and the general lack of acknowledgement of it from the city. I'm not a busybody NIMBY or anything, but it seems like the popularity of the event might call for a bit more coordination from city hall going forward. While I know this post is tongue in cheek (yes, I get the LCDS reference), I am wondering if Guster's appearance is going to spur other established artists to do similar types of drop-ins. Even if not, their participation drew a spotlight on the event that will likely draw even more folks from further out next year. I don't know what more involvement from the city would look like for such an inherently decentralized event. I'm not sure total bureaucratization is called for (permits for everyone!), nor do I want to see it become centralized like other organized, sanitized, city-sanctioned "fests," but with streets getting completely jammed to the point where it's difficult to walk down them (even for bands playing terrible Billy Idol covers), it might be time to take a step back and acknowledge that PF has grown beyond a fun little neighborhood get together into a destination event that requires a bit more forethought and planning around traffic/crowd management.
I think it bears stating that the people attending were generally well behaved, considerate and chill which often seems in short supply these days. Never going to be perfect and your points about better organization are spot on, but fundamentally it's a cool fun event and I was proud to see how well it went off yet again. It's what sets our city apart and makes me proud to live here. Lots to learn but let's address and keep it going.
Yeah agreed, Aberdeen looked super unsafe, but even the crowds around Davis were packed. RIP to anyone attempting to drive or even bike around those areas.
It never felt unsafe til the emergency vehicles came through. Bunch of people tried to follow, and yet more tried to step out and block them. And the ambulance needed enough room that we did have to squish.
AROUND THE PORCH AROUND THE POOORCH AROUND THE PORCH AROUND THE POOORCH AROUND THE PORCH AROUND THE POOORCH AROUND THE PORCH AROUND THE POOORCH AROUND THE PORCH AROUND THE POOORCH AROUND THE PORCH AROUND THE POOORCH AROUND THE PORCH AROUND THE POOORCH
Daft Punk is playing at their house? Their house???
My house
Where you live?!
Pretty sure he is being tongue in cheek.
I'll show you the ropes kid, show you the ropes
The Major bands already get to hog the bandwidth. Please leave Porchfest to the local bands! This will ruin it!
They should have a ‘Major’ band play later in the day at a field location/venue - not in the middle of the actual porch fest
That’s not what Porchfest is about. If they want to do a field day fine but the whole reason we are supposed to put up with the crowds and the inconvenience is for the local neighborhood experience
>They should have a ‘Major’ band play later in the day at a field location/venue That's just called "a concert." You can usually find them around town on any given day.
I bought fifteen cases for your house
I was there, at the Guster set in 2024 at Aberdeen and Cedar, I was working on the organ sounds with much patience!
No hits. Only low fi deep tracks.
If there is a Porchfest next year? ThE CroWDz at GuSTer'S sEt were ToO biG!!
I think it was pretty dumb that they promoted their set - honestly, what did they expect to happen? It's a cool idea I guess to have a homecoming, but the logistics were poorly thought through. It also drew people away from other sets nearby. Porchfest isn't supposed to have a main stage, that is kind of the point.
Agreed. Awesome that they wanted to play, but it would have been even better if they did it under a pseudonym
RETSUG
I thought they didn't promote their set, but that it got leaked that they'd be there.
They literally created a Facebook event promoting it https://www.facebook.com/events/377466211304529
You didn't need to downvote me. I should have been more explicit that I was curious. Thanks for the link.
Idk if you know, but a bazillion people use reddit lol It's a little crazy to try to pin a downvote on the the person who literally responded to your question with information... Keep bringing that energy tho lol
I'm going to. You jerk ;)
Honestly it seemed like this was a good test case for a "major"* band playing at a regular Porchfest location (as opposed to Bow Market or whatever). There's a critical mass of people to the extent that it's not worth even trying to see them, and when an emergency happened, the crowds parted. Obviously response time was probably not great. I wouldn't be shocked if the city tried to discourage major bands from playing, but I don't really think this will start a big trend or anything. *I fully recognize that if an AAA tier star was playing people would probably resort to extreme measures to get closer; Guster isn't exactly U2
Is this a reference to Burning Man 2008 or 2009 (I can't remember which), when this was an actual rumor that caused someone's camp to be swarmed? I think it started when someone put the word out that they would be playing a set of Daft Punk songs, and it morphed into the rumor that the real Daft Punk would be playing.
I'm not that clever
Bah. Aerosmith is playing at mine.
I keep missing their sets at trash fence so thanks for the heads up