Photos: Beach Goth Day 1, with Patti Smith, Bon Iver, TLC and more
Kevin Bronson on
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Beach Goth — aka The Best Damned Festival Held in a Suburban Office Park — was, by all accounts, an overcrowded, logistical nightmare. But, oh the music.
Saturday’s jam-packed first day of the Growlers’ fifth annual festival was highlighted a powerful set by 69-year-old icon Patti Smith, a transcendent performance from Bon Iver (even with half the crowd talking over him) and winning sets from the likes of TLC, Melanie Martinez, Violent Femmes, James Blake, Albert Hammond Jr. and, of course, the hosts, as the young crowd devoured all that was put before them.
Photos by David Benjamin
People are demanding refunds for how badly it was organized. The Growlers or whoever is responsible for this festival need to go back to the drawing board. Booking good bands is NOT enough to call it a good festival. The logistical issues must be worked out. I saw this petition at http://www.thepetitionsite.com/637/302/962/refund-beach-goth-tickets/#updated where these folks describe HORROR stories about lack of safety, uncontrollable security. Just wow. I still feel sorrow that the Beach Goth staff could not even protect Grimes equipment so that the rain destroyed it. Sorry I am so pissed, but posting this is important and cathartic.