Local Bands join together to Organize new GanJam
ODEN sponsorship reportedly "minor"Kaliburg, Ananto
November 7, 4948Kaliburg Punk Legends "Positive Front" headline GanJam 4948For decades, the music scene in Kalistan has been dormant. The last large movement in Kalistani Music, Grit went underground as fast as it appeared on the Kalistani scene, with the last major Grit band, Surfwax, releasing their last album more than thirty years ago. The scene was then ravaged by a number of overdoses on hard drugs by a number of the scene's leaders. That had the effect of destroying the scene, even as Alt Folk musicians were beginning to retire. Hence: the Kalistani music scene entered a three decade period of decline.
There is a breath of life in the Kalistani music scene, as Ananto and Mainland musicians banded together last year to organize a two day version of the Classic Kalistani Music Festival, the GanJam. Traditionally, GanJam has been sponsored and organized by the Organization of Drug Exporting Nations (ODEN) which is headquartered in Kaliburg. But GanJam 4948 was primarily organized without much ODEN input. The show was comparatively smaller than historical festivals, and was condensed to two days, where traditionally it had been three or four days long. Additionally, the GanJam this year featured almost exclusively underground bands, from hard rock/punk and ska genres. The Festival was held at Kalistani National Stadium, in Kaliburg. Over the two days, 25,000 music fans attended.
The show opened on Friday, November 1 at 3:30 PM and featured Kaliburg Punk rock band Cigarillo Ash. Cigarillo Ash set the tone for the remainder of the acts of the day. 12 bands eventually played sets on Day 1 of the GanJam, including an Alt-Folk act from Vrassa named Psychedelic Force, as well as hard rockers from Gendaris The Growlers. The headliners of Night 1 were a hardcore punk act from Dulnerstaad called Julie, a co-ed group that played a record 21 songs in a 23 minute set.
"It was like a bad ass punk rock show," said concert goer Denis Alverez, from Sulari. "I mean, I've spent a lot of time in the Hardcore scene down in Sulari, and we had shows with like 55 people at them some time. But when I heard that the GanJam was going to feature a lot of punk bands, I was like I've gotta be there. And I was blown away..." Other concert goers noted the amount of energy in the crowd during the first night. Kelli Ulysses, from Vrassa said "Well, during the [Port Swedes hardcore band] Split Stick set, there was like 14 pits that just materialized, all over the crowd." When asked if she danced, Ulysses answered, "I mean, yeah, me and my girls, we threw some elbows..."
RF Funk Band BellBottom Explosion slow the show down with some Funk on Day 2Day 2 began early, as local thrash metal band Goat F--ker played a thrash rendition of the Kalistani National Anthem at 7 am, and then immediately launched into their set. Day 2 bands rocked just as hard as Day 1 acts, and featured a lineup that included Sulari ska punks The Toastmasters, punk rock acts from across the Republic, and even the RF Funk band BellBottom Explosion. "I really liked the funk band," said a person who simply identified himself as Anarchy. "Gave me a good chance to hit up the ODEN tent and really get into the groove, get prepared for the evening, you know." After a short break for supper, bands resumed the night portion of the show, with RF singer Jill Martinez, who sang part of her set in Egelian, and Luxon rockers Vert. Day 2 closed with show Headliners Positive Front, a four piece Hardcore band from Kaliburg.
"Oh man, I saw Positive Front at this club in Lolla last year and their show basically led to a riot," said fan Howard Dante. "I loved it. This show was way bigger and crazy!" Positive Front played a 45 minute set, ending the Concert around 2 am, when concert goers began filtering out of the Stadium in Kaliburg. Most of those in attendance loved the show. "Yeah, it was pretty cool," said 19 year attendee Poppy Greene. "I was particularly happy that ODEN was kinda off to the side. I'm str8 edge, and having heard stories about the craziness of like shows in the past, I was glad to not have to deal with a bunch of druggies all around me, living their lives all wrong."
Concert Goers enjoy National Product, despite limited ODEN presence at GanJamAs to ODEN's limited participation in this year's GanJam, ODEN spokesman Thomas Setari was candid. "Well, I mean, a bunch of these guys approached us like a couple months and asked if we wanted to be part of a big punk show they were putting together. I was like well, you know we have usually done the GanJams. They were like Cool cool but they wanted to keep it DIY and Underground. So we basically agreed to put up some money and got them together with the National Stadium here, and got to have a tent, but it wasn't like the focus of the concert this year." The organizers booked all the bands, organized all the publicity, and managed the arena. "The main organizer was this punk girl name Frieda Norton," said Setari. "She's like 17 and was a real organized and driven kid. She's got a great future in concert organization."
The return of the GanJam hints at signs of life in the Kalistani Music Industry. "Yeah, we hope there are more GanJams to come," said Howard Dante. "I mean, its about time we reorgnize the National Scene. I'd personally like to see bands from other countries come and play in the Republic too. Maybe we can put together like a FOMAT, but without the contest, where we get bands from other countries who will expose us to different kinds of music." But Dante was quick to add "Kalistan can just as easily just keep doing it ourselves too, though."