Article Tools
Rothbury
The Hard Lessons Hurt, Carp & Rock It
Michigan music extravaganza Rothbury is in its second year and with a load of acts to choose from and Real Detroit sat down with Augie Visocchi of the Hard Lessons to talk about the festival. Not only did the conversation hit on how it feels to be on the line-up and how the Detroit rock scene is nicely represented at this year’s festival, but Visocchi also suggested his list of “Bands to Watch at Rothbury.”
How does it feel to be playing at Rothbury?
I love it, I’ve always loved playing the big festivals. I think that we have a way of connecting with large groups of people at shows like that ... it’s exciting to be doing the festival circuit this summer and to be representing Michigan and what’s happening in rock ‘n roll here ... it’s an honor and we’re really excited to be a part of it. We’ve traveled around the states and I guess the mentality of the country is "Let Detroit die, who cares?" But we’re proud to be playing at something like Rothbury cause we choose to be a Detroit band. We could have left a long time ago but we didn’t.
How will the Detroit music scene be represented at Rothbury?
We’re not the only Detroit band on the list and I think that was a great move on the part of the promoters. Last year there was sort of a grumble, I mean it’s like there’s this great festival coming here and it’s very forward thinking and it’s got stuff that’s not at any other festival but there’s this great backlog of homegrown talent; why wouldn’t they celebrate that? So I think this year they did a great job going back and doing that. I feel like we’re representing rock ‘n roll and Detroit between us and bands like our friends Steppin’ In It, I think we’ll show people that stuff is happening here. | RDW
Rothbury Music Festival • 7/2-5 • Rothbury
|
“Bands to Watch At Rothbury”
Son Volt
“When you look at that schedule there’s a ton of bands that have a specific link to us, my wife and I ... I guess Son Volt was one of the first bands that struck me. That’s one of the first records we bonded over when we started dating.”
Man Man
“After shows, when we play New York or Brooklyn, we’ve sort of taken to sitting out on the balcony and staring at the Empire State building and listening to Man Man records until the sun comes up, but we’ve yet to see a live performance. I hear it’s like some futuristic rain dance happening before your eyes. I definitely love their records; we’re excited to check them out.”
Bob Dylan
“We were pretty psyched when we found out we were playing the last day with Bob Dylan, he’s playing, obviously, on the big stage but he sort of invented the game we’re all playing. I saw a full page ad for Rothbury and to see Bob Dylan and then The Hard Lessons on the same bill as Mr. Bob Dylan is … very cool.”
Willie Nelson
“As far as the headliners go, my wife and I went down to Hart Plaza a few weeks ago and saw Willie Nelson and we were really blown away. It was a really stripped down thing with Willie as the only guitar player on stage ... it was really staggering. For someone like him, just playing a ratty guitar with a hole in it still carrying his show … ”
Nas
“And Nas is exciting, anyone who sits at the bar with me until closing time knows I like to go on a little hip-hop kick sometime.” | RDW
© Copyright by RealDetroitWeekly.com
© 2010
Real Detroit Weekly, LLC | 615 S. Washington Ave (2nd Floor), Royal Oak, MI 48067
| 
Comments (0)