The Union County Music Festival 2011 - Necessary Roughness Last year, the Union County Music Festival was like going to the a local high school football game and having your favorite underdog team win. Sure, it's not the big dance (The Superbowl, or the high school equivalent), but it was the kind of surprising victory you write to tell your distant family about (by victory I mean having bands you thought were has-beens or never-weres actually whoop ass all over what passes for current big tours - i.e. Warped Tour) . This year felt a little more like a touch football game, with a little bit of necessary roughness. Touch football you ask? Whatever do you mean? Well, I found myself quietly wondering "Where's the impact? Where is the energy? Where is the spark that gets my musical mojo working?" Thankfully late in the game a tackle or two happened. First up, Mike Peters of The Alarm featuring the School Of Rock All Stars. I found the kids to be entertaining, and pretty damn talented. Mike was charming as the ring leader. My only complaint is that the whole set never quite gelled together in a way that broke free from the constraints of being a battle royal type of circumstance. Still, watching those kids get their moment in the sun (with many showing that they have chops aplenty) was a decent start to things. The half an hour in between acts, though (even with two main stages, so things very well could have ran back to back) was something different this year. I can't say I was a fan of it. It sort of made any momentum gained instanly lost, as well as dragged out the increasingly cold day. Cy Curnin of the Fixx did an acoustic set, that just sort of ambled along. New Jersey native Nicole Atkins also had a set that never quite got out of the gate when it came to energy. Other than her guitarist. That girl (I'm sorry I wish I knew her name) can shred. Tastefully. I was transfixed by her ability throughout the set. As far as I was concerned she was the star of that show. It was at this point I really started to wonder if and when some act would kick this thing into second gear. By this time last year I was dizzy with rock and roll, right now I was just hungry for a sausage sandwich. I got hot, instead of sweet. I'm sure that's a metaphor for what I was feeling. Paul Rodgers, classic rock veteran, finally brought some necessary roughness to the proceedings. With a hit-heavy, crowd-pleasing set, the guy did what a professional does. Did anyone else notice that he did not sing the chorus to "All Right Now" at all? Nope, not even once. The cold air was bearing down. The sun was setting. I wanted something to warm me up. Hearing some rockabilly dude play at the beer garden between bands as I wandered by was kinda cool. But I needed something more to shed these flags around my waist, and tackle me to the ground, like Soul Asylum, Willie Nile, and Jesse Malin did just a year ago. Little did I know that a band I knew nothing about would do just that. Neon Trees, a synth-pop-rock band (think if Duran Duran were all "New Moon On Monday" with not an once of "Save A Prayer") were the first (and sadly, second to last band) that kicked things into high gear. Like having a limp-wristed pass intercepted by the kid with the Flock Of Seagulls haircut, and having him run 80 yards down field, this band brought the energy, the hooks, and the fun that seemed to be lacking with most of the day so far. If only this band tore it up two hours earlier, I would've been nodding in rock and roll approval. I walked away thinking to myself "I know nothing of this band. Now I WANT to know something about this band". That's a good thing. Blondie finally took the stage. Debbie Harry walked out on stage like a triumphant queen looking over her victorious subjects. She oozed presence. Hitting the crowd right away with "Union City Blue" (my favorite tune, and such an appropriate way to open the set at this particular locale) it was pretty obvious that they were ready to take no prisoners, and rip the flags from your belt, and tackle you face down into the mud. Clem "Elvis Ramone" Burke was a monster on the cans. Mixing the set up with new stuff as well as the hits, what I caught of the set was excellent. I say "what I caught" because eventually, the cold had just taken its toll on my little Donner party, and my accomplices and I had to hightail it outta there, to a warmer diner somewhere on the horizon, before Blondie had ended their set. The Union County Music Festival is still one of the coolest events of the concert going year. Last year was hard to beat. This year was a valiant attempt. I look forward to next year, to see/hear Union County recapture its previously proven glory. -Jay Mazeffect www.ucmusicfest.com Photos by Lazlo (click on photo see full size) Mike Peters & School of Rock More Photos