Mark Bialczak


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Listen to music, watch the people, taste the food

June 4, 2014 8:51 am

Call it a lot to do.

Call it a lot to do.

For more than two decades, when I went out to hear music, music was my sole focus.

My job was to review concerts for the big daily in Syracuse.

Hey, people, I’m trying to hear a band here. Even when I went to local series and bars and such, I knew I’d be writing about the bands in a column at some point. Concentrate on the music, Mark.

Which didn’t always work out perfectly with big outdoor music events.

Last Saturday, my dear wife Karen and I went to the kickoff of Syracuse’s live outdoor music scene, and I liked the work of The Mere Mortals up there on the stage, surely. But no longer am I the music critic around these parts. My eyes, ears and mind were free to wander elsewhere, too.

I wrote about it the next morning, here.

And people-watching is the subject of my weekly community blog for waer.org today.

If you’d like to to read my piece for the Syracuse Public Media site, please click the link below.

http://waer.org/post/outdoor-live-music-scene-starts-people-watching-season-too

Do like to go to big outdoor events that combine music, food and people watching? What’s your favorite outdoor event? Music blinders or take in the whole scene?

Posted by markbialczak

Categories: Life, Music

Tags: , ,

21 Responses to “Listen to music, watch the people, taste the food”

  1. I used to love Blossom Music Center, south of Cleveland!(Still there, thank goodness!) I also enjoyed our Germain Amphitheater, but it is closed. I like our local blocks closed since I live downtown, I can run home and get an iced tea refill, saving a little money. I buy the food, but find beverages overpriced. I have sat on my front porch of my apartment building on a black iron bench, loving the sounds but not killing my ears. I also like walking through big crowds at the Columbus and also, Cleveland Rib Fests. There is a hippie musical event, called “Comfest,” which the last few years I have missed since I go to my Mom’s over the week leading to Fourth of July. There have been people stripping and jumping into a big pond at Comfest. The local artist/musician that I have featured in my posts, Morgan Treni, will be at Comfest on the Solar stage. (There are 4 stages.) Take care, Mark!

    Like

    By reocochran on June 7, 2014 at 2:15 pm

    1. Stripping and dipping. That’s a hippie fest to carry on the tradition of Woodstock, Robin.

      I think I would like the Rib Fests. They sound delicious to me.

      Like

      By markbialczak on June 7, 2014 at 4:46 pm

  2. I LOVE places that have all that! Sadly, Florida is not the best host for such events, and even if it were venue-friendly, people would melt before they got to enjoy much. Seriously, I’ve seen Minnie Mouse pass out from a heat stroke before. Yes, really. Lovely post! 😀

    Like

    By rachelcarrera on June 5, 2014 at 10:52 am

    1. Oh, God, somebody get Minnie some water! Or an intravenous saline hookup … No, outdoor music is not so good in that type of heat, Rachel.

      Like

      By markbialczak on June 5, 2014 at 12:35 pm

      1. Right! It’s funny how everyone up North think we spend the summer at the beach. We don’t because it’s too hot to enjoy. We spend the winter at the beach and the summer indoors. 🙂

        Like

        By rachelcarrera on June 5, 2014 at 2:33 pm

  3. Posted my comment over on the WAER site. It’s been too long since I’ve seen a live performance. I need to do something about that soon. It’s concert season! Yay!

    Like

    By Sandra on June 5, 2014 at 9:13 am

    1. Sandra, your every other post cries music! You must get a sitter and go out with Erik to a show, please, for your soul.

      Like

      By markbialczak on June 5, 2014 at 9:16 am

  4. The best music venues I’ve been to are outside. I love them. 🙂 I will yet make you proud of me with all of my cultural catching up adventures!!!

    Like

    By Chatter Master on June 4, 2014 at 8:26 pm

    1. I know you have walked through one great Cleveland festival, and I feel like I was there with you, Colleen, dancing and eating and having a great time.

      Like

      By markbialczak on June 4, 2014 at 9:39 pm

      1. 😀

        Like

        By Chatter Master on June 5, 2014 at 5:43 am

  5. i love these kind of events, everything and everyone all mixed up together. my favorite, mark. and this looks like a fun one ) no blinders here, i’m open to all of the adventure )

    Like

    By ksbeth on June 4, 2014 at 4:40 pm

    1. That’s a good way to be, Beth. So many years I had to tune a lot of stuff out.

      Like

      By markbialczak on June 4, 2014 at 4:50 pm

  6. Gotta have the whole package, Mark. People eating and dancing with food, I say. Where? Hmm, in TX, probably same place as last time. Rock-n-Roll!

    Like

    By Audrey Dawn - Oldest Daughter Redheaded Sister on June 4, 2014 at 3:09 pm

    1. Rock at the Dock! I can imagine it’s great, Audrey.

      Like

      By markbialczak on June 4, 2014 at 3:39 pm

      1. You remembered. I must have painted a nice and unforgettable picture. Gotta love the music first and foremost.

        Like

        By Audrey Dawn - Oldest Daughter Redheaded Sister on June 4, 2014 at 11:58 pm

  7. love it

    Like

    By marthakeimstlouis on June 4, 2014 at 2:34 pm

  8. I love music. I love dancing. I love outdoors. Yes I do love to go to outdoor concerts. Apparently there’s a free concert every July in Butte, Montana. One year I’m going to check it out, even though it’s about an 8 hour drive.
    Diana xo

    Like

    By dianasschwenk on June 4, 2014 at 10:22 am

    1. I cannot argue with the desire to check out a free concert in Butte, Montana, Diana. Sounds like a solid plan to me!

      Like

      By markbialczak on June 4, 2014 at 10:25 am

      1. And Americans always treat me so well, like I’m from an exotic land or something! 😀

        Like

        By dianasschwenk on June 4, 2014 at 12:35 pm

  9. I like outdoor concerts, where it also is possible to breath 🙂

    Like

    By irenedesign2011 on June 4, 2014 at 9:25 am

    1. That is a good point, Irene. Fresh air on top of it all!

      Like

      By markbialczak on June 4, 2014 at 9:27 am

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