I played T-Ball as a kid at Yunkers Park. I was small, but I had a big arm and I could swing the bat. I liked playing any position on the field and I was confident and competent at all of them. As I grew out of T-Ball and got in to regular baseball, I was found out I could pitch the ball very fast. What I also learned was that I was very competitive. Sometimes I had a terrible temper, (not at others, but I’d get mad at myself if I didn’t do as well as I thought I should. Thankfully, I grew out of that). I wanted to be able to do as much as I could when I was on the field. In my adult years, competitive sports became a fond memory, but the passion to do a lot of things never left me. I like making things happen. I’ve found that everything I’ve tried to accomplish in my professional life is just an extension of my T-Ball days.
I had someone close to me recently tell me that I was out of my element. He said that I was feeling a bit too good about myself and that I was putting myself in danger of failing. As I listened to him lecture me about the mistakes he said I was making, I let what he was saying to me sink in. Was this a friend who made the difficult call to confront a friend to save him from himself? Or was it a friend who didn’t want another friend to succeed? I thought it was the former when he said it. I found out later that was the latter. Either way, the call had been made. Whatever “element” I was in was an element I chose to be in. If I failed, I had to suck it up and take it. If I succeed, I have to take that too and learn from any mistakes that happened on the way to the eventual success.
In September of 2006, I’m venturing in to the most ambitious professional venture of my life. It’s called the Wild River Music, Comedy and Film Festival. It will be held in the city of St. Paul on Sept. 6-10. My partners, Dav Kaufman and Ken Onstad and I have taken a seed of an idea in Sept. of 2005 and turned it in to a potentially huge event for the Twin Cities and the entire Midwest region.
Wild River is a concept that I’ve been working on for 6 years. It’s a concept that I tried in 2002 that failed miserably. As embarrassing and humiliating as that was, I learned a few things and it toughened me up. This event, like Heart & Soul before it, is ambitious and overwhelming at times, but the creative and positive payback makes it worth doing. I’m hoping that anybody who supports live music in the Twin Cities and the Midwest region will find their way to St. Paul to come to the shows.
Wild River Music, Comedy and Film Festival is the only festival of it’s kind in the world. There has never been a festival that features music, comedy and film under one conceptual umbrella. I want this event to be our regions South by Southwest / Sundance Film Festival. It can happen. The timing is right. The location is fantastic. The artists we have to kick off our first year is powerful.
On Saturday, September 9 on Harriet Island, Wild River is proud to present Rock and Roll Hall of Famer and one of the leading voices in Soul music, the Reverend Al Green. You know Al Green, “Love and Happiness”, “Lets Stay Together”, Take Me To The River”, the list is long and historical. Playing in front of Al Green is the World Music Pioneer and hugely popular Taj Mahal. Taj’s sound is unmistakable and as diverse as it comes.
I don’t know if anybody out there remembers RIVERFEST, an event that happened twenty years ago on Harriet Island. It featured Stevie Ray Vaughan, Stevie Winwood, Whitney Houston and many others. Not to mention, one unforgettable and sweaty performance by Van Morrison. People still talk about that Van Morrison show. I think the combination of Taj Mahal and Al Green on Harriet Island on Sept. 9th is the closest thing to that magical vibe that happened 20 years ago.
On Sunday, Sept. 10th, we have a lineup that is so strong musically and so diverse, it makes me proud to be a part of this. The majority of the day will feature some of the finest Americana / Roots bands in the nation. The bands Robinella and The Greencards will open the day. The Greencards were personally chosen by Bob Dylan and Willie Nelson to play with them on the summer tour in 2005. Following them will be one of the finest singer-songwriters in the new country genre, Mindy Smith. Mindy had a huge hit with her song COME TO JESUS in 2005. She also did an heartbreaking duet with the songwriter of a song she performs on her CD called JOLENE, the one and only Dolly Parton. Mindy is a major talent.
Here’s where the event gets really cool.
Wild River received a call from the estate of Jimi Hendrix a couple of months ago. They said they wanted to show a film called LIVE AT WOODSTOCK, that featured a ton of unseen footage of Jimi Hendrix at Woodstock The film was being distributed by Universal Pictures. After 3 seconds of consideration, we said yes. They then asked us if Billy Cox from Band of Gypsies could come and do a Q & A after the film. Hell yes! He then asked us if he could put together an all-star band that would play Jimi Hendrix songs for 90 minutes at our festival. Within a few days, we confirmed Vernon Reid and Corey Glover from Living Colour, Bernard Allison, Chris Layton from Double Trouble, Eric Gales, and others, who will burn for 90 minutes at Wild River on a Sunday afternoon. Amazing stuff.
The Sunday night on Harriet Island ends with one of the coolest and musically potent acts performing today, Nickel Creek. I love this band. Their videos are featured quite often on CMT and VH1. They are critically praised and have a huge fan base. What I love about this day is that you have Americana all day, throw in a Hendrix band and then you end with remarkable Bluegrass and Country. I can’t think of a better way to spend a summer night.
Wild River also features music at the Roy Wilkins Auditorium with MN buzz bands like The Hopefuls, White Light Riot, The Alarmists, Jessy Greene, This World Fair and many others. We also have the incredible Kelly Joe Phelps who will perform an intimate show at the Minnesota Music Café on Wed. Sept. 6. Music will also happen at Station 4 in downtown St. Paul.
Our films will be at the 3M Theatre at the MN. Historical Society. We have a film featuring Glenn Tilbrook, who wrote all those great songs from the band Squeeze called ONE FOR THE ROAD. Our Hendrix film will be the premiere film on Friday, Sept. 7th. All of films are comedies, films about music, or art. That is our stamp. For a first year event, we have some great films. Easy to access and not too intimidating.
Wild River will also feature comedy on the U of M Showboat. Hosted by Twin Cities legend Colleen Kruse, the showboat will feature performances by comedy troupes Idiot Box and the comedy institution that is the Brave New Workshop. Colleen has also brought a huge group of regional stand-ups to perform. The comedy portion of Wild River will happen on Thursday and Friday, Sept. 7-8.
I know what you’re thinking. I’m crazy. I know it. But stick with me for a minute.
An event like Wild River needs to happen. This region needs it. Our music and artistic community deserves it for all the amazing talent that is here. Wild River is a national event that will turn in to an international event. Remember, every international event has to be from somewhere. This one is from St. Paul.
I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished. I want all of you to come to this event. I think you will have a great time. Hopefully, you’ll discover some new cool things while you come to see something you’re familiar with.
Wild River Music, Comedy and Film Festival will happen Sept. 6-10 in downtown St. Paul. Free up your calendars. Bring your kids. Bring your lawn chairs and blankets and soak up the sounds on the river one more time before the summer ends. Your attendance will assure that this concept can happen in this region for many years to come.
See you at the show! Go to www.wildriverfestival.com for tickets and for
complete information on the event.
