Local music for a great cause proved painful to sit through Saturday night at the CD101 For the Kids Benefit Show. Promowest was the site for various terrible alternative rock bands that fell between lame and mediocre.
A $5 admission price for Saturday’s “low-dough” concert was bearable only because the proceeds are going to charity. The six hours stolen from your Saturday however, are not justifiable.
A diverse crowd consisted of hippies looking for the next jam band, teenagers hoping to make out, middle-aged couples keeping an eye on their teenage children, and sunburned college kids that weren’t invited to any parties.
Even the less disappointing bands were difficult to watch because of a lackluster crowd, an arena rock sound system and a high stage.
The Whiskey Pickers were one of the better bands but paraded on stage with excess cowboy hats and guitars. “Born to be bad” guitar rifts gave them more of a rock sound then what can be found on a country radio station but lyrically they were equally as generic. Not even a cover of Hank Williams Jr.’s “Whiskey Bent and Hell Bound” could save this band from being reminisced of a hangover.
The X-Rated Cowboys had by far the best set of the night despite playing between two mainstream wanna-be punk ripoffs that made New Found Glory look stellar.
After the misery of the previous bands the crowd finally became alive. The sun finally decided to set after blinding and burning everyone in attendence for hours.
The X-Rated Cowboys came off less pretensous and thankfully did not take themselves too serious. Their cheesy lyrics made the crowd laugh and you can never go wrong with an electronic upright bass.
CD101 had their heart in the right place but a better selection of Columbus’ local bands would have made the concert enjoyable and maybe even raised more money for a great cause.
