By Kevin J. Hosey
| Buffalo’s best and biggest musical party and arts event will attract thousands to North Street off Allen Street this weekend as Music Is Art, the brainchild of Goo Goo Dolls bassist Robby Takac, Chameleon West Music and some forward thinking people takes over part of Buffalo’s West Side and Allentown areas Saturday and Sunday, June 10-11. Music and events will run from 1-11 p.m. Saturday and 1-10 p.m. Sunday. Takac and company have moved Music Is Art from a one-day party to a two-day, charity, awareness, art and music event with a major concentration on fun, and after a couple of years of unwelcome and undeserved attention from people wrongly thinking it would hurt the latter event, coordinating it with the Allentown Art Festival. Music Is Art and its events have grown again, with more than 100 bands performing, including Lisa Loeb being added to the local bands of every genre and flavor, and a stage will be set up across from Trackmaster Studios. For those unaware, the Music Is Art Foundation, started by Takac and the festival, provides schools, students and other groups with musical instruments, equipment and funding. Schools and music have always been important to Takac, who performed at West Seneca East High School and graduated from Medaille College in a studio music program. Despite just finishing a successful tour swing through Europe, through the magic of the Internet, we were able to talk with Takac about the festival. |
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| Amungus at Music is Art '05 | ||||
| KJH: What is new for Music is Art 2006? RT: This year we've got a kids village, all day mural paintings behind each stage, a girls teen rock guitar clinic w/ Lisa Loeb and the Juliet Dagger (sponsored by Daisy Guitars), a Beer Garden, a Food Court, and of course over 100 bands, 600 dancers, dozens of artists and even more volunteers making this whole thing go over the top every year !!!!!! KJH: How do you plan it while being on the road touring, etc., with the Goo Goo Dolls and other commitments? How many people back here are working on Music Is Art? RT: It takes a HUGE team of amazing people back home working w/ music is art year round to make this happen. . . KJH: How will the live band stage setup being this year? The same as last year? RT: The festival's footprint grows this year to the length of Franklin Street with a stage across from the Trackmaster parking lot at North Street and a stage across from the chameleon parking lot at Allen Street. KJH: Will you be performing onstage this year, with Amungus (Takac’s techno, ambient and electronic group), the Goo Goo Dolls or any other setup? RT: Amungus will be closing Sunday night. . . . . |
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| KJH: How important has it been to you to incorporate other artists and art forms, as well as so many local bands, into Music Is Art? RT: Most important. . . it is most important to me this thing and the year long schedule of projects keeps growing every year. . . . . as wild and controversial as we can be and at the same time being as mainstream and serving to the creative public and to the cause of keeping the arts in the forefront of people's minds as we can. . . oh. . . . .and we are fully intend to do all of this at the same time. . . .and I realize it's a tall order. . . .but that's why it'll work KJH: What is the status between Music Is Art and the Allentown Art Festival? Is there a truce of sorts or an "All Quiet on the Western Front" situation? RT: We enter the weekend after successful meetings with the mayor’s office, (Common Council Member) Brian Davis, and all of the parties involved in all 3 events which make up this awesome weekend!. . . all should be fine. . . . . KJH: When you started Music Is Art, did you think it would grow in size, importance and respect/appreciation from the community the way it has? What were your original goals for Music Is Art? RT: It was just a big party gone good . . . . . KJH: What kind of feeling do you get when you present a school or charity or group with either musical instruments or equipment or a check? RT: Relief that something actually worked. . .only kidding! . . . . . .it's a tough road between concept and execution at times, we're young and learning. . .we've just been 501c3d by the State of NY, so I think things will flow a bit more smoothly now that we're in the real leagues . . . really. . . it just feels great to be active in Buffalo. . . i love it, we're in high schools, universities and art galleries, we're on the radio, on tv, in the malls, in the clubs and in general just out there in the community helping things happen in the WNY arts community. . . . it's just awesome ! KJH: How do you feel about the new CD and the tour, as well as the response you've received? To Val and I, it is the best CD you guys have recorded in years and sounds/feels more "Buffalo." RT: Having a blast since we first talked to you in, was it ‘87 ??? (Yes, it was 1987. KJH). . . .crazy. . . . .and I’m still amazed by the way it all seems to piece itself together. . . sure u are too. . . . . . just home from Europe (did 10,000 tickets in London). . .41 cities in the US ahead of us this summer w/ counting crows . . . .I’ll fill you in later! KJH: How would you describe or recommend Music Is Art to someone who has not attended any previous Music Is Art events? RT: Just come on down this weekend . . . you'll be blown away !!!!! For more information on the festival, people can visit www.musicisart.org. |
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