I think PopCanon played the Harvest three times. They were all really good shows in their own way. I remember seeing particularly inspired sets by Clang, the Crustaceans, and Whoreculture at various times. Immediately after seeing Clang's set I began composing PopCanon's hit song 'The Curse of Clang.' I called Ned and played him the couple of verses I had, and we worked out most of the rest over the phone. One year They Might Be Giants was one of the headliners, and we covered a song off their album that hadn't been released yet (I had an advance copy through my magazine job). We didn't get to meet them, but we insanely threw one of our press kits into the back of one of their trucks in the band/staff parking lot.

I remember Subrosa guitar crazy dude setting his amp on fire. Instead of it coming off cool like Hendrix; everyone just kind of had the attitude of, "Gee, what an idiot." Twas not ROCK nor cool, yet I feel for the guy's sanity and have compassion for his well-being whereevr he is. The Music Harvest has had some great moments though over the years.....the year the stage collapsed and P-Funk played in the warehouse and Ben Harper played in the shed while it was raining.

In reponse to the above article, I'm compelled to remind everyone that is was the band Grain that went home in the rain and got their own PA and set it up in the shed, so that they could do their set. Harper's handlers saw this, and took over their setup, because Ben had been trying to play acoustically amidst a huge crowd of people. So Ben did his set, and never acknowleged Grain for saving his ass. I remember being real burned up about that at the time.In retrospect, it wasn't really a big deal. The Grain came on afterwards, all in dresses and wigs, and fucking rocked! To me, THAT was the real legendary story of that harvest.

Ahh the Harvest. What a ride. I must let you all know that the whole GAMA crew put in their heart and soul into that festival. It was a true grass roots event, supported by the staff and musicians in Gville. If you know someone who worked or played there, tell them you appreciate it. We all tried very hard to make it happen and at the same time, trying to keep it real. The first festival out at the fairgrounds was the Homegrown Rock Festival that I produced in 1991. We were fortunate enough to have Jack Mason, The Kind, Inside Out, the Dingo Fish Band, and Tone Unkown perform. The music was great, but it was a finacial nightmare. Its success, however, was that it sparked Cody and Marshall to start the Harvest. The Harvest was always about the music. It was difficult to balance all the demands that the music scene put on us. We wanted everyone to play and we wanted to sell enough tickets to keep the prices down. But tought decisions had to be made. Overall with the trials we faced, I think we did some good. We had bad weather, counterfit tix, a stage collapse (see above, and thank you Grain!), cancellations, and an abundance of your traditional rock and roll "influences". We had a good run, 8 festivals in all and I think we all would like to see idea of the Harvest brought back to Gville. As always, Support Local Music!

If anyone would like a CD from the 2nd or 3rd Harvest or a Tape from the first Harvest, please let me know. Free to good homes. I also have a few shirts left. I am in Gainesville and would like to give these away. Thanks for supporting Local Music. Joe

Speaking of They Might Be Giants, I was just reminiscing about TMBG playing the festival, which I think they did for a couple of years, possibly in a row. I just saw them this weekend at San Francisco's Fillmore Theater, and they were really good. Writing up the show in my blog, and wanting to post some links to it (including to the Gainesville Band Family Tree -- thanks Mr. D!), I'd almost forgotten the press that Ink 19'd given it the year Seraphim played, in which PopCanon and Seraphim are both mentioned. I wish Visitor'd gotten to play too. It was a great experience, both as a participant and a performer!

Is the harvest gone? That's what I heard and I am terribly disappointed! I look forward to it every year and I don't know what I will do this year if it doesn't happen! Someone please e-mail me if this rumor is true. If it is, let me know of other music festivals in the general area. Please?? Thanks much.

I was there as well when it was the 30th anniversary of the landing of the mothership and the stage collapsed. People were so bummed. I remember it being moved inside and we stood for hours waiting for them to play all wet and soaked. When the music started, it was so freaking incredible. As far as Ben Harper, don't give him shit. He was behind the scenes and his crew put him in the tent. I was sitting right next to him while he was playing enjoying the hell out of it and saying, who is this guy, must write his name down! TMBG played a fun set out at the main stage as well. I remember camping being so tight in the lot and people were walking over tent lines and such. It was a blast. I always go to outdoor fests and something about that one that just stood out. I met some of the nicest people ever. It did suck waking up in the morning tho and our tent was 6 inches in water and everything was just soaked. I remember driving back to Tampa wet and freezing. Bring back the fest!