8 (or 9) for the 8th

Now that several years of this festival have gone by, it’s easy to think of which nationally touring bands have come through and blown minds on numerous occasions. Yo La Tengo, Explosions in the Sky, of Montreal, Built To Spill, Black Mountain, you name it. The list goes on and on. We’re pretty lucky to have something like this coming straight to our doorstep, nicely wrapped and ready for us to have as our own. There’s a lot to remember about the past 8 years of Pygmalion, but I’m just a member of the audience, and I’ve only been to a handful of these things. I’m curious as to what it’s like being on the other side. 

Luckily enough, we have a flourishing local music scene here. It is no surprise to anyone that year after year, one of the main reasons a festival like this is so exciting and rewarding is because it meshes local community with something bigger. The C-U music scene is deep, and has been deep for quite some time. As long as I’ve been around, things haven’t changed and don’t look to be changing anytime soon. To gain some perspective of what the festival means to the community, I decided to pose that question to some local artists on the 2012 bill that help make the local music scene exist not only this weekend, but all the time. I posed a simple, open-ended (OK, so it’s two-parted) question to all of them to see what they had to say: “What is your experience with Pygmalion, and what does the festival mean to you?” The response was so good, in fact, that we went a bit over our 8 count. We’re not upset about it. Just goes to show you how much these guys and gals appreciate what’s going on in the C-U community.

Happy 8th Birthday, Pygmalion.
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Pygmalion is the best time of year in our sleepy little corn-belt oasis. Autumn is gently removing Summer’s last toehold. And after three months of dead quiet, I’m actually happy to see the students again. The marching band is practicing somewhere just out of sight — the sound of college football Saturday seeming to originate directly from the sky.

I’ve long since quit seeing (hearing) music at festivals. I wish that weren’t the case, but it’s out of my control. I envy those who can.

But I love Pygmalion. Just on my own terms. I love the spectacle, the excess, the filthy, stinking Canopy green room. I love the slightly broken-down, amateurish (DIY is a compliment Seth) nature of how it is expertly pulled off. I love wandering between campus and downtown and watching the crowds surge and retreat. I love getting a peak behind the different curtains — the band’s, the audience’s, and the producer’s.

Maybe most of all, I love the return of long lost friends and the excuse for so many I love to all be in the same place at the same time.

Pygmalion is a jewel. — Robert Hirschfeld, Common Loon — performing Saturday with Grizzly Bear, Dinosaur Jr., Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Lower Dens and Grandkids on the Highdive Outdoor stage 1.
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Pygmalion Festival means a lot to me. Between Headlights and Psychic Twin, Brett and I have played 6 out of 7 of them now and every one has been different and fantastic in its own way. It’s such an important part of the C-U music scene now. I’m so proud of my brother for putting such an incredible festival together. On another note, when I think of Pygmalion, other than the obvious excitement about so many rad local and national bands playing all weekend, I always think of Southern Comfort and being mercilessly hung over. Anyone who’s played it before knows what I’m talking about. — Erin Wraight, Psychic Twin — performing Thursday night with HUM, The Dirty Feathers and That’s No Moon at The Canopy Club
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Pygmalion is always a fuzzy blur. I just remember little moments. Seeing Maserati at a houseshow. Black Mountain playing the loudest and most evil music I had ever heard. The bartender wearing the American flag shirt who makes the stiffest drinks in the USA. Bless him. Our Pygmalion debut where my guitar broke and we threw out inflatable sharks. Sneaking in a 30-pack to the Those Darlins’ show and giving them a bottle of whiskey. All the hip kids trying to look cool in the beer soaked Canopy Club green room. Playing the Mike ‘N Molly’s beer garden last year to a bunch of drunks past 2 a.m. The after-parties, the running between venues trying to catch part of a set, staying up late, no sleep, sweaty people, finding new music, barely eating, taking off work, and sore bones. But to me the best part is seeing my friends in local bands totally upstaging some of the national acts. The worst part is Monday morning. — Andrew Kling, The Dirty Feathers — performing Thursday night with HUM, Psychic Twin, and That’s No Moon at The Canopy Club
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I think Pygmalion Music Fest is a great asset to the community. It draws attention to our music scene and the historically creative atmosphere of Champaign-Urbana. It also allows us to listen to and share ideas and sounds with some recognizable musicians from other parts of the country. Any vehicle that gets us thinking, imagining, and sharing, or brings focus to the arts and creativity in general, is valuable to me. Looking forward to hanging out, listening, and playing with my band. — Megan Johns — performing on Saturday night with Cameron McGill, Sun Stereo, and Pamela Machala at Cowboy Monkey
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We’ve had nothing but good times each year we’ve been a part of Pygmalion. For the local bands that get to participate, it’s great because they get to show off their stuff alongside all these national acts. There is a pull for an audience you wouldn’t necessarily see at your typical locals-only show. Beyond the benefit to the bands, it’s great for our community. Hopefully the people that travel from out of town for the festival walk away with a fresh attitude about C-U. We’re not just a college town — there is a vibrant group of people making amazing things happen year-round and that’s evident through the coordination and work that goes into the festival. I should also mention that we basically get to party for four days straight with all our best friends — so that’s rad too. — Ryan McCoy, Midstress — performing Thursday night with So Many Dynamos, Year of the Bobcat, and Hank at Channing-Murray
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Sometimes I wake up and it’s all I can think about. I’ve even come to associate Pygmalion with the whole season of Autumn — cider and leaves and sweaters and all. I know when it’s coming, and I’m always anxious. This will be my fourth Pygmalion, and I think that it is so special to C-U. I mean, Grizzly Bear in our neck of the woods? I feel so fortunate to play/mingle with all of these great bands, and I can’t wait for the bartenders to convince some more people to put raw egg and sriracha in their drinks. — Vivian McConnell, Santah/Grandkids — performing Thursday (with Santah) with Night Beds, Jared Bartman, and I Am God at Krannert Art Museum. Also performing Saturday at Highdive Outdoor Annex (with Grandkids).
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Pygmalion has become, in my opinion, the biggest asset to the Champaign-Urbana music scene. It brings huge, national acts to our cities every year and fills up rooms and parking lots that don’t always get that kind of attention. Seth and his staff are doing what’s necessary to put more sweat and legitimacy into this festival every year. It lets us all see not only how a great festival operates, i.e. local sponsors, precise scheduling, and an action-packed lineup, but also that Champaign-Urbana is holding its spot in the minds of the music industry as “a place to play.” And this of course is invaluable to us, the music makers, who proudly call C-U our home. — Ryan Groff, Elsinore — performing Friday with Dirty Projectors, Tennis, and My Werewolf Diary at Urbana Outdoor Stage.
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