STAF F P I C KS/ARTS & E NTE RTAI N M E NT B E ST R E A S O N F O R J U G G L E R S , MAG I C I A N S A N D I M P R O V C O M E DY T R O U P E S TO R U N AWAY WIT H T H E C I R C U S CURB CUP’S CANCELLATION Curb Cup was a celebration of creativity that Boise developer Mark Rivers founded as a way to bring people into downtown Boise on a Sunday in August, when most folks are out fishing, rafting or otherwise enjoying summertime recreational activities. The first Curb Cup in 2009 brought out a whopping—and unexpected—30,000 people to watch the 100-plus acts dance, sing, joke, hula hoop, belly dance, prestidigitate and every other kind of family friendly performance imaginable. During the 2010 Curb Cup, attendance by both performers and onlookers once again exceeded expectations. But the two years took a toll on Rivers’ pocketbook as well as his goodwill—he felt as though the City of Boise and the shop owners in the downtown area should pony up some dough to help offset the cost of putting on an event of this scope. So Rivers took his ball and his Cup and went home. The 2011 Curb Cup wasn’t exactly cancelled—it never started. Boise’s powers-that-be have looked into reviving it, and Rivers has said even though he thinks Boise should have stepped up much sooner, he’s willing to curb his lack of enthusiasm for those he thinks should have helped and consider holding the event again in 2012.
B E ST TAKE-T WO BOISE MUSIC FEST It seemed like no one expected the popularity of the inaugural Boise Music Fest in 2010— least of all the organizers. When an estimated 80,000 people jammed into Ann Morrison Park, no one was prepared, leading to fights, crowding, lost children and the park being a bit trashed. But by 2011, organizers learned from their mistakes and moved the stages, reorganized the concessions and made it otherwise simpler for folks to actually enjoy a great community event. boisemusicfestival.com, @boisemusicfest
B E ST WAY TO G ET YO U R G RAYS G R O O VI N’ EAGLE RIVER PAVILION CONCERT SERIES Any concert series that opens with a performance by Crosby, Stills and Nash is not geared toward 20-somethings. The Eagle River Pavilion Concert Series offered shows by a whole host of classic acts: Michael McDonald, Yes, Styx, Whitesnake, ABBA, The Steve Miller Band and more. There were a few acts specifically for the nowhere-near middle-agers such as Dane Cook, Atmosphere and even a performance by Trey McIntyre Project, a group that appeals to anyone in the 8 to 80 age group. But for the most part, this series was for the folks who were rocking their hardest in the ’70s and ’80s. The kids already had the downtown bar music scene; now the Baby Boomers have a place, too. landofrock.com
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B E ST N I C E G U YS D O N ’ T ALWAYS F I N I S H L A ST ANTHONY DOERR’S LITERARY AWARDS The author of About Grace, Four Seasons in Rome and Memory Wall is one of the friendliest people you’ll ever have the pleasure to meet. Anthony Doerr is willing to give a fan at a book signing or a reading a moment of his time, even though his literary prowess has made him a very busy man. He has won nearly every award given to authors, including the O. Henry Prize (three times over), a Guggenheim Fellowship and the lauded Story Prize in 2011, as well as others too numerous to list. Doerr lives and works in Boise and if you were to see him on the street and recognize him from his dust jacket photo, you might be inclined to think him too famous to stop and respond to a breathy, “Oh my god. You’re Anthony Doerr. I loved Memory Wall.” You’d be wrong. He is definitely famous but a damned nice guy, too. anthonydoerr.com
B E ST D U D E R A N C H RANCHFEST The dudes (and lady) in Boise’s beloved Finn Riggins sure know how to throw a party. Over the last few years, Finn Riggins’ RanchFest has grown from a few friends playing music in a field to an all-out, camp-out music festival. Bands from all over the West Coast make the trek out to Tumbleweeds, Idaho, for the two-day Fest. But these musical cowpokes prefer flannels and Vans to boots and chaps.
B E ST LO C A L M U S I C T R E N D BANDS THAT DON’T SOUND LIKE BUILT TO SPILL Local heroes are emulated in homage. It’s well intentioned, but in art, it quickly leads to creative stagnation. All respect to the enormous influence that Boise band Built to Spill has provided over the years, both locally and nationally, but we’re glad to see local bands finally starting to do their own thing instead of attempting to do Built to Spill’s thing.
B E ST R E A S O N TO B U Y E AR P LU G S A N D R ET I R E EA R LY BOISE ROCK SCHOOL The music industry has changed dramatically in the last decade but that has by no means stopped young people from dreaming of being rock stars. It does mean, however, that those burgeoning musicians could use a leg up. Start them as early as age 6 at Boise Rock School, where they will learn guitar, bass, keyboards, drums/percussion and vocals, as well as how to perform as a group—and they’ll do it in front of an audience. Even if the little heshers later choose a career in law enforcement, accounting or fine art, the skills they learn at BRS will help them succeed. Or they might stick with music and become the next Van Halen, Jennifer Lopez or Zac Brown Band. Either way, the lessons will have been worth it. 1187 River St., Boise, 208-559-0065, boiserockschool.com, @boiserockschool
BOISEweekly | SEPTEMBER 21–27, 2011 | BEST OF BOISE: STAFF PICKS | 21