MUSE AND KILLERS HELP SAN DIEGO STREET SCENE RELOCATE, AGAIN

After outgrowing their down town location that has been home to the San Diego Street Scene for twenty three years and after two years in the parking lot of Qualcomm Stadium, 2007’s version of Street Scene relocated to Coors Amphitheater in Chula Vista after producers Live Nation and Rob Hagey aborted an earlier attempt to hold the festival at Del Mar Fairgrounds. Although many fans openly discussed the lack of major headlining talent, sets by The Killers, Muse, Paolo Nutini, Editors, Arctic Monkeys, Louis XIV, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Panic! at the Disco, Mute Math, The Academy Is and Gym Class Heroes demonstrated this year’s festival was geared more toward indie rock bands. Holding true to Street Scene’s in the past, this year’s festival had something for everyone as Fair to Midland, G Love, Pepper, Ozomatli, T.I., Too $hort, Crystal Method, Infected Mushroom, Mickey Avalon, Slightly Stoopid, Z Trip and Bad Brains all contributed to the lineup.

After bringing in a record attendance of 105,000 fans over two days in the downtown “gas lamp” district in 2004, it seemed that Street Scene had just out grown the downtown area and attendance dropped each of the last two years at Qualcomm Stadium. Booking talent for Street Scene got off to a late start as the board overseeing operations of the Del Mar Fairgrounds didn’t approve holding the festival there until June 5. By then many bands had already booked their Summer tours. Although it was clear this year’s Street Scene didn’t come close to 2004’s attendance numbers, or even the attendance from the last two years, producers Live Nation issued a statement which said the move was made due to their desire to hold the festival in “the more intimate setting of Coors Amphitheatre,” which they believes will help ensure “continued vitality and future growth” for Street Scene.

“I’ve seen the line up and we’ve been on the same bill as Spoon a couple of times and Arcitc Monkeys a couple of times. I know the guys in The Killers and stuff like that and it’s kind of cool and it’s a nice atmosphere. Then you got the Punk element. It’s nice because it’s a bit smaller and it’s a lot more contained it seems. Even the backstage part is beautiful. It’s a beautiful place man, a beautiful place.”

We caught up with Scottish folk singer Paolo Nutini who is touring the world on the strength of his hit album ‘These Streets ‘ to get his thoughts on performing at San Diego Street Scene for his first time.

“It’s cool. We played Street Scene last year. It was a different location but we had a really good gig. It was a lot of fun and some cool bands played. We had a good crowd, so yeah it was good. Today, I’m definitely going to watch Spoon, The Killers headlining is always quite nice, so that’s cool. I wouldn’t mind checking out a bit of Social Distortion as well.”

We also talked with Russell Leetch of the Editors, who performed at Street Scene last year and who currently have the #1 Album in the U.K. ‘An End to a Start’ to get his thoughts on the festivals relocation.

With 5 stages held on 70 acres at Coors Amphitheater in Chula Vista, California, San Diego Street Scene certainly showed the spirit of music isn’t always about the venue and location, but it’s more about seeing great bands and discovering new and interesting up and coming bands as well. Perhaps in 2008, Street Scene won’t have as much trouble booking major talent, like in the past years and with securing their venue months earlier can continue to bring their world class festival to fans in San Diego who’ve grown accustomed to The Scene. For those not fortunate enough to make the trip to 2007’s San Diego Street Scene here’s a brief montage of performances from Muse, Mute Math, Paolo Nutini, Louis XIV, Air, Social Distortion, Arctic Monkeys, Panic! at the Disco, G Love, Jack’s Mannequin and Pepper.