EVENT: X-Fest ‘Loud and Local’ Q-and-A with Brandon Woolum
War Creek Mafia are among the bands on the Budweiser Select ‘Loud and Local Stage’ at this year’s X-Fest on Saturday in Huntington.
If You Go: X-Fest at Harris Riverfront Park, Huntington, Sat., Sept. 1. Featuring Hinder, Buckcherry, Papa Roach and more on main stage. On ‘Loud and Local’ stage: Let the Guilty Hang, Earth to Eros, War Creek Mafia and ‘Battle for X-Fest’ Winner. All-ages event, but must be 21 to drink alcohol. Tickets $35 advance, $45 day of show. For tickets, click here.
The Gatecrasher crew caught up with Brandon Woolum of X-106.3 in advance of this year’s edition of X-Fest coming to Huntington’s Harris Riverfront Park on Saturday.
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GAZZ: How many years now have you had the ‘Loud and Local’ program on X106.3?
Woolum: ‘Loud and Local’ was started in the late ’90s, so we’re hangin’ right around an entire decade! It got its start by Erik Raines, who is now our program director. As he moved up to the PD position and into the mid-day time slot he no longer had time for Loud and Local. Since I have such a good relationship with so many local musicians Loud and Local was handed to me about two years ago.
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GAZZ: How much time goes into picking the local bands for X-Fest?
BW: In a sense, you could say that an entire year goes into picking the local lineup. Throughout the year, we’re on the prowl for cool bands that can draw a crowd. The selection really starts to narrow down around May though and then we debate and get a final lineup locked down.
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GAZZ: How many people other than you are involved in the decision-making process?
BW: It’s pretty much an equal game. Along with myself, Erik and Robin [Wilds] also are highly involved in the selection. When it comes to the local bands we all three put in our input and debate why we feel certain bands deserve to play the festival. We also try to get different local bands each year and not have a band play multiple X-Fests like happened a couple times in the early X-Fest days. With the main stage bands we all have an influence but the final decision comes down to Erik.
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GAZZ: What factors go into picking the bands for the ‘Battle for X-Fest’?
BW: When we get submissions for the Battle we’re looking for bands that will compliment the lineup we have for that year. However, we still branch out and take bands that aren’t exactly the sound that will be at the festival that year. Good production always helps; if you’re a talented band that isn’t too ‘Cookie Monster’ vocal sounding, then you’ll get in.
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GAZZ: Do geographic considerations go into picking bands? Like drawing WV-OH-KY?
BW: Geographical considerations aren’t too big. If I play you on Loud and Local, then you’re considered for X-Fest.
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GAZZ: How special is it for X106.3, (owned by much maligned Clear Channel), to be able to do such a cool thing for bands at the local level, putting them on such a big stage?
BW: No matter who owns you it’s great to be able to put such a successful show together year after year. Clear Channel encourages the support of local talent so that doesn’t affect our decision to put locals on the bill at all. We feel a strong connection with local rock music and want to support it in all forms possible.
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GAZZ: How cool is it for you to let bands know they’ve been picked?
BW: Letting bands know that they’re going to be a part of the biggest show in Huntington is always a rush. It’s great to be able to give a group of musicians who have busted their balls all year such good news.
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GAZZ: Are there any local bands that are not part of X-Fest, that you would like to see part of it sometime?
BW: There are always bands that you really want on the bill, but there’s only so much room. I’m friends with so many bands on this scene. It sucks to tell a band you’re friends with that they’re not going to be on the bill, especially when they may have expected it.
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GAZZ: Have you ever had bands get mad at you or say the Battle for X-Fest was rigged?
BW: Ehh, you get that kind of stuff anytime you do something like that. All the bands think they’re the best so sometimes when they don’t win they’re looking for someone to blame. We have no reason to rig it. The bands we all decided and fought to get on the bill are already set to play X-Fest. The Battle for X-Fest brings a chance for the bands we may have overlooked to get on the bill.
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GAZZ: Any advice for bands when it comes to submitting music and PR stuff to X106.3?
BW: Don’t submit material until you have a good recording. When you submit horrible recordings it makes your band sound really bad. There are submissions we have received for the Battle and laughed at, and then we see the band live and are shocked at how good they are. It’s better to not send in anything at all than to attempt to get your band played on the air when the recording doesn’t come close to giving your band the credit they deserve.
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GAZZ: Has the local talent progressed or regressed in recent years?
BW: Since the ’90s, the local scene has definitely went downhill. There are lots of reasons for it, including ego, venue relations and all kinds of fun stuff. Look back on the ’90s when you have Chum and Karma to Burn drawing 400 people regularly for a local show. Bands are too competitive now.
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GAZZ: How does 2007’s Loud and Local second stage compare to years past?
BW: This year’s Budweiser Select Loud and Local stage is probably the biggest variety of sounds we’ve ever had on the same bill. You’ve got almost death metal, mixed with southern rock, punk rock and just straight metal all in the same day. In past years, the bands have somewhat complimented each other on that stage. This year is definitely going to be interesting; lots of different sounds over there on the river this time around!
– By Nick Harrah
