The former Bamboozle Fest which was financially womped and morphed int Skate and Surf has had the oddest history and the worse planning of any fest I have ever encountered.
Last year they struck god with the acquisition of Fall Out Boy riding high on the new end of hiatus. This thrust moved them from a sold out family playground to Six Flags Amusement Park in New Jersey. Rather than keep it exclusive as a sell out- they opted to open it up for maximum cash flow.
This year the line up is so weak that I cannot believe they’re promoting it. No big name to save them this time instead the tired and nearly now obscure Saosin headlines the fest with no home.. but guess what, theyre looking for another venue. This time to return to Asbury Park New Jersey, their original home. When you plan an event generally location is the first item of business- not for Skate and Surf, I believe secure bands, check ticket sales, beg for bigger names, oversell and find new venue is their business model.
William O’Brien the master planner is trying to get it back for the most idiotic reasoning I’ve ever read “We’re going back to how it began,” O’Brien said. “These are all Jersey kids, there won’t be any tour buses here, everyone will be driving their cars.”
O’Brien will present a special event application to members of the City Council at the March 26 meeting. He has been working with Surf and Skate founder John D’Esposito to return the concert series to its Asbury roots, he said.
“We hope to have everyone get behind it and be supportive in Asbury Park,” he said. “It started in Asbury and our goal is to bring it back home.”
The guy is out of his mind and oh the event is in May so I suppose you just wait and see where youre supposed to go. His Jersey kids are firing up social media, general consensus? The organizers are idiots.
Skate and Surf grew into Bamboozle, they popped Bamboozle and went back to Skate and Surf, the most poorly marketed and mismanaged event ever. Fall Out Boy wont save you this year, and Warped is right on your ass. Cash in fast, your days are numbered. If you expect kids to spend $104. to see Anthony Green and Circa Survive…you’re out of your mind.
