When Michael Bunnell began the process of chasing down performers for this year's Alive After Five, he was hoping for a cakewalk.
Booking out-of-state bands has become routine for Bunnell and the Downtown Boise Association, which turned to touring acts instead of local performers in 2005 in an effort to revitalize the weekly summer series at The Grove.
"Not only were we going to pluck the best of the last three years, but we had this whole other list of artists," explains Bunnell, who owns the Record Exchange and advises the DBA on their Alive After Five entertainment.
"And you know what?" he adds, chuckling. "Nothing worked."
That's how it goes sometimes. If certain acts weren't touring the Northwest this summer, they weren't an option for Alive After Five. The free outdoor bash - which is supported by sponsorships and beer and wine sales - can't afford to hire entertainment to travel cross-country for a single gig.
As a result, there will be many unfamiliar faces on stage at Alive After Five, which runs Wednesdays from June 4 through Sept. 24.
That's not necessarily a bad thing. Think of each Wednesday as a potential opportunity to discover your new favorite band.
Bunnell and the DBA have been doing this long enough to know what it takes to make Alive After Five popular with crowds, which average about 3,000 people:
1) Don't book solo singer-songwriters or softer acoustic bands. Even if they're talented.
2) Do book fun, energetic bands. Preferably, they're talented.
"Every year, you want to remind yourself as you start booking it that it's supposed to be party music," Bunnell says. "That's what the crowd likes."
Here's what's coming to Alive After Five this year:
Pieta Brown Trio (singer-songwriter), June 4; Reverend Peyton's Big Damn Band (roots-blues), June 11; Bumpus (funk, soul), June 18; Chicago Afrobeat Project (Afrobeat), June 25; The Dodos (psych-folk-rock), July 2; On the One (soul, funk), July 9; Taj Weekes and Adowa (reggae), July 16; Need to Breathe (alternative-rock), July 23; The Gourds (roots-rock), July 30; Pato Banton and Mystic Roots Band (reggae), Aug. 6; Aphrodesia (Afrobeat), Aug. 13; South Austin Jug Band (acoustic roots), Aug. 20; Asylum Street Spankers (acoustic Americana), Aug. 27; Gram Rabbit (female-led alt-rock), Sept. 3; Sarah Borges and the Broken Singles (alt-country), Sept. 10; Giant Panda Guerrilla Dub Squad (jam-reggae), Sept. 17; Record Exchange Party (not yet booked), Sept. 24.
Don't feel bad if you haven't heard of a few - or most - of those acts. Even Bunnell hadn't heard of all of them.
Boiseans just need to have faith.
"I hope they're somewhat starting to trust our taste in music," Bunnell says. "I think we've been doing OK for the past three years. There was a little learning curve in the beginning about what works in the venue and what doesn't. But I think we've done reasonably well in the past few years of bringing pretty good talent."
Agreed. Either way, I can hardly wait. Alive After Five is the unofficial launch of summer in Boise, the greatest place in the universe this time of year.
ENTERTAINMENT NOTES
The Winery at Eagle Knoll will be the Treasure Valley's alt-country mecca this summer. Three concerts are confirmed: Steve Earle ($26, July 11, acoustic show), Wilco ($28, Aug. 20) and Neko Case ($26, Aug. 29 - not Aug. 28 as previously reported; promoter Idaho Concerts inadvertently provided the wrong date). The Winery is a gorgeous spot to enjoy an outdoor show. For details about purchasing tickets, see page 30 of this week's Scene magazine.
Comedian Brian Regan will perform June 28 at the Morrison Center. Reba McEntire and Kelly Clarkson will perform Oct. 9 at Taco Bell Arena. The show will go on sale June 20 at Select-a-Seat, but ticket prices are still being ironed out. Slightly Stoopid and Pepper will play the Idaho Center Amphitheater on Aug. 6. No, that's not a mistake: The entire tour is hitting amphitheaters.
Although it won't open for a while, the former Funny Bone space at BoDo in Downtown Boise is slated to become a bar with live music similar to Pengilly's or The Bouquet. Montego Bay, 3000 N. LakeHarbor Lane, recently closed but reportedly plans to reopen within days.
Michael Deeds co-hosts "The Other Studio" at 9 p.m. Sundays on 94.9 FM "The River."
