Over the years, the sly quip, “If you can remember the ’60s, you weren’t there,” has been translated to other times and places, including any number of outdoor music festivals, from Woodstock to Bonnaroo.
But Music Midtown still conjures vivid mental snapshots for those who braved sultry temperatures, sudden storms, crazy crowds and the confusion of changing sites during the Atlanta festival’s 1994-2005 heyday.
The real problem, it seems, isn’t recalling who or what you saw; it’s when. Even Music Midtown founders Alex Cooley and Peter Conlon can’t always come up with the exact date of a favorite performance or story.
“I’m not sure which year,” Conlon said recently, “but Bob Dylan played on the old site facing Peachtree in front of like 100,000 people. He was so excited, he actually hugged his agent after the show. His agent told me that had never happened before. And I remember one year when the Black Crowes played. After the show, I passed [lead singer] Chris Robinson just hanging out in the crowd in his bare feet. I warned him to go get some shoes on.”
Cooley, whose legendary status goes back to bringing the likes of Jimi Hendrix to the 1970 Atlanta International Pop Festival, also recalls Dylan’s surprisingly happy Music Midtown stage presence.
“I worked with Dylan quite a few times,” Cooley said. “That night he was just really on, almost ebullient. I don’t think I’ve seen him like that before or since. Another time, we had Joan Baez play early on a Sunday morning, which was a horrible time to put her on. But she was just so gracious and she did such a good show.”
After a five-year hiatus, Music Midtown returns on September 24 with Coldplay and the Black Keys headlining. With that in mind, we asked some other people who attended the festival back in the day (and some who didn't) what they remembered.
Musicians
"I'm going to say I played nine times in a row. The first year, I was living on 10th Street, so I was very close to the action. I always said, 'I wouldn't stand in the rain to watch my mother sing.' But Al Green was there and I was totally enthralled. I stood out in the rain and the mud, stomping my feet and crying and singing along with Al Green at Music Midtown." -- Francine Reed, blues and jazz singer, currently on tour with Lyle Lovett
"Outdoor festivals are tough. Always hot or rainy. But we had a good time the last time we played Music Midtown. We went on right before Def Leppard and Big Boi. It was actually pretty cool. Big Boi was amazing. And Def Leppard was fun, too. Rick Allen is the best one-armed drummer I can think of." -- Patterson Hood, Drive-By Truckers singer/songwriter/guitarist
A Fan
"I loved Music Midtown because I am into all kinds of music. I attended six or seven times, starting with the last one at the 10th Street location. Devo had a surprising mix of age groups and genders ranging from teenage girls to 50-something men. No Doubt closed down the 99X stage one year with one of the biggest crowds I have seen. It was cool to sometimes see one band finish a set and sit around to watch another band. After Ween finished one year, the lead singer decided to stand in the crowd and watch REO Speedwagon with a couple of his friends. I got a kick out of that. -- Pravin Ratnam, Sandy Springs software professional
Chefs
"I was at Music Midtown in 2003 and pushed to the stage to see LL Cool J. It was so crowded, I passed out and security took me back stage to recoup. Later, LL Cool J stopped by and gave me a bottle of water and asked if I was OK. I didn't even know it was LL Cool J until my friend started freaking out. That was very cool of him." -- Tracey Bloom, Ray's Killer Creek executive chef and 2010 Bravo "Top Chef" contestant
"I will have to research the year, but it was when Stone Temple Pilots played and it was mind blowing. [Lead singer] Scott Weiland is pretty much my rock star hero. I was with a friend and we somehow scored all-access vendor passes and snuck in like ninjas in the night. Such a great time." -- Justin Balmes, chef instructor at Viking Culinary Center School and 2011 Food Network Star finalist
Absentees
"I never really went. At the time, I was 'anti music festival' and too indie to appreciate it." -- Steven Satterfield, chef/owner of Miller Union and former singer/guitarist of Atlanta bands Seely and Silver Lakes.
"Never. As in not once. Seems impossible, even to me. But true." -- Tom Junod, Esquire writer at large and longtime Marietta resident
Radiohead
"I remember being backstage during the Ludacris concert and being in awe of his talent. Big Boi was closing out the event and Bert [Weiss] found a great listener to come on stage and bring him out to perform. She did an awesome job. Two-thirds into his show, it started to rain and storm and Big Boi led the crowd in chants of '[forget]-the-rain' until someone cut the power and ended the show. Despite being cut short, nobody left unhappy because what he did onstage was so mind-blowing. -- Jeff Dauler of Q100's the Bert Show
The Mayor
"I have so many terrific memories at previous Music Midtown events, but what stands out most is just being able to listen to such a wonderful group of artists. Over the years, I've heard Journey perform 'Don't Stop Believin' and sang along with Tony Bennett while spending time with friends and family. Music Midtown has also featured Atlanta-based artists, such as Outkast and Ludacris, and I'm looking forward to that tradition continuing. I hope that everyone will join me in celebrating the return of Music Midtown." -- Kasim Reed, Atlanta Mayor
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