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State Fair follow-up question

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Yesterday, I asked you to vote for a band to play at the State Fair Grandstand this summer, hoping to possibly influence the Fair’s booking decisions.

I didn’t make an exact count, but here are the names that I saw most often mentioned which didn’t fry my eyeballs:

* Wilco or some other alt country act - perhaps Steve Earle or the Bottle Rockets (and, yes, I know that Wilco isn’t really an alt country band any longer, but I put them here anyway)

* Green Day, White Stripes or another band that the kids enjoy

* Blue Man Group

* Alison Krauss & Union Station

* Buddy Guy, and/or an evening of Chicago blues

* Cheap Trick, John Fogerty, Steely Dan, Van Halen, or another bygone era rock group

* Weird Al Yankovic

Please vote for just one, and no whining if your choice wasn’t listed. Thanks.

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Jan 10, 07 @ 6:00 am

Comments

  1. Wilco and/or another major alt-country band/performer.

    Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Jan 10, 07 @ 6:01 am

  2. Alison Krauss

    Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Jan 10, 07 @ 6:11 am

  3. John Fogerty

    Ooby Dooby

    Comment by B Hicks Wednesday, Jan 10, 07 @ 6:28 am

  4. From that list, what I’d really like to see is Blue Man Group _attempting_ alt country … but since that’s not an option, I’d vote for Wilco / alt country.

    Comment by ZC Wednesday, Jan 10, 07 @ 6:39 am

  5. Buddy Guy / Chicago Blues

    (Singing “The Blues” seem appropriate for the downstate for the next four years…)

    Comment by Animous Wednesday, Jan 10, 07 @ 7:06 am

  6. John Fogarty

    Comment by Pat Hickey Wednesday, Jan 10, 07 @ 7:11 am

  7. Blue Man Group

    Comment by Master of the Obvious Wednesday, Jan 10, 07 @ 7:13 am

  8. Wilco

    Comment by anonymouse Wednesday, Jan 10, 07 @ 7:20 am

  9. Weird Al, no question

    Comment by Gregor Wednesday, Jan 10, 07 @ 7:20 am

  10. I vote for Chicago blues.

    Comment by Tessa Wednesday, Jan 10, 07 @ 7:21 am

  11. …or Son Volt…or Neko Case…or Kelly Hogan…

    Comment by anonymouse Wednesday, Jan 10, 07 @ 7:22 am

  12. Steely Dan

    Comment by Shallow Pharnyx Wednesday, Jan 10, 07 @ 7:27 am

  13. Buddy Guy/Chi Blues

    Comment by Bill Wednesday, Jan 10, 07 @ 7:27 am

  14. Wilco and/or another major alt-country band/performer — The Bottle Rockets opening for Steve Earle might cause my bleeding-heart to fail.

    Comment by So-Called "Austin Mayor" Wednesday, Jan 10, 07 @ 7:43 am

  15. Green Day

    Comment by Tom Wednesday, Jan 10, 07 @ 7:55 am

  16. I like the Buddy Guy/blues thing, for multitudes of reasons…it would be a showcase of the state’s claim to fame in America’s rich musical heritage, as well as a chance for the crowd to sing “Ride, Sally, Ride!” which is always therapeutic.

    And, no, I won’t whine about your omission of Barry the Entertainer. I do wonder, though, why there wasn’t a public outcry about the destruction of the Little Corporal similar to the reaction of Liverpool (and the rest of the civilized world) when the Cavern Club was slated for demolition.

    Comment by Six Degrees of Separation Wednesday, Jan 10, 07 @ 7:57 am

  17. Bottle Rockets.

    Comment by Boone Logan Square Wednesday, Jan 10, 07 @ 7:58 am

  18. Roger Wilco.

    Over and Out.

    Comment by Stuck with Sen. CPA Wednesday, Jan 10, 07 @ 7:58 am

  19. Weird Al…from his latest “White and Nerdy” all the way back to “I Love Rocky Road,” he’s been entertaining us for a quarter century now. Just “Eat It,” indeed.

    (Of course, I wouldn’t say no to Wilco either.)

    Comment by Jacques Strappe Wednesday, Jan 10, 07 @ 7:59 am

  20. I’d actually go to the state fair for once if Wilco played.

    Comment by orb Wednesday, Jan 10, 07 @ 8:01 am

  21. Blue Man Group, although it would be difficult for them to do a Las Vegas quality show on an outdoor stage.

    Comment by Little Egypt Wednesday, Jan 10, 07 @ 8:15 am

  22. Alison Kraus: local girl does good, plus she’s big for bluegrass

    Comment by John Wednesday, Jan 10, 07 @ 8:18 am

  23. Green Day

    Comment by RFK fan Wednesday, Jan 10, 07 @ 8:20 am

  24. Blue Man Group
    Buddy Guy
    Weird Al

    As far as Blue Man not being able to do a stage show, they are currently touring–the show is fantastic.

    Comment by Cornelius Wednesday, Jan 10, 07 @ 8:27 am

  25. Fogerty, the perfect State Fair performer (Doesn’t “Proud Mary” sound like it was written 80 years ago?)

    Comment by corvax Wednesday, Jan 10, 07 @ 8:30 am

  26. REO Speedwagon and we want Rich Miller to do the introduction!!!

    Comment by Wheres the leadership??? Wednesday, Jan 10, 07 @ 8:46 am

  27. Alison Kraus

    Comment by Tweed Wednesday, Jan 10, 07 @ 8:50 am

  28. Weird Al and/or Steely Dan

    Comment by Bluefish Wednesday, Jan 10, 07 @ 8:57 am

  29. Buddy Guy/blues

    Comment by Ahem Wednesday, Jan 10, 07 @ 8:57 am

  30. Weird Al.

    Comment by phocion Wednesday, Jan 10, 07 @ 8:59 am

  31. How about Beck??

    2 turntables and a butter cow!

    Comment by prairiestatedem Wednesday, Jan 10, 07 @ 9:00 am

  32. Alison Krauss and Union Station

    Comment by Colt 45 Wednesday, Jan 10, 07 @ 9:00 am

  33. Don’t get me wrong. I liked REO a lot all those years ago. “Golden Country” got my freak flag flying in a big way. But their stuff has just been played to death. Now, let’s move on, as I have.

    Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Jan 10, 07 @ 9:02 am

  34. Weird Al Yankovic
    Cheep Trick

    Comment by OneMan Wednesday, Jan 10, 07 @ 9:09 am

  35. Wilco/Sun Volt/something good and alt country

    I know several rabid Tweedy fans that would gladly trek from Chi to Springfield to see Wilco. It’s tough to get tickets for their shows in Chicago.

    Comment by skater Wednesday, Jan 10, 07 @ 9:24 am

  36. Weird Al for the weird state of affairs we call Illinois. If he does not appear, it’s obivious the fix is on and done.

    Comment by Ali Bin Haddin Wednesday, Jan 10, 07 @ 9:26 am

  37. I’ll take the Steely Dan team

    Comment by Reddbyrd Wednesday, Jan 10, 07 @ 9:31 am

  38. WILCO!

    Comment by The PFC Wednesday, Jan 10, 07 @ 9:31 am

  39. Buddy Guy

    Comment by Taylor Street Wednesday, Jan 10, 07 @ 9:34 am

  40. My personal choice would be Steve Earle, but he’d probably offend a lot of people’s sensibilities.

    I think my vote is for Alison Krauss. She might have the broadest appeal from that list, since fans of what radio calls “today’s country” like her, as do many fans of REAL country, alt-country, bluegrass, and pop. AND there’s the “local girl makes good” angle.

    Comment by I'll Fry Anything Once Wednesday, Jan 10, 07 @ 9:44 am

  41. does this mean the symphony wont be taking up a date !!!!

    Comment by The Horse Wednesday, Jan 10, 07 @ 9:50 am

  42. Yankee Hotel Foxtrot - WILCO!

    Comment by The Ghost Wednesday, Jan 10, 07 @ 9:51 am

  43. May I please have more Wilco, sir?
    Please no more expired has-beens, OK?

    Comment by VanillaMan Wednesday, Jan 10, 07 @ 9:55 am

  44. Wilco.

    Comment by Ron Burgundy Wednesday, Jan 10, 07 @ 10:08 am

  45. I would really like to see Alison Krauss & Union Station.

    Comment by Anon Wednesday, Jan 10, 07 @ 10:27 am

  46. Wilco or Steve Earle

    I would love to see Steve Earle play at the fair because it will offend some people’s sensibilities.

    Comment by Will Wednesday, Jan 10, 07 @ 10:32 am

  47. Bottle Rockets, Steve Earle, Wilco, some other major alt-country group. hmmmmm…I have an idea for a separated at birth photo…

    Comment by ArchPundit Wednesday, Jan 10, 07 @ 10:36 am

  48. Steve Earle

    Comment by Devin Miller Wednesday, Jan 10, 07 @ 10:52 am

  49. You gotta go Wilco. An alt-country band that is lesser known may not sell.

    Blue Man Group was a great idea.

    Comment by Tweed Wednesday, Jan 10, 07 @ 10:53 am

  50. I’m with Redd-bring on Steely Dan.

    PS: Agree with you Rich on REO. I go tired of those guys even before they made it big. They played a lot in the beer joints in my home town “back in the day” and I also had the dubious distinction of chasing their lead singer (Gary Richrath, I think?) all over Central IL trying to collect on the bad checks he wrote here and there.

    Comment by Arthur Andersen Wednesday, Jan 10, 07 @ 11:47 am

  51. Do you people really think the Bottle Rockets could draw more than 100 people?

    (I think Rich should put together a blog party during session and hire them to play it, actually. Bet you could get ‘em for a grand.)

    Oh - my vote. Half to Alison Krauss and half to Weird Al. I’ve already seen Wilco three or four dozen times.

    Comment by Reality Check Wednesday, Jan 10, 07 @ 11:53 am

  52. Wilco.

    Comment by 1047 Wednesday, Jan 10, 07 @ 12:28 pm

  53. wilco wilco wilco wilco wilco wilco wilco wilco wilco wilco wilco wilco wilco wilco wilco wilco wilco wilco wilco wilco wilco wilco wilco wilco wilco

    (I’d make the trek to Springfield from Chicago!)

    Comment by jerry Wednesday, Jan 10, 07 @ 12:39 pm

  54. WILCO. Mark it down.

    Comment by Jake from Elwood Wednesday, Jan 10, 07 @ 12:42 pm

  55. I’d do Steely Dan if it would get them here.

    Comment by Shadoobie Wednesday, Jan 10, 07 @ 12:45 pm

  56. Wilco

    Comment by Sharad Wednesday, Jan 10, 07 @ 1:41 pm

  57. Shadoobie
    What about me?

    Comment by Buddy Guy Wednesday, Jan 10, 07 @ 1:50 pm

  58. Wilco would be very good, but Fogerty is quintessential R&R, especially if he could bring CCR with him (not the group he currently tours with sometimes)

    Comment by steve schnorf Wednesday, Jan 10, 07 @ 2:15 pm

  59. It has to be Weird Al. Two songs on his recent CD would apply to Illinois Government. The first song is “I’ll sue ya” and the other is “Do I Creep you Out.” Maybe he can write more songs about Illinois Government before fair time.

    I would not mind seeing a Chicago Blues night either.

    Comment by QC Transplant Wednesday, Jan 10, 07 @ 2:24 pm

  60. Wilco, and even better try to get Jay Farrar to show up for an impromptu Uncle Tupelo reunion.

    Comment by Elmer "Mr GOP" Hoffman Wednesday, Jan 10, 07 @ 2:45 pm

  61. Big Steely Dan fan here but for the State of A Fairs’ I’d go for Buddy Guy in the biggest beer tent available and Green Day at the grandstand.

    Comment by Smack-o-cratic Wednesday, Jan 10, 07 @ 2:47 pm

  62. Which is the least likely scenario?

    A) John Fogerty reunites with his pathetic, money-grubbing ex-Creedence bandmates.

    B) Jeff Tweedy and Jay Farrar perform together.

    C) Elvis comes out of hiding to play the Illinois State Fair.

    D) The governor begins taking his honesty pills.

    I’m not sure myself…

    Comment by Pop Quiz: Wednesday, Jan 10, 07 @ 3:19 pm

  63. WILCO!!!

    Comment by wilcoisthebestbandever Wednesday, Jan 10, 07 @ 4:07 pm

  64. Van Halen

    Comment by maggiemae Wednesday, Jan 10, 07 @ 4:44 pm

  65. Alison Krauss

    Comment by roadkill Wednesday, Jan 10, 07 @ 4:45 pm

  66. Foo Fighters! I love Dave Grohl.

    Comment by Freezeup Wednesday, Jan 10, 07 @ 4:48 pm

  67. Arthur, Arthur, I must correct you. Gary Richrath was the guitarist in REO. Kevin Cronin was the lead singer. I believe he left for a while or is he still gone? I don’t care anymore. They lost me in the 80s when they tried to become like every other band of the day. It was sad.

    I used to know each guy and what they did by heart. *sigh*

    Comment by Tessa Wednesday, Jan 10, 07 @ 5:04 pm

  68. I’d have to split my vote, weird Al and or Cheap trick. Also, I heard from a friend that in the springfield area there are bumper stickers that read, “Blago in 06, Quinn in 07″ Anyone seen something like this. I cracked up when I heard that.

    Comment by Concerned Voter Wednesday, Jan 10, 07 @ 6:26 pm

  69. Cheap Trick

    Comment by Anon. Wednesday, Jan 10, 07 @ 7:24 pm

  70. I’m a hard core Rock n Roller. Cheap Trick, Van
    Halen,R.E.O. and Steely Dan all on the same “bill”
    would kick butt. They’d draw a wide age group.

    Comment by Nostradamus Wednesday, Jan 10, 07 @ 8:23 pm

  71. Weird Al Yankovic

    (for all the weird things that have happen in Illinois in the last 4 years)

    Comment by state worker #1 Wednesday, Jan 10, 07 @ 8:44 pm

  72. #1. Buddy Guy or some Chicago blues act
    #2. Bygone era band like Cheap Trick, Styx, etcetera
    #3. Weird Al or Blue Man Group tied for 3rd place

    If Weird Al wins, please have Cake as his opening act. My choice didn’t make the list (sniffle sniffle), but both would wow the crowd with offbeat, hilariously funny lyrics.

    Comment by Angie Thursday, Jan 11, 07 @ 1:43 am

  73. I’m curious. Are people voting for the bands that they really like best; or are they strategically voting–selecting the band most likely to win, in an effort to avoid splitting the vote amongst similar bands? When taking a vote like this, it’s always better to use a majority election, rather than a plurality. You can do it by either using a series of runoff elections, or using Instant Runoff Voting with a ranked ballot.

    Comment by Squideshi Thursday, Jan 11, 07 @ 12:48 pm

  74. Squid, for crying out loud, give it a rest.

    Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Jan 11, 07 @ 1:48 pm

  75. Oh, and by the way, Pork died.

    Comment by steve schnorf Thursday, Jan 11, 07 @ 2:17 pm

  76. Sorry Rich. On a serious note, why do you think that people vote strategically in some elections but not others? You would think that the same logic applies in both cases, wouldn’t you?

    Comment by Squideshi Thursday, Jan 11, 07 @ 7:42 pm

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