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Written by Laura Sisul Monday, 28 August 2006 03:48

With approximately 15,000 in attendance, over 100 bands scheduled, and 40-plus panelists, this festival was a nice blend of art and commerce.

 

In all honesty, I had no idea what lay ahead of me. Somehow, I mustered up the courage to embark on a six-hour solo journey from St. Louis to Tulsa for the fifth annual Diversafest music conference and festival.

Founded five years ago by indie artists as a means to promote and empower emerging artists, Dfest celebrates diversity in music. With approximately 15,000 in attendance, over 100 bands scheduled, and 40-plus panelists, this festival was a nice blend of art and commerce.

I went with the intent of educating myself about the complex wonders of the music industry. No more is this industry "just about the music." One of the conference's highlights was hearing keynote speaker Scott Booker, co-founder of World's Fair Entertainment and manager of the Flaming Lips, share his story of triumphs and struggles in the industry. Jeff Scheel, talent booker for Box Talent and former lead singer of Gravity Kills, spoke on panels regarding music publishing and licensing for film and television.

Though the festival prided itself on having a diverse range of acts, it mainly consisted of nu-metal bands that, over two days, began to sound tiringly similar. However, there were hidden gems; these are some of my picks:

Best Live Performance

Damone | Signed to Island/Def Jam, this energetic metal/pop punk band-with the attitude of AC/DC's Bon Scott and a captivating lead singer who could pass for Joan Jett-is making quite a name for itself. Their first single "Out Here All Night" has created a great deal of media attention, including rotation on MTV2. It is only a matter of time before they are selling out arenas.

Biggest Letdown

Ism | This band traveled from New York to play three covers during their 50-minute set. I found them hard to appreciate, as they had no solidified style; rather, there was too much reliance on other musicians' music to convey their own sound.

Best Artist No One Saw

Flint Blade | This young and talented Chapman stick guitar player from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., uses various techniques (like extensive two-handed tapping) and effects to push his instrument beyond its boundaries in crafting intricate experimental jazz songs. His talent is well beyond his 19 years.

Best Minors

Crooked X | With this immensely talented metal band of sixth graders, it is undeniable that Metallica is a main influence. After hearing them, I was reminded of the scene in High Fidelity, when John Cusack freaks out over the demo of the teenage skateboarders who hang out outside his record store. It will be interesting to see how puberty transforms their sound, but Crooked X has definite potential.

Most Visually Entertaining Band

The avant-garde Colourmusic made up for their average sound by creating a one-of-a-kind artistic performance. Playing behind two massive picture frames, the band members became the canvas, as people entered the stage and painted images on them and their set while they were performing. Their catchy hooks displayed their knack for melody, but they drew too much from the Flaming Lips and Beatles to have their music be considered as inventive as their stage performance.

Best Venue to See Bands

Boston's | Demand was high for access to this venue, with lines of people waiting to gain entrance. Most notable was the crowd for one of the last and heavily fan favored bands of the festival, Gooding, an indie-roots-rock band from Wichita. Performing to a seemingly over-sold-out room, Gooding captivated listeners with his intense style that had the crowd chanting for an encore. A great way to end the festival.