The Alive After Five line up is out and there is not one local act. Why? Even after last years impassioned e-mail from Lori (of Lori B! and the Boys) and the following out cry. Alive After Five will have not one of the bands that live and work here. Personally I find it odd and offensive to the Boise music community. The Record Exchange owner Mike Bunnell is generally a huge supporter of the local acts. Why not on Wednesday nights downtown? Do the record companies spread some money around? Is it about beer sales? Boisee.com is confused. We have heard that the local bands don't draw. Anybody else think this is wrong headed? What indie band from the Midwest will out draw $oul Purpose? Stella?, Jeremiah James? How about newcomers Denae and the Poor Boys, or Steve Fulton's Motorflower project, or a whatever local country group is hot now. If you have to bring in an expensive road act. Get John Nemeth off the road and have a Frim Fram reunion. Man, that would be fun. Another blues powerhouse, Laura Price grew up on the base in Mountain Home is touring the area this summer. Doesn't seem that hard to come up with somebody local to play. A group that would make the record companies, the beer companies, the politicos, and the event goers happy.
Even if the we must sell more beer argument is valid, so what? Alive After Five is a public sponsored gig. THINK LOCAL FIRST, remember!