Cruel World Music Festival

[wxdude]

Goldenvoice has announced a new one-day L.A.-area niche festival featuring mainly 80's new wave, goth, alt-rock, and post-punk acts along with some modern artists and bands with influences from that era. Similar conceptually to the Just Like Heaven Festival last year, the Cruel World Festival will take place on a Saturday in early May two weeks after the conclusion of Coachella W2. It will be held on the grounds of the Dignity Health Sports Park located on the Cal State Dominguez Hills campus in Carson. There will be a presale on Thursday, Feb. 13 starting at noon PST, and a general sale the following day also at noon PST. Passes are $135-165 for GA, $225-250 for VIP, and $350 for Super VIP, plus fees.

?

This festival is definitely targeting Gen Xers like me who were into stuff that wasn't originally mainstream in the States but may have had commercial success later on. Rather than having these acts play at Coachella as some have done in the past, GV is packaging them in a one-stop festival to appeal to those who have mostly abandoned going (if they ever went) as it has moved towards more contemporary pop with less emphasis on legacy acts. These bands will probably draw much bigger crowds and be more appreciated in this type of setting.

It sucks that this festival is being held the same weekend in 2020 as several others nationally. If it wasn't, I'd seriously consider flying out for it (despite Moz being a POS these days). Consider that it is up against:

• Shaky Knees Festival in Atlanta
• III Points Festival in Miami
• Beale Street Music Festival in Memphis
• W2 of New Orleans Jazz Fest
• SunFest in West Palm Beach
• Beach Life Music Festival in Redondo Beach

It should though sell well and have a pretty decent regional attendance.

[Papichujoe]

So do y'all think this is a "replacement" for Just Like Heaven? If so, bummer I was hoping those the Strokes/LCD Soundsystem rumors were true

[Wolfbeckett]

I suspect it probably is, unfortunately. Let's hope they do Arroyo Seco again this year, maybe the Strokes and LCD Soundsystem could headline that.

[breathewithme]

yeah that's quite a blast from the past, if this was a little closer I'd have to go, just for old times sake.

[iantmcfarland]

Really frustrated by the whole Moz booking, not even getting into how he's total ass these days. I know the guy is a huge draw and will move tickets, but he also plays big venues in Los Angeles on the regular - this just feels obvious. Really wish they could have booked someone like New Order to headline.

[breathewithme]

New Order would be great but have they ever really been the same without Peter Hook? Moz is disappointing at least, I've been a big Smiths/Moz fan forever, even after his meltdown at Coachella he came out and played a blistering version of How Soon is Now, but all this England for the English stuff and whatnot is hard to look past, although he still sells a ton of tix as you say.

[Wolfbeckett]

There's a lot of bands on the undercard I like but MAN do I hate Morrissey and always have unlike you Johnny come latelys. He isn't a POS "these days" because he now has a political opinion a lot of people find distasteful. He's ALWAYS been a self righteous douche bag. I'd love to see Bauhaus, Blondie, Violent Femmes, Berlin, etc. but I don't think I can bring myself to go a festival where the sole headliner is a guy I despise. If it was a multi day affair and he was only one of several headliners I could deal but I think it's gonna be a pass from me.

[wxdude]

New Order would be great but have they ever really been the same without Peter Hook? Moz is disappointing at least, I've been a big Smiths/Moz fan forever, even after his meltdown at Coachella he came out and played a blistering version of How Soon is Now, but all this England for the English stuff and whatnot is hard to look past, although he still sells a ton of tix as you say.

Hey, you finally joined us over here! Someone will have to alert Baby Sandwich that you're here so that you can get an "OK Boomer" response to your posts. ?

I can attest that New Order is still fantastic live and would be the perfect act to headline this type of festival. Last year's show and the four residency shows last month here in Miami were among the best concerts that I have ever been to among the many I've attended in my life. Yes, Hooky's bass guitar playing is missed, but they have all moved on, and the other three members are still around and have actually improved (Gillian's signature contributions on keyboards and synths are often overlooked). On the flip side, I remember New Order's Coachella main stage performance in 2005 in which Peter Hook was still very much a part of the band and Gillian was away; it left a lot to be desired.

There's a lot of bands on the undercard I like but MAN do I hate Morrissey and always have unlike you Johnny come latelys. He isn't a POS "these days" because he now has a political opinion a lot of people find distasteful. He's ALWAYS been a self righteous douche bag. I'd love to see Bauhaus, Blondie, Violent Femmes, Berlin, etc. but I don't think I can bring myself to go a festival where the sole headliner is a guy I despise. If it was a multi day affair and he was only one of several headliners I could deal but I think it's gonna be a pass from me.

TBH I have never been much of a Smiths/Morrissey fan even back in the 80's when they were at their peak and had not paid much attention to Moz's behavior. It wasn't until the Coachella main stage antics in 2009 that breathewithme referred to above that I came to the realization of how much of a diva douche he is. I remember taking in the late Leonard Cohen's very moving set on the outdoor stage and then wandering over towards the main to catch Morrissey for a bit. It totally burst my bubble. I left after a while, went back to the outdoor, and fortunately caught all of what I consider the Silversun Pickups' best Coachella performance.

Based on Moz's track record, I would put the odds at 50/50 that he actually performs and doesn't cancel out beforehand. I'm guessing that GV must have a backup plan for a replacement retro headliner if and when that occurs.

[Wolfbeckett]

TBH I have never been much of a Smiths/Morrissey fan even back in the 80's when they were at their peak and had not paid much attention to Moz's behavior. It wasn't until the Coachella main stage antics in 2009 that breathewithme referred to above that I came to the realization of how much of a diva douche he is. I remember taking in the late Leonard Cohen's very moving set on the outdoor stage and then wandering over towards the main to catch Morrissey for a bit. It totally burst my bubble. I left after a while, went back to the outdoor, and fortunately caught all of what I consider the Silversun Pickups' best Coachella performance.

Based on Moz's track record, I would put the odds at 50/50 that he actually performs and doesn't cancel out beforehand. I'm guessing that GV must have a backup plan for a replacement retro headliner if and when that occurs.

I saw Leonard Cohen into SSP that night as well, totally worth it. Didn't get a great spot for Paul McCartney as a result but skipping Morrissey was worth having to see Sir Paul on the monitor instead of on the stage.

[scenicworld]

Picked up a pair of tickets. See you there!

[scenicworld]

Morrissey is definitely the least exciting part of this lineup but with all the other acts it was a no brainer to decide to go.

[wxdude]

Hey, congrats on getting passes! I agree with your assessment. It should be an awesome time, and who knows if Moz will even show up.

[iantmcfarland]

Unsurprisingly, the first couple of pricing Tiers disappeared pretty quickly during the presale. I didn't check until 12:20, but One and Two were both already gone. Hoping everyone who was in at noon had access to Tier One.

[breathewithme]

Hey, you finally joined us over here! Someone will have to alert Baby Sandwich that you're here so that you can get an "OK Boomer" response to your posts. ?

I can attest that New Order is still fantastic live and would be the perfect act to headline this type of festival. Last year's show and the four residency shows last month here in Miami were among the best concerts that I have ever been to among the many I've attended in my life. Yes, Hooky's bass guitar playing is missed, but they have all moved on, and the other three members are still around and have actually improved (Gillian's signature contributions on keyboards and synths are often overlooked). On the flip side, I remember New Order's Coachella main stage performance in 2005 in which Peter Hook was still very much a part of the band and Gillian was away; it left a lot to be desired.



TBH I have never been much of a Smiths/Morrissey fan even back in the 80's when they were at their peak and had not paid much attention to Moz's behavior. It wasn't until the Coachella main stage antics in 2009 that breathewithme referred to above that I came to the realization of how much of a diva douche he is. I remember taking in the late Leonard Cohen's very moving set on the outdoor stage and then wandering over towards the main to catch Morrissey for a bit. It totally burst my bubble. I left after a while, went back to the outdoor, and fortunately caught all of what I consider the Silversun Pickups' best Coachella performance.

Based on Moz's track record, I would put the odds at 50/50 that he actually performs and doesn't cancel out beforehand. I'm guessing that GV must have a backup plan for a replacement retro headliner if and when that occurs.

I've lurked here a little, I miss the old board, even Baby Sandwich! Almost time to get the Amy love-fest thread rolling lol. Thanks for keeping this place alive! I know you enjoy Shaky Knees, did you go in '18? damn that was a good festival.

nice to hear New Order were so good recently! I remember when Blue Monday was a big dance club track, back in my doorman days in Santa Barbara. didn't see them until 2001 at Moby's Area: One festival, and then again a few years later in Oakland...excellent both times.

And yeah, that Moz performance wasn't great. I honestly loved the Smiths and Morrissey but I've had him cancel as I was driving to SF to see him, and loved some of his shows, but he's become insufferable and it's hard to appreciate his music anymore these days given all his other bullshit.

Not much on the schedule so far this year, just got some RATM tix for Oakland today so that's awesome, Madness at the Fox, and Rammstein in LA...pretty stoked for those. It will be hard to top last year though, Macca, Stones...even ELO!

[iantmcfarland]

Damn - festival's already sold out. I wonder what capacity for this venue is.

Are they gonna be able to add another day this year too?

[wxdude]

I've lurked here a little, I miss the old board, even Baby Sandwich! Almost time to get the Amy love-fest thread rolling lol. Thanks for keeping this place alive! I know you enjoy Shaky Knees, did you go in '18? damn that was a good festival.

nice to hear New Order were so good recently! I remember when Blue Monday was a big dance club track, back in my doorman days in Santa Barbara. didn't see them until 2001 at Moby's Area: One festival, and then again a few years later in Oakland...excellent both times.

And yeah, that Moz performance wasn't great. I honestly loved the Smiths and Morrissey but I've had him cancel as I was driving to SF to see him, and loved some of his shows, but he's become insufferable and it's hard to appreciate his music anymore these days given all his other bullshit.

Not much on the schedule so far this year, just got some RATM tix for Oakland today so that's awesome, Madness at the Fox, and Rammstein in LA...pretty stoked for those. It will be hard to top last year though, Macca, Stones...even ELO!

I did go to Shaky Knees in 2018. It was a blast! Unfortunately I had to cancel going to last year's festival just before it started b/c I came down with a bad cold and couldn't make the trip to the ATL. I will though be back this year. I just wish that Cruel World was scheduled on a different weekend than Shaky. This lineup for this is great minus Moz.

I also saw Jeff Lynne's ELO last year and really enjoyed the show.

[wxdude]

Damn - festival's already sold out. I wonder what capacity for this venue is.

Are they gonna be able to add another day this year too?

Wow! It doesn't appear that GV is going to have another day right now. They are doing the Lyte waitlist thing instead for anyone who still wants passes.