Or did we?  1998 rolled around, and we had a new confidence after a new live consistency, a new sobriety, and lots of new material.  One member suggested that we answer the call to our fourth "Spirit Fest Lazer© Stage" since we have new members and a new record coming out in the fall.   I  decided to e-mail the self-proclaimed gateway to "Spirit Fest" about playing again, although we weren't sure we wanted to.  I didn't know the guy; I just knew that normally, "Spirit Fest" representatives called us (Dave) and arranged things.  I wasn't sure what was going on, so I thought a nice, friendly e-mail would break the ice.   Instead, I received a painfully didactic lecture from a little boy in Bonner Springs, Kansas named Jay Bredwell.  Unlike the fellow that coordinated last-year's "Spirit Fest Lazer© Stage" (the charming and swell Jeff Campbell), the new-kid-on-the-chopping-block was not so amenable to our cute, charming stage antics.  The following is a verbatim e-mail interchange between the up and failing booking-agent and myself.  I hope that the general issues I raise about the treatment of Lawrence \ Kansas-City area bands shine through all the mud-slinging.   My words are in this teal color, Mr. Bredwell's are all in this blue color.

From: scott born <scott@killcreek.com>

Subject: Kill Creek failing Spirit Fest again

Jay,

Jody Worrell suggested I write you RE: SF. Just curious what the situation is this year; we are sort of interested in avenging our horrifying experiences of last year, but one more show in 100 degree weather with the sun setting in our faces might just break us forever. On the up side, I don’t drink so much anymore, so I prolly wouldn't throw anything or be such a potty-mouth. Who is to know? Our record will start slipping out around that time, so it wouldn't be such a bad idea, blah, blah, blah. I just want Jody to think I can keep my mouth clean!

Scott Born

To: "Scott Born" <scott@killcreek.com>

From: Jay Bredwell slummy9@idir.net

Subject: Re: Kill Creek (II)

Scott-

We'll see about KC playing SF. I know last year's show was not the best.

Everyone is entitled to a few bad ones, and I've seen KC just flat out rock. But, unfortunately SF has an image to protect, which revolves around the event being "family oriented." Here's how it works, although it might bore the hell out of ya.

The city council of KCMO has "watch dogs" that attend, then report directly to the members. The council is who approves our tourism grant from the city each year. These watch dogs are the people that keep the spectacle "in-check." That is, they literally have the final say on what is family oriented, and what may not reach their standards.

Now, we are not sure if any of these watch dogs happen to be at the rock stage during your set last year. In fact, they probably were not, or else I would have heard about it. The thing it boils down to, is that we simply can NOT have that sort of behavior on stage, again. It's one thing to have a band member screw up, which will occasionally happen, because we (you, and I, and the human race) are imperfect creatures. But, to consciously verbally abuse that person, with vulgar language, in front of the audience over the PA, is totally different. That is down-right NOT family oriented material. Not to mention the amp and guitar throwing following the set, as you mentioned in your email.

I'm sure you can understand that there would be a great concern about having KC perform at the rock stage, again, this year, following last year's. Although, I can certainly mention to the committee who will be selecting the bands that you have acknowledged your faults of last year, and have considerable interest with re-deeming yourself.

Therefore, you should send a full press kit our way, so we can get you on the SF pile. The mailing address should be below in my signature. See yah.

 -Slummy

P.S.: Congrats on the marriage.

Jay Bredwell
Slumlord Productions
P.O. Box 115, Bonner Springs, KS 66012
t:913/422-LORD(5673) f:913/441-LORD(5673)
http://www.SlumlordProductions.com
HOME OF THE KC/LAWRENCE CD COMPILATION!

From: scott born <scott@killcreek.com>

Subject: Re: Kill Creek (II)

At 05:18 PM 5/17/98 -0500, you wrote:

>Scott-
>We'll see about KC playing SF. I know last year's show was
>not the best. Everyone is entitled to a few bad ones, and I've
>seen KC just flat out rock. But, unfortunately SF has an image
>to protect, which revolves around the event being "family
>oriented." Here's how it works, although it might bore the hell
>out of ya.

>The city council of KCMO has "watch dogs" that attend, then
>report directly to the members. The council is who approves
>our tourism grant from the city each year. These watch dogs
>are the people that keep the spectacle "in-check." That is,
>they literally have the final say on what is family oriented, and
>what may not reach their standards.

Nope; it doesn't bore me at all, given that it is perfectly executed fiction. Jay, I'm not an idiot. I have been around the catacombs of overblown music spectacles for much longer than you have. And I know a bit about how Spirit Fest works. You don't need to create some fictional "evil empire" to empower yourself as the Chaplain of the "Lazer© Rock Amphitheater". That is ridiculous.

Were you there? This sounds curiously like a blend of observation and second-hand account. For one, the band members got along fine. Two, the profanity was directed at the company that had "fixed" the equipment that was broken upon our arrival, e.g. Audio Video Services here in Lawrence. Three, some stage manager cut our set short, and then another got mad when we "quit early", which was the catalyst for the "post-show" pissy-Scott. When we played two years ago, the stage manager was relieved that there were no "Niggers" in our band, and announced himself as "House Nigger" upon his formal introduction (and secret "whitey" handshake). He yelled at Ed Rose for wanting to use his own snare, asking Ed (the producer or engineer on 80% of the national releases from the area) "who the fuck he thought he was" since he was playing at 6:00 and asking for such a HUGE conciliatory gesture. My experience with Spirit Fest is as family-oriented as they get. Mark (Stick) carried around on-stage on a cross, Molly McGuire (I think) announcing (prime-time, but R-rated) that if people weren't "naked and fucking before we're done, we'll feel like we've been ripped-off". They showed up the next year. The so-called "watchdogs" must not have been watching. Good thing you weren't there!

I've played in every state except three or four, and out-side of the country, and never experienced the neglectful, haughty bullshit that I get from our own area's "production staffs", and faux-promoters. It is unreal that our least anticipated gigs were always our shows upon returning home from the road (with the exception of "The Hurricane", which has always been, at least, friendly to us). This is not an uncommon sentiment. Just ask (R.I.P.) "Boy's Life", "Panel Donor", "The Get Up Kids", "Giant's Chair", "Shiner", and any other touring act that has given up on the majority of this region. Kansas City and Lawrence are so busy erecting their own myths that they have forgotten that the predominant myth of the area during the 80's (when you, according to your bio, were faking I.D.'s and breaking the law to attend Outhouse shows) was that the region TREATED BANDS WITH RESPECT.

Sprit Fest's abuse of local talent has always been concurrent with the local "pecking-order" mentality, and has always struck me as unethical. The "Lazer Rock Amphitheater" gets away with being cheap-assed regarding local talent because working bands are desperate for exposure. Unfortunately, the exposure is limited because of the demographics involved. Bands play pro gratis (for free) for < 18 crowds, for exposure in a town that has no venue that can truly explore all-age opportunities. Most upsetting is the fact that local acts of prominence don't GAIN credibility by playing the gig, instead, they LEND credibility to the event itself. And all for free! Without the 20-odd bands that don't get so much as a guest-list, the event would be one over-exposed national act playing each night.

Don't get me wrong. I don't mind the Lazer. They actually promote local music. For free. I have to respect them for their loyal promotion of many bands (including our own) that weren't catching on fire. A few of the D.J.'s have been particularly loyal to us and have always treated us with respect. Remember that word: "R-E-S-P-E-C-T".

Speaking for Kill Creek, WE HATE PLAYING "SPIRIT FEST"! That was the point I was alluding to in my e-mail; we were getting some pressure to look into it from kids that can't see us at other venues, from people paying for our next record, and one of the new members of the band. But, as the rest of us agreed, it just costs the band money, it is hot and sweaty, and, reliably, some didactic know-it-all staffer either lectures you, offends you, or acts like he represents the Christian Coalition. Well Jay, you are third in a line of bad Spirit Fest experiences, experiences that I am personally glad to see end.

One member of our band wanted to play, so I wrote an e-mail on Jody's suggestion. In return I get a mysteriously motivated and hysterical sociopolitical overture about family orientation. Well Jay, drop the big-shot trip. As a member of the degenerate cult of slobs that make money off of music rather than paying to play it, you are not suddenly among the elite because you have the privilege of working for Spirit Fest for free. You are just another exploited dick head who will try to trade his backstage dog-tags for a date with a teenager or a vanity piece in "The Pitch".

>I'm sure you can understand that there would be a great
>concern about having KC perform at the rock stage, again,
>this year, following last year's.

No more concern than ours, Jay. I feel liberated to have the excuse not to. You can look for this exchange on our web-page.

Actually, I haven't acknowledged that at all. What is that worth, anyway? Four "Hail Jay"'s? I admit that I was a potty mouth, but I feel I no need to "redeem" myself. I was talking about avenging what I thought was a lackluster performance. It had been a while, and we were rusty. Mention to "The Committee" that I have no regrets. Mention to "The Committee" that we get paid well for our shows, normally. Mention to "The Committee" that had we been the headliner, you would have bragged about my aberrant behavior for months, since it would have looked "just like MTV!!!". Mention to "The Committee" that we've been performing for 12 years, and I've said "fuck" at every performance. That comes to possibly 1000 shows. Tell "The Committee" that I'm trying to set an endurance record.

>Therefore, you should send a full press kit our way, so we can
>get you on the SF pile. The mailing address should be below
>in my signature. See yah.

It sounds like the SF pile is a super-fun place to be. If you were anywhere other than the bottom of that pile, I wouldn't be so offended by your pompous presentation. If you were a grumpy parent or a disappointed friend of the band, I WOULD have backtracked about last year. But you aren't a music fan, you are a proselytizing music parasite. To get to the point: don't sleep by the mailbox.

This is just plain offensive. Congrats on the marriage? Was our gift registry in "The Pitch" or something? Do you and I know each other by different names? What other rumor accompanied your awareness of my marital status? To end your patriarchal rant with a congratulation about my personal life is not the least bit endearing. I'm trying desperately to keep these distinctly respectable and unrespectable worlds separate.

Now go back to talking amongst yourself,

Scott Born