Next Stop: Orono?

367Back when the Portland City Council decided to allow another open-air concert on the Eastern Promenade, the esteemed Seth Keonig posted the results of an extremely formal, scientifically rigorous poll, which asked who some of the favorite acts would be in such a venue.

Well, neither UMaine nor Orono have done such vigorous community outreach, but that isn’t stopping us from posting the following – very speculative, mind you – list of tours we’d like to see come to the 04469. Tell us what you think down there in the comments, on Facebook, or on Twitter – what’d we miss? What’d we really, really miss? Anything we got right? You tell me.

The Stadium Crowd:
Look, we all know that Taylor Swift could fill Wembley Stadium. Bruno Mars is all-world right now. Ariana Grande and Maroon 5 are selling out entire basketball arenas in seconds. They’re pretty unlikely to make a stop at the Collins Center, as much as we love the CCA. Unless Pitbull’s cousin is a junior Black Bear majoring in Chemical Engineering, there’s probably not much chance.  Unless Orono wins one of those Bud Light “Up For Whatever” commercials where you meet Fergie at a bar and she brings her whole entourage northward for broomball at the Alfond, followed by an intimate concert for you and 5,000 of your closest friends. So, let’s hope for that?

The “Wait… WHO’S playing in Orono?!?” Set:
So, a step down from The Stadium Crowd, and we’re looking a little more realistic, even if it’s still a stretch. Acts that aren’t on the Billboard Hot 100, but that aren’t too bad at all live here. If Dave Matthews and Godsmack could find their ways to Orono at the height of their powers, then it wouldn’t be too much of a stretch to see The Black Keys do a smaller type gig here, right? I mean, I’d be surprised, too, but you never know. Nas? Flaming Lips? I’d go to those. Charli XCX or Haim, fresh off the 2015 Grammy Awards? Not likely, but not impossible. Hey country/adult rock fans, maybe Darius Rucker gets Hootie & the Blowfish back together for a 20th reunion tour, hitting Orono on the way. File these types under “stranger things have happened.”

The Indies:
This is our wheelhouse, folks.  Sleater-Kinney.  Bon Iver.  Aesop Rock.  Built to Spill.  Grizzly Bear.  Father John Misty.  RJD2.  Modest Mouse.  Tegan and Sara.  OK Go (a YouTube fave for this dad and his kiddo).  You get the idea. These guys live on college radio. UMaine is a college – errr, a University. Matches made in heaven, these are.

The One that Got Away:
I’m still waiting to see Method Man and Redman play out behind Oxford Hall. They’re still coming, right? Just saying – it’s been, what, 15 years, now?

So, what do you think, FTS Nation? Who is your dream UMaine act? Let us know!

mgrondin@fillthesteins.com
@matteegee

 

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