. . . it's July — and every July we host a three day arts and music festival occupying downtown. It's called Bele Chere and people hate it. Businesses close while the rest of Western North Carolina vomits on their door step. The crowd is loud, smelly, and slimy — boobs (of both breeds) are everywhere. Tax payers foot the bill for "kick-ass" southern rock bands, some are even "country fried." But the worst part? The Dialogue. Year in, year out, its the same milky display of sideshow rage. It steals revenue. Damns gays. Distracts police. I hate fat people. The yuppies go to West Asheville (for the first time) and every restaurant dumbs down their food (but marks it up). Yet amidst all the goof and glory, the fine folks at Mountain Xpress insist on embracing it — and do, in flying — sometimes existential — colors. My (other) buddy Jaye reports.
5 comments:
Funny interviews! I love how desperate the Porter John was to catch a flick. Sounds like you guys have fun at the Mountain Xpress.
So is Bele Chere just too hokey to be hip?
at face value, yes — though like most things, the active culture lies in response.
How is Bele Chere pronounced? Beel Chair? Belly Cherry? Bell Share-ee?
The porta-john's line " 20 to 45 seconds" is terrific.
I also love that in some of the pictures you can actually see the 1/4 microphone jack. Good stuff. Was there ever any intent on interviewing real people... and it got to this?
pronounced Bell Share . . . there was, as in every year past, attempts to interview real people, regurgitating the same tired dialogue of its yearly visit. this was one unique piece of an onslaught of weekend coverage.
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