Liberty for all (who are 21 and older)
Camarillo promoter no longer has to fight for her right to party
By Chris Jay 06/11/2009
What is freedom? To nearly every teenager in the country, freedom doesn’t really exist until you hit the magic number 21. Even if you’re not an aspiring booze enthusiast, the idea that you’re not responsible enough to have a drink seems ridiculous, and the United States is one of the only countries in the world to set the age limit so high.
Regardless of the legal ramifications of the 21st birthday, it’s still a milestone that local music promoter Cassie Purtlebaugh will be celebrating this weekend with Freedom Fest, which she’s staging at her home, base Rock City Studios in Camarillo.
It’s an ambitious one-day event with two stages and more than 20 bands providing something for everyone.
Any regular reader of the Reporter, or local music fan, is familiar with Purtlebaugh and her tireless efforts over the past two years to revitalize the all-ages music scene. With Rock City Studios as her home base, she’s booked countless great shows since she started Viceroy Promotions, but this birthday party mega-event may be her pièce de résistance.
“I reserved the date a long time ago,” explains Purtlebaugh. “I wanted to do something big for my birthday, but I also wanted it to be a kickoff for the summer at Rock City. I wanted my band to play, but also some of the best bands from the county as well, so I figured why not go all out.”
All out indeed. To help with the sheer size of the event, Purtlebaugh joined forces with Jay Hernandez from Hour Glass Management, who helped by bringing in Nevada’s Away We Go and Wayward, as well as Vermont’s rising star emo punkers From Jupiter, who were named one of 100 bands to watch in 2009 by Alternative Press magazine.
The show’s strength, though, is the great collection of locals and Rock City regulars. Along with Purtlebaugh’s band Sound the Sky, Reporter favorites like The Ashtray Life, End Transmission and Delaney Gibson will all be performing. Not to be missed as well is Viceroy’s Battle of the Bands winner, Monster Eats the Pilot, a guitar-driven alternative rock group hailing from Atascadero. The band’s sound recalls Nirvana and is made up of three Cal Poly students who’ve strangely found a fan base and home away from home at Rock City. Monster Eats the Pilot has been routinely drawing respectable crowds to the multifunctional venue, helping to secure its battle-of-the-bands win this past March.
It’s no surprise that the great bill is partly due to Purtlebaugh's reputation for taking care of artists.
“Between the Grandmas and End Transmission, I’ve probably played at least 15 shows that Cassie has promoted,” says Zeke Berkley. “She really puts the extra effort into finding new bands. She’s helped establish Rock City and the scene, so we’re always happy to help her out.”
With a few more shows scheduled this summer, Purtlebaugh herself will be attending UCSB in the fall, but that won’t stop her output as she’s contemplating adding some new venues to her roster now that she has the option to book at over-21 establishments. Beyond that, how will she be spending her new-found freedom?
“Looking for a day job and a drummer.” Proof that some problems don’t get easier to solve with age.
Freedom Fest takes place Saturday, June 13, at Rock City Studios, 2258 Pickwick Drive, Camarillo. For more information and the full lineup, visit www.myspace.com/godsavethescenevc or www.myspace.com/rockcitystudio.
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