I was at the "first Fuzz Fest" - the one in NYC on June 30, '84. I still have the WNYU promo spot for it, as well. In fact, I used it to start off my Highs in the Mid-80s - New York podcast for the GaragePunk podcast some years ago.
I was also at the Bad Music Seminar in November of '88, presented at Shelter Studios on, I believe, West 37th in NYC by Tim Warren/Crypt and, I believe, Pete Ciccone (then of the Rat Bastards, and soon The Vacant Lot, but also the graphic design mind behind Immaculate Concepts). That was a pretty crazed weekend, w/Thee Mighty Caesars playing both nights, but tons of other cool bands, as well.
I hit GarageShock '94 and '95, as well as Garage Rage '95 (at Coney Island High in NYC), then Treble Fest '96. And Fuzzfest '97 and '98. Both Las Vegas Grind '99 (the better one by far, in my opinion) and the one the next summer. (The best thing about the one in July, 2000 was the 3 hour set by The Black Diamonds aka The Nashville Ramblers, who I had play my wedding 7 years later.) And every Cavestomp. Actually, Jon Weiss called me up when he started thinking about doing the first one, asking if I had contacts for some of the old bands from the 80s garage scene, as well as what newer bands he should have. There was one band from the 80s (that had lasted into the 90s) that Jon really didn't want on the bill, 'cuz he'd never liked them. (Something I hadn't known, since I'd seen Jon's band - The Vipers - on a bill w/this band at the Dive back around '85.) But I convinced Jon that said band would bring in a bunch of people who wouldn't come otherwise. That sold him. And it was quite gratifying when he said that night, "You were right." It was also nice that that band started playing shows again - and even, as I recall - doing a tour or two of Europe again.
I've long wanted to do a festival in Wildwood, NJ, maybe a week after Labor Day, while it's still warm enough for summertime fun, but...That's right after I start the new school year, so running it would be difficult.
