Technology 2000 Fest Fizzles Out in Long Beach

The show could not possibly go on. Poor attendance meant a premature end Saturday of the Technology 2000 festival on the grounds surrounding the Queen Mary in Long Beach. Not that there was anyone to notice.

Bands and DJs had performed for audiences of barely two dozen people for most of the day. “Thank you, both of you,” singer Zach Goode of the metal band Ghoulspoon joked from the stage. “I really mean that.”

By 9 p.m. it was declared over, cancelling several veteran acts, from the Dance Hall Crashers to techno pioneer Juan Atkins. While there was no single act on the bill popular enough to sell out the 20,000-capacity venue, the trio of old-school rappers Kurtis Blow, Whodini and the Sugar Hill Gang theoretically could have drawn 1,000 or more fans by themselves.

Concert organizers blamed poor promotion and Long Beach city bureaucracy. “In 27 years in this business, I’ve never had a disaster like this,” said promoter Vincent Toma, a veteran of concerts in Chicago and Las Vegas, but a newcomer to Southern California.

Too bad. While short on big draws, the Technology 2000 lineup was wide-ranging, promising a refreshing mix of punk, metal and DJ performances on five stages. The venue was a comfortable, grassy area overlooking the Queen Mary and downtown Long Beach. There were break-dancers and skateboard demonstrations.

There were some bright musical moments. San Diego’s Buckfest Superbee performed pop-punk that was tough and tuneful. Los Angeles DJ Tony B. mixed a warm samba flavor into his house beats. And San Diego’s Ghoulspoon made hard rock rich with melody. A small taste of what might have been a memorable day of music.