BURGERAMA 3- Burger Records Yearly Indie Party! Why You Should Not Miss This.

Burger Records' yearly bash known as Burgerama is once again due to wash over Orange County, California. The epicenter as years past is the Observatory in Santa Ana. Over two days, over 60 bands will take to two stages. Price per day is only $30. Burgerama has a unique feeling as opposed to other large festivals. A lot of what sets Burgerama apart from the rest is the venue itself. The building that is now the Observatory started out as a Dinner playhouse in the early 70's where people would go see Broadway plays. Over the years it evolved into various forms of restaurants, night clubs, and other concert venues. The main room with the big stage still retains a kind of Las Vegas style room feel with tiered landings with plush booths encircling the main floor. You can chill in a booth or you can get on the floor and mosh your ass off. The room is large and when the crowd packs in tight it feels as energetic as any venue at FYF or Coachella with one big difference. Most every spot you stand at offers a great view of the stage.

The second smaller stage is in the Constellation room. At peak band levels it gets super packed. You feel like you are in the most crowded house or warehouse show ever. A more intimate room with a higher chance of a sweaty body pushing against you or a shoe swinging into your face from an random crowd surfer.

Now don't think because these shows are indoors that they are for wusses. While crowds at FYF may have to handle dust storms and sunburns, the sheer amount of bodies during any Burgerama show makes the atmosphere in the Observatory feel like the amazon. You also tend to get caught up in a sea of people as tides flow from one stage to the next. Much needed escapes from the musical mayhem can be found outside in the barbecue area or at one of two bars or meeting the performers in the upstairs merch area. 

Burgerama is a compact, concentrated immersion into indie rock for all ages. Demographically it skews younger overall than other such shows. Maybe it is the relatively low cost. Maybe it is because the bulk of the bands are shiny beacons of the DIY ethic. Maybe it is because Burgerama more than many other indie festivals introduce us to some bands that other festivals pass on. There is a sense that things will happen on these two stages that will influence young bands who are in the audience or will inspire some in the audience to start bands. It feels not so much like a proving ground as a musical breeding ground.  If you haven't been to Burgerama I implore you to go and soak it all in.  I bet you will be back next year, and the year after that. Check out some performances from years past below.

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Robb Donker

TICKETS ON SALE - JANUARY 10TH-!!!

BURGERAMA 3- SATURDAY, MARCH 22, 2014
BURGERAMA 3 - SUNDAY, MARCH 23, 2014