The Obelisk Questionnaire: Jeff Helland of No Coast Fest
The Obelisk Questionnaire is a series of open questions intended to give the answerer an opportunity to explore these ideas and stories from their life as deeply as they choose. Answers can be short or long, and that reveals something in itself, but the most important factor is honesty.
Based on the Proust Questionnaire, the goal over time is to show a diverse range of perspectives as those who take part bring their own points of view to answering the same questions. To see all The Obelisk Questionnaire posts, click here.
Thank you for reading and thanks to all who participate.
The Obelisk Questionnaire: Jeff Helland of No Coast Fest
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How do you define what you do and how did you come to do it?
In terms of No Coast Fest, I guess I’m the guy that’s responsible for booking the bulk of the bands and making sure everything pops off the way it should. I started the fest when the band Aneurysm asked for help booking a show. I, in turn, asked a bunch of bands to play. Before I knew it, we had a quantity and quality of bands worthy of a noise rock festival.
Describe your first musical memory.
I remember asking my dad to drive down to the radio station to see the band playing the song we were listening to. I was more than bummed to find out that they didn’t have bands piling in and out of the station to play just for me in our Chevy Celebrity.
Describe your best musical memory to date.
There have been many that would qualify as “best.” Probably, in this moment, playing a basement show at a friend’s house in Detroit in 2018. I was forty-something, on tour and just having a blast. Sweating along with people I didn’t know; plain rocking out. You don’t get many of those moments, especially at an age when you can appreciate it, and, by god, I relished every second of it.
When was a time when a firmly held belief was tested?
It happens quite a bit. If you live an examined life, your beliefs are always mutating and challenged. Subsequently I don’t know that I believe in “firmly held beliefs.”
Where do you feel artistic progression leads?
They say that a work of art is never completed, you just stop working on it. I guess that would be my answer. You’re either progressing or stagnating.
How do you define success?
To me, success is the balance of reward and challenge. I want to stay interested and have someone throw me a bone every now and again. Money is nice, of course, but I’d rather have a challenge and to best it.
What is something you have seen that you wish you hadn’t?
The underside of a commercial grill.
Describe something you haven’t created yet that you’d like to create.
I’ve been pondering a European No Coast aka “Keine Küste” or “Pas du côte.” But we’ll have to see how successful this year’s fest is. The cliche of “build it and they will come” only works if you’re rich.
What do you believe is the most essential function of art?
Plainly speaking, art is entertainment. Which isn’t a frivolous endeavor. We work more than we ever have, endure more stress than ever before. To be able to cue up some great music or lose 30 minutes in a painting, that’s miraculous.
Something non-musical that you’re looking forward to?
Spending time with my wife and sons in the woods.
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