Last year, one pro golfer called the FBR Open "the world's biggest topless bar" during an interview. This description isn't far from the truth.
The annual golf tournament in Scottsdale draws thousands of rowdy partiers, and a few golf fans, to mingle and drink outdoors on the green. Then a crowd of between 10 and 12,000 heads over to continue the celebration at the giant party tent, the Bird's Nest.
This year promises to be even better, with redesigns all over, more perks for V.I.P. ticket holders and what organizers hope are some exciting new performers.
Bird's Nest Chairman, Darren Wright, said he was really inspired by Super Bowl parties he attended last year.
"We want to create not just a fun music experience for people but also just a real entertainment experience," he said. "We want to get away from that tent-over-cement feel."
Main Tent: The design of the main tent is inspired by last year's Oscars, and it is fully carpeted and heated.
A flowing liner in the tent and L.E.D. lights from the ceiling will give it a more elegant feel. Several bands return this year, including cover bands Chadwicks, MetalHead and Duck Soup.
John Colby plays in both Chadwicks and Metalhead, and has performed at the event on and off for about six years. He loves the energy of the crowd.
"It's the original Arizona party and it's hard to describe, there's nothing like it," he said.
He said both of his bands fit in with the Bird's Nest crowd in different ways.
"MetalHead is more high energy and we're a gimmick band because we dress up in character," Colby said. "With Chadwicks we are just ourselves . . . We are all over the board and will play stuff from the 60s, 70s and current stuff now, from the Killers to Neil Diamond."
National headliner O.A.R., who Wright said organizers have been trying to get for years, will perform Thursday night.
"The stars just aligned and we are fired up to have them here," said Wright. "It's the right kind of music for the crowd that we have. And, they want to be here!"
To spice things up between sets and during breaks, video DJs Roonie G and Pinky Lieb will perform their unique music and video combos, spliced with FBR footage and live crowd shots. Rooney G was voted MTV's number one video DJ, making time before the Super Bowl to perform on Wednesday night.
"When I was at ASU and used to go to Maloney's, they would do something like that," said Wright. "Rockstar Energy gives the party an edge with a game area in the main tent, with some of the latest and most popular video games.
Bartenders will serve up cocktail concoctions blended with Rockstar.
And while the FBR Open is known to bring out some crazy outfits, there will be an actual 70s disco costume contest on Saturday night.
"I think people will get into it and we will be tossing out afros," said Wright. "I ordered hundreds and hundreds of afros! The energy of Boogie Knights is going to be crazy."
On the patio, Dos Gringos returns as the main sponsor and will feature brightly colored drinks and a hookah lounge with several flavored tobaccos.
Patio bands are also returning, and will perform up until the main stage acts. Crowd favorite (or least favorite, depending on who you talk to), "the tomato man," returns will his obnoxious jeers. Guest can pay five bucks and chuck tomatoes at the annoying entertainer.
V.I.P.: V.I.P. ticketholders will get what they pay for in an updated, swanky area with private bathrooms, food and free drinks. This year, Sapporo, the popular sushi restaurant in north Scottsdale, will construct an aesthetically pleasing area with signature touches from its restaurant. "There will be elaborate bubbles walls that change color like those in our restaurant," said Sean McGuinness.
"The bar top tables will be dressed up with décor, and we are building a planter wall for queueing around food stations . . . Instead of white walls like most of these big corporate events, we are creating more of an atmosphere."
Guests will get to feast on some of the restaurant's most popular dishes, like kung pao chicken, stuffed shrimp, Mongolian BBQ ribs and on Saturday, lamb chops.
"When we first talked to the Thunderbirds, the idea that they came up with is they wanted their concessioners to really theme their tents, not just in V.I.P. but throughout the FBR Open," said McGuinness.
Admission generally increases each year but Wright said with the shape that the economy is in, organizers decided to stick with the 2008 price.
"Two thousand and nine is for me personally is a year of optimism," said Wright. "It's going to be a great year, and my hope is that people come out to have a great time, hear some great live music, and party with 12,000 of their friends."
