The two free, multi-band events scheduled for October 25 had one striking similarity: the bands outnumbered the fans.

Eight bands were on the agenda at a voter registration/Obama support event at the B&O Station and Boxcar Lounge. A Bush-bashing (that’s George W., not the beer which is universally held in higher regard) tour bus drew the biggest crowd during its brief stop, early in the afternoon, with several local politicians speaking to other politicians and their people and a TV news camera.

When the first performer, Ralph Rich started playing, about four o’clock, the crowd consisted of two representatives from JamBrain, Rich’s devoted parents providing vocal and videographic support, the sound guy and two others who may, or may not have been there to hear the music.

According to one reliable witness, the two outdoor stages were reduced to one (the sheltered one between the buildings) because of the cold and the ‘crowd.’

At Quaker Steak & Lube in Austintown, a somewhat better accommodation to the weather was made. Here the performance stage was in a tent — with a heater — just off the enclosed outdoor bar. There was a buffet table and a beer stand at the start, but the buffet was disassembled when it proved unprofitable, and the exit of the servers significantly diminished attendance.

Besides the aforementioned JamBrain reps, and the Quaker Steak folks, there were five family and friends of the band, Mr. Kyle. Some casual visitors came and went, and by the time Grey Dealer took the stage, the family group had been replaced by four biker guys supporting the beer concession, and the heater gained prominence. The music was piped into the enclosed outdoor bar which was filling in anticipation of The Rage’s performance, but the band couldn’t know that.

Surely there is a conceptual problem with scheduling outdoor music the end of October, but the weather was hardly the only factor affecting attendance, which was also bad at other events this year when it was warm. Local live music can not flourish with bands playing only for each other’s entertainment.