Double standards really piss me off. And this just seems discriminatory.

Why do they allow thousands to descend upon Memorial Park every year, toting in coolers full of libations, hassle-free, for the free annual Fourth of July weekend Bank of the West classic rock and fireworks extravaganza yet they fence off the park and search bags, coolers, hell, all packages, for the annual Fahey-administration-birthed free “indie rock” concert in the same park.

This year’s free indie concert, with headliner Gomez, was a terrific night of music despite the threat of rain but, I being well above legal age, would have enjoyed the festivities even more if I could have enjoyed an adult beverage of choice. Just like I do when I attend the Fourth of July concerts.

Looking around at the crowd in Memorial last Saturday night I saw a mix of adults and kids no different than the demographics of Bank of the West’s show.

So, why the fence and the heavy security? I saw twice as many police at the Gomez show as I’ve seen at any Independence Day weekend show and I’ve attended almost 10 of our country’s birthday blasts and three of the indie/local acts rock events. Was this an OPD-sanctioned, overtime-spiking opportunity, hence the heavy turnout of men and women in blue?

There may have been some pot busts at the inaugural 311 show five years ago (oh no, not marijuana!) but since then I’m not aware of any trouble (right here in River City, my friends) and attendance at these shows is about 1/10th the usual turnout for the classic rock jam.

And yes, I know the law states “no alcohol in city parks” but when I asked one of Omaha’s finest why no alcohol is allowed at the Gomez show while it’s carried in by the truck-load to the Fourth of July show, the response was “that’s different.”

Really? How so?

I had the opportunity to offer my suggestions to the mayor’s office on artist selection for this year’s event – which I appreciated greatly – and twice the mayor’s liaison asked how they could raise more sponsorship money to stage the event. Both times I replied they should be selling booth space to create more of a festival environment.

Of course, it’s hard for booth vendors to feel successful when the event only draws about 3,000 people but the additional sponsorship dough would allow the city to book more than just one national act, which would in turn improve the draw.

And, if they really want to grab some additional revenue to make this an annual show, which I enjoyed, a marquee event, they should consider alcohol sales in the park. Selling this lucrative sponsorship has the potential to bring in some serious coin.

And while were at it, let’s sell booths to the armed forces, car/home audio dealers, tattoo artists, face painters; even Homer’s offered to buy booth space. A festival. Let’s have a second stage on the other side of the hill with more local acts and national “baby” bands looking to get in front of crowds.

In one month Des Moines will host the second annual 80/35 festival and the line up is very impressive, just like last year. A main stage, three small stages, alcohol sales and food on the streets surrounding the festival, lots of other booths to peruse; it’s a great time.

Sure, they charge $35 for access to the main stage area, but you can hear the music from the main acts while cruising the perimeter of the festival or enjoy the free music from the smaller stages surrounding the six square city blocks devoted to the event.

With the change in administration and the promise to listen, maybe the powers-that-be will take the time to read this and keep this indie rock event going and consider making changes to turn this into the kind of event that would draw from our neighbor states.

Until then, there better be fences in Memorial Park on June 26 or maybe we should consider a class action suit against the city. Either fences for all, or fences for none.