by luna_virgo on 27 May 2012 11:37
And the review...I'm just going to give you the notes I made for myself on my Blackberry all weekend. I've edited for spelling and grammar, but otherwise I don't think I can improve on them.
"Friday: Alabama Shakes badass. Sweating like crazy. 3 hours to kill until Chris Cornell and cell reception to FB is spotty. A girl came up to me and said “It’s my birthday, kiss me” and offered her cheek. I did. I love Hangout.
Chris Cornell: started with Peace Love Understanding, then Hunger Strike, I Am The Highway, Black Days, Like A Stone, Black Hole Sun, some other stuff, finished with Imagine (John Lennon).
Thinking I won’t see much of Wilco, rather see Jack White.
Women with makeup that doesn’t melt amaze me, people who don’t sweat.
Jack White started with Dead Leaves And The Dirty Ground, ended with Seven Nation Army, one and a half hours of rockin in between. Awesome. Damn the camera guy though.
Remember you had to park in back of hotel.
Feet and legs hurt. Too old and out of shape for this.
Saturday: parked next to green house, first street, just past DeSoto’s Kitchen, try that again tomorrow. $20 for two blocks away is better than walking two miles to park free.
Randy Newman: played Birmingham, Short People, Leave Your Hat On, I’m Dead But I Don’t Know It with crowd, Louisiana. Messed up once and said “Shit!”, crowd cheered. Crowd was fun for this one except the guy right behind me who kept yelling RANDY every two minutes.
Gogol Bordello was crazy awesome. Emphasis on CRAZY. Lead singer splashed various drinks including wine on himself, the band, and security. Also a roadie chased him around onstage to untangle the mike cord from the mike stand he was dragging behind him. Frenzied beach dancing from the crowd.
Flogging Molly: singer immediately cracked a Guinness and said “I love festivals like this because it’s never too early to start drinking.” Dedicated If I Ever Get Out Of Life Alive to Johnny and June Carter Cash. I was going to leave early for RHCP but thought no, they can wait. This is the real shit right here. They threw the remaining Guinnesses to the crowd after.
Red Hot Chili Peppers: crowd size crazy, fought to get in, still couldn’t see, started to panic, got out. Stood on side listening. I hate crowds when they’re not behind me. But I am treated to some goofy dancing and secondhand smoke over here. Also a bad video I tried to take and got bitchy when a couple stopped to talk right in front of me. I said I’M TRYING TO TAKE A VIDEO and they moved. I hope it recorded me saying that, should be funny.
Finally took a walk and got cheese fries, about to leave as soon as I finish my beer.
Tomorrow should be more mellow, Mavis Staples, Steve Winwood, Flaming Lips playing Dark Side Of The Moon, and probably a few minutes of Dave Matthews from a distance before I get bored and leave.
Sunday: Mavis awesome. Security guy rocks. She was preaching: “some folks are always having a party, and they never invite me. They’re mixing the Koolaid and calling it tea!” She started with I Have A Wonderful Savior and ended with I’ll Take You There.
On the way to Steve Winwood’s stage, kids asked me who was playing next, I told them and heard one say as I walked away, “Steve Winwood?”
Winwood: Song - Louder? Went on forever, everyone got a solo. Drummer was good, same security guy was getting down to it and boss made him stop. Crowd booed. Played Higher Love, ended with Gimme Some Lovin. Young crowd was not fully aware of who he was but jammed anyway. I was hoping he’d play Roll With It but didn’t. Right after, people already moving in for Flaming Lips in 1.5 hours. I’m gonna hang back, get pics of lights.
Later: I’m back, all right, in the shade of beer tent a football field away and can’t see shit. They’re playing some lame songs of theirs now, Vaseline? When is Dark Side starting? Light show is unimpressive when sun hasn’t set yet. But I won’t be able to get out of this crowd until it’s over. At least there’s no one behind me. I’m in a corner near the ocean fence, in the shade.
There seems to be a higher percentage of assholes here this year. I blame Dave Matthews. Frat boys are out in full force.
One nice guy got us a beer crate from the tent to stand on to see over the crowd. “Short people have to take extra measures”. Yes we do, friend.
Stoned whistling bitches who would not shut up stood next to us. We do not need narration for this event. Shut up.
There is a naked guy on the beach. He got tackled by security. Fuck Dave Matthews. I’m ending it here."
The One Who Drove From Birmingham