10-04-2010, 08:55 PM
So I was able to get out to HSB on Sat. Like last year, I parked down by the windmills. I did take the tour past the Tea Garden and Steinhart, but it was all parked up everywhere, so I just said fuck it and went all the way down Lincoln to the beach and parked at the first open spaces (by the motorhomes and cars that people sleep in...)
Even though I packed my bike, I figured getting around the festival would mean locking it up somewhere and I just didn't feel comfortable locking up a Cannondale and leaving it unattended.
I've had a skateboard in my car forever, so I dug it out, grabbed my Coleman camp chair, and skated in to the park. It was a much longer haul than I expected, but once I got to the festival area I was really glad to be on wheels. With traffic and parking, I got there late and missed Exene. I really love the Broken Flowers soundtrack, so I wanted to see Holly Golightly. She was on the stage at the far end of the park, so I barged over there, found a comfortable spot by the sound board, popped out my chair and set up camp. I had a couple beers, water bottles, and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches in my backpack, so I was ready to veg.
I didn't catch the name of the guy on stage, but he wore chaps and an old smushed cowboy hat and he had to introduce each song by telling the history behind it. His voice was going (which he admitted several times) so it kept cracking, but it wasn't bad.
The fog was rolling in, but luckily it wasn't as windy as last year. I met a few of my neighbors and scored a Lagunitas in exchange for loaning out my opener.
Holly Golightly and bandmate came out and did their set. It was ok. I didn't recognize anything, but it was enjoyable. I was impressed by the bandmate playing guitar and drums at the same time.
The problem with HSB is that all the stages are going simultaneously, so there tend to be conflicts. Gillian Welch started her set on the next stage over while Holly was still in the middle of hers. I knew that Gillain's stage would be crowded, so when Holly finished, I went over to watch the end of Gillian's set from the road. Next up I had to choose between Steve Earle, Robert Earl Keen, and Jackie Greene. Steve Earle followed Gillian on the same stage, so I picked that, walked down as people were leaving after Gillian, and picked a spot near the front. As time passed, more and more people crowded in and blocked my view. Steve Earle was enjoyable, but it was starting to get dark and cold and I figured I should start back to the car. I was going down MLK and about half way, I had some misstep, ended up doing the splits and got some great road rash on my knee. I picked up the board and started out again and when I got to the car checked out the damage. It was a bloody mess, but not that painful. I cleaned up as best I could with water and Purell (which stings like a mutha). Then I headed home.
The next morning I played 2 hours of soccer, so I guess I'm alright.
--tg
PS: Didn't bother to look for Rock Med, it was too crowded. I did see some guy in the Gillian audience with a RM jacket, but he was pretty far away...
Even though I packed my bike, I figured getting around the festival would mean locking it up somewhere and I just didn't feel comfortable locking up a Cannondale and leaving it unattended.
I've had a skateboard in my car forever, so I dug it out, grabbed my Coleman camp chair, and skated in to the park. It was a much longer haul than I expected, but once I got to the festival area I was really glad to be on wheels. With traffic and parking, I got there late and missed Exene. I really love the Broken Flowers soundtrack, so I wanted to see Holly Golightly. She was on the stage at the far end of the park, so I barged over there, found a comfortable spot by the sound board, popped out my chair and set up camp. I had a couple beers, water bottles, and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches in my backpack, so I was ready to veg.
I didn't catch the name of the guy on stage, but he wore chaps and an old smushed cowboy hat and he had to introduce each song by telling the history behind it. His voice was going (which he admitted several times) so it kept cracking, but it wasn't bad.
The fog was rolling in, but luckily it wasn't as windy as last year. I met a few of my neighbors and scored a Lagunitas in exchange for loaning out my opener.
Holly Golightly and bandmate came out and did their set. It was ok. I didn't recognize anything, but it was enjoyable. I was impressed by the bandmate playing guitar and drums at the same time.
The problem with HSB is that all the stages are going simultaneously, so there tend to be conflicts. Gillian Welch started her set on the next stage over while Holly was still in the middle of hers. I knew that Gillain's stage would be crowded, so when Holly finished, I went over to watch the end of Gillian's set from the road. Next up I had to choose between Steve Earle, Robert Earl Keen, and Jackie Greene. Steve Earle followed Gillian on the same stage, so I picked that, walked down as people were leaving after Gillian, and picked a spot near the front. As time passed, more and more people crowded in and blocked my view. Steve Earle was enjoyable, but it was starting to get dark and cold and I figured I should start back to the car. I was going down MLK and about half way, I had some misstep, ended up doing the splits and got some great road rash on my knee. I picked up the board and started out again and when I got to the car checked out the damage. It was a bloody mess, but not that painful. I cleaned up as best I could with water and Purell (which stings like a mutha). Then I headed home.
The next morning I played 2 hours of soccer, so I guess I'm alright.
--tg
PS: Didn't bother to look for Rock Med, it was too crowded. I did see some guy in the Gillian audience with a RM jacket, but he was pretty far away...