08-13-2014, 11:44 AM
The highest temperature I heard was 108 degrees. It got progressively cooler each day, but Sunday still crossed into triple digits. Web weather reports couldn’t handle the micro-climates of the region. Yahoo said it was cloudy and 54 degrees when we were sitting in 100+ degree heat. Also there was a huge fire just south of the venue, so the air quality got progressively smokier as the show went on.
On the first night, I realized that I stayed up too late listening to a lot of conversations that needed serious editing
Day one brought reports of a rattlesnake. There was a car fire too. I want to say that was night three, but I can’t really remember. In both cases, it was an interesting enough call that I started heading that direction, but didn’t make and wound up on another journey entirely.
The Strain of distinction was Skywalker OG. Medicine is so varied now, so many strains and flavors. It’s like tasting wine or single malt. Skywalker OG stood out, but DM must confess that the name might have been influential, as he’s a sucker for Star Wars named strains.
Too many people were talking to me who I didn’t remember. They seemed to know me. Maybe they were just stoned. I played along because they may well have known me and I didn’t want to make them feel bad that I couldn’t remember who they were.
There were a lot of people that were sick. One of my vols almost dropped out due ot a cold, but showed up anyway, and after he gave me a hug, I got all paranoid that I was going to get sick. Another old friend from SNWMF dropped by JAH Med because she had a cold and was just about to start her night shift as security at the KOA. I felt bad because I didn’t get a chance to connect with her because she showed up when it was busy, plus I really didn’t want to catch her cold.
The best episode happened on Sunday afternoon. I had promised my Kung Fu brothers that I’d shoot an article for the mag with them. We had shot an article on Kung Fu Fighting Pipe many years ago and I’ve had this simple idea I’ve been wanting to write up for months – I just needed models – so it was a good perk for my KF bros. Of course, over the course of the weekend, we put it off to the last moment. Sunday, from about noon onwards, there was a series of appointments I had to keep, people I had promised to connect with over the weekend and such, things that I meant to do, it all added up. The first was to have some of the fresh smoked salmon, brought fresh from Alaska by JAH Med’s director (she has a cabin up there) and smoked the day prior by our marvelous camp cooks. But I got involved in a call and missed it. Then our director, bless her heart, knowing I was totally into the salmon, brought me a huge slab in a ziplock, just as I was prepping the bros to go for the shoot. Then a call came, the hardest IPR we had to takedown, a huge guy on coke and acid (stupid combo) who was by the mixer. It was one of those sweaty, messy, roll in the dirt calls. Once he was restrained on a backboard, medicated, and secure in the Dub Lounge, the sun was setting and I turned to my KF bros and said, ‘so, you guys warmed up now?’ We went up the back road to Richardson Grove and found a nice place to shoot. My camera battery was low, but I managed to get what I needed. It was really fun, especially because I was munching on that yummy salmon throughout the whole incident, from takedown to shoot.
REGGAE
Michael Rose & Gaudi: Rose was once on of my fav old skool dancehall rulers. He’s slowed down with age, but I still have great respect. Gaudi gave the jam a Hip hop/dub step feel, w/Theremin. That was very amusing as I love the theremin. Rose’s tune “warrior, warrior, warrior, put your guns down” really stuck with me.
Fishbone: The bass player went to high school with one of our friends, so we had the opportunity to meet the band backstage just before they went on and share some warm-up libations. I watched the whole set from stage. It was fun as we were next to their agent and the performers kept sending stuff our way. Plus there was another theremin. Two Theremins in two days. I was hoping that was going to go on all weekend.
Indubious: They have a solid sound. Enjoyable, but not outstanding to make much more note of them beyond that.
See-I: The reggae portion of Thievery Corporation. They were ok, but not mind blowing. Somewhat disappointing actually. I was expecting more.
Third World: I remember hearing them play 96 degrees in the shade at a previous scorcher RotR. It was an anthem of the weekend. With the passing of Bunny Rugs, Third World’s harmonies were greatly depleted. They did some dub step, plus a delightful version of Redemption Song on cello.
Jimmy Cliff: He played a lot of classics, which is all we really want. He updated one of my fav tunes, Vietnam, to Afghanistan, which totally worked. He’s still got it – that inspiring castrati voice, and righteous lyrics.
Iration: It was really busy at JAH Med when they were playing. I was moved enough by their music to jot down the note “Iration” but now I can’t remember why.
Mutabaruka: His dub poetry was the same as always, but amusing as it promoted some discussion, which is his intention. His song Monkey was misinterpreted by some as a diss on evolution theory, when it is actually a diss on the evil of man compared to the innocence of nature. Not scientifically accurate, but his message is good. The Roger Steffens intro was the best part.
Alpha Blondy: He was another fav of mine for many years until he came out with his tune Abortion is a Crime. But he did some great covers – Floyd’s Wish You Were Here and a Zep tune, which I missed. It was busy in JAH Med so I only caught pieces of his set. When I finally got clear and situated to listen, it was the end of the last song and the end of the show.
![[Image: 10313168_10202452084805265_2964677689638069441_n.jpg]](https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xap1/t1.0-9/10313168_10202452084805265_2964677689638069441_n.jpg)
On the first night, I realized that I stayed up too late listening to a lot of conversations that needed serious editing
Day one brought reports of a rattlesnake. There was a car fire too. I want to say that was night three, but I can’t really remember. In both cases, it was an interesting enough call that I started heading that direction, but didn’t make and wound up on another journey entirely.
The Strain of distinction was Skywalker OG. Medicine is so varied now, so many strains and flavors. It’s like tasting wine or single malt. Skywalker OG stood out, but DM must confess that the name might have been influential, as he’s a sucker for Star Wars named strains.
Too many people were talking to me who I didn’t remember. They seemed to know me. Maybe they were just stoned. I played along because they may well have known me and I didn’t want to make them feel bad that I couldn’t remember who they were.
There were a lot of people that were sick. One of my vols almost dropped out due ot a cold, but showed up anyway, and after he gave me a hug, I got all paranoid that I was going to get sick. Another old friend from SNWMF dropped by JAH Med because she had a cold and was just about to start her night shift as security at the KOA. I felt bad because I didn’t get a chance to connect with her because she showed up when it was busy, plus I really didn’t want to catch her cold.
The best episode happened on Sunday afternoon. I had promised my Kung Fu brothers that I’d shoot an article for the mag with them. We had shot an article on Kung Fu Fighting Pipe many years ago and I’ve had this simple idea I’ve been wanting to write up for months – I just needed models – so it was a good perk for my KF bros. Of course, over the course of the weekend, we put it off to the last moment. Sunday, from about noon onwards, there was a series of appointments I had to keep, people I had promised to connect with over the weekend and such, things that I meant to do, it all added up. The first was to have some of the fresh smoked salmon, brought fresh from Alaska by JAH Med’s director (she has a cabin up there) and smoked the day prior by our marvelous camp cooks. But I got involved in a call and missed it. Then our director, bless her heart, knowing I was totally into the salmon, brought me a huge slab in a ziplock, just as I was prepping the bros to go for the shoot. Then a call came, the hardest IPR we had to takedown, a huge guy on coke and acid (stupid combo) who was by the mixer. It was one of those sweaty, messy, roll in the dirt calls. Once he was restrained on a backboard, medicated, and secure in the Dub Lounge, the sun was setting and I turned to my KF bros and said, ‘so, you guys warmed up now?’ We went up the back road to Richardson Grove and found a nice place to shoot. My camera battery was low, but I managed to get what I needed. It was really fun, especially because I was munching on that yummy salmon throughout the whole incident, from takedown to shoot.
REGGAE
Michael Rose & Gaudi: Rose was once on of my fav old skool dancehall rulers. He’s slowed down with age, but I still have great respect. Gaudi gave the jam a Hip hop/dub step feel, w/Theremin. That was very amusing as I love the theremin. Rose’s tune “warrior, warrior, warrior, put your guns down” really stuck with me.
Fishbone: The bass player went to high school with one of our friends, so we had the opportunity to meet the band backstage just before they went on and share some warm-up libations. I watched the whole set from stage. It was fun as we were next to their agent and the performers kept sending stuff our way. Plus there was another theremin. Two Theremins in two days. I was hoping that was going to go on all weekend.
Indubious: They have a solid sound. Enjoyable, but not outstanding to make much more note of them beyond that.
See-I: The reggae portion of Thievery Corporation. They were ok, but not mind blowing. Somewhat disappointing actually. I was expecting more.
Third World: I remember hearing them play 96 degrees in the shade at a previous scorcher RotR. It was an anthem of the weekend. With the passing of Bunny Rugs, Third World’s harmonies were greatly depleted. They did some dub step, plus a delightful version of Redemption Song on cello.
Jimmy Cliff: He played a lot of classics, which is all we really want. He updated one of my fav tunes, Vietnam, to Afghanistan, which totally worked. He’s still got it – that inspiring castrati voice, and righteous lyrics.
Iration: It was really busy at JAH Med when they were playing. I was moved enough by their music to jot down the note “Iration” but now I can’t remember why.
Mutabaruka: His dub poetry was the same as always, but amusing as it promoted some discussion, which is his intention. His song Monkey was misinterpreted by some as a diss on evolution theory, when it is actually a diss on the evil of man compared to the innocence of nature. Not scientifically accurate, but his message is good. The Roger Steffens intro was the best part.
Alpha Blondy: He was another fav of mine for many years until he came out with his tune Abortion is a Crime. But he did some great covers – Floyd’s Wish You Were Here and a Zep tune, which I missed. It was busy in JAH Med so I only caught pieces of his set. When I finally got clear and situated to listen, it was the end of the last song and the end of the show.
Shadow boxing the apocalypse