08-10-2009, 04:52 PM
So RZA was headlining on the side stage (aka paid dues stage) and he hooked me up with a VIP pass. RtB has so many bands that the VIP pass is totally meaningless - it's just a token thing they toss out to keep people happy but doesn't grant access anywhere. I got there early, like around 11ish. I spent my time posing at RM, hanging out at table service, talking smack to the crowd and trying to jonze donations. It was hot and that was a shady spot that offered a good view. Everyone at RM wanted to see my phishbite, and that grew tiresome, so I got out of there.
My seats were in row D in the 203 section, decent view but in the sun, so I didn't really hang out there. I snuck backstage for a spell but RZA wasn't there yet. Hung out 'til about 3 or 4, then went to pick up my kid and go home until S got off work. By the time I left, none of the acts I wanted to see had played. I came back around 9:30 and it was like a fish swimming upstream since the exodus had already begun. Streets were blocked off and I had to take a very circuitous route to get back in the venue, but I crossed paths with an old friend in parking, who gave me great access (after all, the show was just about over). Once back in the venue, I made a beeline to my seat and caught part of Naz/Jr. Gong and it didn't move me - too hip hop - then scurried over to the side stage where RZA was finishing up. Caught the very end of that, then scurried back to my seat for the concluding Could you be loved? but didn't make it back in time. The houselights were on by the time was near my seat again. It was a long day of bad timing. Never did hook up with RZA, but it was really nice of him to kick down the tickets (even though I could have just RMed it if need be). Wound up stealing a beer from RM on the out and listening to the new vols tell me that they called for me because some chick thought she smoked some PCP-laced pot. They rolled her. After a few more phishbite inquiries, I left feeling rather unfulfilled with the day.
My seats were in row D in the 203 section, decent view but in the sun, so I didn't really hang out there. I snuck backstage for a spell but RZA wasn't there yet. Hung out 'til about 3 or 4, then went to pick up my kid and go home until S got off work. By the time I left, none of the acts I wanted to see had played. I came back around 9:30 and it was like a fish swimming upstream since the exodus had already begun. Streets were blocked off and I had to take a very circuitous route to get back in the venue, but I crossed paths with an old friend in parking, who gave me great access (after all, the show was just about over). Once back in the venue, I made a beeline to my seat and caught part of Naz/Jr. Gong and it didn't move me - too hip hop - then scurried over to the side stage where RZA was finishing up. Caught the very end of that, then scurried back to my seat for the concluding Could you be loved? but didn't make it back in time. The houselights were on by the time was near my seat again. It was a long day of bad timing. Never did hook up with RZA, but it was really nice of him to kick down the tickets (even though I could have just RMed it if need be). Wound up stealing a beer from RM on the out and listening to the new vols tell me that they called for me because some chick thought she smoked some PCP-laced pot. They rolled her. After a few more phishbite inquiries, I left feeling rather unfulfilled with the day.
Shadow boxing the apocalypse