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I came, I saw, I rock-ed >D
Sep. 7th, 2003 11:13 amYesterday am started out pissy, but the rest of the day was *awesome*. Ye-yessss. >D The 12 for 12 Music Meltdown festival was fscking *a-ma-zing*. Amazing, awesome, and just incredibly cool.
Got there really early, since James had an Amptguard thing to go to. Meant I had to wait about 45 minutes until gate open. But then got to spend that first hour there exploring, since music didn't start until noon (gates opened at 11um...ish). The whole site was about 40 acres, so it was pretty danged big. I started off checking out the area at the base of the bluffs, with the food, vendors/artists, and main stages (the electric/rock area). Eventually they got the ski lift going (Mt. Crescent is a ski area in winter), and I checked out the acoustic and dj stages at the way top of the hill, as well as the games area.
Music started at a bit after noon. They were running about a half-hour behind on set up, but they kept pace so they never got any more behind as the day went on. It started out slow and very not crowded, but that picked up over the course of the afternoon. I think the extreme heat of midday kept some away or chased them off. Anyway, I saw Tangelo, Analog, Straight Out of Junior High, Midwest Dilemma, Lovetap, Anonymous American, Trippin Default, Fonzarellies, Mama Green (from Chicago), Mandown, Venaculas, Grasshopper Takeover, and Anchondo on the main stages. I also caught a bit of Signal Report (from Minneapolis), Silverman--who did the most amazing medley of Misirlou/James Bond Theme/old Batman theme--and Race For Titles. I have now been very close to moshing (tried to avoid it, tho), crowd surfing (would never do it, but I did help people stay up ^^ ), and all that fun crowd stuff. And I note being outside with all that space keeps me from feeling trapped in a crowd.
Up in the acoustic area, I saw a little of David Paulsen--and I meant to go back up for Special Peoples Club. But though I did the ski lift once, I didn't feel real coordinated on it getting on/off, so I just hiked the hill. About three times over the course of the day. ^^;; And by hill, I mean, this steep, steep long incline up to the top of the bluff. So I got kind of worn down by the time SPC was to play, and I just skipped it. I do wish I hadn't, though, as they're very good. In the DJ area, I listened to a little Amtrax, which was ok--but I made an effort to make one trip up the hill in the afternoon to listen to Trinity Soundsystem. This DJ group kicks *ASS*. They're trancey and trippy sounding, and just haunting, in a way. And though they're computer/electronic-synth, they have a member that sings rather than just sampling off a CD. The music just makes me dance, I can't help it--even if no one else around me is, I just *have* to for that group.
I did check out the vendors, but I didn't get much other than a few free things (stickers, a frisbee from the radio station--89.7 The River), and a couple buttons (for SLAM Omaha--or Support Local Art/Music, and for Straight Outta Junior High). I did spend a lot of money though, despite concessions being affordable. Had to eat a little, of course--was too hot to want to eat much--but man, did I go through water bottle after water bottle, plus a little soda and Gatorade. I think I spent half of what I took on drinks. Did treat myself to some Dippin Dots ice cream, though, and some very awesome shaved ice. Shaved ice kicks a snowcone's ass any day.
So was awesome, amazing, intense, and very, very worth it. Especially for how cheap my ticket was (12 bucks, I kid you not). But at the end of it, I reeked of sunscreen spray and bug spray, and was sunburned, filthy with dust, having my ass kicked *HARD* by my allergies, in major foot/leg/knee pain (so much standing, walking, dancing, jumping...), exhausted-dead-tired, deaf (my ears are still ringing, and things sound a bit far away), and extremely hoarse. My throat is done shredded raw, and it feels like I have a monster cold, even though I know I don't. And was one of those times where it may have been like 1am when I got home, but damned if I wasn't staying awake long enough to shower. Then I went and died on a mattress. Sweet, sweet void of sleeeeeeeep... ^^; (And was a touch pissy then, too, as someone picked me up 20 minutes late--but what was worse is my watch was off, so I thought it was *40* minutes late until I got into the car. >_o )
Btw, I did take pictures. I now have four rolls of film that cover AX, AI, and the Music Meltdown. Am going to make an effort to get those developed this week and onto photo CD, so I can get them on some webspace to share.
But let's see...my favorite stuff. On the DJ side, definitely Trinity Soundsystem. I need to get CDs of theirs. And Straight Out of Junior High had a great stage show--they don't take themselves seriously at all--and they really pumped up the early afternoon. Lovetap owns my soul...seriously, two of their members are *fine* and bishy, and they really play up to the crowd in a lovely way. ^^ The Fonzerellis are great-high energy, and the lead singer is goth-bishy with some droolicious tattooing. Ye-yes. ^^ And Venaculas-Grasshopper Takeover-Anchondo was just an amazing, amazing series of bands to listen to late late night. The crowd was drained-exhausted, but those bands have generate such a powerful sound and energy, that it just drives people into a dancing frenzy. I have been dying to see Anchondo live for a couple years now--to see all these groups live. I'm just ecstatic to have finally done so, as it was a fscking amazing as I knew it would be.
They're talking about doing this again next year--and hell yes, I would go again. I might be a wreck afterwards, but you have to suffer for your art/music, don't you? ^^ It's. So. Worth. It. IMO, Omaha is one of *the* big music scenes these days, and this very, very much proves it. Keep an eye on the groups starting out here.
Got there really early, since James had an Amptguard thing to go to. Meant I had to wait about 45 minutes until gate open. But then got to spend that first hour there exploring, since music didn't start until noon (gates opened at 11um...ish). The whole site was about 40 acres, so it was pretty danged big. I started off checking out the area at the base of the bluffs, with the food, vendors/artists, and main stages (the electric/rock area). Eventually they got the ski lift going (Mt. Crescent is a ski area in winter), and I checked out the acoustic and dj stages at the way top of the hill, as well as the games area.
Music started at a bit after noon. They were running about a half-hour behind on set up, but they kept pace so they never got any more behind as the day went on. It started out slow and very not crowded, but that picked up over the course of the afternoon. I think the extreme heat of midday kept some away or chased them off. Anyway, I saw Tangelo, Analog, Straight Out of Junior High, Midwest Dilemma, Lovetap, Anonymous American, Trippin Default, Fonzarellies, Mama Green (from Chicago), Mandown, Venaculas, Grasshopper Takeover, and Anchondo on the main stages. I also caught a bit of Signal Report (from Minneapolis), Silverman--who did the most amazing medley of Misirlou/James Bond Theme/old Batman theme--and Race For Titles. I have now been very close to moshing (tried to avoid it, tho), crowd surfing (would never do it, but I did help people stay up ^^ ), and all that fun crowd stuff. And I note being outside with all that space keeps me from feeling trapped in a crowd.
Up in the acoustic area, I saw a little of David Paulsen--and I meant to go back up for Special Peoples Club. But though I did the ski lift once, I didn't feel real coordinated on it getting on/off, so I just hiked the hill. About three times over the course of the day. ^^;; And by hill, I mean, this steep, steep long incline up to the top of the bluff. So I got kind of worn down by the time SPC was to play, and I just skipped it. I do wish I hadn't, though, as they're very good. In the DJ area, I listened to a little Amtrax, which was ok--but I made an effort to make one trip up the hill in the afternoon to listen to Trinity Soundsystem. This DJ group kicks *ASS*. They're trancey and trippy sounding, and just haunting, in a way. And though they're computer/electronic-synth, they have a member that sings rather than just sampling off a CD. The music just makes me dance, I can't help it--even if no one else around me is, I just *have* to for that group.
I did check out the vendors, but I didn't get much other than a few free things (stickers, a frisbee from the radio station--89.7 The River), and a couple buttons (for SLAM Omaha--or Support Local Art/Music, and for Straight Outta Junior High). I did spend a lot of money though, despite concessions being affordable. Had to eat a little, of course--was too hot to want to eat much--but man, did I go through water bottle after water bottle, plus a little soda and Gatorade. I think I spent half of what I took on drinks. Did treat myself to some Dippin Dots ice cream, though, and some very awesome shaved ice. Shaved ice kicks a snowcone's ass any day.
So was awesome, amazing, intense, and very, very worth it. Especially for how cheap my ticket was (12 bucks, I kid you not). But at the end of it, I reeked of sunscreen spray and bug spray, and was sunburned, filthy with dust, having my ass kicked *HARD* by my allergies, in major foot/leg/knee pain (so much standing, walking, dancing, jumping...), exhausted-dead-tired, deaf (my ears are still ringing, and things sound a bit far away), and extremely hoarse. My throat is done shredded raw, and it feels like I have a monster cold, even though I know I don't. And was one of those times where it may have been like 1am when I got home, but damned if I wasn't staying awake long enough to shower. Then I went and died on a mattress. Sweet, sweet void of sleeeeeeeep... ^^; (And was a touch pissy then, too, as someone picked me up 20 minutes late--but what was worse is my watch was off, so I thought it was *40* minutes late until I got into the car. >_o )
Btw, I did take pictures. I now have four rolls of film that cover AX, AI, and the Music Meltdown. Am going to make an effort to get those developed this week and onto photo CD, so I can get them on some webspace to share.
But let's see...my favorite stuff. On the DJ side, definitely Trinity Soundsystem. I need to get CDs of theirs. And Straight Out of Junior High had a great stage show--they don't take themselves seriously at all--and they really pumped up the early afternoon. Lovetap owns my soul...seriously, two of their members are *fine* and bishy, and they really play up to the crowd in a lovely way. ^^ The Fonzerellis are great-high energy, and the lead singer is goth-bishy with some droolicious tattooing. Ye-yes. ^^ And Venaculas-Grasshopper Takeover-Anchondo was just an amazing, amazing series of bands to listen to late late night. The crowd was drained-exhausted, but those bands have generate such a powerful sound and energy, that it just drives people into a dancing frenzy. I have been dying to see Anchondo live for a couple years now--to see all these groups live. I'm just ecstatic to have finally done so, as it was a fscking amazing as I knew it would be.
They're talking about doing this again next year--and hell yes, I would go again. I might be a wreck afterwards, but you have to suffer for your art/music, don't you? ^^ It's. So. Worth. It. IMO, Omaha is one of *the* big music scenes these days, and this very, very much proves it. Keep an eye on the groups starting out here.
