Summerfest, July 3
I ended up missing Berlin (errands and also wanting to eat and stuff), but I still managed to get down to the grounds early in the evening.
Vanity Theft were up first, and I really liked them. Definitely half-nervous, half-gleeful, and all-fun as they played, mugged and launched a thousand rpfs fics entertained. (I was expecting to enjoy them, at least a bit, as I'd heard their album prior to the show, having bought it on a whim) They're apparently coming back in September, and I'll probably go see them again.
Ume (pronounced ooooo - may) were after. They were... ok. I think they're either very new, or nervous about crowds? idk. The only interaction with the crowd was the female singer/guitarist saying "thank you" after people clapped. It was very... disassociated, and there wasn't any sort of... cohesiveness. Like, she could have been up there all alone for the amount of interest she displayed in the bassist and drummer (who didn't sing and didn't do anything but play). They were there, they just couldn't be bothered to care.
Then I wandered up and down the grounds, poking at the various stalls. Ate dinner, wandered more. Ended up down at the bottom of the grounds watching U2 Zoo.
Either people are really hard up for U2 music, or these guys have some weird ult following, as the crowd for them was huge. They were all right, but not that great--and didn't really sound like U2, even though they came close a few times.
(they did play 'Electrial Storm', though, which engendered a grumbled STUPIDSEXYANGELS)
But I was sort of bored, so I walked back up the grounds, looking for a good place to watch the fireworks (I like things that explode). Ended up sitting at the US Cellular stage again, until they started and then I walked over and stood in the crowd for a while... At least, until I got tired of standing.
The fireworks went on for an hour, and about ten, the band Taking Back Sunday started playing behind me. Apparently, people like them? Idk. I found them sort of awful and annoying.
But Fuel were playing a stage further up, so I went and watched their set (and the fireworks). They were nice and somewhat mellow, despite it being the ROCK stage. Nothing new, but entertaining enough to keep me there. I had a nice spot on the little embankment behind the bleachers, and a tree to sit under.
Then it was time to go home, and I headed out with the crowd to stand at the bus stop, waiting for one of two buses that were supposed to run after Summerfest.
Countless buses emblazoned Summerfest passed us, but never did EITHER 30 bus. After waiting an hour, I called and asked nique to come rescue me. Which was excellent timing, as after she'd picked me up, timjr called, having been in the same predicament, just at a different bus stop.
Got home around 1 am. *happysigh* There is something about seeing live music that just gives me a happy.
Vanity Theft were up first, and I really liked them. Definitely half-nervous, half-gleeful, and all-fun as they played, mugged and launched a thousand rpfs fics entertained. (I was expecting to enjoy them, at least a bit, as I'd heard their album prior to the show, having bought it on a whim) They're apparently coming back in September, and I'll probably go see them again.
Ume (pronounced ooooo - may) were after. They were... ok. I think they're either very new, or nervous about crowds? idk. The only interaction with the crowd was the female singer/guitarist saying "thank you" after people clapped. It was very... disassociated, and there wasn't any sort of... cohesiveness. Like, she could have been up there all alone for the amount of interest she displayed in the bassist and drummer (who didn't sing and didn't do anything but play). They were there, they just couldn't be bothered to care.
Then I wandered up and down the grounds, poking at the various stalls. Ate dinner, wandered more. Ended up down at the bottom of the grounds watching U2 Zoo.
Either people are really hard up for U2 music, or these guys have some weird ult following, as the crowd for them was huge. They were all right, but not that great--and didn't really sound like U2, even though they came close a few times.
(they did play 'Electrial Storm', though, which engendered a grumbled STUPIDSEXYANGELS)
But I was sort of bored, so I walked back up the grounds, looking for a good place to watch the fireworks (I like things that explode). Ended up sitting at the US Cellular stage again, until they started and then I walked over and stood in the crowd for a while... At least, until I got tired of standing.
The fireworks went on for an hour, and about ten, the band Taking Back Sunday started playing behind me. Apparently, people like them? Idk. I found them sort of awful and annoying.
But Fuel were playing a stage further up, so I went and watched their set (and the fireworks). They were nice and somewhat mellow, despite it being the ROCK stage. Nothing new, but entertaining enough to keep me there. I had a nice spot on the little embankment behind the bleachers, and a tree to sit under.
Then it was time to go home, and I headed out with the crowd to stand at the bus stop, waiting for one of two buses that were supposed to run after Summerfest.
Countless buses emblazoned Summerfest passed us, but never did EITHER 30 bus. After waiting an hour, I called and asked nique to come rescue me. Which was excellent timing, as after she'd picked me up, timjr called, having been in the same predicament, just at a different bus stop.
Got home around 1 am. *happysigh* There is something about seeing live music that just gives me a happy.