I’m not such a big fan of festivals. Seeing more than a few bands on one day can be grueling and the sound and stadium-like lack of intimacy generally keep me away. However, I was fortunate to go to the lovely Liberty State Park on Saturday as it was the only day of the 3 it didn’t rain. It was still plenty muddy and it smelled like a petting zoo but I had little else to complain about. The organizers did some good things, none more important than passing out free earplugs which were so necessary when MBV and Tool played. Free sunscreen was also distributed in a tent where, if you waited long enough, you could even get a free massage. People with ID got a bracelet that allowed a maximum of seven drinks. I’m a libertarian but this didn’t seem unreasonable to me. If you need more than 7 drinks, you should probably be experimenting with other drugs. The sound was fantastic on the big stage and generally good all around.
The best part of the festival experience is seeing a band you don’t really know and becoming a fan. That’s what happened to me with St. Vincent. I also came to the conclusion that you can always trust a fat guy in a Tool T-shirt and that whoever that other woman is who plays with Neko Case is should really speak a lot less on stage.
