Here it is the Wednesday after one of my most active weekends to date and I’ve recaped squat about it. Blame it on the last dying moments of this cold I’m currently fighting — that’s what I’ve been doing. Anyway, here’s the official Fischler.org “Five-Day Flashback”TM:
Friday:
Work on the front end of the day and going to a Yankees game on the back end of it with two first-timer Yankee Stadium attendees, Don and Kelly, and my first time viewing a game from the bleachers. Even thought they lost to Texas 6-2, it was still a fun time. I even learned that the moniker “bleacher creature” was made up for a reason — there were some rather, um, unique members of the human race sitting in our midst.
One of the highlights on the night for me was when Ruben Riverra took center field for the Rangers and the bleachers started up a chant of “Thief! Thief! Thief!”. See what happens when you try to steal and sell Derek Jeter’s glove in spring training?
Saturday:
I woke up at 8am to begin my trip out to Union Dale, PA to join in the fun at Camp Bisco III. The event had started on Friday, but because weeks before when I was buying tickets I didn’t realize the Yankee game and concert overlapped, I had to settle for just one day and missing out on seeing Lake Trout, among other bands. Oh well, call it a lesson learned.
After some 200 miles and 4 hours of driving, in which I sat through two traffic jams and wittnessed both an RV blow-out and a two car accident as they happened, I found myself on the side of a mountain that happened to be playing the role of parking lot as Camp Bisco Atendee #2367, acording to my wristband. My reward was showing up just in time for the second act (which happened to be one of the bands that made me choose this as my first festival in the first place).
A little recap of the acts I saw, in order of performance:
- RANA
Jersey represents! There were about 150 or so people down at the stage for their act (many people were probably still asleep from the night before), and they put on a strong performance for them all. Not the best performance from them I’ve seen, but certainly not a disapointment. - Brothers Past
A definate departure from the frist act, but in a good way. This Philly band impressed me enough to grab their CD before they even finished their set. - The Motet
These guys failed to grab my attention. I believe this is when I decided to go and grab lunch, which show you just how interesting I really found them. On the bright side, it made for good background music while waiting in line. - Umphrey’s McGee
Unbefuckin’leavable! From the first minute of the first song to the last big rock finish, these six musicians had me moving and spellbound. Remember this band’s name, because I see great things for them in the future! A damn shame I couldn’t find their CD for sale (guess I moved a little late on that one). - Dr. Didg
My second time seeing the Doctor and company play (first was at the Bob Marley Birthday Bash at the Wetlands some years ago), and he blew my mind even more this time. He started the show with a solo of him on the Didgeriedo before his band joined in and he started sampeling and looping the didg. Just phenominal! - The New Deal
A Canadian jam band that had some a heavy preferance for electronic sound. I wandered around through most of their set, but never out of site of the stage. This is one of those bands that will probably grow on me the more I hear them. - Alex Patterson
Mr. patterson is better known as the producer behind “The Orb”, but I personally wasn’t feeling the vibe with his act. Maybe it was the choice of samples or something, but I spent more time wandering durring his set than during any other part of the show. - The Disco Biscuits
The show-stopers! The main eventers! The band the event was named after. Obviously you have to be pretty good to headline a festival like this. You have to be even better to play two sets, back to back, both nights. I’ve had the pleasure of seeing them once before in NY at the Jammys, though I couldn’t remember any of there set. This was basicly a repeat of that experience — good, but not life changing or anything. Still, there is something to be said for any band that can control the cround to the point of having a mountain full of people sway and move or stop and anticipate the next transition at the same time. I made it through their first set before my cold-ridden body could take no more and I sought refuge for the night in my car.
And while the music was a gigantic part of why I made the trip out to the mountains, it wasn’t the only reason. The gathering of that many people was a sight to see. Tents all over the place, vendor booths, consession stands, etc. Some of the more memorable experiences:
- Lots of people. At least 2,600 there and probably closer to 3,000 by the time the sun went down.
- Lots of cars. I had to make it a point to hike back to my car after every performer just to make sure as the day wore on I’d be able to find it when it got dark.
- Dancing in a light rain (especially when moving like a madman) is a good feeling, but no matter how good the rain feels, a monsoon like rain storm will make even the bravest of souls seek out cheap ponchos and cover under the tarp at the consession tents. Especially when the heaviest of rain shows up in between acts. Still, it’s a good chance to get to know the people you happen to be trapped with.
- Rain makes for mud, mud traps trucks and traped trucks need nice people like myself to help push them out. Call it an exercise in physics and good karma.
- Fresh garlic grill cheese sandwiches and veggie fajitas were the foods of choice for me (Tip: Use lots of fresh peppers and salsa if you’re making veggie fajitas — they rock when prepared that way.). There was wide variety of foods to eat, with pizza and even chinese available.
- When you get a shot of “firewater” from the Juice and Smoothy stand, expect it to be hot. Like burning through your esophagas hot.
- Especially at a gigantic rock fest and after much dancing, it nice to take some time to admire the natural scenery — like the mountains and the farmhouse of the people whose property we were so graciously allowed to inhabit for the show.
- Watching part of the concert through a bon fire at the top of a mountain was very interesting. The heat and flams distorted what you see and hear from the performance. That and the flames at times seemed to dance in time with the music — that was cool as well.
- The Disco Biscuits are conditioned enough performers to play and not drop a single beat, even when the lights from the stage go out for about five minutes.
- It helps to have something like a pillow or a blanket when trying to sleep in your car, though if you flip down the back seat in a ’99 cavalier to allow for trunk access, you ALMOST get a nice bed out of the deal. Almost.
Sunday:
I left the farm at 7am was home by 10:30am, which left me with a good part of my Sunday to actually relax and not have to deal with traffic and such. I finaly got to properly try out my new djembe when Jesse, Brian and I jammed out — getting this drum was one of the best things I’ve done in a while. And to cap the day off, I got to see Shawn Michaels have a spectacular 30 minute match at SummerSlam, one of the best WWE pay-per-views in a over a year (if you ask me, that is).
Monday:
Back to work. But what’s this? I wake up and I feel…good? For the first time in over a week, I feel like a million bucks! Could it be that my cold is gone? Oh, and there was also the usual assortment of business calls and being creative as per a usual work day.
Tuesday:
Back to bed. Ugh! I guess that cold had one last shot to get in, and it certainly knocked me for a loop, forcing me to get some bedrest and heavily medicate myself. Did I mention that colds suck?
Tags: Personal