Monolith Music Festival 2008 - countdown to joy
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Artist:
It's been a week, one seriously crazy week, since I arrived home from Denver for the big MOGtiply family reunion, with the Monolith Music Festival on the side. I made a few mental notes, but I've been staggering through my towering workload of late, and it's just now that I feel that I can get in enough time to put 0's to 1's and write a review.
First, some background. Back in May, I had just received my stimulus money when a few of us talked about meeting in Denver to attend the Monolith Music Festival, at Red Rocks. Now I had lived in Colorado for eight years, and had never attended a show at Red Rocks, so I didn't need much persuasion. All the persuasion I needed, in fact came in the form of "A Place To Bury Strangers is playing." Without a second thought, I snapped up a ticket for the Saturday show and planned for another marvelous meetup with greeneyedsisters Lizzie, Amber and Erin, plus whomever else could make the trip.
Life decided to make thngs hard, though. Money started to run dry, and I ended up using the money I had set aside for the trip for necessities. At the same time, my workload tripled, most especially on weekends, so I knew that ducking away on a Saturday would not be possible. Then we decided to sell our second vehicle, which gave me enough money to get to Denver. I could go again, yay! I couldn't totally duck out of work, but I'll get to that later.
The entire week leading up to the show was stress-filled, as I tried to fit five days of work into four days, including scheduling hotfix deployment for about 800 Windows servers. (Gotta love Microsoft, instant job security!) Even Thursday night, I could not relax, but had to start applying hotifxes that evening. I couldn't even do it at home, since our cable had been wonky all day, so I had to sit in my in-laws' house with headphones on, using their wireless connection to get my work done. I managed to finally get to sleep at about 2:30AM that evening.
Friday morning awoke to find Wichita drenched in torrential rain, and our sump pump not working. I ran downstairs and managed to get it going before our basement started to get flooded, but it was a close one, and I immediately thought about whether or not I could really leave. Then Melissa got home from her early-morning seminary class and the first thing out of her mouth is "Will you please check the brakes on the car?" Oh great. Thankfully, the brakes were wet but otherwise fine, the sump pump held, and after some hasty packing, we sloshed out way to pick up the red Nissan Versa that served me so well this weekend.
Leaving with a few twinges of guint, I managed to white-knuckle it through buckets of rain for hours, all through Kansas, that only let up as I got closer to Denver. I took this as a good sign, and I ended up making it to my old stomping grounds (the Denver Tech Center) in about eight hours.
Now, I had to stop in and see if I could get into my old office, as I had loads of work scheduled for late Saturday night, and I wanted to be able to get onsite. However, since my manager did not bother to lay the ground work or se3nd in the appropriate forms, I was brutally rebuffed. Oh well, good thing our hotel had high-speed Internet service, as I will now have to work from there.
My next stop on the whirlwind tour is Erin's home, where the pre-Monolith barbecue has been planned. Now, Erin was kind enough to give us all directions, but I had failed to print them, figuring that I would be able to step into my office and print them later. D'oh! I could have called, but I had chosen to keep my attendence a secret for everyone save two: Lizzie, who was handling the hotel accomodations, and Amber, who gave me such a guilt trip that I spilled the beans. I started frantically txting Amber to get directions, while taking wrong turn after wrong turn. I finally managed to get myself turned about properly, after a round-trip tour of Cherry Creek Park, and arrived at Erin's front door.
Now, I had known Erin online for almost two years, so I thought I had a good grasp on how wonderful a person she is. I also had accounts from those who had met her from Lolla 07 (Amber, Blair, Mike) and this year's APW (Chris). Still, on her home turf, there is now way to measure how wondernous our host was. There was a fair amount of stammering at first, as it took her a second to process that her e-bro had made the trip after all, followed by one of those hugs that make your molars tingle (the first of many). She then led me in to the house (warm and cozy), where I was promptly set upon by my other greeneyedsisters, Amber and Lizzie (Side note: good hugs must run in the family.)
Oh yeah, did I mention that Anna made the trip too, even with a wicked foot injury?
Slowly but surely, the rest of the crew came in. Next was Sam (the butcher) with Courtney Mae, the acoustic guitar that shall henceforth come to all MOGtiply get-togethers. He was perfect to bring it in, as he was the only person who could actually play the thing, aside from my two chords of experience. Next were Mike Marigold and his lovely wife Heather. Mike showed of his own impressive weight loss nd beer-nerd skillz, while Heather quietly soaked it all in with a look that said, "He's a goofball, but I love him." I can appreciate that, having seen Melissa give a few of those looks myself. Lastly, after some more frantic texting from the master texter Amber, Mike Zero and Amber's husband Dan arrived, so the party could begin in earnest. Everyone gave a start when they noticed my presence, but Zero got the best reaction: "You're mike, and you're Heather ... AND YOU'RE DALE!!!" Heehee.
Since we're all music obsessives, the music takes precedence over the food, or even the wine/beer/et cetera. I know, strange but true. Lizzie had put forth a call for mixes for the get-together, and she had risen to the occasion with a two-CD mix of tasty treats. Sam brought a great mix as well; I don't remember all the songs, but I do remember Echo and the Bunnymen's "The Killing Moon", Cheap Trick's "The Dream Police", and the tagged song above. That track was a key component of the evening, but I'll get to that later. I had not had a chance to put anything together, but I had a laptop with a CD-RW and a 2GB Nano full of mp3's so I quickly threw together a mix, that turned out pretty good. We let the mixes play through, then Erin broke into a cabinet filled (FILLED!) with vinyl. We had been talking and she realized that I had not heard the March Violets, so she broke out her album and rectified that immediately. Kids, I gotsta warn ya, that music crack dealing is genetic. I'm still trying to find the album she played, because them March Violets were goooooood. :) And thus it went, people would put on an album, play it through, and then someone else would put on something else. Elvis Costello, Nick Cave, nothing was off limits. Even Erin's husband's previous band (Twice Wilted) got some play; they have a strong but very enjoyable Chameleons vbie.
Now would be a good time to click on the button above.
I had decided to take a moment away from all the zaniness inside the house, so I stepped outside into the backyard to enjoy the cool night air as dusk settled. Sam's mix was playing, and this song came on. I love this song, so as the first verse started I started to sing along to myself, or so I thought. I then hear a smaller, and much prettier, voice behind me. I turn to find Erin working the grill and singing along as well. That moment probably didn't last thirty seconds, but it drove home once again that the bonds that we had formed within these pages are ever so real. The bonds that had developed over two years of chatting about music and life were only deepened by our sharing the same space.
I could go on all night, but it's getting really late, and I would be better off recommending you to the photos that Amber and Mike took, that captured a magical evening, that we knew would only lead to more wondrous times at Red Rocks. We goofed off, we danced (okay, Sam and I danced, and he failed to dip me properly), we hugged A LOT, and then when the hour had gone on too long, we left our most gracious hostess and headed off to the hotel for some shut-eye. Which is what I should be about right now. G'night.
Locating MOG account...
Comments (21)
Enjoy the show, keep us all wantabethere's informed okay?
Cheers,
INdy x
What a warm and inviting account! What camaraderie espoused! The magic of MOG. Awaiting more deets from any of the folks involved.
Great account of what looks like was a fabulous weekend. I'm looking forward to the next installment. Melissa must be a truly understanding individual to put up with your galavanting around the country dealing your wares, amcd indeed.
Is that your Barbie doll?
wow...what gr8 ppl
what gr8 music
darn i would KILL to make one of these...well not really
gonna be there there one day :(
sigh
Indy, I'll be posting a review of the Saturday show later. It was excellent, of that you can be sure. The show, not so much the review. ;)
Mike, I'm still a bit surprised no one else has posted yet. Except for Amber, who is hosting Zero on her home turf and having too much fun to turn on a laptop.
No Bruce, that's not my Barbie, that belongs to one of Erin's sweet and charming daughters. In fact, while Amber and Lizzie were leading Erin on in believing that I was not going to make it, they did one for me as well, although his dress left little to the imagination.
We'd love to have you at one of these Keith!
Well, if this post doesn't bring warmth to someone's heart, I don't know what will! Honestly, warmth is flooding my screen.
Huge {virtual, unfortunately} hug to ya, brother. I'm so glad that it was such an amazing night.
And I'm so glad I was there hehehe!
You were the belle of the ball, as should be expected. I just wish weren't so small and so quiet. ;)
You know, I daresay there has not been a MOGmeet yet that has not been an amazing night. You've had the pleasure of two now, wouldn't you agree?
I just realized that Lizzie and Zero have now met the both of us. Perhaps one of these days we can add ourselves to that list. I know it's at least cheaper to go to the UK than it is to go to Greece.
Someday ...
Dale, there's no way for me to express how truly wonderful it was to finally meet you. I just about fell over when I saw you standing at my door ... :) It was a great, fun night ... everyone jived so well and for it being the first time many of us had met it was more like a gathering of old friends -- which of course, is what we are. And whenever I get the chance to dig into the vinyl with a set of open ears it's a dangerous rabbithole indeed ... not to worry, I'll get you a copy of that M.V.!
It was wonderful having everyone here, even Anna in her Barbie-state was the recipient of hugs and good times while she palled around in various purses and bags, catching shows and joining in the revalry ... xoxo to you sistah! I'm hoping the deadlines I'm working on will settle down soon so I can add to the accounting of festivities. Much, much fun was had.
"The bonds that had developed over two years of chatting about music and life were only deepened by our sharing the same space." .... so true. Love you DB!
^^^ Our hostess, everyone!
Much love to you as well sister-E! Sorry, I can't say anything more, language fails me. Just, please refer to this picture from Mike. That sums up my feelings pretty well. <3
Oh, and I found me some March Violets this morning. Just posted them on the dark side. Thanks again for the introduction!
BTW, would you mind terribly re-posting Twice Wilted? PLEASE?
Lovely words that describe a lovely, perfect evening. Sigh...I miss you all
But Amber ... We sent Zero out there this weekend so you wouldn't miss us too much. Tell him HI! for us, won't you? :*
I will, for sure. We've had a good couple of nights and tomorrow is Stereophonics. We do know how to rock, don't we?
But I still miss those of you who didn't come to Seattle this weekend
Awwww, you're too sweet. I miss you too, so much. And I promise that I'll stop obsessively going through the pictures you guys took as soon as I can get back to a decent sleep schedule. Which means, when I find another job. :/
Great post Dale. I think I feel pretty similar to you and feel like I'm going through some sort of withdrawels or something. Meeting you all was easily one of the most beautiful things I have done this summer.
It was weird, when we where at E's I was in such a state of bliss that I had even transcended music for a while. When you were all talking music and going through E's records, I was not even really able since I was so overwhelmed taking all you in. Next time I want to participate though.
Once again, beautiful post Dale. Thanks for everything.
Transcending music?!? Hold on there tiger, let's not get all crazy here. ;)
I faced such a barrage of garbage at work the week before and the week after that I've really been forced to cling toghtly to the memories of last weekend. If fact, Melissa was just getting on me this morning because I failed to take the entire weekend off as a vacation, but had to work Saturday night. Which totally stunk, in case you didn't know.
Seriously, let's do this again. I'll leave the work behind, I swear. :)
I am honest when I say the transcending music thing. While maybe for only a second, it was a moment of transcendence. ;)
Hopefully she doesn't get to rough on ya. We need you in top condition the next time we see you.
You better leave the work behind next time! Grrr.
Not too rough, she was totally right. I needed to train my team better, trust them better, to be able to handle the job while I'm gone.
Then again, if I get my way, I'll have a different job soon and hopefully not have all the restraints. I hear taking a weekend off work is really nice, and I'd like to try it sometime. :)
weekends off are nice from time to time. no word on the san antonio yet?
No, and I called them three times last week. :(
gadzooks, does the track take me back or what.
Dale, i love this post. you coming through for MOG and MOG coming through for you. heavens, there is so much joy in the air that i am about to take cover. ;p
i especially love your "unguarded moment" of unknowingly dueting with Sister-E, who is ever the hostess with the mostest this year! March Violets should be more loved than they are.
so let's see ... Sam made your evening with a song and a dance ... alrighty then.
That Sam is quite the charmer, although I did have to remind him that HE was leading. And alas, there is photographic evidence. Yes, I'm sure I'll never live it down.
Erin really is teh awes0me, although there was a tense moment when she dove into her stacks of vinyl and we were all worried she'd never come back up. She even slept over at the hotel with us Saturday night.
You remember asking me why I would restrain myself from pogoing wildly? You saw the TWO videos of me in action during Cut Copy? Now you know why. :P
And I really need to get a review of the actual concert together, although at this pace I'll have it done right before Halloween. Sigh.