MOG

Day 1 already a memory, our merry band of audio-philes prepared for our busiest day of the weekend. We had almost no rest but started the day out right. Dale and I hunted and gathered for breakfast and returned to the nest with pancake makings and fresh fruit and yogurt. Many mini pots of coffee was brewed and we dug into our vittles, Lizzie scoring a heart shaped banana pancake.

Dale has chronicled his day here and we have some overlap.

My day also started at VHS or Beta. I've heard of the band but hadn't heard them and was pleasantly surprised. The scrawny lead singer with great rock and roll hair could really sing and play and was nicely supported by equally talented fellows. Great kick off for the day.

Next up on the same stage was Minus the Bear. A Seattle band I had to go all the way to California to finally see, the lead singer had classic sexy northwest look going that added to a solid set of tunes. I'll be sure to catch these guys at home in a dark, intimate venue...oh, yeah. ;)

I left Minus the Bear a bit early to catch MGMT in one of the smaller tent stages. BIG MISTAKE! For the drive down we all made 3 song mixtapes to get us in the mood. Blair's had MGMT's hit Time to Pretend on his and it was the first song we heard as we headed down I10. Perfection. But live, the band just doesn't sound like that song. I guess they played their 2 singles at the end...too late for me because I hit the dirt, looking for better times.

First I looked at DeVotchKa, one of fellow MOGGER "librarianguish's": faves. Not my cup of tea, although the contortionists high above the stage, hanging on just with their feet and hands to ribbon like curtains were entertaining for a bit.

Nothing else was sounding good except lunch, so Jaye and I wandered over to the food area. We sat in the grass and ate...something expensive and fattening...and drowsed while listening to Cold War Kids in the distance. They sounded good and if only I'd had the energy I woulda watched...but the grass was sooooo soft...zzzzzz, for just a few winks.

Invigorated from food and a snooze, we sauntered to the main stage. Cafe Tacvba was just getting going and we were thinking we could get fairly close during that show and when the switch over to Death Cab happens, make a move to front and center. What I didn't count on was enjoying Cafe Tacvba as much as I did. I'm a lyric person, so music in a foreign language is hard for me to get into, but the energy of the band was HUGE and I really dug the key boardist...he boogied the whole set! The lead singer made me smile and reach for the camera with his white shoes with one red lace, one green. Viva Mexico!

BOING

Then my home town boys, Death Cab. I've singled out their set for it's own post but a solid if not awe inspiring set...and look who found me; Dale pulled the whole Cafe Tacvba/DCfC switcheroo also and was only about 10 people from us.

Then Rilo Kiley...from afar. With the tee-shirt cannon that also showered us with gold and silver confetti, Jenny Lewis showed us glitz and glitter as only she can. I love them, as did ALL the other Death Cab fans who overfilled the area. Next time, Jenny gets the main stage: hear that Coachella?

Here came hard decision time: Portishead or Flogging Molly? I was on the fence but Jaye and Lizzie were feeling the call of the homeland and we three lassies of Irish decent (really) went to jump with the rest of the raucous crowd for some Irish punk.

I'm happy with my choice. I know Portishead is amazing but I didn't want to be brought down by their angst and Flogging Molly did the opposite. The three of us were whipped into a fist pounding frenzy with the rest of the rather attractive group of young men around us. :)

All done but for the shouting, Prince was due up next. Under the stage while VHS or Beta were playing, eagle eyed Kate had our first Prince related sighting.

To say the anticipation was massive would be an understatement. He started over 1/2 hour late but what do you do? It's Prince. You wait. But it was well worth it. I'm not a Prince fan and I had moderate expectations. I didn't expect to be blown away, but I was. There's been quite a lot of back and forth about whether he was worth the money or not; I didn't pay him 4.8 million but I did pay $260 for my 3 day pass and for my 260, I say HELL YES! He's a genius of a performer and I'm very glad to have been witness to it. So there! ;)

So, dusty, sweaty and happy we hit the SUV to wait in traffic for hours to get back to the condo. This should have been heinous but 8 people, tired as we were, had the time of our lives. Crickets be damned, a good time was squeezed out of those moments too. But that's another post. :)

Posted on 05/04/2008