Checkpoint reached

*Edit: Due to unforeseen complications I haven't had internet in the apartment for a hot minute so the blog has been almost completely dead. For this I apologize and hope the 100th don't dissapoint.*

El Ciento. The centennial. That extra problem Jay-Z had before she married him. Yes gadies and lentlemen, this marks my one hundredth post. As I wanted it to be a lengthy and worthwhile post, I've waited to have all my finals and school work (marking the end of my sophomore year in college) completed so I could write a one hundred page post epic catch up blog.

First and foremost: Sasquatch 2010 in review.

In my last post, I listed the groups I wouldn't be seeing at the Sasquatch! Music Festival. While it was a bummer missing what I did, I still had a blast and got to see some incredible shows. Here in full, is recount of Sasafras.

After arriving late Friday night into the town just out side of the Gorge (George, Washington), my group attempted to connect with another group of friends from the Washington area. What was supposed to be a half hour wait for a new-comer-to the groups girlfriends' car, turned into a heated debate of whether or not the other cars wanted to sacrifice any more time waiting vs. going with what cars we had gathered to establish a better camp site. To make matters worse, Rob the 4-loco drinking, fishing, alfalfa farming (yes he really said he farmed alfalfa) local transient took it upon himself to intermittently involve himself in the arguments, demand spare change, or ramble off unrelated stories. Needless to say it was not the ideal way to meet these new Washington faces and general feeling of resent was felt for the tardy girlfriend.
As soon as the late car arrived however, all was forgiven as the great pilgrimage continued.

Upon leaving the gas stations we were immediately inducted into a line for camping spots lasting two hours.



Arriving past midnight, the general consensus was to set up camp, rally for a brew or two and quickly turn in. While not the epic groundbreaking upon first arrival that we had planned, it suited us well as we were all dog tired from our travels.

Saturday
I'm a light sleeper, and as soon as light touches ma eyes, I gotta get up. And in a tent, you learn quick that there is nowhere to hide as soon as dawn breaks, so on Saturday morning I found myself wide awake at 8. Rallying the troops, we started the day off with a delicious breakfast. Because we had arrived so late, we were stationed in the overflow campsite which in the end wasn't a problem because it was closer to the venue and decidedly quieter. As we began our walk in, we realized a few other people had heard of this event and were just as excited about it as we were.



Our first stop the main stage, we managed to catch Brother Ali and DJ Snuggles' set wrapping up. I've seen BA before and he does not disappoint, this being my first time seeing him in a huge ass venue, I was very impressed.



Moving from the Main to Bigfoot stage, we saw one of my buddys favorite bands, Mumford & Sons.

Mumford and Sons - Little Lion Man


Next we changed venue and went to the Yeti stage to catch Miike Snow. Most known for his "Animals" song, Miike did a great show and for how early in the day it was really got the crowd moving. I especially enjoyed Silvia, a song I hadn't heard prior to the festival.

Miike Snow - Silvia


From there we caught OK Go's set back on the main stage. Considerably more rock sounding in person, OK Go had great energy and really set the mood for the following band Vampire Weekend. This Too Shall Pass was excellent live and really got the crowd involved.

Their music videos are effin fantastic too.
OK Go - This Too Shall Pass


So up to this point I had heard a lot about Vampire Weekend. An anthem of indie, their single 'Cousins' I had heard an could understand its appeal, but I always kind of wrote them off as not my style. WELL, seeing them live really made me a believer in their musical talent and charisma on stage. Packing almost the entire area, Vampire weekend within the span of three songs had the entire amphitheater on their feet dancing with strangers. 'A-punk' (sure to be a mainstay summer 2010 summer cut) was incredible live and so well received they played it a second time and received an even more enthusiastic and wild spectacle of dance. I am no longer undecided or impartial to their music, I like Vampire Weekend regardless of whatever stigma is associated with their 'kind' and how much shit I'll get as being a band-wagon-hopper.

Vampire Weekend - A-Punk


Now dark out, one could tell the festivities had truly began. Everyone had shed their day personas and the freaks were out. Following a stream of people to the Rumpus room, we then saw a couple sets of Z-trip. We didn't stay to long tho, as the piece de resistance of the night was Deadmau5.

I had seen him once before in Portland, and the show was amazing. THIS however, was something else. Hands down the best light show I've ever seen, Deadmau5 was incredible.



Sunday
As I had sold my Sunday ticket, I didn't get to see any acts and spent the day drinking recuperating from the night before and meeting people around the camp site.

At Sasquatch it seems Canadians feel the need to broadcast their nationality to an obscene amount, and dotting the campsites horizon were numerous maple-leafed flags. While there were American flags and college flags as well, what occurred to me is how while "we" (Americans) pretty much let it slide, were we to do it in another country; we would almost undoubtedly be called out as being a loud/ignorant American.

After the shows I joined the masses in revelry and met these guys:



Friday
Friday Alec didn't attend Sasquatch. In his leave Green Man went. Or at least a modified version. Sunday night I had the good fortune of meeting someone who had a green man suit. After very little convincing, I agreed to wear the suit the next day.

While the zipper was broken making it not quite the full experience, I still managed to attract *little* attention.



Being the Green Man was one of the best decisions I had ever made. Intoxicated people thought I was the same Green Man from every sporting/musical/party experience they'd ever had, immediately making us best friends, everyone wanted pictures or high fives, it was great. I was a goddamn celebrity for a day and all it took was a suit of green spandex.

Shows Green Man saw:

While a nice break from all the indie rock around, Fresh Espresso wouldn't be high on my (but maybe on Green Man's) list of hip hop shows.
Fresh Espresso - Girls and Fast Cars


Band of Horses goes without saying. Killer show. (isn't that that kid cudi song?? *durp durp*)

Band Of Horses - The Funeral


Meh. A lil soft for Green Mans taste tho. Green Mans gotta DANCE.
She & Him - Theives


Passion Pit SLAYED! After seeing them at Sas I now really regret not catching them when they came through Eugene. They had incredible energy and jus fuckin' rocked all around. Show REALLY got Green Man movin'
Passion Pit - Moth's Wings


MGMT. In concert. Think about it.
MGMT - Electric Feel


MGMT - Kids @ Sasquatch Festival 2010


After talking Boys Noize up to my group all weekend, I was actually a little worried that he may not shine in person as much as he does when I'm deliriously tired at work jamming out way to hard to his spastic-A.D.D-grunge-synth sound. But, after seeing him live, I turned them all into believers. While I didn't have the best vantage point due to my late arrival, (I had to see all of MGMT, you can't just walk away from that) dude is SICK with the sounds. Green Man dug it.

Boys Noize


And just like that it was over...



WELL SHIT. It just keep going huh?

CARIBBEAN CRUISE RECAP:

Yezzir, to kick off ma summer I went with the fam on a Carnival Cruise to the Carri bean! My sister had the poor luck to fall out of a tree the day we were leaving and break her wrist badly enough to need to stay home from the trip to get it surgeried up.

As I'm not on my comp I can't dish up any photos so I'ma hold off for a full run down post.

Stay thirsty ya'll.