Seems that the blogosphere is all a-twitter that Coachella announced its line-up for this year.
Personally, while I find it fascinating, I could care less. Why do so many folks care about festivals? Far away festivals? Festivals that cost an arm and a leg, not including airfare and a place to stay? Sure, you could camp and hang out with the hippies at Bonnaroo or Wakarusa, but then you’re at the mercy of the elements and people who will steal your stuff.
Where do people find the money for this? Seriously… I can’t afford to buy tickets to see Less Than Jake until the fucking DAY OF, much less the money required for an all-weekend festival halfway across the country. Nor do I have the ability to take four or five days off work and not miss the lost income (to say nothing of the expenditure involved in just going to the show).
Maybe it’s ’cause I hate all-day festivals so much that I can’t comprehend two days’ worth in a strange location. Heat, short sets, and far too many people for my liking do not make for a fun show-going experience. Trust me… I’ve been to a Lollapalooza, a HORDE Festical, six Warped Tours, a Rockfest and a Tattoo the Earth. Even when they were free, it sucked.
This may just be a complete and utter backlash against working too much and my wife having troubles at her job, but I feel nothing but contempt for those of you who can take off for an entire weekend of music in the sun and not even think twice of it. I am full of jealousy and hatred.
Go-Gos – “Vacation“
Dude, for what it’s worth, I’m totally with you here. I’m 36 with a full-time job and a three-year-old daughter. Reading about all of these twentysomethings frig themselves over the thought of standing around all day listening to a bunch of jaded bands play half-hearted sets though a sound system that’s muddier than the ground they’re standing on makes me laugh the bitter chuckle of someone who’s been there, done that and, quite frankly, would like to go back but knows I could never be that naive again. Rock festivals are like three-packs of Twinkies — the concept sounds so delicious but the result is completely unsatisfying.
(Oh, uh, thanks for The Go-gos song, too.)