After the Governor's Ball at Governor's Island, you remember, the hell on earth starring Lauryn Hill in 2010, I swore I would never ever return under any circumstance whatsoever. Governor's Island is a commute from hell to the lower east side and then a ferry. It was awful. And the place… I just hate fucking festivals, you might as well not be there…
But when I heard they had moved the Governor's ball to Randall's Island I thought hmmmm… Randall's is in the Bronx and closer than Yankee Stadium, and though the bus ride is a pain in the ass you can actually walk over the bridge if you feel like it. Of course, then you run into junkies shooting up in the bushes but you can't have everything. Oh and I once watched a drunken guy get run over by a bus!!!! That was after the Guinness Fleadgh. Some show, Richard Thompson, Sinead O'Connor and Van Morrison…
I saw Pearl Jam at Randall's as well and enjoyed the experience, and went to the Warped Tour a couple of times and would still be going if they hadn't moved it.
So, I was considering going for Beck. A Sunday sucks, but I could always take the Monday as a vacation day. The rest of the line up wasn't bad though not good enough to get me out. Modern Mouse, OK. Explosions In The Sky, an eyeful. But Cage the Elephant? A perennial opening band.
Meanwhile, I've been agonizing over Fiona Apple at MHOW. Tix were up to $180 on stub hub, plus handling so figure you're around $220. Then I heard Fiona had signed up for Sunday's gig, the one with Beck starring. That was enough. Beck is one thing, Beck and Fiona is something else again. Plus the price is $180 for a VIP tix and that includes charges.
Conclusion: A must see concert… so go.