And the Moog continues..
More Highlights-
We arrived at the Civic Center just in time for Caribou to begin his set. Today would surely be less stressful then yesterday, since every act i was planning on seeing was playing at the same stage, no walking aimlessly around town.
Caribou was quite good, pretty far out and psychedelic, but very clean and even hypnotizing at times. The way Daniel Snaith, and his band ( whom help with live shows) took control of the trace/dance party was amazing. It felt like a very intimate environment and not the huge open arena space it was in reality. With ease, he moved from instrument to instrument, taking us deeper into the Caribou ambient throw-down, starting with the synthesizer, he moved to his recorder to the drums and who knows where else.
Thievery Corporation, a personal favorite of mine who I finally got to cross off my bucket list after Bisco, had many high expectations to fulfill throughout Moog. One girl told me, “My expectations were really high and then they took my expectations and blew them UP!” I completely agree with you, random girl. The masters of trip hop had the entire Civic Center shaking and groovin by the end of their set. Such a great live set, so so good. Wished it would never end, the one and half hours felt like 20 minutes, and they were done. Boo Hoo. I journeyed upstairs to Thomas Wolfe to catch a few Dico Biscuit songs.
The Biscuits have a crazy cult-like following, I witnessed this at Camp Bisco when it was packed for all 6 of their sets throughout the weekend, even the one that was during a rain/t-storm. I hadn’t really given them much of a chance.. so here it was. It was by far the most live the Thomas Wolfe Theatre got, even the wimps who went to sit on the upstairs balcony, (whom were normally seated) were up, dancing and groovin the entire set.. the entire 3 hour set. Combined with a neat light show, the grooves kept coming, and we kept dancing. It was about that time, i needed a break, some fresh air, a change of scenery, something new.
Before I was to venture back out into the crazy land which was downtown Asheville, halloween weekend, with tens of thousands of Moogers roaming the streets, I made my way to see Massive Attack for the remainder of their set. They were awesome, I instantly was forced back into the Thievery trip hop groove I was under an hour ago. They were surely a highlight of the weekend.
Lowlight of the night..
Let me start by saying the lowlight is not music related at all, no set I missed, no band that sucked.. Let me continue by stating how much I loathe people who, once given even the smallest ounce of power, abuse it to the fullest extent. They are consumed by some sort of power trip, act like a-holes, and suck. So Fuck you!
Second, things that grow naturally on our mother earth, have a medical purpose, and attribute to zero violent crimes, should NOT be illegal. Another reason why pot should be legalized, taxed, and controlled, (like tobacco) is because I hate running. I don’t like racing anybody, I don’t play tag, nor do I wear underarmor and take leisurely jogs through the park. Why? Because I HATE to run. You will now have greater insight into why the series of events I am about to share with you, really pissed me off.
After Massive Attack performed, I took a nice walk outside to get some fresh air, make some friends, and check out the creme of the crop Halloween costumes parading through the city. That was all fun and games, but it was time to head back into the Civic Center, as there was more music to be heard. I get into line to re-enter the facility, something I had done 4 times already that night; you show them your wristbands, they do a quick pat down, and you’re in.
Well, for some reason this time I received a more thorough search, not a full cavity search or anything, but they were curious to the contents of my pockets.
“Fuck!” I thought to myself, but i stayed calm.
“Whats that?” the ugly, fat, pig like event security guard asked me.
Quick on my feet, I shot back, “Just my medicine.”
“Let me see it.”
This is just great, I thought. I pulled out the small container from my pocket and showed the guard.
His face lit up like he just won the lottery. Dude was getting hard off the fact that he had caught a “bad guy”. I feel him, I am the worst, he got me. The whole city, no whole world, can now rest and feel safe with me off the streets.
He motioned fro me to step to the side, as he yelled over for more people to assist him. He could tell I was on edge.
“Stay put! Don’t go anywhere!” he forcefully told me.
Assuring him I was calm, chilled out, and not going anywhere, I replied, “No worries buddy, I’m not going anywhere. Who’s coming over here though?”
He didn’t answer.
At this point we were inside the building with security and staff everywhere and no exit in sight, besides where we had just entered from.
To the naked eye, I was standing still, staying calm, playing his little stupid game, and accepting my defeat.
In my brain, I was frantically vacillating between my next moves very carefully, monitoring the flow of incoming Moogers, but also trying to stay calm at the same time. This could end very badly, very very badly.
I made eye contact with my lady friend whom I was with, “See you later babe”, I mouthed to her.
A group of girls dressed as indians were just entering the complex, showed their wristbands, stepped forward and put their hands up for a body pat down.. BAMMM I was out that mother fucker! GONE! I slipped right in between the small gap between the little indian and the doorway, and sprinted like hell out and up the hill.
The ugly, fat, pig like guard chased me 20 yards up the hill, and quit. Haha you ain’t catching me, dude. I’m freee.
Wrong. He yelled up the hill to another guard, ( a skinnier, more in shape guard) who was stationed at the top of the hill, probably just for this situation.
“Now this is just great”, I thought. I had just cruised up 50 yards of an inclined road, to be met by another guard, this one with fresh legs, and no beer belly. I did my best Usain Bolt impression, and jetted up the second 50 yard stretch of incline. I was NOT getting caught. Where was i going? I had no clue. How long would I run for? Forever? Who knew.
I weaved in between my fellow moogers, most of whom had my back and shouted words of encouragement as i dashed by. I sprinted down the block, made a left and continued sprinting, really having no clue where I was or where I was going, still not looking back. I made some more turns, and finally posted up behind a car, sitting on the curb. Yess, I had lost him. I nearly hurled, I was panting so hard, I could not speak; I cant remember the last time i had run that hard or was that tired.
What the fuck had just happened to me in the last 15 minutes, I had gone from the highest high of roaming the streets of Asheville, twirling my lady friend in circles, laughing and joking like school girls to the lowest low of sitting on a dark street curb, with my plastic Viking sword in hand, trying my best to keep breathing and not pass out.
Fuck running. Fuck security guards. Fuck illegal pot. And fuck the MoogFest Press lady whom wouldn’t grant our publication free passes.
Alls well that ends well. So no complaints from this end, day 2 at Moog was overall a huge success; I got to witness some of todays greatest musicians, and there was still Sunday to try and top the craziness that had just went down today.
See you tomorrow.
