Music Banter - Music Festivals: Hate 'em or love 'em?

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Originally Posted by Janszoon (Post 1646340)

I've seen them twice and they were great both times. The time I saw them with the White Stripes was especially awesome because it was a New Year's Eve show.

Nice. I haven't been on a good FL binder in many fortnights... Feeling inspired...

Coachella were some of the greatest days of my life. I was only 17, and at the time the money I was making was simply for spending, so $300 for the ticket didn't seem like much, was like a $500 weekend which now as a college student is unthinkable, though I may be doing it this year since I can have bevs legally.

I saw Jimmy Cliff, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Refused, DJ Shadow, Explosions in the Sky, Madness, Jeff Mangum, Buzzcocks, The Black Lips, The Growlers, Radiohead, Porter Robinson, Calvin Harris, Dr. Dre & Snoop Dogg, Mazzy Star, and a few more., and looking back now I kick myself for not going to others instead.

I avoided people more than I do now, the crowds are huge, but if you like music you should have no complaints. People of all types, mostly high school and college kids looking to party (Coachella) but they stick to the electronic stages. Honestly though, if I had a good time, there is no reason anyone who remotely likes music wouldn't enjoy it. If it's a halfway decent festival, you shouldn't hear multiple stages, you are bound to meet cool people, and some people have mentioned, it's unique being exposed to the variety of artists in one place. Only negative, which only applies to some festivals, are shorter sets, by about 50%, but they still deliver. (Except GY!BE, it felt like they only played a song

Festivals that are "genre" specific kick ass. No point in saying that the best metal festivals are in Europe, except maybe motivating me to get there, so there is that.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Edeces (Post 1646355)

Coachella were some of the greatest days of my life. I was only 17, and at the time the money I was making was simply for spending, so $300 for the ticket didn't seem like much, was like a $500 weekend which now as a college student is unthinkable, though I may be doing it this year since I can have bevs legally.

I saw Jimmy Cliff, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Refused, DJ Shadow, Explosions in the Sky, Madness, Jeff Magnum, Buzzcocks, The Black Lips, The Growlers, Radiohead, Porter Robinson, Calvin Harris, Dr. Dre & Snoop Dogg, Mazzy Star, and a few more., and looking back now I kick myself for not going to others instead.

I hated people more than I do now (not hate just avoid), the crowds are huge, but if you like music you should have no complaints. People of all types, mostly high school and college kids looking to party but they stick to the electronic stages. Honestly though, if I had a good time, there is no reason anyone who remotely likes music would hate it. You can't hear multiple stages, you are bound to meet cool people, like some people have mentioned it's unique to being exposed to that variety of artists in one place. Only negative, which only applies to some festivals, are shorter sets, by about 50%, but they still deliver. (Except GY!BE, it felt like they only played a song)

I hated EDM night, it was the third to last night I was there. I was trying to get sleep at my tent (I didn't wanna be anywhere near those ravers) and the bass from what sounded like it was coming from every direction was too damn loud. Couldn't get sleep. Also the one problem I had with it this year was during Slayer and the sound from the bigger stage 100 meters away was bleeding into their set. I seriously didn't wanna hear Childish Gambino during Slayer. And Tom Araya looked a little upset.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Janszoon (Post 1646293)

Detest is a strong word, but I'm not really a fan of them. For one thing, I hate seeing bands in large venues—I want to actually see the bands, you know. Since a lot of the time festivals have bands that normally play smaller venues, I'd rather see those bands in those smaller venues. Another thing is that festivals tend to be in the summer, so it's hot, which makes it hard for me to enjoy the experience. Also the crowd is huge, which tends to make everything—from getting a drink to using the bathroom to just finding the people you're with—a pain in the ass. And lastly, most of the time, you have drive to and from festivals, which is a hassle. I'd rather go to a show that I can walk or take public transportation to and not have to worry about how much I've had to drink.

I agree with literally every word of this. It's why I haven't been to a festival since I was sixteen. There's just something about paying a twelve dollar cover charge, seeing the bad, leaving, getting drunk at a bar, and taking the subway back home. Festivals, unless they're also in NYC, just suck because I have to drive to get there and basically live the entire day like a homeless person. The various artists is a plus, but I'd rather wait til they come around and see them on their own.

They are good but they depend on the artists and the quality. Each festival is different. I just think that people like myself need to find a way to make sure that we can be able to find the good ones.

For me, it is case by case.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Justthefacts (Post 1646363)

I seriously didn't wanna hear Childish Gambino during Slayer. And Tom Araya looked a little upset.

The edm stages get pretty fun, but if it's not even close to being your style than yeah. ****, Childish Gambino getting a bigger stage than Slayer!? Only at music festivals. That would tick me off as well if there was some sound bleed.

Riotfest this year was cool. At one point when Faith No More was playing, in between songs you could hear some other band playing in the distance (not sure who), and Mike Patton says nonchalantly into the microphone: "Who the **** is that? They need to shut the **** up..." as the crowd wholeheartedly agreed. What a great night.

I haven't experienced any yet but plan on attending Riot Fest in Chicago and The Fest in Gainesville at some point in the near-ish future, as well as plenty other wonderful events in my state.

Fun Fun Fun Fest and SxSW also look pretty intriguing, but like you guys said I'm certainly not keen on large-volume concerts.

It depends on the lineup for me. If there are enough bands I want to see, to justify the ticket price & crowd hassles, I'll go to a festival and have a good time even with the drawbacks. SXSW is more fun for me because it's spread out over a week and the 1500+ bands play mostly in clubs/bars & smaller venues all over town, so I get lots of variety and intimacy in the music and venues.

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Originally Posted by Psy-Fi (Post 1647443)

Festivals like that seem really appealing to me. Doesn't get much better than paying discount to see a lot of your favorite bands in a short time period.