Overall, very well organized and produced.
I know most of the sound companies that were doing the stages. All good quality equipment.
The main complaint I have (aside from people that can't handle thier drugs and alcohol - but I guess if you run solo WAY FOB, there ARE risks involved - if my CAMERA got damaged my wife would have had to bail me outta jail) was the timing.
Timing sucked. They were running the main stages back to back, the acts were finishing late, and unless you were running 2 rigs (and had someone to watch while you were at the other stage - who's going to leave $6K worth of gear unattended), there's NO WAY you could get from stage to stage for the start of the next band, even WITH your setup in-a-bag and ready to roll.
I patched some guy that was running mk4's on the main stage, when I was running on the east stage, so I can get what I missed off him. (including the moe - his deck kept running)
Plenty of port-o-potties, police presence was minimal, lots of food and bev (tho' I wish to 'po were nuking the underage wookies at the alcohol tents - being a sober drunk/addict I could go on all day about people that just can't handle getting loaded - but that's an entirely other story <g>).
Access was good, parking was probably a bitch, but I had a media pass so I got to park close - gotta remember to thank the woman for the pass, it was a free in also, even tho' I offered to pay when I arranged it. The "VIP Package" included a laminate on a lanyard, close parking, and access to a roped off refreshment area, worth the extra $$ - but I'll bet it drove security NUTS trying to figure out who belonged where. Media laminate was treated like an "All Access".
Scene was very mellow, but again, towards the end (moe) everyone was so wasted from getting loaded all day, that FOB was wookie-central. I don't get to see that too often (thank GOD, I have little patience for that kind of bullshit - "hey dude, I don't mind you screaming, but like, not in my EAR".) Why do people come to shows to have conversations? I'll NEVER get that either.
Overall, I'd HIGHLY RECOMMEND this festival. It's in a metro area (for those of us that get little enjoyment from camping - roughing it for me, is the Holiday Inn instead of the Marriot <g>), lots of resturants and other facilities nearby. Hollywood PD (who are usually HORRIBLE BALLBUSTERS) were actually pretty nice.
They could try to have a "local talent" stage. Missing was Crazy Fingers, who more than hold thier own as a Dead cover band (if Phil got Rich instead of Jimmy/Warren they could "get there" more often - RICH ROCKS!) and alot of other locals that are really pretty damn good.
Rick
P.S. - Stand got bent from the wookie bitch. I've been carting that sucker around since '83. If I hadn't been running that shelf, she would have definately damaged the gear and the camera, and cost me an assault charge...
Topic: Langerado - Who's Worth Taping? (Read 1918 times)