thewingedword

Saosin

We had been hanging out in the shade before this band, but made our way out to the Revolution Stage to see them. Mostly, I believe, because they had a generally good reputation, and it seemed like a shame to miss them live. Due to the times at our venue being off, though, we missed a few of their songs.

- The lead singer was wearing a white t-shirt. Mmm, white t-shirt.

- I got fairly close to the stage, but had to lunge back in a hurry when the band had people start a giant circle mosh about where I was standing.

- People were also moshing during their heartfelt serious-type song "You're Not Alone." Like, hardcore bitchfight moshing. The lead singer kept making these adorable confused facial expressions, like Why are you moshing to this song? Seriously? Don't egg on the crowd unless you're ready for what's going to happen.

- Crowdsurfers look a lot like turtles on their backs. This was my first experience with a pit, and I found it very amusing.

Mindless Self Indulgence

This band put on an amazing live show. I think they really benefited from being on the Revolution Stage, which was set up in the parking lot and therefore had an actual pit. The kind of wild kinetic energy that you get in a pit was pretty necessary to their show, and they made the most of it. I didn't know the songs, I could barely hear the words, I was covered in various peoples' sweat and surrounded by ten kinds of smoke. It didn't matter; I was having an absolute blast.

- At one point, the lead singer demanded cigarettes as a sacrifice to the gods: when people tossed up packs, he picked one up and said "The gods don't want your fucking menthols!" before throwing it back.

- Other stunts: riding his own microphone stand around like a pony, pink fairy wings, putting a cigarette out on his guitarist's tongue. Using the condoms tossed up onstage to teach "Prophylactics for Dummies", ostensibly in the hope of reducing the idiot population by 50%.

- He also climbed up on top of the (rather tall) speaker banks, dropped his pants for a much-photographed minute while singing, then pulled them up and simply jumped down. It was maybe a ten-foot drop, I was very impressed.

-"This is our big song, the song that's going to make us, this is our Poison ballad. We're all going to get rich and get married and none of you will have to suck cock for a living anymore, I promise!"

- I liked their drummer; she had very robotic movements and facial expressions throughout the set, it was interesting.

- Their bassist, Lyn-Z, is a very gorgeous woman. She also plays bass like a real performer, has loads of charisma and several very lovely smiles, wears fishnets and very short skirts, and could probably crush your head with her thighs. I kind of have a thing for her.

- She went crowdsurfing, which is incredibly awesome, although I think she was a little nervous. When she got back on stage, Jimmy (lead singer) made a speech about how she was obviously hardcore and could also attract prepubescent kids? I don't even know.

- Lyn-Z has been kissing/dating/having sex with Gerard Way of My Chemical Romance recently, so she's been talked about a bit in fandom. This is kind of old news, but she has been wearing Gerard's black scarf (and he her red scarf) during shows. I think it's fucking adorable.

- They also hang out sidestage for each others' performances (or at least, they did at our show) and smile and look absurdly happy. Jimmy pointed out Gerard and Worm (bodyguard) in the VIP tent sidestage and asked the audience to mock and throw things at them. Good times.

- That night, Lyn-Z's arm said "RUN AWAY WITH ME". Gerard's neck and knuckles combined said "KIDNAP YOU". I die of the cute. Seriously, after seeing Lyn-Z live, my only problem with Gerard dating her is that it means she's taken. Sigh.

After MSI, everyone flooded out of the Revolution Stage/parking lot and into the Main Stage. This venue is set up so that there are seats all the way to the front, under the pavilion, with a sloping and uncovered lawn area in the very back. Kills any possibility of moshing or getting very close to the front, unfortunately.

Julien-K

- This band has never released a record, apparently. I wondered why they were on the Main Stage, but whatever.

- Their keyboards were on odd moving platforms, and looked less like instruments than a complex spinoff of DDR

- Sometimes I forgot there was a band on stage. Not a good thing.

- The lead singer took off his shirt. Insanely high temperatures aside, I wish he hadn't.

- While they were in the middle of their last song, guys came on stage and started removing their set pieces and extra instruments. As they were saying their thank-you's, Placebo (the next band)'s backdrop came down behind them. The drummer almost got his drumkit taken from under them. I presume the venue was on a tight schedule and trying to save time, but it seemed rather disrespectful.

So that is both late and random, but I felt the need to cheer myself up a bit.