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* I got to the Summer Camp music festival later than expected Friday. It was the usual stuff. Flat tire on the camper, which had been in storage all winter, and no water hookups at the campground meant I had to go on an H2O search before I arrived, finally finding some at a horse farm a few miles from the festival site.
So, I had plenty of water, but the filter housing had shattered during the winter (totally my fault) and I ended up with water all over the bathroom floor when I turned on the pump. After what seemed like hours, my friend and I eventually figured out how to reroute the water around the busted filter but then I tightened something too tight and broke a piece of plastic and there was more water on the floor.
Ah, the heck with it, my friend said. Nobody’s showering here anyway. Let’s go listen to some music.
And did we ever.
Trampled by Turtles was our first stop. Solid, as always. Umphrey’s McGee put on some astounding shows on Friday, including a hugely entertaining set with Gene Ween. And then we closed out the night with a 12:30 show by one of my favorite bands, Trigger Hippy. Right up front, man. I was in heaven.
Saturday started with blueberry pancakes (I went off Atkins and indulged myself), hippie shopping and then a show by Kung Fu. I’d never seen them before, but I’d heard some of their music and was delighted by their performance.
* My friend had to leave after that show (family obligations) so I was on my own. I strolled through the massive grounds at 3 Sisters Park and eventually figured I needed a nap. Late night, early morning, etc. On my way back to the camper I heard a band playing and wandered over to a small side stage. I was really tired, though, and decided to leave after one song.
But then I stopped on my way out and said to myself, “Self, you’re not here to sleep, you’re here for the music.” Plus, the band was pretty good, so I turned around and walked back to the stage.
* If you’re lucky, there’s a moment during a break when you can feel your usual worries and urgencies dissipate, or even disappear. Despite all the fun I’d had at the previous sets, I had allowed life’s hassles to interfere just a bit. The Fergus Daly Band finally broke that spell…
* They’re local legends in Lafayette, Indiana, but don’t hold their home state against them. They’re some cool dudes. I ran into them at the Violent Femmes show later that evening and had a chance to hang out with them a while, passing around flasks and basking in the revelry of a hard-charging Wisconsin band which hasn’t seemed to lose a step in all those years.
I told the group about how I’d left their show then turned around and came back, and mandolin/banjo/vocalist Joe Kollman shouted “You’re the one!”
The band didn’t make much money on the gig, but they were all hoping that their set would turn on at least one person. Maybe that person would tell somebody else and maybe word would spread.
I told them about my website and we talked briefly about Indiana politics (a sore spot with the band members), and I promised them a post.
* So, take a few moments today and “like” them on Facebook, check out their website and browse through their YouTube channel.
I cannot promise that they’ll do for you what they did for me. It was a special set of circumstances, after all, and a special place. But with our state government falling down around our ears right now, it most certainly can’t hurt, right?
posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, May 26, 15 @ 2:09 pm
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>”I had allowed life’s hassles to interfere just a bit.”
I’m sure a lot of us can relate. Thanks for this reminder to enjoy - fully - those all-too-rare moments of just good friends, food, and music.
Comment by Anonymiss Tuesday, May 26, 15 @ 2:21 pm
One can really get lost at a place like summer camp both in a good and bad way… Haven’t been in a couple years but every time I have gone was always an exhausting adventure.
Comment by WAK Tuesday, May 26, 15 @ 2:25 pm
Seems like some great music (and we really do need a pick me up, imagine what it’ll be like in a couple of months).
Atkins, you say? If you’re interested, let me know and I’ll hook you up with some great ketogenic recipes (Atkins on steroids). 70 pounds down and counting.
Comment by CharlieKratos Tuesday, May 26, 15 @ 2:31 pm
===If you’re interested, let me know===
Consider yourself told.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, May 26, 15 @ 2:33 pm
Thanks for the Fergus Daly Band. Great music when it is folksy, bluesy and rock all in one group.
Comment by Griff Tuesday, May 26, 15 @ 2:35 pm
Ween - a blast from my 105.7 The Point past.
Comment by Team Sleep Tuesday, May 26, 15 @ 2:38 pm
===* If you’re lucky, there’s a moment during a break when you can feel your usual worries and urgencies dissipate, or even disappear.===
Glad you were able to find that moment, the tipping point to just find that type of solitude, and in a “place” you know you can find it. Music. I know I need those times.
Thanks for sharing your adventures too.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, May 26, 15 @ 2:43 pm
Sounds like in addition to needing a valet, a mechanic and plumber needs to be added to the staff.
Comment by Anonin' Tuesday, May 26, 15 @ 3:11 pm
Sounds like you were driving the State Mansion to the festival.
Don’t fix it up, Rauner may want it for some sort of photo op during his upcoming media blitz, maybe towing behind his trash can van.
Comment by How Ironic Tuesday, May 26, 15 @ 3:47 pm
Blue Sky Green Grass put on a great show and Here Come the Mummies were absolutely phenomenal!
Comment by Pius Tuesday, May 26, 15 @ 3:49 pm
To paraphrase an old Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers comic, good music will get you through times of bad politics better than good politics will get you through times of bad music.
Comment by Excesseively Rabid Tuesday, May 26, 15 @ 3:49 pm
http://www.pjstar.com/article/20150526/NEWS/150529424
Multiple drug arrests at the festival.
Comment by Peoria Guy Tuesday, May 26, 15 @ 3:54 pm
Push the little daisies and make them come up
Comment by Pete Mitchell Tuesday, May 26, 15 @ 3:58 pm
“Cases initiated by MEG agents and a handful of other seizures made in conjunction with other police agencies yielded a cornucopia of psychoactive compounds: 1,490 hits LSD, 1,666.47 grams psilocybin (mushrooms), 10.2 grams amphetamine, 14.2 grams cocaine, 475.30 grams marijuana, 11 grams of hash or hash oil, 1.2 grams ketamine, 4.2 grams methamphetamine and $6,057 cash.”
19 people were charged with Class X felonies, each facing a minimum of six years in prison if convicted.
To put one of those numbers in perspective, 437 grams of marijuana is about one pound. That’s a lot of weed to be holding, but six years in prison? C’mon man!
Comment by 47th Ward Tuesday, May 26, 15 @ 4:10 pm
====http://www.pjstar.com/article/20150526/NEWS/150529424
Multiple drug arrests at the festival. ======
19 Class X Felony charges…Class X felonies are supposed to be reserved for only the most heinous crimes. Distributing drugs to adults at a music festival that want to purchase those drugs hardly seems like a heinous crime in America. It is long past due for nonviolent drug crimes to be taken off the Class X felony list. How much money do Illinois taxpayers need to pay for these individuals to be locked up for 6-30 years?
Comment by Abraham Froman Tuesday, May 26, 15 @ 4:16 pm
Glad you enjoyed the weekend at Summer Camp.
That Umphrey’s and Gene Ween set was one for the ages.
Hope to see you there next year!
Comment by WappySprayberry Tuesday, May 26, 15 @ 4:55 pm
Atkins is an intrinsically unhealthy diet. The blueberry pancakes were actually better for you nutritionally. Well the blueberries anyway.
Comment by Hawkeye in Illinois Tuesday, May 26, 15 @ 7:45 pm
I know what you mean by finding a way to escape the constant depression that is Illinois politics. I did that today by, ironically, coming down to S’field. I met some good friends, went to the Craft Beer Bar, and attended a talk at the Abe Lincoln Museum by a veteran of the 101st Airborne Division. It was a great tonic.
Comment by G'Kar Tuesday, May 26, 15 @ 11:58 pm
Rich, I was standing near you, right at the front for the 12:30 Trigger Hippy set. Both of their sets were really great (and that cover of “Don’t Let Me Down”, wow…). Thanks for giving us exposure to them and so many other “new” artists on your blog - I’ve really enjoyed it. I think my favorites of the weekend were Trigger Hippy, Turkuaz, and the Mummies - they were phenomenal and having a ton of fun with the crowd. Glad you had a good time in our little town. I’m very proud that Chillicothe is the host of such a cool event!
Comment by ChilliGuy Wednesday, May 27, 15 @ 12:48 am