• I saw fewer bands than ever before.

• I hung out with more new friends and had fun random conversations.

• My wife, Danielle, came out to most of the shows with me, and had a blast.

• Late night shows had a different vibe, but still fun.

• Party at Rush Lake Motel was fun.

• Made friends with a couple guys who just moved to Gainesville on Friday.

• Had awesome British and German guys camping in my backyard.

• I am very sore in my knees, shoulders, back, chest, and feet.

• It was awesome to babysit Dave's pug. We didn't want to give her back.

• Big plate of vegetarian sides at the No Idea BBQ.



ONLY two really bad things.
I missed Hour Of The Wolf, and I forgot to lock up my bikes Thursday night, so someone stole Danielle's bike on Friday morning.

Stoked:
• Went to my first warehouse show Friday night even though this is my third Fest.
• Saw Tim Barry after hearing great things and becoming a HUGE Chuck Ragan fan. He was spectacular.
• I was reminded how much I love The Flatliners and Cobra Skulls.
• Finally bought CDs, not just shirts, so my drive home was like a mini-Fest.
• Got my Fest hoodie- to which I have developed an unnatural attachment.
• Watched beard-punks jam to GD Doo Wop band.
• Experienced walking straight into Common Grounds TWICE because there was no line.
• Had Five Star for the first time. Rocked my world.
• Wasn't in the Deep South.

Bummed:
• Waited in line through Dear Landlord and missed them as juggalos. However, I don't think I would have enjoyed being covered in Faygo.
• Had to leave Sunday morning to drive 400 miles home to be at work at 8 a.m. Monday.
• Which means I missed Frank Turner. And the stuff with his band is great, but he just kills when he's solo. But I'm planning to see him with Lucero and Social D in a week, so I'll make it.

I only saw a few bands as well. Hangouts were the best.

Bands that made me happy and were the only ones I saw I think:
Living With Lions, We Are The Union, BTMI!, The Menzingers, Cheap Girls, Broadway Calls, Laura Stevenson and the Cans, The Wild, Hour of the Wolf, The Riot Before, Red City Radio, Iron Chic, Rumspringer, Sister Kisser, Chotto Ghetto, O Pioneers, 10-4 Eleanor, Dear Landlord, Off With Their Heads.

No Thanks: To the guy walking down University as I headed back from 1982 for saying "Fuck you" to me just because I assumed everyone at The Fest was cool and commented on something one of the girls he was with said. It went: Girl A: "I hate everyone." Me: "I hate everyone too, haha." Guy A: "Fuck you"

Thanks: To the dudes from NY who gave me free "band beers" in the Venue side hatch after Such Gold's set. I was kind of out of it so I barely remember who you guys were but remember running into one of you again the next night at the Venue.

Bummed: Every venue seemed to open 10-30 minutes late and no one seemed to know how to make lines go any faster even though there were some very basic things that could have been done to speed things up. Also the odd way I could re-enter one venue from the side on Friday but not again on Saturday.

Stoked: Since I was leaving Saturday night I checked out of my room early Saturday and got to sample Big Lou's Pizza. Compliments to the chef and service.

And what's with the lack of Yuengling in that town? Durty Nelly's had it on tap at least and for only $2 a pint. So I guess that's a bummed but stoked.

I think it's distributed by Budweiser now or something so most gainesville bars don't carry it
I forget where I heard this

atheism talks, back rubs, karma cream, mimosas, fat mike being lame, getting all teacher on some peoples' asses

I'm pretty sure that's inaccurate.

Also I was there a month ago and Common Grounds had cans of it.

* Got to meet some of the guys on this Fest board...Kenny, Jordan Luff, and some others I'm sure.
* The No BS Brass Band were quite the pleasant surprise.
* Hard Skin, they sure liked callin' the Venue "cunts" a lot.
* Strike Anywhere's set at the Venue was good as always, and I was glad to see they could do a good acoustic show as well.
* I stayed at my brother Josh's house and most of his friends, some of the craziest people I've been around.
* Boca Fiesta has some dang tasty root beer.
* Common Grounds should sell their "Fest Punch" all the time.
* Dealing with stiffness and irritation sucks.
* Bottled water can really be your best friend.
* Had to miss out on a few bands like Towers of Hanoi, Assholeparade, Savage Brewtality, and so on.
* Sucked to hear Mehkago NT's set would be their last in Gainesville...still, they really brought it.
* 8 Seconds was actually the best venue at this Fest, I thought.
* Some girl had the best costume, she was Joel from Mystery Science Theater 3000.
* I got lotsa people coming to me about my Anthrax shirt.
* Man, did a lot of the ATM's get wiped out by Sunday.
* The downstairs restroom at 8 Seconds looked horrible, and even that looked better than the Venue's.
* Never expected to see Municipal Waste as a nun, "Death", "Violent J", and "Dee Snider"...the theater type intro was nice too.

And that's about it.

My Feet hurt so bad i dont think i'll be able to walk for a month.

remembered a couple more things.

I got a ton of compliments on my Skankin' Pickle shirt. (for halloween, I dressed at Teenage Philip).

And I saw my ex walking down the street. We made eye contact, and each kept walking. We have lived in the same city for a few months now, and that's the only time I've seen her. I find it funny. No ill will, no desire to talk to her either. Small desire to see her obvious discomfort at my presence, but lack of spine to say anything to me.

Some more stuff:

* Saw some of my friends in the Gainesville scene...Scapegoat from Scum of the Earth, Cory from No More, and so on.
* The Suicide Machines startin' with some Minor Threat was unexpected, but cool nonetheless.

This was my first Fest, but it surely won't be my last.

My highlights:

• Getting to scream "I wanna see the real you!" as Jay shoved the mic in my face.
• Suicide Machines, Flatliners, and Gimme Gimmes kicking the shit out of me.
• Moshing in a super-crowded living room to some awesome hardcore bands.
• Witnessing Emotron's super creepy set.
• Crowdsurfing during "I Believe I Can Fly"
• unplanned Pericles show at LUX (though I couldn't get into the 2nd one at 1am due to age)
• seeing my friend Aron again and crashing at his house
• Vegan food at Five Star, Boca Fiesta, Reggae Shack, and Gator Dawgs.

Lowlights:

• missing Coffee Project because of scheduling conflicts
• missing most of Dear Landlord because of that ridiculous line
• missing the beginning of Sunday due to FestAIDS
• bruising my rib during the Flatliners
• not drinking anywhere near my quota of PBR throughout the weekend

Awesome:

+ Getting to essentially yell every Minor Threat song into the mic during Suicide Machines since I had a Minor Threat shirt on. Jay knew what was up.

+ Seeing Larry and His Flask play a 4am hallway show at the Holiday Inn two doors down from my room.

+ Boca Fiesta's kangaroo empanadas.

+ Teenage Bottlerocket killing it.

+ Finally found a reason to listen to Lemuria, their set was amazing.

+ Lost 10 pounds.

+ Best weekend of my life.

Not Awesome:

- FestAIDS on the ride home was a bitch.

- Missed BTMI! since I had to drive home mid-day Sunday.

- Waiting in line at 8Seconds to see Dear Landlord, only to hear their entire set from outside the place.

- Waiting in line for OWTH, only to hear their whole set outside.

- Destroyed feet, ankles, and calves.

- Got into a car accident in the McDonalds drive-thru.



All in all the best weekend ever. This was my first Fest, nor will it be my last. I'm already crossing off the days till October.

As i am at the Frankfurt airport and just typing in my phone, a rather short list.

- seeing all people again, Philip, Dave, mackenzie and all the others
- meeting new people like the swiss couple or jay
- seeing Captains we are sinking killing it. Also had a lot of fun at suicide machines and a lot of other bands
- the fewer lines this year
- taking my friends to their first house show and seeing their faces
- Pj.bond playing the days inn parking lot at sat 4.30 am.
- no idea announcing to set back the clocks
- house shows and spontaneous sets still happening
- flacos .

Awesome things
*Seeing PIB twice in one day
*Defeater literally bring the house down at the venue
*Making a bunch if awesome new friends
*Singing along to The Menzingers with my sister
*Finally getting my friends from Miami to come up with so they can see why I love Fest so much.
*Frank Turner playing Love,Ire and Song.
*Iron Chic opening with my favorite song.
*Seeing Make Do And Mend at that warehouse was beyond incredible
*Touché Amore.....I can't even say anything about that.

Bummer
*I am now at work
*I miss my non Miami friends
*I destroyed my shoulder during PIB
*Not being able to try Boca Fiera's root beer
*Not getting my Satchels fix

Probably top 3 weekends of my life though. I love Fest!