Now I know that some of the other blogs/sites you might read probably definitely had posts about Virgin Mobile FreeFest 2009 the day the hour after it ended. However, being as I’m just one person, and being as I went on vacation right after VirginFest: sorry, I’m just now getting to it…
So we miiiiight have started the day off by getting a KegBus to take us from Arlington to Merriweather Post Pavilion. We miiiight have spent the entire day at the 2nd stage, not the main stage. We also miiiight have been front row for Girl Talk. Who knows?!
See the online album for more pictures from the day.
The Hold Steady
Approachability: High
Now I obviously knew of The Hold Steady and had heard their album a few times. Never totally did it for me, but I stayed and listened…and obviously they put on a really great show. The keyboard player was particularly hilarious. I mean come on, look at him! I’ll probably be listening to them more now after seeing them live.
For more info, go to their MySpace:
http://www.myspace.com/theholdsteady
Public Enemy
Approachability: meh, umm, medium?
Umm, obviously not really my jam. After watching The Hold Steady we sort of stumbled back over the main stage. It was completely packed. The group kinda split up. We found the food and beer stands. Then we somehow made it back to the best stage the side stage and were able to catch a few songs from Public Enemy. It was pretty hilarious to watch. Flava Flav totally stole the show:
The National
Approachability: Medium/High
Very similarly for me to The Hold Steady, The National is a group that I’ve heard many times, but I just never got that into them. I think RP3 knew every word to every song, and they definitely put on a good show. I’ll probably also listen to them more now that I’ve seen them live.
For more info, go to their MySpace:
http://www.myspace.com/thenational
Girl Talk
Approachability: Medium/Low
Girl Talk was easily the primary reason that I purchased acquired a ticket for this day of great music. I’ve listened to his album so many times, and I’ve heard from several of my friends’ first hand accounts that he puts on an amazing show. I can definitely corroborate their stories.
I literally didn’t move from the stage area after Public Enemy left, and by the time he came on, I was right up against the barriers at the front row. After every band finished, people shifted around, and we threw some bo’s, and pretty soon we were right up front. The place was packed:
He pulled like 50 audience members up on stage with him, and shit got pretty nuts pretty quickly:
They were shooting toilet paper ALL OVER the place (as you can see above) and they were throwing these big plastic beach-ball-esque things into the crowd. So fun. At the risk of sounding like a 12-year-old girl, we were so close that when he ran down off the stage and jumped around with the front of the crowd, we could touch him (OMG!!11 LOLZ!!).
Whenever he wasn’t in front of his laptop (and sometimes when he was!) he spent a lot of time on top of his table, jumping around with the crowd on stage, and then with the crowd on the ground. It was such a crazy show. I heard more than one person around me say it was the best show they’ve ever been to. When the stage crew came on afterward, they literally squeegeed the stage off.
My favorite description of the set came from Stereogum: “the traveling hipster roadshow that is a Girl Talk set.” Hilarious.
For more info, go to his MySpace:
http://www.myspace.com/girltalk
This was one of the more fun posts I’ve done in a while. Got to re-live the day a bit. Super fun, great music, perfect weather. Amazing day.
Again, see the album online for more pictures from the day.
Preview Of Things To Come
September is a busy month for me. I’ve already been to VirginFest and seen Kings of Leon (post forthcoming). I’m seeing Matt and Kim tonight, then seeing fun. this Friday, and finally seeing Ra Ra Riot in 2 weeks. And let’s not even talk (yet!) about all the sweet music coming out/just released.
-WJ
Posted by Weird Jim 
