Solid Sound - 2015 - June 26-28

[twoshedsjackson]

I'll take weed smokers over drinkers at a show any day. far less likely to stagger into you or get loud & obnoxious. Also, the more enthusiastic drinkers are forever making trips through the crowd to either re-fill or pee.

 

As to the kids comments, I guess it all depends on the kids. My girls are six, and they had a wonderful time. One of them insisted on sitting on my shoulders through the Saturday set. In the rain. They also sat perfectly quiet and fascinated through Stained Radiance.

 

We sat on the hill on Friday with most of the other families (same as 2013) , and although there was no chatter around us, there was a constant sort of din drifting over from the vendor area. For Saturday we decided to move closer - down the fence line to the left of the stage. In retrospect this was a mistake, because as soon as Wilco came on, all the crashers started pouring in, using the fence line as a sort of highway. This is where the staggering and drink spilling became annoying, but hey, it's a rock show. Lesson learned, and next time we'll stick to the hill.

 

People have mentioned the crowd size, but to me it almost seemed less crowded overall than last time, perhaps due to some people spending more time inside to avoid the rain?

 

For me, it's going to be hard to top this year's Solid Sound, but I'm willing to try.

[smells like flowers]

It's been interesting reading this back-and-forth about partying at SS. One thing is for sure, the drinkers and smokers are way more tolerant than the tee-totallers. I drank, smoked, and sang along with Wilco. Too bad if I offended anyone by having fun and enjoying my favorite band with my best friends.

[BobDylan'sBeard]

 

People have mentioned the crowd size, but to me it almost seemed less crowded overall than last time, perhaps due to some people spending more time inside to avoid the rain?

 

For me, it's going to be hard to top this year's Solid Sound, but I'm willing to try.

I thought the same thing. I mean there were clearly large amounts of people there, and the crowds for the Wilco show were pretty huge (I went on Friday night to use the restroom and get some water, but that took basically half of Thanks I Get and most of Theologians) - but aside from that it didn't really seem live an overwhelming amount of people. Granted I hadn't been at SS since 2010 so my comparison skills are low, but I was a bit worried it would be crazy packed all the time.

[Mr. Heartbreak]

someone should have lit him on fire.

 

 

i guess the answer should be obvious, but were all the shows you listed outdoor shows in venues that allowed smoking? 

Nope.

 

I continue to be surprised by the multiple folks complaining about the amount of pot being smoked.  I was dead center of the field all 3 shows, a prime spot, and I caught only infrequent wiffs of weed.  Less than I expected (and less than I prefer to tell you the truth!  I'm all for the potheads at concerts, much better than the beer drinkers.)

 

That you didn't notice any weed being smoked at McCartney, Elton John or Billy Joel is meaningless.  I would have been shocked if you did.   I'm surprised at CRB, that must have been a small indoor venue with tight security. And whether you noticed it or not, I'm sure folks were lighting up or firing up their vapes when Bob Weir played.  Maybe you just didn't get smoked out.

 

You say you don't "strongly disapprove of people wanting to catch a buzz," but you obviously disapprove, whether strong or not. (It seems pretty strong to me).  And referring to folks getting "baked" at 2:00 or noon, or whatever time, do you say the same thing about folks having a beer or two, or a cocktail, at the same time?  To turn your question: Do people really drink in public at noon?  I saw a bunch of that, the answer is obviously yes.  I don't consider that getting "baked," nor do I consider someone hitting up a joint or vape in the afternoon to hear some live music getting "baked."  Don't mean to rant, but the acceptance of alcohol while disapproving of someone enjoying a nice pot buzz always smacks of hypocrisy to me.  Doesn't mean I use it, but I will fight for the right...

There's no hypocrisy here. I haven't had a drink or a drug in over 26 years. If someone is socially drinking - not falling down drunk and being a pest - it doesn't have any effect on me. There is no smoke inhalation involved. Pretty simple. Although I dislike the smell of pot intensely, and don't smoke cigarettes or pot myself, I am not for prohibiting anyone from doing what they want to do to have a good time, so long as it doesn't cause a murder. I was merely commenting on my own personal experience, which was that it was pretty fucking annoying. Kudos to the people who found a place where they didn't get smoked out like I did...which, to repeat, included breathing in a face full of pot smoke during Charles Lloyd, NRBQ, Real Estate, Mac DeMarco, Felice Brothers, and all three Wilco/Tweedy events. Surprised I didn't get a contact high, considering how many times I got a big snoot full of it.

[tinnitus photography]

Given the strength of today's weed, I'd say that contact highs are a myth then.

[Doug C]

I never understood "contact high". It always sounds as though you somehow get high without trying. The only "contact highs" I ever get is when I purposefully breath deeply and hold it in often when I'm sans weed and around strangers smoking. I agree that it's a myth. You must be an active participant.

[Cold as Gasoline]

We (me, my sister, and brother-in-law, all big Wilco fans) enjoyed pretty much 3 days of uninterrupted bliss.  Favorite musical acts aside from Wilco/Tweedy were Luluc, Ryley Walker, Real Estate. Full-on loathed Mac DeMarco due to over-the-top inanity both in song lyrics and banter. Everything else we saw was worth giving a listen to.  

 

Food didn't pose much of a problem, especially with the handy artisanal snack box at hand.  I can also recommend Public in downtown North Adams, just a stone's throw away, with a good gastropub menu and nice atmosphere. They even seated us immediately at lunchtime on Sunday. What a great option to be able to see the museum while it rained on Sunday, too. Loved being able to see the Wilco stage setup (complete with macrame owl!) and got to watch Glenn prep for the drum thingie at 2. Helpful Hint: once lot 2 fills up, there is street parking for free right across the road from there. We parked in the neighborhood all 3 days within about a block of lot 2 for an easy walk to Mass MoCA.

 

The rain was perfectly manageable, and the weather exceeded my expectations given the predictions. Loved having the opportunity to participate in the beach ball fun (thank you, Donna!)  The volunteers at the festival were universally helpful and friendly. Special shout-out to Kiefer who helped me figure out how to skip the security line when looping around to get my camp box in the front courtyard. The hotel was pretty lousy for the price but essentially we slept there and showered there and that was it, so it was fine.

 

Re: the chatterers, chair-users, space-interlopers, pot-smokers, beer-drinkers, loud-singers, child-bringers, and other irritants... It is a festival. The goal of being there is to have a good time. This means different things to different people. We all have our pet peeves (mine is people who constantly use their cell phones) and it requires tolerance of all, understanding that not everyone's idea of the perfect concert neighbor is the same. If you don't like your temporary concert neighbors, you may need to move. Or you may want to take a page out of Nick Lowe's book and show some Peace, Love, and Understanding.

 

P.S. Suspect the Obnoxious Loud Singer (OLS) is me. No apologies. No regrets.

[tinnitus photography]

P.S. Suspect the Obnoxious Loud Singer (OLS) is me. No apologies. No regrets.

 

[tinnitus photography]

[SarahC]

As an over-singer as well, I concur with your statements. No regrets.

I sang so much on Friday I didn't have voice when I woke up Saturday. In my mind that means you're doing it right.

 

I got really tickled that John and Jeff smiled at me when I screamed at the appropriate moment during "we've been had" too. I think TweedyzGirl orchestrated that whole thing a long long time ago, and I've just kept up with the tradition.

[Cold as Gasoline]

As an over-singer as well, I concur with your statements. No regrets.

 

Thanks, Sarah!  I'm not generally a over-singer (in my guitar class, it's generally known that I can sing on key, but not loud enough). I love to sing and enthusiasm does sometimes get the better of me, but out of joy.  No regrets, though.

[Cold as Gasoline]

Sublime image.  Totally captures Jeff's passion.

[The Inside of Outside]

 

Full-on loathed Mac DeMarco due to over-the-top inanity both in song lyrics and banter. Everything else we saw was worth giving a listen to.  

 

Food didn't pose much of a problem, especially with the handy artisanal snack box at hand.

 

The rain was perfectly manageable, and the weather exceeded my expectations given the predictions.

 

The hotel was pretty lousy for the price but essentially we slept there and showered there and that was it, so it was fine.

 

I loved the camp box as well. I learned a new word from it - batard. And I dug the batard. It ended up being our go-to for snacks as well as our lunch on Saturday. We needed fewer trips to the food tents as a result.

 

The weather was ok! I know some folks found it cold at night. I guess this is one advantage of living in Maine - I found the temperature to be fine with a sweatshirt (and a poncho for Saturday night).

 

Since I spend all of two hours partying, post-Wilco on Friday and Saturday nights, at the motel, and the rest of the time there sleeping/showering, I have not needed great accommodations for SS. It is the one time I do not mind staying in a well-worn motel. We always stay at the Villager in Williamstown, and it suits our needs.

 

And I thought Mac DeMarco was pretty humorous, and his band can play. Given a recent festival performance (a comedian joined in and played a theremin with a giant dildo during his closing song), it looks like he toned it down for SS. I was grateful for that.

[summerdai]

I think it's ok for people to sing along in appropriate place like choruses, those who do every word in close proximity are extremely annoying as I don't hear the act I've paid money and travelled many hours to see

 

[edit] they are usually appallingly out of tune too

[BobDylan'sBeard]

Another obnoxiously loud singer checking in.

 

Though I am more conscious of it now and stop myself often, since I can always hear myself sing the songs, but I don't often have the whole band in front of me.

[tinnitus photography]

Turns out either less people were wearing Wilco shirts or they were covered by ponchos or other outer gear, as I've only got a dozen or so shots (i did want to take photos of ones i'd not seen before, which also probably cut them down a bit).

 

http://photos.tinnitus-photography.com/ssf_tshirts

 

Will and Cole win the cutey pie award

[BobDylan'sBeard]

Oh that is both adorable and a great pun - those Will Cole shirts.

[dagwave]

XM hosts are saying nice things about Solid Sound at Grateful Dead pre-show, including on site interviews with Charles Lloyd and Bill Frisell (one of the announcers attended).

[Yaz Rock]

A few random thoughts and photos:

 

So cool that this festival brings together some of my favorite musicians. Last year there was Neko Case, and David Hidalgo (of Los Lobos), two artists I follow closely. In 2010 I was introduced to Mavis Staples who I have since gone on to see elsewhere. This year it was Richard Thompson. Can't wait to see who they book for 2017.

 

Of the three acts that played just before Wilco/Tweedy, the Felice Brothers were the one that I enjoyed.


Anyone else notice this cool atmospheric pattern during Night 1?




The acoustic stage set had construction-set style lights hung just above the musicians. I had some zoom-lens fun with them.

[Yaz Rock]

Jeff seemed pretty exuberant all weekend. He was particularly hearty in greeting fans at the book-signing.



John & Jeff celebrating 20 years of Wilco.







I think I enjoyed Sunday's set the most, with the guest artists and interesting cover song choices. Very similar to 2010's closing set. Fortunately the heaviest rain waited until after Wilco's Saturday set, and Sunday featured only a couple bursts of light sprinkles. Clearly everyone was prepared for the weather.

[Jcamp]

Thanks for sharing all the great photos Tinnitus and Yaz !!!

[paulcalypse]

About the book signing. We left the line before it started because we thought we'd never make it to the front. We were near the big stairs back in the Shaw exhibit. Anyone know how far back they were able to get in the 45 minutes?

 

We ended up swapping our sealed poster book for a pre-signed one over at the record shop.

 

We also got some great cheap(er) merch in the tag sale.

[summerdai]

About the book signing. We left the line before it started because we thought we'd never make it to the front. We were near the big stairs back in the Shaw exhibit. Anyone know how far back they were able to get in the 45 minutes?

 

We ended up swapping our sealed poster book for a pre-signed one over at the record shop.

 

We also got some great cheap(er) merch in the tag sale.

 

I joined the line at about 11.20 and made it (at around 11.41), maybe a dozen after me did too.

[sonnyfeeling]

I put together a video on Sunday that happens to have Tweedy playing as accompaniment. But the real stars are the amazingly happy and respectful Solid Sound audience and Joe's Field itself.

 

It turned out pretty nice, I think. See if you can spot yourself.

 

https://vimeo.com/132565771

[worldrecordplayer]

I put together a video on Sunday that happens to have Tweedy playing as accompaniment. But the real stars are the amazingly happy and respectful Solid Sound audience and Joe's Field itself.

 

It turned out pretty nice, I think. See if you can spot yourself.

 

https://vimeo.com/132565771

Got me! At the 1:10-1:22 mark, I'm wearing a blue and black rain coat and grey cap (Levon Helm Band, in honor of the Sunday at SS which was the last time I saw him) with my wife in a brown rain coat to my right and my daughter's friend Jason in black to my left. Love this video, every person in rapt attention.

 

 

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