One day spent in Chicago, one day spent in O'Hare Airport. Right now I have been
up and going for 41 hours. That's 12, 24, 36, plus a few more. I have entered
zombieland in my brain.
Sunday morning, up at 0300, one hour BEFORE my alarm. 0700 flight to ORD.
Tired but happy. Arrival and NO RIDE to the TravelLodge hotel where friend is
staying. Apparently they are TOO cheap to let you use their van. You get ONE
pick up and one return and NO OTHER RIDES no matter how long you stay there.
Which means NO I CAN NOT GET A RIDE. Ok, then. My online friend DPD
offers to come pick me up at the airport. We exchange “what's the secret
password” info and I hop in the car. Off to downtown Chicago, Humboldt Park. Riot Fest 2013
My first stop is the Merch Table. But we can't find it.... so lunch and a few bands
and more wandering. The drizzle starts. We are in for a full day of rain, slowly
falling and then a steady, strong, downpour. The ground turns to mud. Walking
from one stage to another is treacherous. Poor DPD is drenched and shivering. I
have a poncho and hat and am snug inside it. Just my feet are sucked in to the
sludgy swamp. We finally find the merch tables but the selections are few. Yes, I
get 2 more very much needed but way too expensive T shirts. :-)
Let us listen...
Suicidal Tendencies does not impress me. Rocket From The Crypt Does not impress me. Quicksand does not impress me. Are you sensing a trend here? Against Me! Is pretty good. Bob Mould is good. The Dismemberment Plan is....strange. The Replacements , the last and main band of the night is...OK. Good music but basic rock music. The Pixies were nice but the sound was too low for where we stood offside of the stage.
At 1815 we headed back to the AFI stage. Their banner is up. The crowds are
growing. I stake out a spot on the side and we wait. I am tired, cold, and wet. I
will not even try to get closer at a fest., so my pix are few and blurry. Then... the
rain stops. The sky is a rosy red as the sun sets behind the breaking clouds. How
perfect! How... miraculous? This is my 20 th time to see them. It is just as exciting as the first time. They are THAT good. The sound was good, the guys were perfect. As I picture them on stage I see the job they do. They put forth their music like it is the only thing that matters. And I would have to agree. We sing along. We all know the words. Davey climbs and sings. Jade and Hunter play and jump. Adam keeps that beat. Some things never change. THIS IS A GOOD THING! Enthusiasm is the word, on both sides. They have perfected what they do and they give us everything they have. A Fire Inside. They still have it.
The Leaving Song Pt. II
Girl's Not Grey
I Hope You Suffer
A Single Second
Love Like Winter
Ever and a Day
17 Crimes
Kill Caustic
Just Like Heaven (The Cure cover)
Bleed Black
Medicate
God Called in Sick Today
Miss Murder
The Days of the Phoenix
Silver and Cold
Dancing Through Sunday (this set list is a cut and paste. There my be errors)
I mention to my friend that he has lost his AFI virginity. I speak to the young
couple near us. She too is seeing them for the first time. We discuss our love of the band, the music, and their incredible stamina as a band. Then it is over and we move to the next stage. The sky opens again.
We leave the fest over muddy grounds. We seek food and then I am dropped off
again at ORD. It is 0215. In 45 minutes I will have been up for 24 hours. The first
flight is 0530.
Thank God ORD has such good food selections. Travel makes me weary and
hungry. All flights are full, all day long. I do not get on the 5am, nor the 6am. Not the 8am, not the 9am, not the 11am. Not the 12n, not the 2pm. sad sigh I do get a few naps curled up on the gate area chairs, but I am beyond tired. Then I made the decision to reroute thru CVG. There is a flight leaving at 3:30. The 3:30 IAH flight is full, but if I take the connection, which is already running late, I might not make the last connecting flight to IAH. What to do.
The airport gods smile on me and the two flights are at adjoining gates. I am torn between the two. IAH: might have 2 seats. I am #2. It is almost time to go. Gate agent tells me to go stand by the door. And I wait for her to give me a seat. And wait. And wait some more. Other people arrive for this flight. I go tell the agent at the CVG slight that I will take the direct. Then.... go, go, go. I got a seat, the very last open seat on the plane, and I am headed home.
I finally crashed at hour 42. I slept like the dead and woke after 1300. whoa.
Was it worth it? HELL YES! :-)
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