Okay, okay. It's my fault. Our recent lack of any activity whatsoever on this once regular and reputable "blog" of ours has been the result of delays on my part, and I'm sorry to all our readers. The last few weeks have seen me go through a rigorous training program at a new job, and yet another laptop charger - but excuses aside, I'm sorry to have left you all hanging.
So let's get back to it. On day 90, something that none of us had ever foreseen bore its head, as Sarah's family loss meant that she was going home for the remainder of the trip, and it was going to be just Joey and me frolicking up the west coast. Once Sarah had boarded her plane back east, Joey and I started moving toward the centerpiece of our visit to San Fran - the Outside Lands Festival in Golden Gate Park.
We nestled the car into a spot at what appeared to be the only moderately affordable lodging in town at the Beck's Motor Lodge, which was more than $100 a night and featured a plug-in wall fan instead of air conditioning. Joey and I knew where we had to go but not exactly how to get there - but these people in the photo were also going to the park, getting directions from the bald fellow - so we followed them onto a bus and to the festival.
A long walk to the ticket booth transitioned into a long wait in line, for foolish reasons that would have been averted if Sarah had been with us. We had the tickets printed out, waiting patiently for us in the "important papers" folder in the car. So when we went to will-call and asked for our tickets, which had been purchased in Sarah's name and not ours, they couldn't do anything for us. So we had to cab it all the way back to the motel, grab our tickets and get back to Golden Gate Park.
Luckily for us, tickets were still on sale at $50 more for a three-day pass than we paid with our early bird special. It only took about ten minutes before we found a buyer for Sarah's ticket at face value, which was a good deal for both sides.
Luckily for us, tickets were still on sale at $50 more for a three-day pass than we paid with our early bird special. It only took about ten minutes before we found a buyer for Sarah's ticket at face value, which was a good deal for both sides.
Once we were in, the smiling began. I didn't know what to expect in terms of the layout of Golden Gate Park, and had no idea as to the massive size of the place. I was aware of a concert by the Grateful Dead here in Lindley Meadow, back on August 13 in 1975, but had no idea that Lindley Meadow would host just one of six stages for the festival. The music was already in full swing when we walked in and got our wristbands for beer.
We wandered around the grounds and got somewhat accustomed to the area, spotting Incubus on the main stage from a great distance. I've heard that Incubus lets loose during shows in a way that they can't on commercial radio, but the delay with our tickets had caused us to miss the majority of their performance. No matter, I said, because a short walk away led us to one of the festival's biggest draws, in my own personal opinion.
Tom Jones was taking the stage on one side of Lindley Meadow, a man who should require no introductions. This guy is pushing 70 years old but he's still as suave and spectacular as anyone in the world. He had more energy than I would have ever expected, regularly wiping his brow with his hand and flicking the sweat onto people in front of the stage. He busted out every song I was aware of him performing, including "It's Not Unusual," "What's New, Pussycat," and of course, the one where he lets out a big scream while the saxophone riff plays behind him. He was so good and so lively that he gets his own photo montage.
The sun went down and one of the festival's headliners, Pearl Jam, was playing on the main stage in Polo Field. But Tom Jones's electrifying performance had made us late, and left us with terrible viewing spots. The music sounded basically like Pearl Jam sounds on the radio, and it was enough to send us walking to the other end of the park to watch Thievery Corporation, a raucous group with great beats and a crowd that shook the ground with their dancing.
This festival is like nothing I've seen before, for its extensive decoration, its massive size and more porta-potties than I've ever seen before. The first day was quite a time, thanks mostly to Mr. Tom Jones. But look for coverage on the next day coming soon from Joey - and when I say soon I really mean it.
-Tom
-Tom
