Lateralus' Musical Meanderings

Astronomer · 10-04-2009, 11:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bulldog

^ Warms the cockles of my heart every time

Skip to about 5:30 and see what I mean.

What a fantastic interview! Definitely heart warming. I love how he talks about the idea that a piece of art is not finished until there is audience reception... how very true. I absolutely love really profound interviews like this.

Bulldog · 10-06-2009, 10:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lateralus

What a fantastic interview! Definitely heart warming. I love how he talks about the idea that a piece of art is not finished until there is audience reception... how very true. I absolutely love really profound interviews like this.

Yeah, he's always great in the interviews I've seen of him. Well, most of them anyway. He's one of those musicians with a very interesting personality, along with folk like Tom Waits, Noel Gallagher and so on.

Mojo · 10-06-2009, 10:55 AM

Noel Gallagher interviews are usually interesting, i agree. I also like watching interviews with Marilyn Manson but i have no idea why. I'm certainly not a fan but he's an interesting fella.

FETCHER. · 10-09-2009, 08:07 PM

i never really ventured in here, i look forward to readin' the rest of your journal lateralus. bass guitar is something i have greatly regretted not learning so im rather interested! good posts so far!

Astronomer · 10-11-2009, 07:02 PM

Lateralus' Guide To...

Music Festivals

I love music festivals, and I go to at least a couple every year, and this summer I've got a few great ones lined up. However, I always find myself coming across people at the festivals, or bringing friends with me who know nothing about music festival etiquette and find themselves not having a good time because of this. So I thought I'd put together a survival guide of sorts.

1. If you're attending a multiple-day music festival which involves camping, DO NOT under any circumstances set up camp anywhere near the portable toilets. It may seem convenient at the time, but as the hours wear on you will understand why it is not a good idea... also bring your own toilet paper!

2. Set up your camp near a landmark or something that stands out so you can remember where your tent is. Stumbling around probably intoxicated and trying to find your tent when it is dark, crowded and smelly is NOT fun.

3. Dress sensibly. Especially if you are a girl, because girls tend to be the stupidest when it comes to music festival attire. If you were high heels, your feet will not only be sore but probably bloody and mangled. If you wear a miniskirt you will most likely be groped by herds of guys for the duration of the festival. Wear something comfortable that you don't mind getting dirty.

4. If you plan on drinking, make sure to brings LOTS of money. Drinks will most likely be overpriced and taste like piss. If you plan on eating, the same rule applies. Don't waste all your money on booze and remember to have water handy.

5. Be prepared for: mud, dust, sunburn. Also, dancing in the mud like a dirty hippie may seem like fun at the time but you won't think so when you realise you have to spend the rest of the weekend looking like this:

6. Avoid taking cameras and video recording devices into the crowd, and if you have a mobile phone keep it in your pocket. Not only do these objects risk getting crushed, but as I learnt the hard way one year, the crowd is often sprayed with large amounts of water.

7. Get an itinerary! There's nothing worse than missing a great band at a festival because you didn't know which stage they were playing at and at what time.

8. If you can, try to volunteer to work at a festival you're really keen about. You get to go for free, often get special backstage access, and only have to 'work' for a couple of hours and then get to use the rest of the time to enjoy yourself!

9. Bring as little valuables as you can, and if you do bring valuable items keep them on you at all times or keep them locked and hidden in your car. Tents and campsites are a huge target for invasion and pinching things. If you're camping with friends and have a few tents between you, set them up so they the entrances are all facing each other - seems simple but is a pretty nifty security trick.

10. And as a final checklist, make sure you also remember to bring: ID, fully charged mobile phone, a hat, sunscreen, water, food that doesn't need to be refrigerated, toilet paper, lamps or torches, portable chairs, warm blankets, a backpack (can often double as a pillow), and a good attitude! Yay, I'm lame!

+81 · 10-12-2009, 01:17 AM

Very informative guide, Lateralus. It will definitely come in handy after the winter season.

FETCHER. · 10-12-2009, 08:33 AM

that was pretty interesting actually, il be going to my first festival next year and i would have probably done half or more of your donts haha. em, thanks?

jackhammer · 10-12-2009, 05:21 PM

No 2 is definitely something I will do for neXt year as we couldn't find our tent on the Saturday night and got covered in mud last year. Funny at the time though

Mojo · 10-12-2009, 06:03 PM

I used to try to go to two festivals a year too, i havent been to one in a couple of years now for various reasons. Festivals were my holidays really and were always my priority if i had to choose between the two.

I would add a few things to your list. Two come to mind straight away.

Sleep in your clothes. I know a few people who have taken their jeans off in their tent and had them nicked alongwith their wallet, keys, money and pretty much everything they need to get home. There really isnt any point in being at all careful about keeping all of your valuables on you the entire weekend and then taking your clothes off to sleep.

Don't sleep with strangers. Why do people do this at festivals? No one has had a wash for 5 days!

Theres a few things that you do that i never have. Mainly i have never taken any food, it always just seems like too much hassle and leaves less room for the more important things like the beer. I dont eat much at festivals so one overpriced, sweaty, horrible generic example of take away food a day tends to be enough and we load the car up with as much beer as possible if thats how were getting there. I know which one i would rather come prepared with when it's £5 for a baguette, £4 for a burger or whatever and £35-40 for 24 cans of piss weak lager and £4ish a pint.

Astronomer · 10-13-2009, 02:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mojopinuk

I used to try to go to two festivals a year too, i havent been to one in a couple of years now for various reasons. Festivals were my holidays really and were always my priority if i had to choose between the two.

I would add a few things to your list. Two come to mind straight away.

Sleep in your clothes. I know a few people who have taken their jeans off in their tent and had them nicked alongwith their wallet, keys, money and pretty much everything they need to get home. There really isnt any point in being at all careful about keeping all of your valuables on you the entire weekend and then taking your clothes off to sleep.

Don't sleep with strangers. Why do people do this at festivals? No one has had a wash for 5 days!

Theres a few things that you do that i never have. Mainly i have never taken any food, it always just seems like too much hassle and leaves less room for the more important things like the beer. I dont eat much at festivals so one overpriced, sweaty, horrible generic example of take away food a day tends to be enough and we load the car up with as much beer as possible if thats how were getting there. I know which one i would rather come prepared with when it's £5 for a baguette, £4 for a burger or whatever and £35-40 for 24 cans of piss weak lager and £4ish a pint.

Nice advice! A lot of the festivals I've been to you're not allowed to bring alcohol (unless it's a really indie kind-of one where they don't really care) which sucks (I think it's because they don't want glass everywhere?) so we usually bring food and keep our money for booze. But it is indeed a hassle though, and often like most others we're pretty skilled at finding inventive places to hide our alcohol in the car, though.

Agreed with the sleeping in your clothes thing, although in intense Australian heat sometimes it's not always that comfortable :/

And sleeping with strangers at a music festival... well I'm not one for sleeping with strangers in any kind-of situation but hooking up at festivals is usually not a good idea. Partly because nobody's showered for days and it's just gross, and partly because you'll have to see the person for the duration of the festival and avoiding people becomes quite difficult... especially intimate festivals.

Anyway, thanks for adding to the list!

10-06-2009, 10:55 AM	#23 (permalink)
Mojo Melancholia Eternally Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: England Posts: 5,018	Noel Gallagher interviews are usually interesting, i agree. I also like watching interviews with Marilyn Manson but i have no idea why. I'm certainly not a fan but he's an interesting fella. __________________ Last.FM \| Echoes and Dust

10-11-2009, 07:02 PM	#25 (permalink)
Astronomer we are stardust Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Australia Posts: 2,894	Lateralus' Guide To... Music Festivals I love music festivals, and I go to at least a couple every year, and this summer I've got a few great ones lined up. However, I always find myself coming across people at the festivals, or bringing friends with me who know nothing about music festival etiquette and find themselves not having a good time because of this. So I thought I'd put together a survival guide of sorts. 1. If you're attending a multiple-day music festival which involves camping, DO NOT under any circumstances set up camp anywhere near the portable toilets. It may seem convenient at the time, but as the hours wear on you will understand why it is not a good idea... also bring your own toilet paper! 2. Set up your camp near a landmark or something that stands out so you can remember where your tent is. Stumbling around probably intoxicated and trying to find your tent when it is dark, crowded and smelly is NOT fun. 3. Dress sensibly. Especially if you are a girl, because girls tend to be the stupidest when it comes to music festival attire. If you were high heels, your feet will not only be sore but probably bloody and mangled. If you wear a miniskirt you will most likely be groped by herds of guys for the duration of the festival. Wear something comfortable that you don't mind getting dirty. 4. If you plan on drinking, make sure to brings LOTS of money. Drinks will most likely be overpriced and taste like piss. If you plan on eating, the same rule applies. Don't waste all your money on booze and remember to have water handy. 5. Be prepared for: mud, dust, sunburn. Also, dancing in the mud like a dirty hippie may seem like fun at the time but you won't think so when you realise you have to spend the rest of the weekend looking like this: 6. Avoid taking cameras and video recording devices into the crowd, and if you have a mobile phone keep it in your pocket. Not only do these objects risk getting crushed, but as I learnt the hard way one year, the crowd is often sprayed with large amounts of water. 7. Get an itinerary! There's nothing worse than missing a great band at a festival because you didn't know which stage they were playing at and at what time. 8. If you can, try to volunteer to work at a festival you're really keen about. You get to go for free, often get special backstage access, and only have to 'work' for a couple of hours and then get to use the rest of the time to enjoy yourself! 9. Bring as little valuables as you can, and if you do bring valuable items keep them on you at all times or keep them locked and hidden in your car. Tents and campsites are a huge target for invasion and pinching things. If you're camping with friends and have a few tents between you, set them up so they the entrances are all facing each other - seems simple but is a pretty nifty security trick. 10. And as a final checklist, make sure you also remember to bring: ID, fully charged mobile phone, a hat, sunscreen, water, food that doesn't need to be refrigerated, toilet paper, lamps or torches, portable chairs, warm blankets, a backpack (can often double as a pillow), and a good attitude! Yay, I'm lame! __________________ Last edited by Astronomer; 10-12-2009 at 04:06 AM.

10-12-2009, 01:17 AM	#26 (permalink)
+81 Rats off to ya! Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: House of the Ju-Ju Queen Posts: 1,609	Very informative guide, Lateralus. It will definitely come in handy after the winter season. __________________ My Music on: Facebook Last.fm My Last.fm My Poor Ol' Neglected Journal

10-12-2009, 05:21 PM	#28 (permalink)
jackhammer Ba and Be. Join Date: May 2007 Location: This Is England Posts: 17,331	No 2 is definitely something I will do for neXt year as we couldn't find our tent on the Saturday night and got covered in mud last year. Funny at the time though __________________ It be my music and film collection. “A cynic by experience, a romantic by inclination and now a hero by necessity.”

10-12-2009, 06:03 PM	#29 (permalink)
Mojo Melancholia Eternally Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: England Posts: 5,018	I used to try to go to two festivals a year too, i havent been to one in a couple of years now for various reasons. Festivals were my holidays really and were always my priority if i had to choose between the two. I would add a few things to your list. Two come to mind straight away. Sleep in your clothes. I know a few people who have taken their jeans off in their tent and had them nicked alongwith their wallet, keys, money and pretty much everything they need to get home. There really isnt any point in being at all careful about keeping all of your valuables on you the entire weekend and then taking your clothes off to sleep. Don't sleep with strangers. Why do people do this at festivals? No one has had a wash for 5 days! Theres a few things that you do that i never have. Mainly i have never taken any food, it always just seems like too much hassle and leaves less room for the more important things like the beer. I dont eat much at festivals so one overpriced, sweaty, horrible generic example of take away food a day tends to be enough and we load the car up with as much beer as possible if thats how were getting there. I know which one i would rather come prepared with when it's £5 for a baguette, £4 for a burger or whatever and £35-40 for 24 cans of piss weak lager and £4ish a pint. __________________ Last.FM \| Echoes and Dust