In Motion All Day

Sasquatch -> Seattle

We were up at 6:40am about 30 minutes later than we were planning to get up, packed our tents and sleeping bags stuffed them back into our backpacks. This didn't take nearly as long as I thought it was going to, our neighbours and many others had already disappeared in the middle of the night.  Last stop coffee, because we had to keep up with our tradition of going in the shop every single time we pass it and we did. By 7:15 am we were on the road back to Seattle.

Seattle -> Greyhound station

Dropped off the Ford Focus at Avis around 10 am after filling up the car, we made some good time today now off to find the greyhound station. Lucky for us it wasn't far away at all, if I remember correctly it was only about 6 blocks away. As we were waiting at the station for our bus to arrive my head phones broke, I don't know why this always happens to me, last time this happened it was right before I got on the plane from Vancouver to Edmonton. I have shit luck with headphones I should have known. I went on a mission to find head phones walked all the way downtown Seattle to find a Radio Shack. Joe at RS was very helpful and sold me noise canceling headphones that were on sale, mission accomplished. Thanks Joe and the 3 people I asked for directions.

Crossing customs States -> Canada

After stopping at several drop off cities along the way to the boarder we finally made it to customs. I was last in line but that didn't matter after we got on the bus someone else on our bus got held up for about an hour. People were becoming impatient us included, in the end I was thankful that the person made it through I know how much it sucks to be stuck in immigration. A scary purgatory.

Arrival in Vancouver

We made it into Vancouver at 7pm which was when we had planned to be departing to victoria on a ferry. Now from here I checked when the next ferry was that was 9pm there was no way I was going to two skytrains, a bus and then a ferry to only get in a car after the day we had. Time to find a hostel C&N hostel to be precise they just happened to have a flyer at the greyhound/via rail station. It turned out to only cost us $50 for the both of us....a pretty good deal.

A walk to the hostel

Now to relax and find a shower............ahhhhhhhh that feels much better. Washed away all that festival grime. Now to build a fort, adventure down through China town to hobo central (Hastings) to only end up at Subway for a massive sandwich, root beer and yummy cookies. I ate my awesome meal form the top bunk whilst watching friends. When life is like this you sure have to wonder why people complain.

Time for some serious ZZZZzzzZZZzZZzZZZzzZZzzZZZZZZZzzZZZZzZ........

Day 4 : SASQUATCH

I couldn't believe that this weekend flew by so quickly, then again we all know that time just blinks by when you are having a good time with good company. Today I really felt the impact that this music festival is having on my body. [there is also a 1.5 mile journey x 2 per day x 4days (dancing) = exhaustion]

We started today by packing what we could so we could drive back to Seattle in the morning. With a coffee in hand (fyi: we walked pass this coffee place twice and a day and I believe we bought a coffee every time minus the first evening 8 coffees x2 ) and some spicy pizza that I swear Danny was in love with we were off to stand in the line. When we made it through the first band we went to go see was THE AXIS OF AWESOME. I myself have never heard of them before today, I do have to say they sure were entertaining. Who doesn't like a band with Jack Black, Chris Rock/Tucker and Chicken Little?

Axis of Awesome

Danny suffered from a sunburn on his arm and what we were told is a North American 'grass rash' since he sin't allergic to the grass in Europe. He mental magic defeated it for the good of the show and so he could enjoy the rest of the day. Off to the main stage to catch the end of CHROMEO, there sure were a lot of fans.

Food run.

After standing in a never ending water line I was off to grab some chicken strips + quesadillas, on my way back to the spot it started to rain. In attempts to save our food from getting soaked whilst being pelted by rain I got BBQ sauce all over my new Modest Mouse t-shirt. :(

On next was RODRIGO Y GABRIELA on the main stage. WOW, she sure knows how to play that guitar like no other. The band !!! were highly recommended by our new found friends we had met at before the Modest Mouse show. The singer turned out to be the most eccentric out of everyone that I have seen this weekend. He flashed us his nipples whilst doing a runway walk after stealing a flag for a cape and a sailors hat just cause. This was only the beginning of his show. FYI: the band is pronounced 'chk chk chk' We then caught some dub step at the banana shack before taking a peak at THE DECEMBERISTS. Their acustic mellow songs had us wandering back to the Banana Shack to catch SKRILLEX, woohooo more dubstep. I am very surprised to find out that not only has dubstep has found its way into the music scene so quickly it also has caught on like a forest fire.

During Skrillex my friend Jaylien that I haven't seen since I left my old hospital job right before I went on my epic adventure to Asia found me in a crowd. Seriously!? Within all those people she picked me out it was great to see her, since we were suppose to meet up and camp together but never meeting up since our cell phones were dead and there were so many more people there than I had anticipated. Who would have thought on the last day she would find me I had given up hope of running into her by this point of the festivial.

DEEHUNTER were playing right accross from the Banana Shack so off to the Yeti stage. Now the last band of the weekend was WILCO, either of us know any of his songs and we both were aware of the fact that we had to head back into Seattle early in the morning. Back to camp.

What a freaken awesometastic weekend.

Summer has offically started, I can't wait to see A Perfect Circle, Sublime and I just found out that Gabriel and Dresden are going to play at Boonstock. Before that happens good old North Country Fair...I might even sneak in Motion Notion in July. ;P

Day 3: SASQUATCH

We woke up.  Mosied around...I decided I needed to brush my teeth so I was a hobo no longer. I tried to utilize the trailer showers they had there but the woman's line up was forever long. I literally did a 360 when I arrived and saw the lineup. Danny pressed onwards with the 'Self-realization' book that we had obtained the first day. Mosied some more....made it to the coffee stand and a brownie! (I felt a little sick after this)

First stop : Banana Shack. We caught the tail end of HARI KONDABOLU, who was very funny. Then TIM MINCHIN, which was a treat for both of us as neither of us had ever expected to him live. Naturally, he was good. <3 'Prejudice'

Yay! Tim Minchin

Next we saw REGGIE WATTS, a man with a giant afro who beat boxed. He was good, but we were further away since I was engulfed in this picture that I had started. I missed CITY AND COLOUR but I'll have you know that I did finish this drawing. Danny says they were both pretty good- a little mellow than most.       

Wandering over to the main stage, we caught the end of COLD WAR KIDS before going dancing to the irresistible FLOGGING MOLLY. What a brilliant live band.

<3 Flogging Molly

We returned back to the Banana Shack to do crosswords to some house beats courtesy of GOLD PANDA, before a nachos hunt brought us back to the main stage in time for FLAMING LIPS. For some reason Sasquatch got to have another birthday mid-way through set. (showing the same cake and singing the birthday song again.) this time the Lips front man shared the cake by throwing it at the crowd. So rock and roll.

Gold Panda

Flaming Lips

MODEST MOUSE is on soon. We are both very excited.

The drawing that I needed to finish.

Sneaking through the crowd in search of a good vantage point, we met some people who kindly donated their spot on the non-VIP front row to us. (YAY, for awesome people) There was some idiot girl next me asking me and snarling facial remarks about me leaning on her, she continued to demand personal space. In a front spot- this is unheard of - clearly retarded. Its okay though she eventually moved away from us.

The sunset at the Gorge

Anyway, Modest Mouse; whoah <- those were Danny's words I think I made a very similar exasperated noise that could not be formed into a word. Their energy and delivery is incredible, as is the range of instruments: trombones, trumpets, tubas, accordions and two drum sets. At one point they were all present.

I believe Danny goes on a huge fanboy rant about the play list of all their songs, encore songs and how happy it made him that they played at least a handful if not all his favourites. I was just happy that he was happy, not saying I'm not a fan of Modest Mouse I've been listening to them since I was 18 they have made their dent in my life with their tunes. I do want to make mention to them playing 'Dramamine' since we listed to it on the drive to The Gorge and a song sent to Danny via email way back in the day. Its sentimental value is growing exponentially.

Modest Mouse!

What another mind blowing evening of live music.

Day 2: SASQUATCH

This time before we left our campsite we packed our backpack full to the zipper with warm clothes. It sure got cold last night to the point where I had actually lost the feeling in my toes until we went down to the pit. Sitting down getting beat down with cold skin piercing winds isn't the way to enjoy a show. Lesson learned.

Mid afternoon: The sun is beaming searing us both with its hot bright UV rays. It is time to start the day with some 'Stairway to Heaven' it just played on random but it seems suiting. We cooked up some Jam sandwiches with a bottle of water in hand it was time to make some friends. After one fruitless walk it was time for a wine break. The quest for a bottle opener turned up some useful information. *puff-puff*

The walk down to the site is only about a 15-20 minute walk from our camp. Due to the long search at the gate we were delayed and were late enough to catch the last 4 songs of K-OS's set. ROCK + HIPHOP = AWESOME. K-OS played me stairway to heaven (which was the first song that started today) and told us to smoke a joint, which we did. This man is a prophet.

K-OS

LUNCH BREAK

With full bellies we went and hung around the main stage, attempting to nap, do crosswords and as for Danny resist the temptation to scratch his rash he suddenly developed. During this time we were serenaded by the jazz band PINK MARTINI, who showed that a festival is not always about being as loud as possible, and then IRON & WINE, who were similar but with guitar (and also good).

We made a small attempt to see THE TRAILER PARK BOYS, but so did the rest of the festival and we could neither see or hear. So we gave up on that and went to see WOLF PARADE instead.

When we made it back to the Banana Shack in the evening for THE GLITCH MOB; unable to see and for Danny I believe bemused was the word he used. We sat outside and watched the terrible dancers to pass the time. TGM ended their set with a cover of Seven Nation Army that was a giggle but not as good as the original. Who doesn't love more noise for noise's sake?

Our next appointment was with DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE whose melancholy pop-rock or whatever you call it doesn't make for much dancing. [I took this time to fashion my own slow motion dance that I find out over the weekend can be applied to any genre of music.] In the end it was a fairly enjoyable show. The crowd however did go wild for I will follow you into the dark, the only song that most people knew. (us included)

Death Cab for Cutie

Leaving Death Cab for Cutie to get to BASSNECTAR on time, since I didn't come all this way to miss any of his show even though I have seen have several times before. We did our best to get close to the stage, I should have known better.

Before his show there were people organizing the 'largest glow stick shower' for the start of his set. I believe that they wanted to set a world record, these people/company? were also the people that organized and I would assume bringing and holding the 'big giant shower.' (yes, a large out door shower with as many people they could fit in it as possible.)

I had no room to dance and the backpack worn by the tall gentlemen in front of me was just becoming irritating. So it was time for us to make a move to the outer circle were people have room to breathe  Now I have room to dance, YAY!  *lights joint*

This is when Bassnectar decided to throw down a version of 'Dyer Maker' by Led Zeppelin mixed into 'Come as you are' by Nirvana into the dub steppy song ever.  I just melted when he played Dyer Mayer <3 That is twice today I heard Zeppelin, lucky me.

For his Encore he threw down another remix of True Life, now I myself an not a fan of Rap but his version was dnb. If you know me at all I lovesses by Drum and Bass, what a perfect way to end the evening. Time to grab a delicious coffee for our midnight walk back to camp.

Another fantablious day at Sasquatch.

Day 1: SASQUATCH

We froze through the night until morning where the heat from the sun rose the temp within waking us from our slumber. Now mission #1 coffee. Time to say hello to our neighbours, yay, they have hot water. Time for some relaxation, jam sandwiches and baking in the sun it was time to make a move to the festival site. Bags are packed for a day in the unknown, and we are off!!!

So alcohol is restricted on the site now kids let me tell you why, because when you enter the site booze prices break the barriers of what some would call highway robbery. $12 US for a tall can of Budweiser. EEP!

Our first band was BIFFY CLYRO...I'm pretty indifferent but towards this band. Danny on the other hand had a bit of a chuckle about at the fact that he came all the way from England to Washington and saw a Scottish band first. Either way, no complaints, live music and good weather. <3

After being unimpressed by the next band AGAINST ME, we strolled over the hill to the amphitheater itself, and sat and enjoyed the ridiculously beautiful views with hardcore angry punk music courtesy of THE BRONX.

The Bronx

Whoever decided that this place was a good venue for a music festival was a genius. I am pretty sure the conversation on how THE GORGE AMPHITHEATER came to be went something like this.

O.o "Wow, look at this panoramic view you know what would make this perfect

....a music festival over looking this gorge!"

: D "That is a brilliant idea, I have money let's do this"

Up next was DEATH FROM ABOVE 1979, what a change in genres. They made a lot of noise for two guys and we were initially wowed by the singing drummer.

DFA 1979

The highlight of the night was the FOO FIGHTERS we were both familiar with the band with plans to see them since they were headlining. Before their show they handed out bubbles in celebration of Sasquatch's 10th birthday and Dave Grohl before they started playing sang Happy Birthday and rolled out the birthday cake for everyone to see but not eat.

During their set it reminded me of how many songs of theirs that I actually knew the words to. Since they have been preforming for what 15 years, not only do they have an endless supply of songs, they also have phenomenal stage presences and put on one amazingly mind blowing show. Even for the people that aren't die hard fans you should see the Foo Fighters, I grantee that you will have a great time. With about 30 minutes to spare Dave Grohl told everyone (which I was informed later that he has done this before) that there will not be an encore that they will just play until they run out of time. I like this concept. For his finishing song he played 'Everlong' my favourite song of theirs. 

This was a great first day. I cannot wait until tomorrow.

Seattle -> Sasquatch

The mission for the day was to rent a car and journey off to 'The Gorge' *cue dramatic roll of thunder* Driving through Seattle's incoherent labyrinth of one-way streets was a small hell in itself. So after causing a minor accident (don't worry kids everyone was okay) and half an hour of fruitless driving, we decided to get the hell out of Seattle. To interstate 90 to begin our journey east in our 'tan' coloured ford focus. The driving by miles threw me off for the first little bit leaving me a bit unnerved until I felt more comfortable with the vehicle.

Leaving Seattle

The 'tan' coloured Ford Focus

We didn't get very far before a sign for a Mexican bar & Grill (which turns out to be more of a high class fast food chain)  detoured us for lunch. Food in the states sure is cheap....so is booze. We also found and epic super market grocery store where we bought new shoes and supplies for the weekend. [this consisted of: jam, bread, coffee and wine] Yes, we are that kind of couple.

A couple of hours and some impressive scenery later, we lost our Canadian hippy car we had been following. Replacing it with a horde of drunks as we arrive at The Gorge *cue dramatic thunderclap* We parked in the queue, then a field, then a queue in a field and then in a field for the last time. This is where we set up our minuscule hobo camp. We are still unsure about where exactly the festival site is, but meh.

Super psyched for this.

Our finished crossword

Analyzing the Self-Realization book.

Now let's drink wine out of my shoe.

After setting up camp we were approached whilst doing a crossword and not drinking (an unheard of combination here) by a friendly chap who gave us a couple self-realization books that we are now idly tearing apart whilst not drinking. We should do something about this.

A couple chapters later we made our own realization that this so called gentleman gave us a sex book.

*pours wine in bellies*