Moogfest Day II: A Datum
By Chall Gray
Arrival: 6:30 p.m., the writer is running late because service was slow at the restaurant. The rumbling of Nosaj Thing forces itself down the tunnels and corridors of the Civic Center as though it were some type of sonic organism.
Observation: The guy with the glowstick outfit is still around, and his sticks are still glowing, as evidenced by his being featured prominently on the big screen.
Fact: Early Snoop Dogg(y Dogg) has not lost its appeal.
Transition: The writer moves to Thomas Wolfe Auditorium to see School of Seven Bells who, despite being only a three piece, have a rich, expansive sound that fills the room.
Observation: The two most popular costumes among Moogfesters are Prison Inmate and Waldo. You may draw your own conclusions about any cultural significance this may or may not have.
Personal Statement: The writer finds it harder and harder to maintain his attention span during the festival. This may even influence the format of his dispatches.
Digression During Which the Writer Lists Acts He Considers Potential Headliners for Moogfest
2011: Prince. The Who. Devo.
Conclusion: The Asheville Civic Center is a giant concrete barn, and it is nearly impossible for anything (even a conversation) to sound good in there. That said, Caribou, one of the most interesting and innovative acts on the bill, nearly overcame that. The writer imagines how much better they will sound tomorrow at Cat’s Cradle in Chapel Hill.
Postulation: Hula-hooping in a crowd is not a good idea.
Second Postulation: Bringing a one-year-old, even with ear muffs, to an obscenely loud electronic music festival is not a good idea.
Simile: Seeing two drummers play face to face, as the audience did for Caribou, is as fun as watching a boxing match, but you don’t have to see someone beat the shit out of someone else.
Peregrination: The Volts Per Octaves were all the way over at the Orange Peel, and were not worth the walk.
Digression During Which the Writer Lists Acts He Would Like to See at Moogfest 2011: Animal Collective. Yeasayer. Ladytron. Beach House.
Confession: The writer has not yet, and probably will not dance at Moogfest.
A Primer on Conversing With Strangers: A girl initiates a conversation and then at some point asks the writer if he has any “favors.” The writer doesn’t immediately realize that she is talking about some type of drugs and responds by saying that he has helped many friends move, often up flights of stairs, and is thus very familiar with favors. If your conversation with a stranger goes anything like the writer’s it will probably then meet a swift end.
Choice: The writer chooses to attend the “secret” show by Caribou and Four Tet instead of Thievery Corporation or Jonsi. He second-guesses this decision after it turns out to be a dj-set, and not an actual band performance.
Postulation: The Disco Biscuits achieved the highest % of total crowd dancing of any group the writer has seen so far this evening.
Conclusion: Massive Attack played an alright set musically, but their light show was the most stunning thing the writer has seen yet at the entire festival.
Statement: Jon Hopkins deserved a larger crowd than he had for his late-night set at the Moogaplex.
Fact: The full body (and face, and hands (the writer does not exaggerate with the usage of the term “full body”)) checkerboard body suit will haunt several dreams tonight.
Chall Gray is a freelance writer and producer. He is currently working on opening a cafe/bar/theatre called The Magnetic Field in the River Arts District.
White Lightnin: Thanks, I appreciate your comments!
Forget what you may have read at "Brand X," Chall Gray is a one man "Team Moog."
Of course, he's far to humble to tell anyone else that, much less proclaim himself the true holder of the title, but how could you read this and think anything else?
Because he doesn't go in for gimmicks like "online audio interviews" to prove he's a big boi journalist, his dispatches prove that Twitter is for twits and that there is no need to scramble to see any other coverage is just the some ol' suck.
Everyone who has read his coverage this weekend can easily tell that this is how you cover a music festival with personal (and not distracting) inferences that make such writing more Gonzo that Bozo.
Sir, you should be congratulated on a job well done.
-=WL=-
Take that to mean what you want, it probably does.