Well, I can't say last night was enjoyable. I don't know if I'm too curmudgeonly in my old age, but I think I may be done with live Wilco. It's not really their fault; I think this line-up is the strongest they've been in my short time digging them. I guess I'm just done with the set lists they play...I'm not sure how many more times I can hear Heavy Metal Drummer, and the ensuing roar from the crowd. I realize it's ok to get into a band after they get big (hell, I didn't give them a chance until Yankee Hotel Foxtrot), but really? They play this song every damn show. Wouldn't you want to hear something a little less...all the time?
My big problem, though, was Wolf Trap. Don't get me wrong, the venue is beautiful, it was easy to get to, and I certainly enjoyed the fact that you can bring booze in (thanks again, brennser!). Still, things got off to a really rough start:
1. Parking: So the place was apeshit by the time I got there (my fault, I can admit). I asked a cop for an idea of where to park, and he just shrugged. I ended up parking on the side of the road about a mile from the gates. Not that big of a deal, in the grand scheme of things, but it didn't get me too psyched.
2. Guards: I had an extra ticket I wanted to get rid of, so I walked up to the gate to try to sell it to someone. The first guy I encountered looking for a ticket was quickly stolen away by another guy selling...no biggie. I finally saw a group of kids looking dejected and even though it was just one ticket, I offered it to them for face, taking a hit on the fees. A guard promptly told me it was illegal to sell tickets and that I'd be arrested. "Oh, I was only trying to get the ticket price" I responded. I was then told that I'd be thrown in jail if I sold it. "Even at the exact cost of the ticket price?" "There are 50 guards watching, waiting to arrest you if you sell that ticket." I just gave the kids my extra, although then the guard made the other two get off the property for not having a ticket.
Look, I'm cool if the rule is no selling on federal land. My bad, I didn't realize that. But just fucking talk to someone like they're a human being. I asked a question because I didn't know. It's not my fault your bad life decisions force you to stand guard at a national park wearing a Ranger Smith get-up...you don't have to be a fucking bitch about it. Plus, if it's a national park, and you know, "we all own it," why not let those kids hang out?
3. Ushers: So I was in a pretty bad mood, even after the beer brennser gave me, and was starting to feel a little better because the usher that showed me my seat was so nice. Then, 10 minutes into the show, I get tapped on the shoulder by a guard demanding my camera. "I don't have a camera on me." "Then what was that light I saw?" "My cellphone?" "Ok...but I'm watching you." This was then followed by almost everyone around me taking flash photography. But the final straw was a guard tapping me later on and asking what I was smoking. Well, it was nothing, and to the best of my knowledge, I didn't even see a lit cigarette in my section.
By this time, I was so soured I couldn't break my funk. I know, it's my fault for not letting it go, but it pretty much spoiled the rest of the night for me. I don't want to get all Thousand Made-Up Loves and whatnot, but I don't think I'd ever go to Wolf Trap again. Oh, and there was shitty traffic in Alexandria on 495 that caused me to get home about 40 minutes after I should have. I blame Wolf Trap for that too.
Now, before sweetcell or someone else gets all "here's the logical list of why this is the best venue," I realize that it was seemingly my bad luck that caused all of that. Still, fuck that place.
Did I miss anything good after Heavy Metal Drummer?
