I'm done with non-club shows

[mjnova]

Besides the fact that the Elvis Costello show last night was awful (I think getting enganged to Diana Krall suddenly made him revert to dull Elvis), the drive to Wolf Trap was even worse.  It seems like driving far out of my way in bad traffic to overpriced shows just isn't really worth it.  Admittedly there's no way I won't see Radiohead, but beyond that there's just nothing enticing enough to draw me out to these venues.  Plus, air-conditioned indoor venues in the summer are great.

[markie]

I have never been to wolftrap and nissan and the like.....
 
 But Fort Reno is definitely a good experience.

[mjnova]

Originally posted by the scientist:
  I have never been to wolftrap and nissan and the like.....
 
 But Fort Reno is definitely a good experience.

Well that's a different atmosphere.  Plus the freeness helps.

[markie]

Originally posted by mjnova:
  Plus the freeness helps.

sure, and being 3 minutes walk from the metro and Guapos.....

[Bags]

I'll do Wolf Trap if I *really* love a band, and they have a pretty mellow vibe (ie, Lyle Lovett).  But Nissan never again -- I went out to the Pearl Jam/Buzzcocks show, and it was a nightmare.  2 hours to get out there, and about the same getting back.  I coulda driven to Phillie (if I drove pretty fast).  And the Buzzcocks, one of my faves, was just weird in this huge place with almost no one in their seats yet (a combination of kids who could get out there early but don't know the Buzzcocks enough to give up an hour of tailgating, and everyone else still stuck in traffic).
 
 I agree with you, mjnova -- the big summer festivals have me saying the same thing.  "Screw it, I'll wait 'til the bands I wanna see come through the Black Cat, 9:30 Club or Ottobar."

[mjnova]

When you get right down to it, if you take for example field day, I'd probably pay about the same amount to see the band I want to see at clubs doing headline shows that I would to see them all do short sets in front of 50,000.  Plus the drive would be easier.

[sonickteam2]

Originally posted by mjnova:
  When you get right down to it, if you take for example field day, I'd probably pay about the same amount to see the band I want to see at clubs doing headline shows that I would to see them all do short sets in front of 50,000.  Plus the drive would be easier.

Sometimes the experience of the big festival-type shows are cool though.  I usually meet a lot more people at big shows than at club shows, and generally leave with a couple new bands to pick up CDs from.  Also, if i saw 6 bands i wanted to see at Field Day, thats 6 nights i need free instead of just one day.  
    As for shows at Nissan/Merriweather/MCI....fuck em to hell! But I'll go to a festival anyday

[Charlie Nakatestes, Japanese Golfer]

To use Wolftrap and Nissan in the same sentence is sort of ludicrous...
 
 

Originally posted by the scientist:
  I have never been to wolftrap and nissan and the like.....
 
 But Fort Reno is definitely a good experience.

[Bags]

Originally posted by sonickteam2:
   

Originally posted by mjnova:
  When you get right down to it, if you take for example field day, I'd probably pay about the same amount to see the band I want to see at clubs doing headline shows that I would to see them all do short sets in front of 50,000.  Plus the drive would be easier.

Sometimes the experience of the big festival-type shows are cool though.  I usually meet a lot more people at big shows than at club shows, and generally leave with a couple new bands to pick up CDs from.  Also, if i saw 6 bands i wanted to see at Field Day, thats 6 nights i need free instead of just one day.  
    As for shows at Nissan/Merriweather/MCI....fuck em to hell! But I'll go to a festival anyday [/b]

I guess I'm just at that point where I've done enough fetivals....I prefer comfort and a quick jaunt over to BC or 9:30.  The festival takes at least one full day and has all its own attendant nightmares.  
 
 You're right, I've had fantastic times, and if Field Day were in D.C., I probably would have gone...

[mjnova]

Originally posted by Rhett Miller:
  To use Wolftrap and Nissan in the same sentence is sort of ludicrous...
 
   

Originally posted by the scientist:
  I have never been to wolftrap and nissan and the like.....
 
 But Fort Reno is definitely a good experience.

[/b]

The drive to Wolf Trap was horrible.  Sure, Nissan would be much worse, but a 15-20 minute drive took about an hour.

[sonickteam2]

Originally posted by bags:
 I guess I'm just at that point where I've done enough fetivals....I prefer comfort and a quick jaunt over to BC or 9:30.  The festival takes at least one full day and has all its own attendant nightmares.  
 
 You're right, I've had fantastic times, and if Field Day were in D.C., I probably would have gone...

and i always feel like HELL the next two days after an all day festival. yuk.

[Charlie Nakatestes, Japanese Golfer]

I've never had much of a problem driving to Wolftrap. But then I've always gone plenty early and just hung out and picnicked on the lawn.