Sunday, we headed down to Court Ave to go to the first annual block party. Normally I wouldn't go to things like this (except for Oktoberfest (usually things like this bring out the idiot drinkers)), but they were having Reel Big Fish play, so down we went. Yes, we.
We went down there, wandered for a bit, and then ended up eating at the royal mile. Most of the bands we saw were pretty good. I enjoyed The Vandon Arms (basically Irish drinking music). I almost bought their CD, and am still thinking about it. North of Grand, who I had a track from the DMMC album that I like...pretty much sounded the same over all their songs. Not that it was a bad sound, it was just repetitive. I think we were near one of their families/friends though, because that group seemed pretty pumped when they got on stage. However, the Goodyear Pimps or the Pimps were so annoying and obnoxious, I just kept wanting to say, "less talk, more rock"....except they weren't very good at that either. Maybe it was just the show, or maybe I'm the wrong audience, but I could've done without ever seeing them. Just a note to budding rock stars out there, you don't have to explain everything you do. Some people will get it, some people won't care about the lyrics, and others...well...they're not gonna listen anyways.
Somewhere between the Vandon Arms and the Pimps, we ran into Josh and Lindsay and hung out with them for the rest of the night
RBF was pretty good, certainly not the best that I've seen them, but it was still worth the money. Good stage presence, good set. They hit all the songs I really wanted, even the new track Another F.U. Song. They played Beer twice (once during the regular set and another in the encore). On the encore, apparently someone down front kept calling for it, so they pretty much said screw it and played it again. Oh well, kinda silly, but what can you do.
About the event as a whole, it seemed fairly organized. Security was right on top of things (we heard and saw a few questionable things, and very shortly, 3-5 security guys were right on the person to kick 'em out). Plenty of bathrooms. Drinks were...well...lame for the most part. Other then the water, there was nothing down there that I really wanted to have (have at least one semi-drinkable beer please). It was problematic where they were, since it was just as easy to see the stage from outside the plastic fenced in area (especially with the parking garage). Quite a few people didn't pay for entrance... Kinda lame, I think. The thing that bugged me the most was the lack of a published schedule...anywhere. I know schedules at all day events aren't that accurate, but it's always nice to have an idea when people are going to play and what not. I couldn't find anyone that knew...not that I tried too hard...but I did ask a few people.
Monday, we headed over to Jen and Madd's for a gathering. Even being relatively late, we were still the first ones to arrive (this is fairly normal). Jen and Madd, put up quite the setup of things, and played good hosts to the party. It was nice to hang out for the majority of the day and talk with the group about whatever. Good times.