TOP TEN HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE MID-ATLANTIC COLLEGE RADIO CONFERENCE (MACROCK) - HARRISONBURG, VA APRIL 4-5, 2003
10. Overhearing the banter of teenage boys desperate for indie record deals.
9. On the way to the label expo we see Ian McKaye in the stairwell. I don’t even realize it’s him until my friends tell me later.
Proving: a) I’m always asleep at the wheel
b) I really have been staring at Guy this whole time
8. After driving for nine hours we decide to check out Pele’s set in some ballroom that smells like a junior high gym after PE. We last about 7 minutes then find ourselves wandering away when my friend Michelle (who is a little lost after two weeks of very little sleep) has a moment of clarity and says, “They’re a jam band. They’re like an indie rock jam band.”
Jesus Christ.
7. Replacing the broken Pedro the Lion Winners Never Quit CD that taunted and teased us on the ride down. Ba ba da ba ba ba baa Ba ba da baa Ba ba da baa…baa
6. We arrive at our host house and realize that we’re staying with six very Christian girls in, what might be, a mansion. While we make Ramen noodles in the kitchen (where a bible quote about cleanliness is tacked-up above the sink) we wonder if we’ll ever be able to even fathom having such absurd amounts of money.
Later on, I will fall asleep staring at the silver crucifix over my bed, listening to Mirah asleep on the floor, making funny noises as she dreams, and the rain falling on Virginia at night.
5. The sweet and sour tofu I ate for breakfast on Saturday. Washed down with a Thai iced coffee.
4. After fulfilling my duties as merch girl I bust out all my best new wave dance moves for The Æffect from Gainsville, FL (of all places). No, no, no it’s not what you think. The best part about the Æffect is that they don’t have dyed black hair and black and white striped boat neck t-shirts. They’re just a bunch of normal looking guys from fucking Florida who playing totally cheesy new wave. I got my dance on – The Shy Eye, The Ian Curtis- because any band hopping on the electro/new wave bandwagon who can manage to not be pretentious wins in my book. (But don’t buy their CD, it’s like it was recorded slow motion.)
3. Seeing a Yo La Tengo promotional beach ball. (I’m not kidding. It’s all over for them.)
2. V for Vendetta rock the College Center Ballroom by playing their set from the floor instead of the stage. It changed the entire mood of the room. Suddenly everyone forgot they were at a showcase, forgot they were in a ballroom and not a warehouse and the increase in crowd comfort level was obvious. By the end of their set the jaded hipster in the way-back (arms crossed, sucking his teeth) was rockin’ out to the herky-jerky stops.
1. Just as Soviet are about to take the stage someone pulls the fire alarm. After no one moves and a series of really horrifying Great White jokes, a MACROCK volunteer gets on the mic and tells everyone they need to evacuate so that the cops can do a walk through and the show can start up again.
In fear that some people will leave, one of the boys from Soviet gets on the mic and says, “Alright, Virginia! We evacuate and then Soviet takes the stage!”
Sad, sad bastards.
10. Overhearing the banter of teenage boys desperate for indie record deals.
9. On the way to the label expo we see Ian McKaye in the stairwell. I don’t even realize it’s him until my friends tell me later.
Proving: a) I’m always asleep at the wheel
b) I really have been staring at Guy this whole time
8. After driving for nine hours we decide to check out Pele’s set in some ballroom that smells like a junior high gym after PE. We last about 7 minutes then find ourselves wandering away when my friend Michelle (who is a little lost after two weeks of very little sleep) has a moment of clarity and says, “They’re a jam band. They’re like an indie rock jam band.”
Jesus Christ.
7. Replacing the broken Pedro the Lion Winners Never Quit CD that taunted and teased us on the ride down. Ba ba da ba ba ba baa Ba ba da baa Ba ba da baa…baa
6. We arrive at our host house and realize that we’re staying with six very Christian girls in, what might be, a mansion. While we make Ramen noodles in the kitchen (where a bible quote about cleanliness is tacked-up above the sink) we wonder if we’ll ever be able to even fathom having such absurd amounts of money.
Later on, I will fall asleep staring at the silver crucifix over my bed, listening to Mirah asleep on the floor, making funny noises as she dreams, and the rain falling on Virginia at night.
5. The sweet and sour tofu I ate for breakfast on Saturday. Washed down with a Thai iced coffee.
4. After fulfilling my duties as merch girl I bust out all my best new wave dance moves for The Æffect from Gainsville, FL (of all places). No, no, no it’s not what you think. The best part about the Æffect is that they don’t have dyed black hair and black and white striped boat neck t-shirts. They’re just a bunch of normal looking guys from fucking Florida who playing totally cheesy new wave. I got my dance on – The Shy Eye, The Ian Curtis- because any band hopping on the electro/new wave bandwagon who can manage to not be pretentious wins in my book. (But don’t buy their CD, it’s like it was recorded slow motion.)
3. Seeing a Yo La Tengo promotional beach ball. (I’m not kidding. It’s all over for them.)
2. V for Vendetta rock the College Center Ballroom by playing their set from the floor instead of the stage. It changed the entire mood of the room. Suddenly everyone forgot they were at a showcase, forgot they were in a ballroom and not a warehouse and the increase in crowd comfort level was obvious. By the end of their set the jaded hipster in the way-back (arms crossed, sucking his teeth) was rockin’ out to the herky-jerky stops.
1. Just as Soviet are about to take the stage someone pulls the fire alarm. After no one moves and a series of really horrifying Great White jokes, a MACROCK volunteer gets on the mic and tells everyone they need to evacuate so that the cops can do a walk through and the show can start up again.
In fear that some people will leave, one of the boys from Soviet gets on the mic and says, “Alright, Virginia! We evacuate and then Soviet takes the stage!”
Sad, sad bastards.
posted by Carla at 12:54 PM
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