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This will be my first Roo. After reading about the long walks from the campgrounds and of people wandering from show to show going on at the same time, I have to wonder about a couple of things. How much downtime is there to actually hang around your campsite and if you aer far away, how practical is it to "commute" back and forth from Centeroo?
Second, for those who have been before, how easy is it to catch multiple shows and have a good spot? Do you need to stake out a space way in advance for groups that you really, really want to see up close?
Post by lunaladybug on Apr 27, 2004 11:08:07 GMT -5
There actually isn't that much downtime. Shows start about noon, and go on until around 5 am. It's really a matter of you designating your own down time, which is easier to do once the artist schedules are released.
It's pretty easy to catch multiple shows at one time cause the stages are pretty close together, but if it's a more well-known band, you probably won't get too close to the stage unless you stake out your spot a little early.
Post by fluffhead720 on Apr 27, 2004 11:43:03 GMT -5
If you are far away make friends with someone who is close. We had some people do that first Roo. Are site was a 2minute walk to Centeroo and both main stages. We had some people ask if they could chill with us, because they had a 30-45minute walk. We obliged and they were relly cool.
I heard someone say that you can hear music from your campsite. Is it just a faint noise that kind of sounds like moe. or will it be possible to chill in a chair and just not "see" the band?
Also, is there room to move around when you're watching the bands or is it like sardines at a tiny venue?
I know that I'll find out soon enough, but just curious.
There is really as much downtime as you want/need.
In '02 I think I was a 10-15 minute walk from Centeroo and I would go back and forth from camp to the stages during some days (although I know I stuck out at least one 16-hour day at the stages).
Last year I was much farther (Alabama Soup Bowl), seemed like maybe a half-hour to Centeroo although I really don't know. In this case I only ended up making one trip to Centeroo each day, and stuck around for 8-18 hours depending on the day. It's not impossible to go back and forth, but with a close camp I could be back and forth in 1/2 an hour, and with the farther camp it didn't seem worth it unless I was going to take a break for a few hours.
I really like the idea of finding someone close in to chill with. It would be great to be able to pull in some basics-- cooler, extra shirt, etc., so if I end up very far away that I can replenish a little easier. This will be especially important for me as I am coming solo (not by choice) and will only have my own leg power to keep myself supplied.
Post by allisgroovy on Apr 27, 2004 12:59:04 GMT -5
Any of the main stage shows are downtime for me. The crowd area around the main stage is enormous. So theres lots of space in the back. I find it more comfortable there to just chill way in the back in the grass, cuz they have the big screens and all.
Last year I was down front for the Wailers, and a little bit of the Dead and I was way in back for Jack Johnson, the Allmans, and most of the Dead. I honestly enjoyed it better when i was chillin way in back.
As far as the tents go. Its usually better to be kinda near the front cuz you can see better and theres nowhere the chill way in the back.
Personally, I also think its better to stay a little farther away from the more popular bands. Like Dylan, Trey, Dave, Willie, David Byrne, The Dead and such. I just feel like it cheapens the experience when you see this really famous person on stage like 10 feet away from you.
Post by JayFromRochester on Apr 27, 2004 13:18:48 GMT -5
The way the schedule worked last year, we found it best to make the 10-20 minute walk back to our site late in the afternoon to have a small siesta and regroup over some pasta before heading back in for the evening shows. Then, if I remember right, there was a break after the headliners before the overnight sets began, so we'd walk back then too for a few more beers then head in again just in time to catch the midnight sets. At least, I think that's how we did it. I skipped WSP last year and spent the time at camp, which was actually really nice before a KILLER evening/overnight.
But that also worked because the bands that happened to be on in the mid-afternoon weren't the ones I was most interested in. If that was different, my experience would have been totally different.
As far as getting up close, you've got to define "close."
If you want to ride the rail for The Dead or Primus etc. you'll need to be there really early. If you're cool with being 50 feet back, it's not as big a deal.
Personally, at most shows I tend to try to line up with the front of the soundboard (or about a third of the way from the front, if the board isn't in the audience) because that's where the sound is usually about the best. That being the case, I had NO problems last year at the Allmans, Wailers, Dead, James Brown and a bunch of other "big acts".
The tents are a little harder to get into, but still not bad. i.e. There was no room for yer ole pal Jay in the Medeski tent last year until it started rainin'--then we all scrunched together in a drippy, smelly mass and ROCKED like sardines until the rain stopped and we could spread back out again.
In summation: the whole thing's a total crapshoot. Go where your dancin' feet take you and you'll be just fine.
I agree with you on the position--about 30 to 50 feet back, center for the best sound. The bands I know I've GOT to be in position for are String Cheese, Govt. Mule, Sam Bush and Leftover Salmon. I still need to get familiar with some of the others, cause I imagine a couple more will really stand out. I guess there are just certain types of music that I feel I have to completely immerse myself in both visually and sonically (?) to completely enjoy while others are enough to go on more in the background. Are there others like the ones I've listed that "demand" total attention to fully appreciate?
Post by PhinePhineMusic on Apr 28, 2004 14:24:13 GMT -5
hehe in my opinion, there's TONS to appreciate...
I think it'd be interesting to mention MMW...they work both ways; their improvisation is so complex that it engrosses the musical tecchies (like myself), and becomes an atmospheric kind of groove to others...
Same for Soulive, I guess, on a less avant-garde level.
Just make sure you don't miss Wilco!!! And listen real hard to what Tweedy has to say...
