Virgin Festival 2008

Tis festival season kiddies and though I preferred Voodoo to Virgin last year it doesn't look like I'll be making my way to NOLA this year so it was back to MD. Last year we made the mistake of going to Warped the day before the Virgin Festival and, after two days of 98 degree weather and no shade, bailed way early on day 3. This time around Lisa and I decided to go for just one day instead of the whole weekend.


We hit the road a bit late but travels there were smooth despite crazy rain, oh no it cannot rain on festival day! We finally got there just in time to see Lil Wayne-baby sister's choice :) the only Lil' Wayne song I know was the one he performed on FN MTV. The talent showed up over 20 minutes late for his appearance but luckily we were entertained by some young, drunk thing trying to grind on Lisa. Finally someone took the stage but it was just the entourage to take pictures of the crowd and meander around the stage as the audience actually started to boo. There isn't much I can say about Weezy (no h?), he was fun once he finally graced us with his presence.


Moving on in the strangest line-up I've ever seen, BOB DYLAN!!! I was so excited to see Dylan and we were able to get right up to the stage. I was a little disappointed that he sang mostly newer material but he sounded amazing as did his band. At 67 the only sign of his age was his tendency to walk a circle and stretch between songs. There were ominous clouds gathering before he took the stage, but the sky cleared and the sun started setting for him.


The festival had two stages with overlapping performers so Stone Temple Pilots were on at the same time as Dylan (easy choice for me) and the closers were Nine Inch Nails at the same time as Kanye West. We chose to see NIN. I do like what I've heard of West's music, I do not like his fans. Kanye was playing on the same stage as Dylan and a heard of obnoxious little fuckers in their white plastic shades herded around the stage while Dylan was playing. To be so self-absorbed and ignorant that you cannot recognize the iconic talent standing before you is unacceptable. Whether you like Dylan or not, you have to admit he is a poet with longevity who has inspired countless people. Where will Kanye be at 67? Gaggles of stupid girls stood taking pics of themselves and texting until Dylan was done and they surged forward to get closer to the fad.


Suffice it to say we ended the night with Nine Inch Nails. I went through a Tool, Korn, NIN phase but haven't listened to NIN in a long time. I know mostly the singles and enjoy them when they happen to be playing. They were amazing last night and I will definitely be enhancing my collection. They played the faster more recognizable songs first and then slowed it down a lot with more instrumental pieces. The set design was beautiful with screens not only behind the band but also a screen that hung above and once dropped down in front giving the appearance of a sheet of rain.

I have posted some videos on YouTube from the show. There is one NIN video that I can’t recognize the song from the clip (March of the Pigs potentially??). If you know it, message me so I can add the title. www.youtube.com/mckinlau