Gonerfest II: An After The Fact Diary
by Dan Rowe 8/07/06 (written some time in '05)
(Page 1 of 5)
One of the major themes of my life has been music as healer, savior, and redeemer. When life and the people in it have let me down--when I've let myself down--music has more often than not proved to be the medicine that turned it all around. From the time I've been able to drive, trips to Memphis for shows have been a major component of this equation--my sanctuary from unfriendly hometown confines. The account that follows is a very loose (and after the fact) diary of the most monumental event I've been fortunate enough to take in from over on the right side of the Mississippi--Gonerfest II. More than just another show in every way it could transcend that tag, the blessing of this particular rock and punk marathon was especially not lost on me.
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Thursday: September 22, 2005
Today is the first day of Gonerfest II and I'm stoked! My original plan was to only catch a day or two of the fest, but Cameron a/k/a Conner Sewer of Whethermen fame generously offered me a place to crash so I could take it all in. What a guy!
As is the norm for my trips to Memphis, I'm running a bit more behind than I'd like to in getting away from home. However, this particular day, the two and a half hour drive melts away quicker than it typically tends to and I'm rolling into Memphis right on time. Yes!
En route to Cameron's to pick him up (I've volunteered to be designated driver for the duration of Gonerfest, both as a thank you for the crash space and also because I want to retain every damn second possible of this mammoth musical beatdown), I give him a ring on my cellphone to announce the pending arrival. Oh shit! He's already at the Goner store and King Louie is about five songs into his set! Fuck!
I right the ship and haul ass to the store, missing another song in the process. The store is pretty packed. A handful of hi's to the usual suspects and my three days of being rocked silly have officially begun!
Man, King Louie is so damn amazing! He's grinding it out one man band style, with a passion and sincerity most of the nickel and dime pretenders who pollute this world would give a limb to taste in their own existence. I'm blown away already and this is just the start of things. What a beginning!
I hunt down Cameron amongst the throng. Tons of socializing goes down with some very cool people. Then, we split to drop his car back at home base. From there, it's off to the Hi Tone for the evening's main event.
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First up tonight are Killer's Kiss, followed by CoCoComas. I haven't heard either band before and both deliver great sets. Can't wait to explore these outfits a bit more when it's all said and done. This is followed by what's probably the highlight of night one, Tokyo Electron. If you love the Reatards but aren't hip to these guys, get on the ball. Raw and mean as fuck! I'm tickled to death and then Impala hits the stage. Their vintage-toned instros are quite a departure from how the rest of the roster rocks but it brings back great memories for me of eating as little as possible during my college days so I could pocket the money and go to Shangri La to score all the reocrds I'd never get a sniff of in Arkansas. Scott Bomar was working there during those days and it was always a great thrill talking music for a few minutes with a guy I respected so much. Haven't seen Impala since '97, so this set is definitely special for me. Closing night one are Knaughty Knights--Shaggy from the Persuaders, Rich Crook of Lost Sounds, and Jack Oblivian. This is a case of the porridge being just right. Their set is powerful but not overbearing. Great songs and superb chemistry as a unit. Wish these guys played out more often.
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