But, there’s one slight technical problem. I didn’t have a press pass as planned, MYCST and I were late on submitting my request, and I wasn’t about to pay hundreds of dollars for a shiny plastic wristband. So I was left with the option of sneaking in or going home; somebody should have let them know I have no home to go to – this might as well be it, so in we go! My first route, the nearly impossible, was to trek through thick forests which contained unpredictable dark floors coated with thorny blackberry bushes within which were bountiful amounts of spider friends that you’d just rather not meet. Believe me I tried, it hurt, they bit back and I continued. But hell this was never going to work out. While cursing into the empty forest I retraced my steps and found a more suitable, wider trail toward the front of the festival. This led me straight to far end of the parking lot where I found two people sitting between cars smoking and chatting – my way in. I ripped out all my camera gear from my bag, threw it around my shoulder, utilized one strap to cover my wrist and headed for the front gate. Not one word not one question, just a brisk walk through the dark entry with my left arm extended. Past the booth, through the gate, and in. Done, easy peasy. And to think I was about to wreck myself through the unforgiving forest, but it was all a past memory at this point – I had made it to the other side.
All sorts of creatures all sorts of sounds. Pickathon was the most vast yet compacted festival I’ve ever seen. One could find the band Priests thrashing and burning the Barn Stage down with perfectly distorted yet melodic punk jams and a piercing funk you attitude that chaotically sheds light upon society’s problematic contradictions. Following which I stumbled upon remarkable acts from Alex Cameron, Wolf People, Anna & Elizabeth, Hiss Golden Messenger and. Ty Segall. And lastly Tank and the Bangas, all the way from New Orleans, metaphorically deforested a clearing to the Woods Stage allowing the masses to pour into the newfound void and enjoy the unique raw power coming from within. The extraordinarily talented seven musical geniuses at work, or perhaps play – they seemed to be having too much fun – provided by far the most lively, playful and interactive performance human eyeballs have seen in years. And they sound wonderful, like a fragrance containing plumerias and coconuts for your ears if there ever were to be such a thing… so good you can taste it!