FEST RECAP

The Fest was incredible. The annual collection of beards, booze, and bands did not fail to live up to expectations. Here is a run down of the highlights.

Most Wanted to See Band - Mouthbreather put on an incredible set at 1982 on Saturday night. After learning about this band a couple months ago and rocking out on their full-length debut, I became extremely excited when I discovered they were playing the Fest this year. Mouthbreather plays Revolution Summer inspired Emocore in the vein of Rites of Spring, Embrace, and the new band End of a Year. Their set was full of songs I didn't really recognize and a few standards that were great. They were the only band that I interacted with physically when the lead singer kept putting his arms around me and a couple other guys in the front row. Apparently only music nerds like Mouthbreather because I stood next to a Steve Albini look-alike and a guy who looks like he plays lots of D&D. They ended their set with a cover of Nirvana's "Territorial Pissings" which almost brought a tear to my eye because He Is Legend used to like covering that one. My only complaint is that they didn't play my favorite song but it's alright.

Most Exciting Set - Polar Bear Club played to a packed out room at The Atlantic on Friday night and I've never seen more outstretched arms. After waiting in line for quite a while and sitting through an over exhuberant Mezingers set and a very boring Ghost set, PBC finally took the stage. This band is going to be huge. Next year they'll probably end up playing either the Venue or the Common Ground. A nice mix of new and old songs and great crowd reaction, it was well worth the wait.

Most Emotional Moment - American Steel played Friday night at the Venue to a decent sized crowd. American Steel has become one of my favorite bands in the last couple weeks only because of their albums Destroy Their Future and Dear Friends and Gentle Hearts. This band has such touching lyrics that probably stem from their lead singer beating cancer a few years ago. When they played "Smile On Me" from Destroy Their Future I got choked up during the line "I don't wanna feel the hurt no more, smile on me baby." One of the most enjoyable sets all weekend.

Most Painful Set - It has come to be expected that Dillinger Four is going to have one of the best crowd reactions. For past couple years D4 have been the biggest supporters of The Fest and truly understand they fans. Of course, when they played The Venue Saturday afternoon the audience was there. We were at the front of the stage and my knees have never been in worse shape. Crowd surfers and pushing galore. Reminding everyone why the Fest is so much fun.

Reunions! - This years Fest had some big names dust off their instruments and get back together to rock. Small Brown Bike, Samiam, Snuff, PEZZ, The Ghost, Clairmel, Panthro UK United 13, The Thumbs, and Radon all came out to celebrate with the people. Even the bands who once called it quits and got back together in the past couple years (Coalesce and 7 Seconds) played.

Disappointments - The biggest disappointment this year was my attempt to see Andrew Jackson Jihad at the smallest club at the Fest. I got in line forty minutes early to get in and didn't move further than around the corner. It was almost worse because Dead To Me was playing at the same time and I missed their set to wait in line. Luckily I got to see Dead To Me at a Warehouse show later that night after the main shows were over. Also missing any good band who played the Common Ground because of their ridiculous lines.

Comadre Everywhere - So Comadre played...and played....and played again. A house show Friday night with Touche Amore and Daniel Striped Tiger saw the band doing an entire set of Refused covers. I wish I knew more than "New Noise" but it was still an experience. The next night they played with Dead To Me, Banner Pilot, and a bunch of unknown bands at a Warehouse. The Warehouse show was insane and you could swear the lead singer was going to kill someone. Next day they played their offical Fest set at the Market Street Pub. I missed it but seeing them twice was already enough.

Funniest Moments - Off With Their Heads started their set with "What's up ding-dongs?" It was pretty much the only thing they said but it was a good show nonetheless. D4 had Paddy posing with Jesus and Green Man and proclaiming that "Since last year, it has become a joke that The Fest is nothing but fat guys and beards and New Balance shoes. So I decided that from the neck down I am a certified plumber and the head up a skinhead."

There were so many moments at The Fest that its kind of hard to cataloge it all. But rest assured, I'll be back next year.