Chapter Two: This Canadian Rock Band Couldn’t Give a Fuck About Donald Driver (2010-2013)

( One year later) 06/24/10

Summerfest 2010

(Observations while walking to the lakefront) on a weekday!

• high rise apartment window washers are voyeurs.

•I imagine this middle aged, slightly overweight gentleman in front of me,

•shirt off

•long hair

•sunburnt back fat

•fancy silver watch

•Nike shoes (pristine)

•power-walking with 5 pound dumbbells in each hand

is none other than Ace Frehley of KISS.

(is KISS even playing tonight?)

07/07/2011

Summerfest 2011

Forced myself to come down here alone today.

Tired of being alone (here at Summerfest).

Currently at the local music stage….the only stage with remotely interesting music (during the day at least)

No cover bands……..no lame 21 year olds. Mostly musicians in their 30’s……..local scene institutions who will never “make it big.”

The current band I am witnessing, Madison’s El Valiente, is no exception. Very interesting music…super tight performance….they’re feeling it, I’m feeling it, but they’ll never make any serious money.

(They just won’t)

Should that matter?

If the art is sound, should the money matter?

(I’m not going to answer that.)

(Not now, at least.)

Wednesday, June 26, 2013:

Summerfest 2013:

Donald Driver just introduced some Canadian band. (It’s come to this.)

We’re in the middle of the first song. Driver’s still on stage, clapping his hands, looking like an overzealous hype man.

The music’s fine, but the sound….(the mix as it were) sounds awful. Everything is way too loud. I know I’m getting older, but this is ridiculous!

“What a treat to get such a grand introduction.”

She was lying through her teeth.

This Canadian rock band couldn’t give a fuck about Donald Driver.

Driver’s finally offstage now, the lead singer put down her flute for song #2, and the mix is still way too loud.

(People are walking past me, putting fingers to their ears.)

(Singing…)

“I’m not looking for new. You’re all I needed.”

Yeah yeah yeah……blah blah blah..

“Can you guys put your hands together like this?”

Clap clap clap.

(No.)

And to my left a parade passes, flags twist, tuba’s shined up for the big day.

They’re marching through.

The Canadian band has never been to Milwaukee, and they think we have a nice thing going on here.

(Agreed, lady)

Also passing:

•cat hair on a black dress

•dirty toes

•tattoos on feet

•several people wearing Donald Driver shirts

Bass player singing this next one. He can’t really sing, the bass is throbbing through every note (skip some, bro), and the lead singer’s harmonies aren’t making up the difference.

I have a pretty good guess as to who 98% of these beautiful people are.

I’m 37.5 years old.

I’m an observer.

I’ve already seen 2 hickies. Gross.

(Fucking teenagers)

Wednesday, June 26, 2013 Summerfest

I will not be, in any way, shape or form, be attached to a cigarette during the festival….probably for the first time since 1993.

Jesus Christ.

It feels good to finally be on the other side.

(Finally.)

These people…..

All these people.

Beautiful, to me.

Fucking beautiful.

In all of their aches and pain. In all of their happiness and joy.

We are all the same.

We all keep walking.

We all keep walking.

(Unless you’re confined to a wheel chair.)

With toe rings and cheap sunglasses, with bellybutton jewelry dangling and Harley Davidson tattoos.

Balloon hats, information booths, and singing along to that song you know.

With broken hearts, cell phones pressed to the ear, and maybe one more beer.

It’s all right here, at Milwaukee’s annual music fesitival, Summerfest.

(and it’s all beautiful to me)

I am a bit concerned, though. Some of these folks look extremely unhealthy.

(Sad, but true.)