I'm going to take a quick break from my Paris adventure to write about a state side adventure that proved to be exciting even after all of these years...Sasquatch at the Gorge. We have been going for years now and it is one of my favorite traditions. There is always plenty of great music, new and old friends, sleeping on the hill, dancing, breathtaking sunsets and general merriment that makes my heart happy and content. This year was no different.
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| What is more beautiful than this venue? |
Last year we all drove up on Friday and it was semi hectic to get camp set up and ready to go for the night show and we ended up in overflow camping, which is far away from the venue. So this year we decided to go up on Thursday night to avoid chaos. We got off to a great start and left P town in plenty of time to get to the venue and save space. Driving through the Oregon side of the Gorge is so beautiful at this time of night and we cruised by Multnomah falls and through the Gorge as the sun was just dipping behind Portland. Up through the winding roads to Yakima we listened to our Sasquatch play list and planned our schedules. There is always a need for ice on this trip, so we stopped in Wapato (on the Yakima reservation). This next part, now that the event has come and gone, seems ironic to say the least. We had a conversation in the car about how whatever happens in life, getting stuck on the reservation is something we never want to happen to us...and happen it did. Brandi and Michael's car broke down at this gas station in Wapato. The 5 of us stared under the hood of the car only to confirm that we did not know how to fix it. So, Brandi and Michael called a tow truck and went to Yakima to a hotel to wait for their car to be fixed. Meanwhile I sat in the 2nd car with all of my belonging literally on my lap and we continued our way to the festival. We took the exit to the Gorge and passed the sign that says Gorge ahead 3 miles and then we stopped. It took us 3 hours to make it those 3 short miles. It was now 1:30 am and we somehow found our friends from San Fran and found a spot to set up our camp. We set up 4 tents but the wind was howling through the Gorge so we decided to just leave our big canopy tent in it's bag in between the tents and went to bed.
I woke up the next morning, got out of my tent, and sang a chirpy good morning to Brian who took one look at me and said..."do you see anything missing?" Someone stole our canopy tent in the 3 hours that we slept. Hearing these words Matt came flying out of his tent to confirm. However, all was not lost, we had Whitney pick up a new tent on her way. She arrived with a new and bigger canopy tent and brought along some new additions to the group, Dylan and Grant. Soon Amanda, Jared and Chris arrived in their glorious American flag camper only to find that they didn't fit through the fence and had to camp a few spots away. Brandi and Michael got their car fixed and arrived in plenty of time to get ready for that evening. As my very wise friend Jenna always says, "Matt and Kasi always over stress, but everything turns out all right in the end." We went into the venue and saw a great show by of Monsters and Men, Santigold, and Girl Talk. Of Monsters and Men were one of the bands I was looking forward to and they were everything I hoped they would be. For Girl Talk and Pretty Lights Amanda, Chris, Jared and myself had a dance party on the hill while Jenna danced in a monkey costume on the walkway. Back at the camp Dylan and Jared fondly renamed themselves Le Dylan and Le Jared and for the first time in months I looked up and saw the beautiful stars that remind me so much of being home and not in the city.
Saturday we tried to get our act together to go in early to see Said the Whale but only a few from our group made it in time. We did catch Blitzen Trapper from the floor who as always puts on a rockin show. The Civil Wars were haunting beautiful and we staked out our spot on hill, straight up from the 2nd pole. A few of us went to the smaller stage and caught Dry the River and the Helio Sequence which were both excellent shows. We made our way back to the main stage to the group. The Shins played a decent show but the sunset behind them equally impressive. There is nothing that compares to sitting on the side of the hill watching the sunset with your friends with great music playing in the background. Jack White ripped it up that evening as the headliner. He played Raconteurs songs as well as White Stripes and ended the show with 7 Nation Army.
Sunday was my favorite day of the festival. We got in for the first show of the festival and the earliest I've EVER been into the venue. We were on the floor for Hey Marseilles who I have been dying to see for years. Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. and Trampled by Turtles and Blind Pilot were all next and equally wonderful. From Blind Pilot, Jenna got us tickets to The Head and Heart acoustic set which was the highlight of the weekend. Again, what is better than being 10 feet away from a favorite band and having your best friends there with you? Back on the main stage we parked ourselves for the evening. I fell asleep during M Ward because apparently one of us falls asleep every year he plays, this year it was my turn. But the evening shows were what I was waiting for. Beirut played a decent show but Bon Iver was perfect. Their music makes my heart beat faster it's so beautiful and sad. Some went to James Murphy and said it was epic but I am still standing by my decision to see Bon Iver.
Monday is always bitter sweet. It's the last day so everyone is tired and wants a shower but always wants to make it a great last day. I am not going to lie, Monday was a hard day for me. I spent a lot of time sleeping on the hill. But I did catch Feist, Silver Sun Pickups, the very silly Tenacious D and all of Beck's set. He played most of the songs I wanted to hear and the songs from Sea Change were so beautiful. We got back to camp and drank a few more of the delicious Montana beers Amanda brought for me and headed to bed.
Overall Sasquatch was good this year. We got off to a rocky start but the music and sunsets of the Gorge out weight the negatives every time. The Head and the Heart acoustic set was perfect and I can still taste the goodness of the Kettle House's cold smoke beer. I feel like this year I was off in my own little world and I was ok with that. I look forward to next year...Matt and I said we would do this for many years to come and I think I couldn't ask for a better tradition.
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