Langerado!

Sorry for the delay this week... it's been a busy one. Just bought our plane tickets to Peru for vacation in August. Yeah, that's right--Peru. Can't wait to see Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley and some Amazon jungle goodness.

So Langerado last weekend was just about as perfect as festivals go. Ideal weather, great music, all the best people (save a few who didn't make the trip down--their loss!), and smiles all around.

The weekend started with an afternoon flight down to Ft Lauderdale. Waited with Moose and Slade until Adam and Cole landed. We hopped in the Relix van with Benjy and Jenny and drove to the sight in Sunrise. Set up the Relix booth and saw some good familiar faces. Went back to the hotel, checked in and got settled, then drove down to Revolution to see Trey. Met Sage and went inside.

The show was eh, as it tends to be these days. Decent "Jibboo", "Tuesday" and "Mr. Completely" but he just doesn't move me like he used to (with Phish). The highlight of the show was Matisyahu passing out on the couch two feet behind me and Ethan. And he went down hard. Went to the airport and picked up Deanna and drove back to the hotel and got some sleep.

Friday morning we got to the festival bright and early. Made a lap to say hi to everyone and saw some tunes. New Monsoon, Tea Leaf Green and the Assembly of Dust were all great morning music. Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings blew us away in the Swamp Tent. That chick knows how to boogie! And she's got soul. The Hold Steady were fun as expected, and Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks rocked my world. Love the female rhythm section. The new songs are badass--Baltimore especially.

Left during Trey to go back to the hotel, clean up and order some room service. Deanna passed out early and I went to Revolution for the Disco Biscuits. Love the outdoor space there but I wish they wouldn't oversell each show so much. Great time had by all. Too bad we left with 30 minutes left in the second set, when they really went into overdrive.

Saturday we started off with Apollo Sunshine, who was just too loud for a weekend morning. Toubab Krewe was amazing, as always--afrobeat is the perfect midday music. The Slip was on point, but the highlight of the afternoon was Fourtet with Steve Reid. Sick beats with perfect fills and breaks. PGrove tore it up in the tent and My Morning Jacket closed out the night in perfect fashion--they're simply the best band on the planet. Hands down. The best.

After we got back to the hotel and cleaned up, we walked to eat some sushi and followed dinner up with several hours of margaritas and trivial pursuit at Flanigans. Now I know what you're thinking--isn't it called Bennigans? Yes, but everything in Florida is just a little off. Go figure. Great night though.

Sunday saw us celebrating Marcus's birthday with a phenominal brunch in Lauderdale by the Sea. All you can eat raw bar and fantastic seafood. The whole crew was there--me and Deanna, Marcus and Meredith, Russ and Beth, JOSH AND ORF (what a great surprise!!), Bobby D, Sarah B and Kelly G. Some of the best people in the world, bar none. We got to the festival in time for some Taj Mahal and Los Lobos. Perfect Sunday festival music.

And I spent a good hour watching college basketball (which we won't talk about, as my Terps lost yesterday, sniff sniff) courtesy of the MLB setup. Toots and the Maytals were great and Cat Power just rocks my world. Explosions in the Sky were incredible. I definitely need to see them again.

Sunday night was dinner at Cheesecake Factory then late night PGroove. Perfect way to the end the festival. Happy birthday, Marcus, Cole and Jared!

Here are my pictures from the weekend.


Here's all of us posing at our name's letter. Enjoy!