Mook finally started playing and, although the material didn’t grab me at first, I was impressed by their musicianship. Their songs were a solid mix of quirky, progressive, caberat-pop with dramatic vocals. Their energy level, and therefore the music, improved as the set went on. By the last song I was kinda hooked. I’d like to see this young band again back in NYC (yes, yet another NYC band) after they’ve had a chance to work out their technical kinks a bit more.
Brief Moments Upstairs
I spent most of this night down in the lounge but tried to get upstairs from time to time to see what was going on. In between Ben Godwin and Austin Donohue, I quickly ran upstairs to catch the last bit of the last song by Baltimore modern alt-country meets anguished indie-rock band Four Fifty One. Cloaked in very low light, they played one hell of a half song. Once again, this is another situation where I need to track these guys down to catch a full set.
Later in the night I got to catch most of the set by Beerwolf (another great name). This is a bunch of great guys from Wilmington who play classic-style, vocal-free rock. I met a few of the guys earlier in the festival and was impressed by how much they got into everything. Someone from the band would be seen at every show I was at and their enthusiasm was loud and true. This energy could be seen and heard in their set as they pounded the ears of everyone upstairs.
Late night food at Jimbo’s
After a typically emotional last goodbye to Kenyata and the WE Fest as a whole, it was time to get some food, sleep and prepare for my long drive home the next day. Of course the only place open at 2:00 AM worth going to is Jimbo’s. I still got a kick out of the brains on the menu but again avoided the adventure of ordering any. I opted instead for a burger. There was a bunch of my hotel mates crowded around this table, swapping dating horrors and other tales. This combined with the wonderfully nice waitress made for great final meal.
Hanging in Sonny’s Room
There was no late night pool party or beach adventure tonight. After eating at Jimbo’s, we ended up back at the hotel. Sonny and Lara were jammin’ on some standards. Paul sat and listened as I snapped off some pictures and Meredith slowly drifted to sleep. This was a wonderful way to end WE Fest. It also planted the seeds for my next journey in life. I’ve been itching to play music again and this quiet moment has inspired me to follow that instinct.
The Drive Home
Earlier I wrote how I was sick of the therapy aspect of these trips and that all I wanted was to have fun this year and not worry so much about life around me. I think I’ve succeeded although a smidgen of therapy did sneak in. I’m returning to Hoboken with a renewed sense of pride in the NY music scene and a new passion for life—or at the very least the understanding for the need of such passion.
Allowing myself the pleasure of ‘zenning’ this WE Fest had the exact effect I had hoped it would but without the stress and strain of worrying about feeling better. Does that make any sense? I guess what I mean is with each passing day, my depression and anxiety faded effortlessly until during those last few moments in that hotel room filled with the music of Hank Williams and Johnny Cash. It was then that I truly felt happy again. And where I was dreading this ride home several days before, I was totally immersed in the pleasure of it today.
WE Fest will always have a profound effect on me. There’s no avoiding it. In one way or another my life will be a shambles when I get there and some, if not all, of it will make better sense when I leave. Whether the influence of WE Fest is direct or indirect changes from year to year, but there is no doubt anymore that this trip has been the best therapy for me each time I’ve taken it.
- Intro
Back to We Fest XI Intro - The Galleries
Embracing my shortcomings as a photographer - The Links
Bands I saw and other folks you need to know
