I’ve never wanted to drive a pickup truck as much as I did in the moment the guy at the Hertz counter said “if you’re okay with a pickup truck, I can have you out of here in the next few minutes.”

Thursday - The Day Before

Considering the Hertz employee at the Orlando airport had just made a straight up sexist comment about the nature of the relationship between husbands and wives, I think I would have said yes to a clown car or a tricycle or the invisible car from that episode of Atlanta if it meant we could leave and just end this awkward interaction. Fuckin’ Florida. Pickup truck? Love it. Always loved ‘em. Put me in it. Yeehaw. Let’s ride. After sitting on the plane with a huge headache next to a woman who began the flight listening to a podcast on speakerphone(?) and counting a giant stack of 100 dollar bills(???) and then watched half of Avatar 2 (legit) while constantly making moves like she was about to ask me to get up but never actually getting up, I just wanted to rest.

It was FEST weekend.

So with that, it was just after midnight. Stephanie and I climbed up into a Ford F-150 XLT and headed north to Gainesville, the punk rock capital of the world for one weekend every year. The best weekend every year. FEST 21 was here. (FESTs are numbered for how many have taken place, not what year it is. FEST 21 is the 2023 FEST; we did not travel back in time.)

My ears still hadn’t popped, but 1989 (TV) had just been released so we gave that a spin as we drove two hours through the flat swampland to our hotel right in the heart of the madness that was to begin the next day. We arrived around 2:30 and were out cold.

Friday, October 27, 2023 - Day 1

It was finally here…but my body wasn’t ready for it. Maybe it was the long travel day, maybe it was stress, but when I woke up I immediately knew something was wrong. Our plan to register and get to the Carly Cosgrove set at 3:30 was in jeopardy. Stephanie got me all kinds of medicine and a Pub sub, which is probably the real reason I came back to life. Medicine and sleep are nice but Pub subs? Yeah, that’s the stuff.

We headed to registration around 2:30 knowing we were unlikely to see the first few bands on our schedule. (My deepest apologies to Carly Cosgrove, Broken Record, Dead Bars, and Celebration Summer.) The line wasn’t bad; we waited about a half hour to get our passes. Then it was back to the room for more rest, and we finally ventured out to start day 1.

The Wonder Years - Bo Diddley Plaza - 7:20

A band I’ve seen a lot over the years, and even if the last few records aren’t my favorite, they’re still a fun band to watch. Of course, set closer “Came Out Swinging” gets the people going like few others, but it’s wild just how hard the crowd goes for some of those other older songs like “Local Man” and “Screen Door” and “Don’t Let me Cave In.” During their set, Dan shared this story: “Just a normal day at work. Playing between Gwar and Descendents. Performing in Crocs because there is so much fake blood everywhere up here.” (We saw a bunch of people with very pink clothes and very pink skin, and at first we were extremely confused, but those people got sprayed with fake blood during Gwar’s set. Fun!)

Microwave - Heartwood - 8:10

Wandered down to the best FEST stage to catch most of Microwave’s set. Somehow, whenever I hear this band, I think ‘I should listen to them more.’ Solid set. If ghosts could speak they would sound like Microwave’s guitars. In case this isn’t obvious, this is a compliment.

***THE BEST OF THE FEST*** Into It. Over It. (playing Intersections) - Heartwood - 9:10

Oh yeah baby, it’s the first The Best of the FEST Award! This set really was of the highlights of FEST. One of the best bands. A great record that has only gotten better over time. Incredible live band. Watching Joe George play guitar is a treat.

I would have loved to catch Kali Masi, Virginity, Taking Meds, and/or Kerosene Heights but after IIOI, I was tapped out and needed to pace myself to get ready for the next two days.

Saturday, October 28, 2023 - Day 2

The Wonder Years acoustic at High Dive at noon was the first thing on our schedule today, but sleeping in plus some concerns about capacity had us skipping it and starting the day at Bo instead.

Pool Kids - Bo Diddley Plaza - 12:40

Not sure I could ever get tired of watching PK play. A good sized crowd came out to stand in the scorching midday Florida sun and watch them shred.

***THE BEST OF THE FEST*** The Dreaded Laramie - Loosey’s - 1:20

This band was already one of my absolute favorites, but by the end of their 30 minutes on that stage, you could just feel that they turned that whole room into fans. The high energy. The matching outfits. The synchronized dance moves. There’s just something magic in a room when this band performs. The woman next to me turned to her friend two songs in and said “they are DELIGHTFUL.” She was correct. The applause got louder with each song, the crowd loosened up and danced more, and there was a great vibe in that room, and that was before the crowd was charmed by the band’s quick game of Hangman. And isn’t that what FEST is all about? A smaller band at a smaller venue playing their first FEST and converting people into fans. Click and listen. Join the club.

Cinema Stare - Loosey’s - 2:10

Connecticut represent! The Things I Don’t Need is one of my favorite pop-punk releases this year, and the band played a solid set. Similar to TDL before them, it seemed like a lot of people in that room weren’t familiar with them but as soon as they started, the catchy tunes pulled them right in.

Devon Kay & The Solutions - Heartwood - 2:40

This is one of those bands where even if you don’t know who they are, or don’t even particularly love their brand of ska power pop, you’re going to have a good time watching them play. I wouldn’t trust anyone who could watch their set and say ‘eh no thanks.’

Max Stern (of Signals Midwest) - The Bull - 5:00

Max is the best. This was a nice little outdoor acoustic set in a tent, punctuated by a great Iron Chic cover that had the impressive crowd singing along.

Weakened Friends - The Wooly - 6:10

Maine represent! I was so pleasantly surprised that I needed to swim through a sea of people 15 minutes before this set. This band is so underrated and seeing so many people there to see them was heartwarming.

Tiny Stills - The Wooly - 7:00

Very glad to now have seen Tiny Stills at FEST two years in a row. Always one of my favorites, this was a great set of old classics and some great-sounding newer jams, like one of my favorite songs of 2023 and some unreleased songs that I recognized from Patreon.

Thursday (playing War All The Time) - Bo Diddley Plaza - 7:40

Earlier this year I saw Thursday play Full Collapse, which along with WATT is about as good a 1-2 punch as there is. Unfortunately too many of the sentiments of the record still feel prescient today. The wars of the world only multiply every year. I’ve seen them a lot over the years, but there are a bunch of songs on this record that they never or almost never played. Hearing it as one complete record was special.

***THE BEST OF THE FEST*** Signals Midwest - The Wooly - 12:00am

Every Signals set is the best. I love getting to see them every year at FEST. The positive energy from the band and the crowd combine into exactly what music is all about. To paraphrase one of their songs: I wish I saw them all the time, but this is fine.

Braid - The Wooly - 1:00am

It was late. I was tired. But Braid is Braid. I’m sure no one complained that they played six Frame & Canvas songs even though they were playing that whole record the next day. These two bands to end day two felt triumphant.

Two days down, one to go.

Sunday, October 29, 2023 - Day 3

My apologizes to saturdays at your place and Charmer; I just couldn’t get going by noon to catch your sets. I heard some Avalanche at Bo from our hotel room and then walked in to see some more Braid.

Braid (playing Frame & Canvas) - Bo Diddley Plaza - 2:00

Saw this tour when it was here, but seeing F&C again was a no-brainer. It was hot in the sun again, but the shade was a fine place to enjoy a classic record front to back.

Perspective, A Lovely Hand to Hold (last show ever) - Heartwood - 2:30

More New England representation! You could feel the bittersweet taste in the air from both the band and the crowd as they played their last song. RIP to a solid band.

Dikembe - Heartwood - 3:30

Even without Andy (Pool Kids was on tour) they sounded great. They’ve always been underrated. I always look forward to seeing them at FEST.

Vinnie Caruana - Vivid Music Hall - 7:25

The man. Vin was definitely On One and it made for a real fun singalong set of Movielife, Avalanche, and more.

***BEST OF THE FEST*** Devon Kay & The Solutions (karaoke set) - High Dive - 8:20

I missed this last year, but it looked like so much fun I had to make sure I caught it this year, and I’m so glad I did. DK&TS host singers from other bands who come up and sing whatever song they want and go wild. Kailynn West from Tiny Stills did “Dammit,” MC from The Dreaded Laramie did “A Thousand Miles,” someone from Kali Masi did “Welcome to Paradise,” there was an MCR cover in there, someone did “Sugar We’re Going Down,” but the best performance of all was JER doing “Sell Out” so here’s a video of that.

Laura Jane Grace - Vivid Music Hall - 11:00

A perfect end to FEST. It felt like a big moment. Laura had just received the key to Gainesville the day before FEST, and Vivid was completely packed out as so many people ended their weekend with her set. It felt like everyone in that room knew every word to all the classic Against Me! songs and more. FEST was over. (There were a few other sets after this, but this was it for me.)

3 days. 19 sets from 16 bands at 7 venues, which is actually a pretty slow weekend overall.

But before FEST was over, it was time for The Purge. The last two years we’ve stayed at the Hyatt which is located right in the middle of all the venues, though last year I laid down for a nap and then missed this awesome closing party. This unofficial (but sanctioned by the amazing Hyatt staff) event takes place in the bar/lobby area, and all the FESTers bring all their leftover drinks and snacks, put them on a big table, and it’s a free for all. Most of us fly out the next day, and we can’t take it with us, so we all get together and share.

It is chaos. It is community. It is beautiful.

This year, some guys brought acoustic guitars and led crowd singalongs, though I would argue it kinda ruined the whole vibe. It was hard to hear, and it got in the way of everyone trying to just hang and chat. Good intentions, yes, but not so great in practice. But either way, it was a lot of fun and a great ending to a great weekend.

My wishlist for next year:

First, I wish that all my friends could go. If you’ve never been and you’re wondering about it, please reach out! I’d be happy to talk to you about it and try to convince you to come hang. You can just reply to this email or send me a DM somewhere.

Second, I wish that some or all of these bands play, plus all the other bands I like but didn’t put on this list. Hey, this is my blog and I can wish for anything I want! My list:

Antarctigo Vespucci (plus Jeff and Chris solo), Charly Bliss, Knapsack, Great Grandpa, Ben Quad, Cheekface, Equipment, The Dreaded Laramie (again), Northstar (reunion), Recover, Thank You I’m Sorry, Future Teens, Gladie, Expert Timing, Kississippi, Pretty Girls Make Graves, Del Paxton, A Place For Owls, The Carolyn, Stress Fractures, Palette Knife, Thanks! I Hate It, Gatsbys American Dream, Nightmare of You, Latterman, The Dirty Nil, Kitner, Ratboys, 2nd Grade, Birthday Dad, Magazine Beach, Gulfer, Oso Oso, Liquid Mike, Scarlet Street, Full Blown Meltdown, Singing Lungs, Avec Plaisir, summerbruise, Sweetmess, OK Cool, Breakup Haircut, Jetty Bones, Honey Creek, Pomegranate Tea, Cal Rifkin.