So, How Was It?

[Glockgirl]

This was an awesome weekend, a good time by all. The people were great everywhere. The only weird thing to me is I am a huge Kenny fan and he is the #1 act in the US right now and he never did a encore set, George Strait came back and played 20 extra mins. Did anyone think this was weird? But this was a great event and please do it again next year.

I'm with you on this one! Brooks & Dunn before Kenny even did an encore set. I did notice people leaving during his last song so I wondered if that effected anything. We hung around completely expecting an encore.


anyone know what the fireworks were about on Sunday night?

[york707]

They all had a "set" amount of time... I imagine they could make it look like they did an encore if they wanted to, as long as it was within the alotted time.

[Kymery]

I thought the security was a bit too lax on Saturday. They never even asked us for our tickets when entering from the RV area. We went in and out several times. But on Sunday, wow...they patted us down, scanned our tickets, then rescanned them so we could go back to the RV and get back in.

We went to several stages on Saturday, but Sunday we stayed at the Mane stage for the most part. I missed some acts I really wanted to see, blame it on too many beers. I loved how they were laxed considering what we read on this site about Alcohol. There was plenting flowing in the RV area, people brought their dogs, played frisbee, horseshoes and whatever other game you could play. BBQ's were allowed also. I was very happy they allowed to take drinks out of the designated areas at the concert.

[Taylore]

It was great!! We had a blast. Everyone was very friendly. Someone let my daughter and I stand with them so she could be closer to see Jason Aldean better (she's 7 and he's her favorite). The food was really good, so were the Texas Twisters (which were the only really long lines). My daughter got autographs from everyone that was signing them, we were bummed that Pat Green cancelled. It was great that Uncle Kracker showed up with Kenny Chesney. The Marines did an awesome job with security, not like I would have expected anything less, after all, it it The Marines. If I could buy my tickets for next year right now I would. Did anyone get any pictures of Jason Aldean, if so could you please post one, my daughter really wants one for her room. Thanks.

[HotRodg57]

It was awesome! Only 1 complaint. We hooked up with friends ( Us, San Diego them, San Bernardino) the week before to give them our tickets for camping, as they were taking Friday off and going to be in line when the gates opened, to get good spots. Well When they started letting people into the camping area, they were directed to the far corner of the lot We went to a lot of trouble to ensure we were close to the entrance (1 handicaped in the group) and were told to park about as far away as we could have been Other than that, it was great! Normally, I'm not a big fan of cops, but, the Indio PD was great! The security going into the shows kinda sucked as mentioned. Some lines moved quickly with not much frisking, emptying, etc.. but some guys were a little overboard. The RV camping was a blast. Can't wait to see who's going to be there next year
Rodger

[Glockgirl]

It was great!! We had a blast. Everyone was very friendly. Someone let my daughter and I stand with them so she could be closer to see Jason Aldean better (she's 7 and he's her favorite). The food was really good, so were the Texas Twisters (which were the only really long lines). My daughter got autographs from everyone that was signing them, we were bummed that Pat Green cancelled. It was great that Uncle Kracker showed up with Kenny Chesney. The Marines did an awesome job with security, not like I would have expected anything less, after all, it it The Marines. If I could buy my tickets for next year right now I would. Did anyone get any pictures of Jason Aldean, if so could you please post one, my daughter really wants one for her room. Thanks.

Go to CMT.com Click on one of the stagecoach/brooks & dunn links. The have posted over 300 pictures covering Sat Sun & the camping area.

[maduro_1]

First, as to the Register review, the reviewer doesn't really get "country music". Ryan Adams, Beck, Cracker, Camper Van Beethoven, Bon Jovi? No, don't think so... try Merle and Jerry Lee on the Palomino Stage.... or maybe add the Blasters, Dale Watson and some real Texas Honky Tonk like Kevin Fowler and Aaron Watson. That would break the nice dance floor in out at the Mustang Stage. I had VIP's for the Mane Stage and got bored with the over commercialization... so on Sunday I hit all of the other stages and closed it out with Junior Brown. What a terrific weekend! Yeahaw!

Complaint:
They mane stage sound needs to be turned down. I'm as much of a hell yeah party guy as the next fella, but when an angel like Emmylou can hardly get through on song... there is a problem. Respect each others artistry, thanks.

Lessons learned:
I'm to old to tent camp, but to young hearted to complain! I left late on Sunday night instead of spending another night with the young rebs... but god love their good times.

Dancing:
How could anyone pass on that big dance floor while Asleep at the Wheel was belting out the hottest Western Swing this side of Austin? Geez!

Regrets:
~I didn't bring the kids... they would have had a blast.
~My wife was out of town... how much fun can me and my buddy have listening to George belt those awesome tunes! It was a perfect opp for me to text her a "gawd, i miss you" message!
~Missed Bela Fleck sitting in at the Bluegrass Stage

Highlights:
George, Junior Brown, Kris Kristofferson, Emmylou, Marty and the Old 97's.

see you next year!!!!!

[mjbad]

Maduro, You must have missed the Flatlanders set? quite awesome....you hit the nail on the head...absolutely nothing commercial @ the Pal, App, and Mustang venues......Kristofferson and his refernces to the mosh pit commercial stage...classic......too bad the late great Townes in his mystical powers couldn't have short circuited the mosh pit commercial stage amps!!

[nascargirl1599]

[QUOTE=aclady;2928]

On Sunday, we happened to get into the "wrong aisle" of the six or so going across. The "security person" checking that aisle was really bad. He went over everyone with a fine tooth comb, made us empty our pockets, no water bottles and my son couldn't even bring in the bag of Kettle Corn that he had purchased the day before..he told us "No outside food". After waiting in that heat for son long, he had to go back to the motorhome to empty his backpack. We were in that line for so long in the heat, while all the other aisles moved rapidly. A girl was suffering from heat exhaustion waiting for this "person" to play his little power trip on all of us. There wasn't any consistency in the security. People in the line next to us were bringing in bottled water, etc. Friends of ours who entered from the general entrance brought in water, snacks, etc and were never checked.
[QUOTE]

oh man, i know who ya are talking about and he was a total jerk. i passed out while waiting in line and had to be taken to the first aid tent on one of those cart things. they parked it in the shade up under the search area. i got there no problem, but that guy gave my boyfriend a hard time. he wanted to search everything before he would let him in to come with me to the first aid tent, even though we were going back to the one in the camping area. the guy told him he had too many chairs and too much stuff(he had both mine and his) as well as my purse, camera and his sweatshirt. even told him he couldnt bring my purse in because its metal(its a license plate). i had to ask the emt to talk to the security guy and explain that what happened and why he had so much stuff. luckily they let him in.

wasnt all bad though. when i was released they told me to sip a bottle of gatoraid that they had given me. by the time we got to the entrance, i had half left. the security guy (diff. one) said i couldnt bring it in because it was open. i explained what happened earlier and he was ok with me bringing it in. said if anyone gave me problems about it, to come find him. the concert rocked. i cant wait to go back next year. i just hope its not so hot

[lenore]

Thinking back to all the festivals we have been to over 10 years (maybe 12 or more) this was close to the top.....maybe WEFEST in Minnesota is better but they have been running for 25 years.

For a first year event, it was about as good as it could get. There are always the usual issues - porta potties stink or not enough, line ups too long, some support staff seemed uninformed or confused or inconsistent in applying rules, expensive booze...blah, blah, blah.

BUT, let's all keep in mind that constructing a virtual city with 50 live acts to support 30K+ fans a day on four stages for a few days is not easy. The logisitics must be unreal. A little patience, walk a step slower, pace yourself and plan your day well and many of these issues dissappear.

The entertainment was excellent, the concert venue was expansive with lots to see and the surrounding area was spectacular, especially as the sun was going down.

We camped out in tents and, even though most folks there were in RV's and the campers were younger than us, we had a great time - even with that damn Dexter from Sacramento yelling all night long. He was entertaining 'thou so I did not mind giving up most sleeping hours.

I will go to this event for as long as it will run. Congrats to the promoters, volunteers, bands and vendors for a top level experience.

Suggestion for next year - mist tents and folks with spray sunscreen guns walking around in the venue. Also, scheduled transportation from parking to camping to help folks move gear in areas where no vehicles are allowed - at least during peak times when everyone is showing up.


BTW - Bert, who manned the shower truck in camping was awesome - he kept that trailer and sinks immaculate.

[ajlover]

I too think they should be able to offer some kind of shuttle service. I know they are used to the "rock" crowd from the Choachella concerts but there are a lot of older people that go to country concerts and it was difficult for a lot of them to walk so far from the parking lot to the venue.

Another thing they should consider is if they are going to advertise that the performers are going to do their full sets they should allow the time for that. I know for a fact that Alan Jackson and Brooks & Dunn didn't do their full set as their sets are at least 1 1/2 hours long and they were both only given an hour. Just don't advertise full sets when that's not the case.

I think it was an AWESOME weekend and am looking forward to going next year.

[york707]

Did they specifically advertise "Full Sets"?

[ajlover]

I'll have to go back and find where I read "full sets" but I know it was stated somewhere!

[maduro_1]

Full sets...
Yes, it was advertised that groups would do there full sets. But... that seems to be "festival" policy. I've seen B & D numerous times... but when they played the KZLA bash it was less than an hour... if you ran off to get a beer you missed 1/4 of the show! On the other side, it made me check out the variety. I feel bad for the folks that didn't check out the rest of the scene.

[ladygrip]

so, capital letters were intetional,I HAD A GREAT TIME, whassup with you YORK? Hope you had a blast as well. Please do not police our grammar, we all had a great time, maybe next year, I will buy YORK a beer.

[york707]

I would love a beer from you... I didn't go, but I am and was honestly curious to hear some reviews of the weekend.

The distaste for all caps is a pretty universal thing, I think. Nobody likes to read that. I was trying suggest that in a playful way.

I don't think I ever made reference to grammar.

I'm glad everyone had a great time. If they up the non-Mane Stage caliber of acts, I might go next year...

[ttrevino69]

I had a really great time, I couldn't get close enough to get any good pictures so if anyone has any of George Strait,Sara Evans,Kenny Chesney, I would appreciate them if you could email them to me. I will definately be back next year, I am already saving. Thank you to all that helped organize this. Yes I have a complaint about the Sunday Security also, they went over board, but that is all. Very nice people also

[Glockgirl]

I had a really great time, I couldn't get close enough to get any good pictures so if anyone has any of George Strait,Sara Evans,Kenny Chesney, I would appreciate them if you could email them to me. I will definately be back next year, I am already saving. Thank you to all that helped organize this. Yes I have a complaint about the Sunday Security also, they went over board, but that is all. Very nice people also

I have third row of Kenny, you can almost see the size on his jeans... but I dont' know how to upload them here, maybe through photobucket???

[Cooter]

photobucket, then click on the little mountain with the sun icon in the reply box on this site...has a yellow background, second from right....and put the addy in there. or upload to photobucket and copy and paste the line with these: [IMG][/IMG] into the reply box here.

[formervalleyresident]

that sucks, but this is a music festival and i have never been to one run any better...and i've been to alot. the parking situation-we are out in the middle of the desert where everything, and i mean everything, has to be brought in. this isn't disneyland with a nice paved parking lot in the middle of a huge metropolitan area, for goshsakes. and if your friend is in poor enough health that they can't walk a few hundred to a thousand or so feet then maybe it's time to get that little blue parking placard.

so what you're really saying is that you never even went in one. i have never heard anyone say "oh, what a beautiful experience going to the bathroom in that porta potty!" and i probably never will. so what you heard was probably a pretty standard reply, even if they were in better shape than people realized. i have never seen porta potties as clean as they are at coachella/stagecoach.

There are a lot of older people who go to country concerts who can't walk that far and are not elgible for that "little blue parking placard" and considering that it was out in the desert and pretty warm if not hot, there should have been some thought put into the parking situation. God willing you live long enough one of these days you just may find yourself in a similar situation as some older people. As much money that was generated and given the locations of some parking areas common courtesy and thought should have been used. A half a mile is not " a few hundred or thousand or so feet".

As for the filthy porta potties there is no need to use one muchless look inside when a 7 year old opens the door and refuses to even go in. I guess it doesn't bother you when used toilet paper some how can't seem to make it in the potty or people can't aim rather they stand or attempt to squat but, that's your deal. I happen to think that is unsanitary and piggish.