Sound on Sound, Part Two

New morning, new energy. Let me tell you about yesterday…

The Venue

Sound on Sound was located in this big park beside the sound in Bridgeport, Connecticut. The area was beautiful, but this is the first time the festival was hosted and I definitely think there will need to be some tweaking of logistics if they try for a second year. The lines to get food and beer were insane. Erin and I tried to run for both in between Trampled by Turtles and Caamp, but after standing in line for ages, I made the executive decision to go back empty-handed because I absolutely refused to miss Caamp take the stage for the second time in a row.

By the time we did get food, the vendors had sold out of a lot of stuff. We dined on spring rolls and the pretzels we brought from home. Needless to say, all three of us are starving this morning. The plan is to find a diner and eat something substantial.

The really unfortunate part about the area was that there was zero cell reception. When Erin and I finally found and reunited with Jody in the sea of FIVE THOUSAND PEOPLE, Jody was so disappointed that we hadn’t brought food or beer that she ran for supplies. I was fairly certain we’d never see her again; she missed Caamp’s entire set.

The People

Of all the concerts I’ve ever attended, I think the folks at Sound on Sound were the nicest group of people I’ve been around. Not just the fans, but the event workers too! Everyone was so incredibly kind!

I am finding that if one says, “Are you a reader?” at a folk show, the answer is “Yes!” 99.9% of the time, and since my period-four students are determined to help me grow my readership, they gave me instructions to distribute my business cards while in Bridgeport. Jody and Erin were up to the task as well and Jody, especially, was quite good at it! Both she and I gave away all the cards we were carrying and then I went back and restocked.

We met so many college students and teachers and just generally wonderful people. The folks we ended up standing with for the majority of the show were newly-found friends as well: some were from Chicago and some were from Boston. They met while waiting for Trampled by Turtles to take the stage (I think) and remained friends all night. I’m betting they’ll meet up again for day two.

Erin, Jody, and I are not staying for day two, though, and we are actually thankful for that because we are worn out. I think I could do a second day at a different venue, like Merriweather Post Pavilion, but I could not do a second day at Sound on Sound.

The Music

The music was incredible; every single band that performed brought their A-game. I was there for Trampled by Turtles, Caamp, and the Lumineers, but I discovered The Revivalists (I knew about them, but had never really listened to them before) and Father John Misty (he puts on a terrific show!).

I’d never seen Trampled by Turtles before and I guess I didn’t realize that they’re comprised completely of strings. No percussion, just string instruments. I desperately want to see them in a smaller venue… maybe XL Live in Harrisburg!

My favorite part of Trampled was when they invited their friends from Caamp onto the stage and they all played “Alone” together. Here’s a little sneak peek onto The Way Back’s playlist: “Alone” is one of the songs.

Remember when I saw Caamp and the Lumineers at Merriweather with Erin and Emily and Brock and my concert husband Phil? And Emily, Brock, and Phil wouldn’t staand for Caamp? And I temporarily divorced Phil because I was so annoyed with all of them? In my opinion, that’s like giving the double bird to the performer. I mean, if they’re up there putting on a show for us and we can’t even staand for Caamp…? Rude. It’s just rude. I stood.

This time, EVERYONE STOOD FOR CAAMP. And do you know what? Caamp’s energy was so incredibly different from their energy level at Merriweather. Taylor was dancing around the stage, Evan was singing, they played some Ozzy Osbourne in the middle of one of their songs… and I know the song, but I can’t come up with it right now. It was excellent, though. The performance as a whole was beyond excellent.

Here's "Mockingbird Song" by Caamp:

"Oh settle down, my friend / To kill a mockingbird's a sin / I have lost and found / And lost it all again."

You know how I love To Kill A Mockingbird, and on top of that, I once read an interview in which Taylor and Evan claimed "Mockingbird Song" is their favorite song to perform live... so this was a fun way to end their set!

Luke Bryan played next. He was on the Sunset Stage and we were set up in front of the Seaside Stage because all three of the bands I wanted to see were on the Seaside Stage. I was hoping that some people would filter over to see Luke Bryan because I know he’s kind of a big deal… and some people did head over to see him, but only about five of them. Approximately five hundred people joined us for the Lumineers, though! It got tight really fast. Yikes!

As per usual, the Lumineers were outstanding. They put on such a good show, and when they played “Gloria,” I actually cried. I guess I didn’t realize that song is about addiction. There was footage of a woman being projected on the screen behind the band; she was spiraling out of control and it just made me think of my brother, you know? And then I really started to miss Pip. So… that was both a sad and powerful moment of the show. I can only remember one other time that a band made me cry while at a concert and that was when I saw Dispatch at Wolf Trap. They, too, played a song that reminded me of Pip and it just got to me.

"Where we are / I don't know where we are / But it will be okay."

Overall, the Lumineers was a happy experience and I will continue to see them again… and again… and again. Hopefully they, like Stevie Nicks (who headlined last night), will still be taking the stage when they’re in their seventies and Erin, Jody, and I will be the folks who hang out ‘til the end, dancing up a storm as all the youngsters filter out of the park.

That's a wrap, folks.

We're off to find a substantial breakfast and then we have a lot of driving to tackle. Wish us luck!