Just book some smaller bands for Knockin' Boots earlier in the evening and bump up Broadway Calls and Cobra Skulls so I can see them after We Are the Union and I'm good... Not surprised more bands are dropping, though. I'm going to Riot Fest this week which is outdoors but will be a much bigger crowd but given the location, the policies in place, etc. I am feeling pretty comfortable, really looking forward to the weekend, and I'm starting to get all excited about it. Because it's starting to feel real. I am, however, starting to get incredibly anxious about Fest. Florida is just now starting to show a decrease in positive cases but... Still. I just don't feel great about going. I'd imagine it's the same for some of the bands. Even if you're fully vaccinated, if you have a person at home who is immunocompromised, a child who can't get vaccinated yet, etc. It's a risk.
I decided to take the refund this year bc I didn't want to be in Florida. It's a bummer even with the amount of good bands that have dropped, but I feel better overall not going this time. I am hopeful that next year will feel better and have a good lineup.
If I didn't have a partner and a friend who were both ecstatic about the trip, I would have pulled out already. There's also a part of me that feels like we might be in the same boat next year so... Just rip the band-aid off. I'm sure I'll have a blast. But standing indoors with a mask on for three days straight just... I dunno. I'm just glad they have two outdoor stages this year and that's where I'll be spending 85% of my Friday night and 50% of my Sunday.
Has anyone been to any indoor shows with mask requirements? I've been to one, and compliance was pretty high at the start but it seemed as the night wore on, the compliance dropped. Lot's of people that were masked except while actively eating/drinking were now just unmasked the entire time if they were holding a drink. The venue did nothing to enforce the masking up inside, but this was a month ago though when delta variant was just picking up pace. Not sure how masking policy will go down in reality at Fest honestly, those days are long and there is a lot of drinking
The 2 shows are the house of blues in Orlando I went to most people followed the rules. Both times there were some super cool dude bros that just had to pull their masks down so Anthony Raneri or Buddy from SF could see them singing along.
I’ve been to Kississippi and Spanish Love Songs in small indoor venues and everyone wore masks and put them back on after drinking. The same was also true for Cloud Nothings. I’ve been to two Knocked Loose shows, a Turnstile show, and the the Menz and Descendents with Rise Against. The hardcore shows were mostly good in the balcony where I was, but the pit was a mixed bag for sure. Def fewer masks but it wasn’t horrible. The large Rise Against show didn’t have many masks from what I saw.
Nothing with mask requirements, but several in NYC with vax requirements. At both Sleigh Bells & No More Dysphoria fest last week I felt really safe knowing that everyone was vaxxed and negative tests weren't an option. Just my take, but I'd say a little bit more than half of people were still wearing masks
People definitely take advantage of the "while eating or drinking" caveat. Standing there with a beer and talking I think is going to be the biggest issue. Personally, I plan on wearing it the whole time and just lifting it up to take a sip.
Every show in Chicago that I’ve been to has had a vax requirement or negative test either within 24 or 48 hours so even when I some folks keeping the mask down I haven’t been too worried. Only venue that didn’t check vax info was the biggest venue for the Rise Against tour.
WATU are playing an Arrogant Sons of Bitches cover set Sunday night of this and I literally wish I was going just to experience that.
That WATU set changed my entire evening, haha. Bummed about missing the Copyrights, but considering that they're now up against the Catbite No Doubt cover set... Not seeing them anyway. Really stoked! Less stoked that Samiam apparently dropped.
Glad I got to see IIOI play Proper on Saturday. Definitely have to catch WATU. I have a feeling the new Copyrights album is going to be great so I hope they are a mystery band for the weekend and I can catch them elsewhere
Looks like No Trigger has cancelled as well. There goes my #3 for the weekend, hah! EDIT: All of these cancellations are a total bummer and I'm pretty convinced it's all because of where the festival is located (Florida). But I get it! Really hoping other artists are willing to step in and fill those slots. I really, really feel for the organizers. Doing their damndest...
Hope Gared is doing ok. fucking Florida is probably the last place I would wanna be while dealing with/recovering from cancer
Less than jake feels like such an easy add. They could do Losing Streak in full, would totally make up for Larry Arms dropping