So, I’m trying to upload videos and photos and get a post up on this here blog, and Shinedown is mere yards away from me, hootin’ and hollerin’ and screaming and driving their bass beats so hard that the walls of this trailer are shaking. It’s all giving me a sense of urgency that I’m not terribly accustomed to feeling. Or I could be jittery because I just drank a Coke and ate two snack-size bags of Cheetos and THERE IS NO BLOOD IN ME ANY MORE, JUST SUGAR.

Anyway, there has been a ton of good stuff to see today, and there’s still more to come. (I’m trying to log this entry and then hoof it to see the Reverend.)

I came up to the last song of the Bar-Kays’ set and they were absolutely rocking out. I mean, “rocking out” makes it sound so lame and square, right? They were doing the opposite of whatever is lame and square, complete with complicated guitar choreography. Los Lobos kept a straight face as they unleashed their roots rock on a drenched crowd. Shinedown got the kids bouncing (they’re still out there; have I mentioned how difficult it is to write with them playing right outside?) Robert “Wolfman” Belfour has been out in that Blues Shack off and on all dang day, moaning and wailing in a way that I wish I could take with me and have with me always when life is just a little too tough to handle without bluesy accompaniment.

But so far, topping my list (even though I didn’t get to see their whole set) are The Roots. They strutted onto the stage like the world’s tiniest and most bad-ass marching band. The front row was insatiable and kept chanting for the lead vocals to be upped. But, you know, it’s hard to compete with the amazingness that is a tuba. And listen, I don’t know if I can say this with enough force or clarity, but I demand more tuba in everything from now on. Everything!

Video of The Roots is here.

It’s been a full day. And it’s been great fun watching yesterday’s firm ground get tilled by feet into the viscous sludge that it is now. These pants will never be the same again, sadly.

I’ll do my dangdest to check back in before the night’s over. I’m waiting on a video of The Roots to upload and I’ll plunk it down into this post once it’s done.

— Lindsey