Last Saturday my roommate Kurt, and I went to the Rock am See (rock at the lake) Festival in Konstanz Germany. Being the cheap bastards that we are, we decided not to rent a car for 130 euro ($180)+ gas for the 400 kilometer journey. Instead we optioned for the round trip ticket on the slow train for 35 euro (50 bucks) each. After foolishly partying the night before, we left at 7am with a refreshing 2 hours sleep. 8 hours and 5 transfers later, we arrived at the show an hour before my favorite band (NOFX) hit the stage!
NOFX was putting on a GREAT show, that I was enjoy as much as possible, in the german equivalent of a mosh pit. (they don't really mosh, they just "pogo" jumping up and down, bumping into each other) When halfway through "the Brews" the PA system went down, and we lost all sound. After about 20 minute of NOFX entertaining the crowd with Eric Melvin doing hand stands, El Hefe breakdancing, and Eric/El Hefe/Fat Mike windmill moshing to the beat of "The Moron Brothers". Finally the sound was restored, and the band finished their set with the lighthearted joking, laughing, and fucking around that make them such a joy to see live.
Kurt and I spent the next 4 hours listening to various artists, and following a strick regime of beer, beer, food, beer, beer, piss, beer,beer, repeat. All the while meeting some very cool Germans, and waiting for the headlining band, Nine Inch Nails.
When NIN came on stage Trent Reznor explained to the crowd that they had prepared for a great light and effect show (anyone who's seen them before knows they put on pretty good theatrics during their shows), but the local promoter didn't supply the proper power for the fest. When the PA went down earlier, it completly shot their stage show. They still put on a spectacular show full of angst. With excellant sound, a great perfomance, and bass practicaly vibrating the your clothes off. I wasn't disapointed. You can see the NIN official video of Trent's opening rant as well as their ending of the song "Head Like a Hole" where they smash guitars, mikes and amps on youtube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NUSIC5nl3Vg
After the show the train we were suposed to take home was completly packed, so we took a chance on another train going in the same general direction. Making up our path by whatever trains were available at the major cities we stoped at, we stumbled our way home. Arriving back in Wiesbaden at 11am sunday morning we draged ourselves back to the apartment a little roadweary, but with smiles on our faces, Passing out with thoughts of a great roadtrip fleeting through my mind.
