I found SASQUATCH!

Saturday June 5th, 2010

Location: Home i.e. Maple Falls, WA



Seeing as that I am centered back at my residence and my Spring Cycle Quest is completed this post will be extensive and conclusive. Lets get ready to get deep into it people.

My last post was in Coulee City, WA and I was preparing my self mentally and physically for what would be the most intense weekend of my life. I rode the remaining distance to the Columbia River Gorge that next day hitting up some of the most scenic landscapes that I had encountered thus far on my adventures lately.

There was a place right outside of Coulee City that is called Dry Falls (pictured above) due to the fact at a couple times in the earths past it used to be the largest waterfall in existence. The epic cliffs and interpretive signs at the visitors center due an ample job of giving an idea what power the place use to hold. I enjoyed myself thoroughly that morning appreciating the cool channeled coulees of the Columbia Basin and it was a great bike ride to boot.

I made it near the Gorge and intended to camp at a campground but found that is was closed and even though they were willing to let me pay to stay I opted for poaching a near by apple orchard down the road. It rained tough all Thursday night and I grew mildly concerned for the dynamic of weather patterns for the upcoming weekend. Eventually I knew I really had nothing to fear because the festival is fun even if it hails, trust me I know. (pic below is on the way in)

I was the first Sasquatcher to enter the Gorge Campground the next morning come 8 am or so seeking shelter from the rain. I found a post to chill at and took a needed shower while there wasn't any line. People were officially let in around noon and I put on the Sasquatch suit to great some of the first arrivals. It was entertaining to a degree but I feel like I was trying to force something out.

I rode my bike around the grounds and ended up finding some friends to hang out with. It was good to watch the old crew arrive carload by carload all of us with open arms and lots of catching up to do. It was so different when we were all in school together and hung out regularly. This festival is special to me for one reason because its a connector for a lot of really good friends that I don't see that much anymore. There's a saying with some precious metals in it, I'm sure you know it

When some other friends rolled in I came and met them at the spot where we would camp for the remainder of the weekend. A good crew of dudes from Issaquah and Bellingham friends were in the nearby vicinity. It was a trip actually settling in and preparing for what laid ahead, just watching the constant stream of cars that practically didn't stop all night long pass by my bike along the fence.

Under some type of unwritten code I followed suit with probably 90% of the people there I got significantly inebriated that night. I donned the Sasquatch suit come sun down and proceeded to rampage throughout the campground trying to create the biggest Sasquatch sighting in history. Was it a success? In my mind I succeeded, however I did end up losing the BIG feet to my costume somewhere along the way. I walked around the rest of the night toughening up my soles barefoot style.

The next morning I was playing the hurry up and wait game, being so eager to get into the grounds of the Gorge and start off the reason I came there, MUSIC!!! I played some guitar for the nice Canadians all around us (even more than last year it seems). I was perturbed how they (Canucks) in previous years had almost seemed to outnumber U.S.ers at the show but seeing as how my number one band to see this year (Broken Social Scene) was Canadian I had grown to accept the fact.

The line up to get in to the show was longer than I have ever remembered that Saturday going even past the general store. It probably took over a half an hour but there was plenty of eager entertaining anticipation amongst the crowd. (pic below is of some good friends, Eric & Morgan inside the show)

DAY 1 SATURDAY:
The first act I caught was Brother Ali and he sounded great and got the crowd into his passionate rhymes. The uniqueness of his heart felt hip hop set off the day with a vigor for me that inspired some great moments.

Mumford & Sons are a great solid strumming band that has deeply introspective lyrics and overwhelming waves of emotional music. Seeing them live really changed my perspective on how excellent they actually were. I love how live music can do that.

Caught Minus the Bear on the main stage and thoroughly enjoyed listening to both songs I had jammed out to for years and the new material they are releasing. It must have been like the 7th or 8th time but the never cease to impress me with their endless talent and creative style.

Hiked back up the hill for a little bit of Portugal, The Man and remember being somewhat impressed but not blown away by what they had to offer. I was really just wandering around people watching at this point, I do hope to listen to more of them in the future.

The Middle East on the small stage was again brief but enjoyable and then headed back to the main lawn to reconvene with the group. Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes got a couple songs in while I ambled back and forth, along with a naked man refusing clothes obviously under the influence of heavy psychedelics (pure entertainment). There we sat and watched OK GO absolutely have the most fun you could imagine playing their poppy power music to the crowd. "This too shall Pass" was absolutely incredible in particular.

Then went down to the floor of the main stage to see what was my number one for the whole weekend, I would have payed just to see this band play anything all weekend and would not have been disappointed. Broken Social Scene has been an integral part of my musical path since high school but I have never had the chance to see them so I considered this a special moment, & indeed it was. They played every song I could have thought of that I really wanted to hear and then there was more. The members, all so different, come together to form what I think is one of the most genius collaborations of modern sound. I had listened a lot to the new album "Forgiveness Rock Record" but hearing the songs live really brought new meaning to all of them and when they closed with "Meet me in the Basement" and Kevin Drew preached to the crowd a little "You gotta feel good every chance you get and make sure your life sounds just like THIS!!!" I freaked out and went into a moment of pure bliss. I recall saying "I could not feel more better than any human being alive right now" as they walked off stage. All in All I was not Forced to Love and even though there are moments at Sasquatch that can make me World Sick, that set is ranking in some of the best moments of my life and I say that with complete honesty. (pic below is them rocking hard)

The rest of the day was just on festival cruise and explore mode. I had gotten out my moment that I needed and felt that my cycle quest to the Gorge was more than rewarded. Miike Snow from Sweden was great and I was impressed that his sound live was much different than on the albums but in no way in a negative manner.

I layed on the hill and kinda just zoned out during the National because I was feeling a little tired but I was impressed by their set and they sounded great. Hiked around and caught the last half of the Hold Steady and saw my good buddy Ryan and his girlfriend Kacey there. We sang along to some classics and I realized how much I still love that band even though they lost the accordionist.

Vampire Weekend was spent entirely on the floor with friends dancing and really enjoying every song. They didn't jam as hard as other bands but the pure precision that they executed their set with was impressive. I really gained a respect for the sound that they are capturing it almost seems Paul Simon "Graceland"esque even though associations are overrated.

I stuck around for the entire set of My Morning Jacket because again this is a band that I have loved for over 5 years and have never taken the opportunity to see live. Their set was all over the board with some immense sweeping jams that I don't even think I knew they had a grasp on what was created. Some highlights were "I'm Amazed", "Mahgeetah" and "Off the Record" but truthfully I was just so happy to enjoy the whole show and not try to pick out a moment that was perfect. The band members have a cohesion and bond that you can see and hear when they play. Least to say I was immensely impressed. (pic below is them looking very haunting)

The night was finished with Dead Mau5 who I only peeked at last year when he inhabited the dance tent. Well he was back in full force on a full stage with some of the most intense light that I had ever seen. His own brand of intense techno music got the crowd going but it was too packed to dance properly. I really enjoyed his giant mouse head that was wired with lights (which he controls I believe) and seeing it change expressions with every new beat. He eventually revealed his true face and really got the crowd dancing by the end. Good stuff, I am glad I stuck around.

Sometime during the day probably dancing to BSS I rolled my ankle pretty tough and it got pretty swollen. O well just another part of the weekend. Although it did limit my mobility.

DAY 2 SUNDAY

Got in early that morning to check out Caribou a man and band that I had respected for sometime. His live show was intense and seemed more appropriate for a smaller setting but was enjoyable all the same.

Local Natives were a band on the top stage that really blew me away. I had only briefly heard them before seeing most of their set and I was immensely impressed especially by one song "Shape Shifter."

I rallied a big crew of friends back to see the Tallest Man on Earth, a man from Sweden who plays gorgeous acoustic music. His set was awe inspiring and I truly believed he channeled the spirit of Sasquatch! harder than a lot of other acts with his wild passionate abandon. It was his last tour date for a while so you could tell he was really reflecting on a long journey.

They Might be Giants were incredible entertaining, playing popular songs and playing with the crowd with an ingenious sock puppet routine involving the big screens. I really liked the song about Shooting Stars it made me laugh and learn.

Kid Cudi is an MC that I didn't really know that much about but it seems like everyone younger than me freaking loves him so I watched his whole set. I got into it and he really has a positive fun message for the world unlike a lot of hip hop artists. He also a very talented phoneticist using rhymes and words in different ways. I am indeed on the "Pursuit of Happiness" like he says. Although I believe he would benefit from having a live band.

The XX was a good chill out time and it was packed and pretty hot by that point. I ended up just shooting the breeze with some nice guys from Venice Beach, CA. They looked like scene-sters but I try not to judge and they ended up being nothing but some really nice dudes. The band was tight and mellow it was just a good time to reflect in the middle of the weekend.

My ankle was bothering me a lot at this point in time and although I desired to dance with what seemed like the entire Gorge during LCD Soundsystem I resided on the side lawn catching up some old friends and talking a lot of Geology actually. He did play a great set and I could see the whole hill following Mr. Murphy's enthusiastic dance party ethics.

I caught the last couple songs of the Dirty Projects and was nothing but blown away by how incredible they sounded. I really hope to have the chance to see them live again, really cool noises that group creates.

Pavement was again time to reflect and enjoy some tunes from my past. I was never a huge fan but really loved the "Crooked Rain" album earlier in my life. Even though they started arguing a little bit, which to some people seemed frustrating, to me seemed honest. "Gold Soundz" was the best sounding in my opinion.

Checked out Public Enemy for the novelty of seeing Flavor Flav and Chuck D in person but also intrigued on what kind of show they would throw down. Technical difficulties left me uninterested but all the same it was one of the only shows that had a negative aspect and it wasn't really the groups fault (maybe the weather?).

The group disbanded and I was going to do Massive Attack alone until a kind man named Greg befriended me. We spent the majority of their set wandering around really in touch with how honored we felt to see these Trip Hop Moguls. The show was incredible and they blew me away with how cultured the members seem. The intense light show was accompanied by a billboard flashing memes of society was haunting to degree. I wandered to Booka Shade eventually on the other stage and enjoyed their driving force electronica a lot as well.

That night even though I was in a lot of pain with my ankle I ended up wandering the campground aimlessly seeking good conversation and the endless dance party that ensued this year all night long. I watched a gray cloudy sunrise before I crawled into my tent for a couple hours rest.

DAY 3 MONDAY

I felt this morning that I wasn't ready for the festivities to be over but by the end of the night I knew it was the appropriate length of time. I ended up wandering the campsite playing songs and not caring who was listening. Highlight playing "Buenos Tardes Amigo" by Ween with a custom verse at the end

buenos dias Sasquatch!
Hola my good friends
tomorrow is really Tuesday
& we all have to go back to real life someday again

Went into the concert what seemed like relatively early but missed two bands that I still wanted to see, The Heavy & Jaguar Love. O well its impossible to do it all.

Mayer Hawthorne & The County had a nice polished look that accompanied their up beat sensible music, it fit the moment. The view from the hill was pleasant on the last morning and the weather was what I would call perfect. The clouds where constant and the sun got its chance to break. It was really just the dynamic of sometimes have rain while it was sunny that I appreciated most.

I walked back to the Bigfoot stage to check out Seattle Rock Orchestra and had forgotten that they were doing songs from Arcade Fire's album "Funeral." It was well executed and rather enjoyable to reminisce about seeing those songs before at the Festival by the actual band.

(pic above is just one from the main hill showing the pure amount of people who were there)
I wandered over to check out Phantogram on the small stage and was impressed by how complex their sound is for just two people. It was similar the XX but more electronic lust and not as much steady rock love. The songs seemed haunted by some primitive instinct that I couldn't quite grasp but I enjoyed it. I had only heard that they were good before the show and seeing them live reassured the word of mouth.

Reconvened with the crew for the Drive-by Truckers on the main hill and enjoyed listening to the casual style of a band that I have never really gotten into but have a distinct respect for. The delicate story telling and blue collar attitude might not have been accepted by a lot of the crowd but you could tell they were their for the fans and not to impress everybody.

I honestly was pretty haggard at this point, my eardrums felt used and abused. My ankle had swollen to point where it hurt when I got up and blood rushed back to it. I took a little nap on the hill in between sets and just zoned out waiting for something to happen. (pic below is some more Squatch crew)

Passion Pit was a band that I caught last year because I was somewhat intrigued by some of the material that had been circulating. Surprisingly their set on the side stage in '09 was a disappointment and I was left with a feeling that they weren't quality sounds. I am glad I gave them another shot because it seems like in the last year this band has really improved upon what their music could be. I didn't even catch my favorite song but I was thoroughly impressed by what I did get to hear.

My nomadic spirit kicking in I was drawn to go check out Dr. Dog a group that I wasn't that familiar with but wanted to know more. The band was fun and the songs easy to listen to. I couldn't really feel the vibe that much and I found myself wandering only after 10 minutes of their set.

Meandered by the Japandroids playing "The Boys are Leaving Town", which reminds me of some anti Thin Lizzy anthem, it was chunky but fun.

Made it to the group spot on the hill for She & Him which I expected to be glorious sounding cheesy twee pop. It was pretty much exactly what I thought it would be but I didn't think it would seem so appropriate in the venue. Zooey Deschanel and Matt Ward have a chemistry that is some how humble and yet hokey.

Again limping up the hill I was determined to check out the songwriting skills of the Mountain Goat's John Darnielle. I had only recently discovered them watching the Colbert Report randomly. The energy and craftsmen ship that they conveyed was awesome. I talked to one fan who says he owns over 40 albums of material and I couldn't believe this bands dedication to their art.

I had seen Band of Horse once at Sasquatch! the year it hailed and once at Bumbershoot but their set honestly blew me away. I enjoyed the new songs that I had checked out when they streamed the album for free and the older tunes that are permanently ingrained in my head. When they played "No One's Gonna Love You" I honestly bawled my eyes out thinking about how much this festival and moment meant to my personal quest. I had to walk out of the pit thinking I was being too emotional and ended up having a beautiful conversation with two young girls who noticed my fragile state.

I made it for a couple songs of Camera Obscura and ended up realizing that I should probably be listening to a lot more of that very impressive band. I can understand why they aren't super popular but have a steady following.

MGMT is a band I have an immense amount of respect for personally just because I view their songs as beyond their popularity or image. Somehow they have managed to create this futuristic psychedelic nitch in pop culture that has found a following but the masses don't know what to do with it. I really didn't understand the new album but was liking the material more live than recorded. When they played "Electric Feel" I was grooving pretty tough in the squatch suit across the floor thinking about all the energy contained in that crowd.

I enjoyed a couple beautiful moments with some people that I didn't know and others that I met throughout the weekend. It was a gorgeous sunset that night at the Gorge, which is probably typical especially that time of year. I hope everyone tried to appreciate it as much as I did.

Managed to catch some of Neon Indian in the Rumpus Room and New Pornographers on the nearby stage just walking back and forth trying to decide which one I really wanted to listen to because they both were enjoyable. In the end I really just got some exercise and perfected my people watching skills.

I remember driving around in high school listening to Ween's album "Chocolate & Cheese" and having it change the way I listen to music. The darkness and diversity which Ween writes their songs have always made them distinctive from any other band on the market. You can tell they have touched on many societal follies and trends that are difficult to categorize. Before their set I had no expectations on what I would encounter. Their time on stage would be mildly stated as crazy. The precision and peculiar way in which they present their humorous material was incredible. Some highlights "Spinal Meningitis", "With My Own Bare Hands", David Bowie's "Lets Dance" & "Object." I just want to say personally me they killed that closing spot perfect.

I checked out the Boyz Noize tent but missed the actual band and wandered back and forth across the ground feeling lost but incredibly found at the same time. I walked back to the campground and socialized with some of the stragglers both old crew and new people. Alot of my friends had to take off to be back at work or school the next day, understandably.


I went to bed feeling like a very worn out old man but woke with a vigor to get back on the road and away from the madness. I tried busking the crowd on the way out the next morning but received nothing but forced enthusiasm from countless cars speeding past. I was feeling fustrated biking north and my foot was bothering me.

I spent the afternoon in Quincy recuperating and spending some money on a hot meal which I hadn't done for a while. I refused to pay for anything at the Gorge besides my ticket for the concert. The prices are worse that the movie theater as far as exponential mark ups. Speaking of which I refused to pay for camping seeing that I biked and it is by car load.

I ended up poaching a little natural spot on the side of the Columbia River just south of Wenatchee, WA. It was startling but majestic to see a large owl inhabiting the same area right when I arrived. He flew away pretty fast and I hope he accepted that I was staying in his home I slept soundly throughout the rainy night away from the all night party people.

I made it up to Chelan Lake the next day to spend some quality time with a mountain friend Brent working at a new restaurant with his brother. His family was more than hospitable and they took me in like one of their own, I was more than grateful to have them at that point.

I enjoyed my time in Chelan a place that I had heard so many good things about but had never been too. The people were nothing but nice and the scenery was sparsely covered hills that glowed with springs green beauty. The sky was varied with rain clouds and various sun breaks that made for dynamic days and restful nights. The "Tin Lily" where my friend works is a great food establishment that takes a unique look on American Fusion Grub and Spirits. I got the Ticklish Reuben it was absolutely fantastic to my taste buds especially with the real rye whiskey on the side.

At this point on my Spring Cycle Quest I had felt my vision had been achieved and although I had the time and resources to continue home I decided to admit forfeit on crossing the pass over the Cascades by bicycle with all my gear. Via Facebook I solicited someone to come rescue me in my car and was obliged by another mountain friend Kala who came this past Friday evening to get me. I drove back on Highway 20 that way that I intended to on clear nice night stopping periodically to star gaze. The drive was long but nice and I do hope to conquer the Cascades by cycle someday soon.

So that's how it ended this time around, somewhat unconclusive similar to my last big cycle adventure. But I have found its not the destination its the journey that matters and getting there is way more than half of the fun.

I am glad to be back in Maple Falls and I spent yesterday at the Urban Music Festival in Bellingham checking out some of my favorite local bands like The Endorphins, Snug Harbor & Acorn Project. I guess I just didn't get all my dancing out at the squatch.

I need to find employment pretty bad and get a lot of things in my life in order but I am happier and more in touch with my existence than any other time of my life that I can remember. I am following a path of my heart that is telling me that my actions are not in vain.

I want to take some time for the end of this post that will be my last blog for a while to reflect on what this quest has meant to me personally and I thank you for reading it and relating if you can.

Spring time has always been a time of renewal and sweeping epic emotional change in the world. Animals reemerge from their hiding holes and begin using the suns energy to prepare for a long summer. People retreat from their offices and suburban homes to seek rejuvenation in nature. Young love & lust is apparent all across the world. Coming from the cold and dark into the warmth and light is refreshing. I heard from one good friend that he considers Sasquatch! to be his re-birthing every year which I totally respected.

I was trying to access my primitive nature and use my second attention to channel the spirit of the mythical creature of Sasquatch! during the entire month of May. I considered the Bigfoot to be my ally or even a double, some sort of split personality. I tried to think What Would Sasquatch Do? Whenever I encountered a unique problem along my way. Even though we are civilized and cultured human beings, in the end just like my Miike Snow emphasizes we are still "Animal"s. I enjoyed thinking about the primitive nomads of the Columbia Basin who survived by constantly moving searching for sustenance when I was biking across the state.

I don't want to say I earned the festival more than any body this year just because I biked there because that is unfair but in the back of my mind it was a thought. I do believe that I enjoyed that totality of the event more than many people in the crowd because of my dedication to the mythical nature of the beast that I found in the weekend and along the way before. It was all a glorious synthesis of interesting people, diverse music and the Gorgeous Gorge that created a happy moment in so many people's lives. I want to thank all the bands that played, Adam Zacks for creating it, my friends from crews old & new, all the amazing people I met, the staff of the Gorge and most of all the big hairy beast out there in all of us. I don't know if actually believing in Sasquatch! as a organism or creature is viable at this point but this spring I found Sasquatch! and no one can tell me otherwise.

(pic above is some wildflowers near Spokane)
I have to say even among the amazing things that happened over the weekend I heard of disappointing aspects of people's weekends. Tents being raided, glass pieces being confiscated, fake tickets being sold, a lot of irresponsible drinking, sneaking in and fights breaking out randomly. I thought about how us Sasquatchians would function as a potential society and I believe that the bad weeds would get pulled fast because most people understood the true nature of what we were there for that weekend.

Thanks for reading my blog anybody who made it this far in what has been my most conclusive post thus far in keeping this thing. I don't know if I am making a lot of sense to the world but I can write with a true sense of gracious joy that this world is finally starting to make sense to me. I hope to be planning more adventures this summer and into the fall, if it involves a bike you guys will be some of the first to know.

until then, remember to always, Learn, Love & most importantly LIVE

sincerely,

T. E. Livingston
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p.s. this is all possible because of my family (pic below) you all are incredible. i love you