Best Rock

You know, I'm not even the hugest hard core post-punk garage rock three chord music fan. I like it, sure thing, some of it I love. My go-to music, though, is moodier and more angular.

I didn't have grand hopes for The Gaga Weekend. I thought it was cool that it was going on, and I liked the bands on the bill that I'd seen enough to make me want to see more. Just how much fun it was kind of sideswiped me. Fun enough that I did enough and drank enough that the thought of going to Westfest tonight went completely out of my mind.

It was amazing not so much for the music, or even the company. Though there was Jennifer, of course, who makes music more fun just by being there. There was Steve and Maggy, who danced with us too. Earlier and later, too, there was d.jack. There were some excellent bands, which Jennifer ably described, and some pretty good bands, and even a couple I really didn't like.

The sense of community, though, was amazing.

I loved how those two girls that I'd never talked to before yesterday lost their shit during The Balconies. I loved how about three songs into The Statues, the audience climbed on stage and took over singing from the singer. And how at another point, Davey did the same by himself and then forgot the words. And the jumping and the joy and the people I haven't seen in years who I thought wouldn't be happy to see me but were. And the keyboards sometimes! And all the girls in those bands! And the sloppy fuck you DIY feel of the whole thing. And the sheer force of the volume. It's one of my favourite highs, ever.