On the road part five: The Final Countdown

It won't be long now men, just bite down careful to avoid your tounges, stop popping Xanax and feast your eyes on victory, I will say when we roll the 300 miles or so from Flagstaff to Indio.

It'll be about hour 25 on our trip when we cruise through Flagstaff, with nothing but arrival in our heads. This part of the trip should go down easy from about 1 p.m. to 5 or 6 p.m., minus the time change, that puts our arrival right around 4 p.m. Tuesday.

We set the tent up, grab a quick map and haul ass to Tijuana. Who knows though, as was well-documented in the family friendly romp that was National Lampoon's Vacation, many things can and do go wrong in most nation-spanning journeys. We could arrive far later than expected. Either way, we're getting there.

Best Marley since Bob

Of all the music I've waded through in preparation for Coachella's massive line up, Stephen Marley has wowed me more than anyother.

I'm not alone here either. Rolling Stone and Entertainment Weekly have both praised him as the most talented of reggae legend Bob Marley's more than 10 legitamate prodgy, there are allegedly more than 20 total. But as I enjoy Stephen Marley's debut album Mind Control, sometimes it's easy to hear Bob in his son's music. Even if this trip goes wrong in many ways, at the least I've found some enjoyable music I was previously unfamiliar with.

Other new musicians I was unaware of before the show but have since been impressed with include: Rodrigo y Gabriela, Manu Chao, LCD Soundsytem (a small part of the reason I must learn to dance, the larger part...chicks dude), Peter Bjorn and John and Tapes N' Tapes.

If this show is like any festival I've been too, my list of new artists I'm a fan of will grow massivly in the aftermath. Something to look forward too.

Rage starts rehearsing

Rage Against the Machine has started rehearsals in preparation for its first show in seven years after the band split, according to many news reports.

Before Rage shattered, with Zack de la Rocha working on a never-released solo album and the rest of the band teaming with Chris Cornell to form the underachieving Audioslave, the band cut "The Battle of Los Angeles."

I rollerbladed to Best Buy when I was in the 10th grade, bought this album with money from my first job as a 15-year-old cart pusher/grocery bagger at Jewel/Osco Grocery. I listened to this album, appreciated it for the rock and the sound, which even amid many mediocre rap/rock clones (Limp Bizkit, Papa Roach, Kid Rock etc.) stood out as excellent and unique. The album went into a box before I graduated high school.

When I woke up and became politically aware, the album came back out. Research was done on Rage, there message was internalized. Now as a grown man ready to graduate college and enter the world of work, I have sacrificed more than $500, a week of my time and much energy to see them reunite. This is my story, but it may as well belong to any among this generation.

As Tom Morello has said in many interviews, during the seven years Rage left us, the world has developed some serious problems. The Middle East Conflict has become even messier with scores of American young dying without cause. The government employs illegal phone taps and detains terrorism suspects for years at a time without fair trial. Latin America is waking, with leftist politicians coming to power and indiginous peoples becoming involved.

Now Rage is back. The latest issue of Rolling Stone praises the band's last performance at Coachella. In 1999, Rage took the stage, sounding weak at first, according to Rolling Stone, due to Zack de la Rocha's laryngitis. After a few songs into the set, Zack screamed "Fuck you I won't do what you tell me!" with the raucous crowd gathered before him.

By the end, Rage rocked the entire crowd with "Sleep Now in the Fire," a song little known by those gathered. Rollling Stone praised it as a classic performance. One can only speculate at the power the reunion show will wield. With 28 days on the official countdown and 26 days on our personal tally, one must ask how long? Not long, because what you reap is what you sow.

Concert-going attire is very important

The key to an undertaking such as this is preparation, from extensive maps right down to what we wear to the show each day.

The Coachella festival features an ecclectic mix of indie bands, electronic music and hip hop. As such, the style in the crowd will be too diverse to classify. We need to stake out our place amongst those in attendence by downing our own distinctive fashions.

Wayne seems dressed for a concert most days anyway, so no problem for him.

Tim has volunteered to sport Acapolco shirts and khaki shorts a la Hunter S. Thompson. This get up lets people know one has come to party and they will not be stopped.

Anthony's main concern centers around how to take quality photographs within the festival, seeing as press credentials are said to be very difficult for photojournalists to come by and the rules disallow any camera with a detachable lens. He said he'll figure something out. Updates to come.

Zack Q will of course be clad in a white wife beater, black cargo pants with one leg rolled up, and a red bandana tied around his forehead with hair hanging over the top. This outfit is all business-minded and well suited for surviving Coachella.

Photo caption: police at a past Coachella arrest a streaker. We plan to wear clothes, but who knows what stands to go down during Rage's set. Photo taken from the Coachella message board.

On the road part four: The meat

This part stands to be a test of our endurance, cunning, mental stability and tolerance for foul smells.

Once we get into Texas we have about 900 miles of driving to do going west on I-44. We'll brake this down into increments of about 300 miles a piece. Here's an imagined narrative.

Increment one, happening from about 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. Assuming Oklahoma has not destroyed any and all traces of moral in the car. We may be playing Scattergories or opening up about the childhood experiences that made us who we are today. More likely, we'll be singing along to raucous renditions classic rock that fits the open road so well. Hate will be minimum, everyone should be awake. The sun set will charge us as we watch it from amongst the desert.

Increment two, this will hurt. Someone will have to drive from 2 a.m. to 7 a.m., with one passanger awake to make sure we don't die in a fiery blaze of sleep. One driver seems less than fair her. We will in all likelihood break this down into two hour graveyard driving shifts. Just finish it, its worth it considering the things that await upon completion. Also, whoever sticks it out to the end will be rewarded with a beautiful sunrise in the New Mexico morning.

Increment three, we will desperately need a second wind here. A will to continue, something to make us fight as we drive the last 300 miles of this helacious leg from about 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. I recomend heavy doses of Rage Against the Machine to fire up the adreneline, followed by some Tenacious D to keep the mind sharp and on point. Mellow music stay back here. We need power to get us to Flagstaff.

Once we make it that far, the rest will seem like a breeze. Adreneline will kick in, Tijuana will be but a few hours away and we'll be far too excited to feel tired, bored or dead-to-the-world. Knock this down and we have completed the first step.

Photo: Check the arrow, that's our goal, but that long red line must be driven first.

Polo follows Zack

I lived across the street from a polo club in a lower to middle income Chicago suburb until I was about 12 years old. Around that time, the club closed and the towns people ripped it apart.

The club, located on Bloomingdale Road between North Avenue and Army Trail Road, was owned and operated by Harold Reskin, a wealthy man who helped build most of what is now Glendale Heights. When he got older, interest in the club fell off. Seeing as none of the people in the town could afford to play or care about polo, we did what you would expect. We walked through the broken up gates and stole anything of value left in the place. Looking back, just having a polo club across the street from my house for so long seems surreal.

Polo ranks among the oddest and most elitist in terms of sports. Yet I remember sneaking in through a hole in a fence to go watch it every once in a while. Also the wall that cut off the club and ran along Bloomingdale Road was lined by pillars with concrete horse heads on top. Many called this "Godfather Row" on account of the brutal scene in the Francis Ford Coppola classic.

Now years later, I will travel to a festival held mostly on of all things a polo field. I can't escape this sport.

Photo: Coachella takes place mostly on the Empire Polo Field in southern California. Photo taken from the Coachella Web site.

Transportation

We must overcome two major barriers to make this show. We've already dispatched with the lofty price, jostling our finances to buy our about $350 three day passes and camping area access.

Now we must cover the 1800 miles, or 27 hours, between Carbondale and the Coachella Valley. Thankfully, we have a massive slice of American automotive to ferry us through. Tim drives a maroon 1990 Buick LeSabre with no more than 60,000 miles on it. It was first owned by his grandmother, who may have driven it on Sundays but not regularly. It has everything one would expect. Leather interior, rust, overly-spacious back seat and trunk. This mighty vessel fits our trip as well as any vehicle could.

Like our journey, this car causes the average person to scoff. What're you crazy? That won't work. Yeah, good luck.

Also like our trip, this car stinks of character. How many people in this day and age drive such a piece? Who would think it's a good idea?

But the car offers much. It's equipped with cruise control and enough room to make sleep comfortable. It's non-assuming. It blends in with the desert perfectly. And like a cross country road trip to a music festival, this car seems more at home in a past-era. We might be safer and more comfortable in a more modern transport, but there would be no glory in completing such a trip in a Chevy Lumina or Volkswagen Pasat. No, we bust the conventions of our roles in society with a Buick. We defy logic in an American made monster from a time when such cars dominated the road, before Toyota exploded into the world's largest manufacturer. This car plays as an important a role in this journey as any of us.

Photo: Tim enjoys a piece of fruit next to the 1990 Buick LeSabre that will send us to Coachella. It may have a flat now, but that problem will be remedied soon enough. Credit Zack Quaintance.

On the road part three: Putting on our O face

We have decided to leave Carbondale at 8 a.m. Wednesday rather than noon. This will hasten our trip, tire us out so sleep in the car is easier and put us in the desert for sun set rather than the bowels of Oklahoma.

Still, we must pass through Oklahoma to get to our scenic desert sun set. Part three of the trip is not fun. It will usher in our second driver of the day, seeing as we plan to switch shifts every six hours once we stop for gas. Six hours of driving should put us right around the Oklahoma-Missouri border.

Once we come into Oklahoma we'll still have 190 miles to drive on I-44 going west. After doing that for a while we exit onto I-40 still going west for another 40 miles or so. This takes us right out of Oklahoma and toward Amarillo.

Since we have shifted our departure time, our journey through Oklahoma should happen from 2 p.m. to about 8 p.m. But once we get into Texas we'll be very close to moving into a new timezone, which may save us an hour or to. It's important to remember, the faster we arrive, the more time we have for going to the beach and bumming around Mexico.

Photo: here you see our path through Oklahoma as estimated by myself using the paint program. Photo taken from preventblindnessok.com, it was the best OK map I found.

One man with a laptop

Girltalk is one guy with a laptop who plays songs and puts on one hell of a show.

Yes, it sounds like the lamest thing ever. No, it's not much different from Tim and I sitting around the living room, burning hours of free time and saying things like "dude, check out this song." But some how this one white guy manages to turn laptop full of tunes into lively live jamboree.

One viewing of a youtube.com video of this guy's performance at this month's South by Southwest Music Festival down in Austin, Texas may convince you as well. An unassuming white guy in a hoody, he comes on stage amid a barrage of cheers and camera flashes.

He right off tells the audience he appreciates the photographic interest, but he resents it as well, because this show is just as much about you guys as it is about him. He's not kidding either. By five minutes into the show, the guy is in the middle of the crowd, no shirt on, bumping with fans as they erupt crazy. He runs through the crowd, makes out with female fans and high fives anyone in the vicinity as terrible old dance songs blare behind him. I could spend a lifetime honing the craft of descriptive, entertainment-oriented, hype writing and still not do this show justice.

As always, I find someone on the Coachella message board has captured the situation best. Girltalk sits near the bottom of Coachella's Saturday lineup in small print. This guy on the board slung a statement at skeptics who prefer other small-type acts with guitars and an actual catalog of original music.

"Have fun watching the Frames or the Fratellis or some other bullsh*t," this guy wrote. "I'll be busy rocking my f*cking face off."

After watching this video and listening to a few samples from Girltalk, I plan to be right there with this guy. That's really an unexpected benefit of this Coachella trip, familiarizing myself with different music, artists and forms of entertainment. Tim and I spent an hour last night hitting the myspace page of every band on the Coachella poster.

We learned a few things. First of all, myspace has burrowed deep into the marketing side of the music business. With media everywhere writing about dismal album sales and a shift to the Web, myspace took that and ran. Every artist except one, had a myspace page with samples of music. From rappers, to punk bands to a bongo band from the Congo -- they were all on myspace. There's the future.

Photo caption: a large crowd watches a performance at a past Coachella. Photo taken from the Coachella Web site.

Fighting the law

This trip has nothing to do with drug use.

Some people tend to think three-day LSD-fueled romp when they hear about a music festival, but the reality of Coachella is that it doesn't particuliarly lend itself to such behavior. The festival happens in Indio, Calif., which sits in the dessert between Vegas and Los Angeles. Our little crew will draw on every ounce of physical stamina we have to survive this trip. Any sort of mind-altering substance would hinder our attempt to get a tan, be comfortable and see as many bands as we can.

Besides, anyone familiar with us knows we are unlikely to candidates to indulge in that sort of thing. I don't drink, Wayne has never smoked pot, Tim is a respected front end manager at the Panera Bread Company and Anthony prefers Irish Car Bombs to any sort of acid trip.

That does sound a bit lame. A bunch of Rage Against the Machine fans crossing the country to obey the law? Not so. Any chance to get back stage will be taken. If someone topples the fence as in a previous year, I'll be right there with them. If Zack de la Rocha's return leads to a massive riot, I''ll be up front. But I need a clear head for such mayhem. Also, who knows what is to become of us in Tijuana.

The Coachella message board also makes clear that anyone found with drugs is out of the show. Driving two days and paying almost $400 to get thrown out of somewhere for having some weed seems like a total waste, when I could do much the same thing right here.

Photo caption: a security guard naps at a past Coachella. Photo taken from the Coachella message board.

Strange coincidence...sort of

The number of posts on my blog matched up with the number of days left until the show for a few glorious hours today.

What is the significance of this? Probably nothing. It for sure means I have way too much time on my hands. But it could mean something larger.

I take it as further proof this trip was meant to be. First the Manu Chao coincidence. For anyone who hasn't read back through the 37 blogs preceding this one, I bought a Bob Marley CD in Mexico. To give you some idea of what sort of purchase it was, I got a CD-R, album art printed on a laser printer and a note that said "Mas que 200 canciones!" Months later I'm listening to this alleged Bob Marley CD, and I hear a song called "Welcome to Tijuana." The only lyrics? Welcome to Tijuana, Tequila, sexo marijuana. So I of course look this song up on the Internet and find it's done by Manu Chao, who is also playing Coachella.

Then the days left lines up with the number of blogs? Can you say destiny?

In all seriousness, a lot had to line up to make this possible. Tim just so happened to have a car with a mere 60,000 miles on it. A few days before I found out Rage was playing, SIUC sent me a refund check for twice the cost of tickets. Anthony had kicked around the idea of a country-spanning road trip for a few semesters and jumped at this opportunity. After months slaving at Southern Illinois' unreasonably demanding student newspaper, I fell into a job that would not only better my finances but also give me the luxury of time off. It all came together.

So here's to coincidences. Here's to savoring the last days of a college career. Here's to a last hurrah before becoming an adult. And here's to hitting the open road with good friends.

Photo caption: Zack enjoys a piece of fruit moments after noticing the number of days matched the number of blog posts. Credit Tim Dusza.

On the road part two: A state of misery

For this part of the trip, we stay on US 60 West through Sprinfield, Mo., take a quick switch there and then hit I-44 West, which takes us into Oklahoma.

Excitement should still run high for this leg of the trip. We won’t have made a stop yet, and we’ll be through here by late afternoon. I’ve driven all over Missouri, occasionally with family, once and a while with school trips and never really by strong personal choice. There’s nothing terribly exciting about cruising through Missouri.

This means we’ll need a strong play list during this part. We should be coming into Springfield before 6 p.m. and no where near sunset. Anyone familiar with the state can tell you there won’t be much to look at.

Music and conversation stand to carry us. We won’t hit six hours in the car until right around Oklahoma, so nobody will be fed up yet. Shouldn’t be too bad.

Estimated travel times: 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Photo caption: image taken from google image search, black line drawn on by author as an approximation of the route we must take.

Wanye's must see bands by day

Wayne shares the bands he has to and would hate to see:

Ah Coachella, how you make me smile with your vast pile of performers. There are too many bands playing. With that being said, here is what I’m really looking forward to.

Friday:

Bjork, It will be awkward for her to be performing without like a heavy snow drift cascading over the crowd, cause she’s like all cold and stuff. I’m guessing her set will be unlike anything else this festival offers.

Sonic Youth will be my blast of energy for the night. Considering the wall of sound they can churn out, I can’t imagine their set being anything less than overwhelming.

Rufus Wainwright, he seems like he’ll give a nice relaxed set or something fun, it’ll be a good way to have a good time without exhausting myself.

Interpol, since Friday looks like the weakest day, I’ll be sure to check these guys out. I liked their first album a lot and the second one wasn’t that bad. I’m sure they’ll put out a good show.

Of Montreal, simply because I liked their latest album and I feel they’ll give a high energy set that won’t disappoint.

I figure other folks like Peeping Tom and Stephen Marley will be acts I check out if I have time.

Friday’s bands I refuse to see:

Busdriver: If I wanted to listen to poorly done scat music, I’d go back to the Scatman. I don’t like him.

Circa Survive: I tolerated them at first, but they really are just a talented emo band, which is almost an oxymoron.

Artic Monkeys: With only one album and the usual British magazines claiming them as the “NEXT BIG THING OMFG!” I’ll pass on them. Give me a few more records and I’ll reconsider.

Saturday:

Mm I do love Saturday, where I will finally get to see the Arcade Fire play. It’s going to be a great and immersive show. They know how to fire a crowd up.

Decemberists, because I do love that sort of folksy stripped down sound they have.

Hot Chip, I will be prepared to dance to your addictive electronica.

LCD Soundsystem, I want them to play at my house, but Coachella will have to do.

Andrew Bird would be another person I have to see, I love every record he has put out.

Peter Bjorn & John, The Frames, !!!, Kings of Leon are all bands I will have to try and fit in.

Bands I would boo if I were caught dead watching on Saturday:

The Good, the Bad and the Queen suck. I don’t care if the lead singer from Gorillaz and Blur joined up with the Clash’s guitarist. It sucks, it’s lame and they are going to blow live.

MSTRKRFT: I really don’t like their album, nor do I like their name, there is no way I could properly say it without sputtering.

Sunday:

Rage, Rage Against the Machine! Need I say more? These guys and Arcade Fire are my two big draws to Coachella.

Explosions in the Sky. They are perfectly in tune with each other and it comes out on the record, I hear it’s also great live.

The same goes for Rodrigo y Gabriela, barring Rodrigo can get into the country. I can’t stop listening to their self titled.

Grizzly Bear because I love their sound and I love what I’ve seen them do live.

Tapes n’ Tapes. I have shown Zack how great they are with laying down the pipe… heh heh a double entendre. Seriously, their drummer used a steel pipe as percussion.

Manu Chao because of what Zack showed me. This is the perfect lead in to Rage’s set. The energy is going to be off the charts.

Bands that shouldn’t show up on Sunday:

VNV Nation: I’d need a crate of drugs to enjoy this crap and I hate drugs.

Damien Rice: I don’t know any of his stuff, but I hate his name. It sounds like a food platter.

Things to avoid

Get over it now. Yes, I spend too much time browsing Coachella message boards, but if I didn't do that I never would have found this gem of a story.

Somebody was asking how far in advance one should arrive in front of a stage to get a spot up front. One guy said get there whenever you want and you can push your way to the front. To which another guy said he would specially look for the first guy so he could elbow him in the side as he passed. This did not make the first guy happy. His response? The following, verbatim:

Meet me at the RAGE SET!!!1! Itll be lik Bulls are parading on your head brotha!!!!

We hope to avoid such unpleasantness.

Photo: taken from the Coachella message board. That guy is puking AND punching the other guy.

Zack's can't miss bands by day

I've familiarized myself with quite a bit more of the music from Coachella, and as such I feel comfortable figuring out which bands I must see. With about 43 days left until the show, this seems overdue.

Friday:

Brother Ali, awesome albino rapper from Minnesota's Rhymesayers label which also boasts Atmosphere and Eyedea and Abilities.

Of Montreal, I listened to their album "Hissing Fauna are You the Destroyer" about 20 times during a recent visit to my mother's house in the Chicago suburbs. This band caught me off guard with how powerful their lyrics are and the funky electronic music that underscores it. I particuliarly like the 11 minute gem "The past is a grotesque animal."

Rufus Wainwright, "Cigarettes and Chocolate Milk" is a great song, that seems reason enough.

Interpol, the songs of Interpol's I like, I really like, but some of their stuff is just too mellow for me. Either way, I'll be front and center for these guys.

Bjork, watch her performance at Coachella a few years ago under the full moon and tell me you wouldn't be excited to see her live.

Saturday:

The Nightwatchman, Tom Morello's solo project. What kind of Rage fan misses this?

Hot Chip, infectious music for sure.

LCD Soundsystem, "Daft Punk is playing at my house" is more than enough reason here.

The Decembrists, please play "Mariner's Revenge Song."

Arcade Fire, they're about to get huge. Just watch.

Red Hot Chili Peppers, sorry music snobs, they may not be the next indie band no one has heard of, but they have a catalog of great music that will be unbelievable played under the desert night sky.

Sunday:

Lupe Fiasco, he put out my favorite hip hop album of 2006.

Tapes N' Tapes, Wayne showed me a Youtube video of these guys playing a very high energy show in Paris. Oh yeah, and they were walking down the street as they did it. I can't wait to see them rocking out stationary.

Rodrigo Y Gabriela, flamenco band that plays excellent covers of Stairway to Heaven and Metallica's Orion. According to this week's Rolling Stone, they also put on a blistering live show.

The Roots, regarded as hip-hop's best live show.

Manu Chao and the Radio Bemba Sound System, the Mexico City coincidence that brought these guys to me is far too powerful to ignore. Plus I bought their concert DVD is amazing, maybe even rivals that of Rage.

Rage Against the Machine, the reason for the trip. The best rock band of the '90s reunites to bring their political message back for a new generation.



There are also a few bands I'm on the fence about, just because I haven't heard enough of them.

On Friday, it's the Arctic Monkeys and El-P. I haven't heard enough of the Monkeys and I'm holding judgement on El-P, who is cutting his second solo hip-hop album this month. Though I wouldn't call it pure solo because he has guest spots from an eclectic bunch of supporters ranging from Nine Inch Nails Trent Reznor to members of the Mars Volta, Yo La Tengo and TV on the Radio. We'll see.

On Saturday, I originally had both Kings of Leon and New Pornographers up on my list, but there's just too much. If they fit into the schedule fine. I don't think Ghostface Killah will translate well live, so he's out. This day suffers from almost too much. I like !!!, but no room. I need to listen to Sparklehorse and the Frames more before making a decision there. That still leaves out Peter, Bjorn and John and Andrew Bird. Curse you Saturday!

On Sunday, Infected Mushroom, Against Me!, Ratatat and Junior Boys have all been recomended to me, but my ears are full enough as is. I really like Explosions in the Sky, Air and Placebo, but I doubt there will be time. Also, Sunday seems like the day to distance myself from mellow indie bands and hear some good hip-hop, flamenco and high energy stuff in the desert.

Damn these organizers and there 60 plus bands. Seeing all my favorites is madness, and I know I'll miss some. Things will have to be plotted carefully once the set list comes out.

Photo caption: a crowd congregates in front of the festival's outdoor stage at a past Coachella. Photo taken from the Coachella Web site.

Guerrila Radio? More like jackass radio

For the second time in the past year, Chicago area alternative rock radio station Q101 nearly altered the course of my life with erroneous news. On Thursday night, Tim called me in a panic saying the disc jockey on Q101 had said Rage was playing its first reunion show right then at Austin, Texas, festival South by Southwest.

I didn't want to pull Wayne into this crisis, but I was en route to a friend's house and had no access to the net. So I rang Wayne. After a quick net browse he reported that the radio station was wrong. Still, Tim called this unreliable dj, who said he had sources at the show saying the reunion was happening in Texas rather than Coachella.

My night was ruined. I soldiered on to my friend's place, where I was reminded about Q101 assuring Lollapalooza ticket holders that on the final day of that festival last year the Smashing Pumpkins would take the stage half way through the Red Hot Chilli Peppers Sunday set and play a triumphant hometown reunion show. It didn't happen, but what did happen was a legion of fans exsponged anger upon the Chili Peppers and the bogus reporting radio station. How do these clowns keep getting away with this?

They were wrong about Rage too. Tom Morello's solo project the Nightwatchman took the stage Thursday night, and he did have some company. According to many news reports, Guns'N'Roses' Slash, Jane's Addiction's Perry Farrell, MC5 guitarist Wayne Kramer, Extreme guitarist Nuno Bettencourt and Primus frontman Les Claypool joined Morello on stage late Thursday night.

The all star ensemble belted out songs from their various bands as well as some material off Morello's solo disc, according to news reports. Who cares what they played. The important thing is, even though they may have performed Guerrila Radio, Rage has still not performed a show in seven years. In fact, Rolling Stone reported this week that the group had not even rehersed yet.

Still, it was a very frightening few hours when we thought the reunion show was going down in Austin, rather than Coachella, and with Rage already playing three shows later in the summer, we had reason to panic. Who wants to see one of the middle dates of a reunion? Any music lover will tell you the money shows are the first and last performances. Now to get to my point, you should all either call Q101 and complain, or do as I will, and boycott them and their shoddy reporting.

Three ways Tijuana turns tough

Here are three titles and alliterations for scenarios in which our trip to Tijuana ends in life-shattering horror:

-Tim’s Tijuana transvestite tragedy, thank respected Hickory Record (N.C.) photojournalist Alan Rogers for that one.

-Wayne’s wacky western wedding to a wife with a wang

-An alcohol-fueled Anthony angrily annihilates any and all American amigos

Oh yeah, also I could become the second Zack from SIU’s journalism program to take a bullet in the ass. Few words start with Z or Q. Here’s a picture of Zack Creglow, whose ass stopped a bullet, saving puppies for some reason. That picture was taken from his Myspace page.

Sometimes it's better to fly Coach...ella

While half drunk and fully under the influence of steak, Wayne recently recalled a tale about a road trip from childhood. Here is what he wrote:

While considering the vast journey ahead of us, I recall a similar trip my family decided to take when I was still in middle school. While it nearly pales in comparison, it still serves as preparation for the trip ahead.

My parents had decided that it would be a wise choice to attend the annual family gathering in Myrtle Beach by driving to the area, which if you haven’t been there is an infestation of both miniature golf courses and strip clubs… something for everyone in the family, if you will.

At the time of this trip, my family was living in Jackson, Mich. It was named one of the worst 100 cities to live in the year we moved away from it. People were getting killed for their Starter jackets… remember how cool those were?

Anyway, it was roughly a 15 to 16 hour trip from Michigan to South Carolina. My father, whose tenacity and stubbornness exceeds my own, decided to take us on a Griswold-like vacation across the country to see these tainted shores of the Atlantic Sea.

The trip was conveniently made in July, perhaps the worst time EVER to travel in a beat down 1990 Ford Aerostar minivan. Think Little Miss Sunshine, but without the fun characters or a grandfather who snorts heroin.

We begin this incredible journey with no problems at all, but the moment we hit Ohio, the van starts acting up. Just as we are about to exit the state, it finally dies on us. There we sat, in 100 degree weather, with no drinks, in the middle of nowhere. For roughly 2 hours, we waited for someone to come by to assist us.

Finally, a kind stranger was more than happy to take us to a gas station some 10 miles away to get drinks and get the vehicle repaired. We continued our trek to South Carolina and had little to no problems, a spare tire and a cooler full of delicious carbonated beverages.

Eventually, we made it to our destination. I played miniature golf, my brother got stung by a jellyfish and my parents drank. The trip back was rather peaceful and problem-free, but I’ll never forget that 20 hour road trip to Myrtle Beach.

However, I now face a more daunting journey. A 26+ trek across the country to Indio, Calif. It will be long and arduous, but I will be sure to bring some spare fluids and maybe rosary beads, so I can pray that we don’t break down at all.

Long live Arcade Fire!!!

Photo Caption: There but for the grace of God goes Wayne, who very well could have had the exact same experience as these characters from Little Miss Sunshine if he had been born of a different grandfather. Photo taken from www.telegraph.co.uk.

Battle for Björk

Two Carbondale men have launched a battle for the affections of Björk, a 41-year-old Icelandic singer/songwriter.

The two men, both students at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, will vie for her attention April 27 before she headlines the first night of southern California’s Coachella Valley Music and Arts festival. However, one competitor has denied the contest is occurring at all.

“Contest? I’d hardly call it a contest,” said Zack Quaintance, a 22-year-old journalism major blatantly attracted to Björk. “He’s going down, that’s all there is to it. In order to have a competition you need two sersiouly viable competitors. He sucks.”

The alleged sucker is Tim Dusza, a 22-year-old English major that works part time as a shift manager at Carbondale’s popular Panera Bread restaurant. Dusza could not be reached for comment at time of publication, but he is widely known to be listening to Björk’s music in an attempt to impress the Grammy nominated songstress.

“If it should happen that the three of us are alone, I can really shine,” Dusza said last month after the contest was first declared.

So far, neither man has acknowledged that Bjork is not only seriously involved with long-time boyfriend contemporary artist Matthew Barney, but she also has a 4-year-old daughter and a 20-year-old son.

When told of Björk’s motherhood, Quaintance responded, “I guess that makes her a milf.”

The two men stand to do battle in seven weeks at Coachella.

Photo caption: Icelandic Björk has become the affection of two men making the trip to Coachella. Photo taken from the Coachella Web site.

Sustenance

Food, the prime thorn in the side of any haphazard road tripper. What will we eat? What can we eat? How can we minimize time spent at rest stops?

These questions far outrank where will we sleep, in terms of importance. Yes, finding lodging presents a challenge, but it’s a fun challenge. Besides, I’ve spent the night in the back of a pick up truck on the highway between Mexico City and Puebla. Wherever we end up, it’s bound to be more comfortable than that.

To battle our appetites, we will shove off from Carbondale with a cooler full of thirty-some sandwiches. A friend who had just ventured 30 hours cross country to Seattle advised against such a tactic, saying his group attempted it and later dumped the food box on the side of a highway in Wyoming on account of lack of arm space.

This poor soul drove that trip in a far smaller car. Tim’s mammoth Buick, while suspect in whether it will survive the trip, provides plenty of space. So we pack a cooler full of tons of my second favorite food (sorry Earl of Sandwich, but pizza tops your creation). Ham and turkey will be our only selection. No cheese or mayo, that’s bound to spoil.

As we cruise through the desert, we will stop often to refill the blue and white box of sandwich with ice. Once we get there, our culinary dynamic flips upside down. Only a fool tries to maintain a cooler full of sandwiches at a three day festival that requires attendees to stay inside all day.

We will eat sparingly inside the festival, hoping to avoid $10 lunches of little nutritional value. Also, none among us want to dump in a terrible, piss-filled, sun-baked portable toilet, even if the other three stand guard outside to prevent against tipping. Eat a meal at the wrong time, and we’re looking at having to leave the Rage pit during Bombtrack to unload a costly mistake. Not cool. Personally, I hope the organizers offer kabobs of some sort.

Photo caption: Here awaits a feast fit for the kings we are. Photo taken from vegsource.com.

On the road part one: Rolling out of town

1). We take 51 south 18 miles to 57 south

2). We take 57 south in Missouri where it becomes US 60 West.

Leg distance: approximately 78 miles, leg time: estimated at 1 hour 45 minutes, 2 p.m. to 3:45 p.m.

This is likely to be the leg of the trip everyone wants to drive. Who wouldn’t want to jump behind the wheel as we head out of town?

We’ve counted the days, we’ve listened to the music, we’ve worked often on a blog to chronicle it. This trip is months in the making, and as we roll out of Carbondale, it will be tough not to be crushed by the excitement. The nearly two hour travel time is probably a bit long, but all these section of the trip entries will overestimate time.

I expect chatter to be strong in the car at this point. There should be decent banter with many hilarious one-liners. Music, of course, will blare from our open car windows as we bid Carbondale farewell on a sunny Wednesday afternoon that sees most of our classmates trekking to class.

This leg taxes us zero. It’s more fun than anything else. We’ll no doubt have some light tunes, but we have yet to tackle music selection. A long, extensive list is in the works. Also, driving duties will be determined by random drawing, sort of like the NBA draft lottery.

Photo caption: Carbondale's Southern Illinois University on a winter day. We're leaving it behind April 25 on our six day journey to the Coachella Arts and Music Festival. Photo taken from city-data.com.

On the road

We will spend 27 hours in Tim's maroon 1990 Buick LeSabre as we careen towards destiny at Coachella. We must cross through Oklahoma, Missouri and northern Texas. Making matters worse, there's no time to lollygag, because we need every spare minute we can for our evening trip to Tijuana. In the spirit of such an adventure, here are some famous quotes, passages and sayings that are mildly applicable to our trip:

Road Trip is not merely something that college students do on weekends to alleviate the stress and boredom of college life. Road Trip is a way of life, a way of viewing the world around you, and a way of asserting your most basic and important freedom - the freedom of choice. Road Trip is NOT about staying in nice hotels, eating fancy meals, and spending lots of money. Road Trip is about letting your soul fly free on a jet stream of steel and concrete, experiencing raw adventure on the open road, living and driving by the seat of your pants, casting all cares and responsibilities to the wind, and submerging yourself in the exhilaration of life. ~Sir Richard’s Canonical Road Trip Web Page.

“What is the feeling when you're driving away from people, and they recede on the plain till you see their specks dispersing? -it's the too huge world vaulting us, and it's good-bye. But we lean forward to the next crazy venture beneath the skies.”” ~Jack Kerouac.

I travel not to go anywhere, but to go. I travel for travel's sake. The great affair is to move. ~Robert Louis Stevenson

Road Trip is a 2000 comedy film written by Todd Phillips and Scott Armstrong and directed by Todd Phillips. The film was based on life experiences by Todd Phillips and did quite well at the box office when it was released in 2000. A sequel was planned, but was later canceled by DreamWorks. EuroTrip is vastly similar and considered as sort of a rethinking of this movie, as it was made by the same people. ~Wikipedia, I don’t think this really has much to do with our trip, but whatever.

I have found out that there ain't no surer way to find out whether you like people or hate them than to travel with them. ~Mark Twain, we’ll see, now won’t we fellas?

Photo caption: A sign instructs travelers how to get to Coachella. Photo taken from the Coachella Web site fan gallery.

Drop the guitar, grab the mic

Coachella features more than just guitars.

The organizers have signed on a collective of excellent hip hop acts to complement the army of indie bands on the ticket. For every Interpol, Decembrists and Explosions in the Sky, there’s an El-P, whose latest album shows a rare meld between rappers and indie musicians with guest spots from members of The Mars Volta, TV on the Radio and Yo La Tengo.

For the Rufus Wainwrights and Sonic Youths, there’s the Lupe Fiascos and Ghostface Killahs. While hip-hop often translates poorly to a live venue, it will be interesting to see what the festival atmosphere does for it. I’m hoping to see artists jumping in on one another’s sets. Maybe Brother Ali will come out and freestyle during DJ Shadow. What if a rad guitarist hits the stage and lays down some riffs for an MC to speak over?

This Coachella line up has the potential to feature some unique combinations. Let’s hope the artists take advantage of it.

Photo caption: Kanye West performs during last year’s Coachella. West, a late minute addition, did not appear on the flier, but he was one of the many hip-hop acts the festival offers annually. Photo taken from the Coachella Web site gallery.

Bathing, you have to do it

People seem to ask one question about this Coachella trip more frequently than all others.

Where are you guys going to shower? Everyone wants to know. Typically, I just furrow my brow, and say “shower?,” raising my voice at the end of the word in the traditional pitch of a question.

Every now and again I will answer. Apparently, the camp ground has a shower facility with hot water and individual shower stalls. While the lines get unruly at certain times of day, our only other option is the old bucket and bar of soap.

We will need to stay clean, mostly at night I imagine. Sleeping in a cramped tent with three others presents enough discomfort, we don’t need a tear-wrenching bout of BO to make it even worse.

Still, there is one time I refuse to shower. I will not bathe from the moment Rage ends its set late Sunday night, to the time Anthony and I stagger into Steve Hallock’s ethics class Tuesday morning.

I apologize to my classmates in advance, but there simply won’t be enough time or effort to wash up. Also, I don’t want the soap to scrub away the memories. It’s sort of like when someone’s crush kisses them on the cheek, causing that person to hold back on washing it for a few days.

I will leave Coachella saying, “I’m never washing myself again. I don’t want the Coachella to wash off."

Photo caption: A woman walks away from the shower trailer at last year’s Coachella. The trailers offer divisions for males and females with individual stalls. Picture taken from the Coachella message board.

Anthony's top 10

Anthony Souffle has failed to write an entry naming his most anticipated acts at Coachella. Instead, here’s a picture of what Tim may look like after our evening trip to Tijuana.

Nice watch bro.

Lodging

No one talks about it much, but the four of us will sleep three nights in a seven by seven tent. That’s what we’ve planned for lodging.

Really though, it was the most enticing choice. Our other options included paying for a hotel (what are we millionaires?), sleeping in Tim’s car (four men in a 1990 Buick LeSabre with leather interior in the California desert, enough said) or the camping area. We obviously choose the later.

Once again, my friend Vince Cicero, of Buffalo, N.Y., really nailed the situation when he said, “with those camping passes why would you want to go to Tijuana? The camping area will be much crazier?”

If my research rings true, he’s right. During the hour of my day in which I browse the Coachella message board, I have uncovered many stories of the camping area. Several campers tell of drunks assailing their tents. Others speak of sleep-shattering arguments between nearly-nude lesbian partners. I have a couple of favorite camping ground stories though.

One guy, when asked what a Coachella virgin should bring to the festival, advises campers to bring ear plugs, because ecstasy-fueled hippies often insist on playing bongo drums until 6 a.m. I really hope our plot sits far away from those people. Another guy has a story about the origins of an inside joke.

At last year’s show, some guy separated from his girlfriend and instead of looking for her, he caught an act with his buddies. The girl, who spent most of the show searching for this guy, took her aggression out on him after the show. According to this story-teller, every time the guy tried to talk, she cut him off with: “you know what? F*ck you!” To this day, the storytellers fried still say you know what? F*ck you.

Funny stuff. So we’ve bought our $45 for four nights camping passes and we’re all set to return with a series of stories of our own, which will hopefully rival those made famous by the message board. That sounds much better. Let's just forget we will spend four nights sleeping in a tiny tent.

BREAKING NEWS: Manu Chao is here!

Manu Chao Radio Bemba Sound System has reached the apartment of Zack Quaintance, a 22-year-old fan who ordered the album more than a week ago on half.com and has spent every moment since wondering when it would come.

Quaintance, thrilled with his day already given the beautiful weather, unlocked his silver, apartment mailbox located just south of the Lewis Park office to find an album-sized package.

Giggling more than a grown man should, he raced back to his apartment, which sits near Lewis Park's entrance. Quaintance found his home empty, and surmised his roommates must be "doing something way lamer than dancing to Manu Chao alone."

The senior at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, who plans to graduate this May, played the album ear-smashingly loud despite being utterly alone. Within moments he broke a sweat.

Local authorities estimate the high energy tunes spread excitement within a half-mile radius, causing Lewis Park residents and local alcoholics entrenched at Pinch Penny Pub's newly opened beer garden to tap their feet.

For any interested parties, Quaintance says a raucous celebration of the disc's arrival will run pretty much non-stop until 2, possibly 3 a.m.

Tim's top 10

Here's Tim weighing in with some thoughts about the trip in general and the 10 acts he is most excited to see:

Ever since I came across an Internet article on the 2004 Festival, I had wanted to attend the epic spectacle that is Coachella. Two Days of music, art, and sun. It was like a fantasy that was just out of reach. Nobody I knew would be remotely interested in traveling half-way across the country to see a bunch of bands they have never heard of.

Once Zack told me that he was interested in going to Coachella, I knew we had to find a way to go. As soon as Anthony said he was in, making the trip affordable and feasible, I knew we were about to embark upon something special.

There is something strangely American about a group of friends jumping in car and taking a road trip through the American southwest. It’s been the topics of many books, paintings, and especially films. Twenty years from now, when I sit down to watch a film and the opening credits feature a group of friends speeding down the desert highway at sunrise, majestic mountains in the background, driving a beat up old jalopy, I hope that an involuntary grin spreads across my face transporting me back to what I hope becomes five of the defining days of my college years.

10) Ghostface Killah- I’m not that familiar with his work, but I loved The Pretty Toney Album and can’t wait for Zack to buy Fishscale so I can dive into that. I hope he is as energetic live as he is on his albums.

9) Happy Mondays- Due to scheduling issues, I’m probably going to miss out on seeing the reunion of the Mondays. If all is right in the world, they will play the main stage on Sunday just before Manu Chao. I’ve listened to Pills’n’Thrills and Bellyaches, and really enjoyed it, however from their depiction in the film 24 Hour Party People, their live shows look to be an absolute blast.

8) Decemberists- Whenever I hear Collin Melloy’s voice, my mind is instantly transported to 19th century Europe, and I am very curious to see if this is true at a live performance.

7) Interpol- There aren’t many albums out there that I consider perfect, but Interpol’s debut Turn on the Bright Lights, is up there. I’m not sure how their music is going to play to a festival crowd, but I know I can’t wait to find out.

6) New Pornographers- The fact that the New Pornographers, one of my favorite and most listened to bands, only makes number six on my list just shows of strong this line-up is. The band has perfected their studio sound, and while I am curious to see how it translates to the stage, I pray that the full line-up is present at Coachella. I could listen to Neko Case sing all day, and though I’ll be happy listening to A.C. Newman and company, I’ll be very disappointed if Neko’s majestic and powerful voice is absent.

5) Sonic Youth- Even having listened to it hundreds of times, “Teenage Riot” still makes me feel warm and fuzzy from beginning to end. Simply put, Daydream Nation changed my life. It was one of the first “indie” albums I ever purchased. If marijuana is a gateway drug, then Daydream Nation, along with Pavement’s Slanted and Enchanted were my gateway albums. They led me to a world of broader and more challenging music that I never would have discovered without them. The Yoof are older than I am, and despite the fact that I haven’t kept up with their entire catalogue, seeing them live has always been a goal of mine.

4) Bjork- I actually feel somewhat embarrassed about not being familiar with Bjork’s work. For years I have heard critics lavish praise upon her, but for whatever reason I simply never made an attempt to familiarize myself with her music. After listening to her first three solo albums pretty much non-stop for the last 3 weeks though, I can safely say that Bjork has me hooked. While it won’t be a full moon on Friday night, I pray that the night is as majestic as Bjork’s music.

3) Arcade Fire- Almost two years ago, I discovered a little album called Funeral that instantly grabbed me and still hasn’t let go. Still, some of the material on Funeral doesn’t seem as though it could transfer to the festival atmosphere. Fortunately, the yet to be released Neon Bible is full of mostly high energy and up-tempo tracks, and while the album doesn’t pack the same emotional punch that Funeral did, there is no doubt in my mind that these tracks sound spectacular live.

2) Manu Chao- Six weeks ago, if you had uttered the two words “Manu Chao”, I would have stared at you blankly and thought that you were possibly speaking Portuguese. Since that time however, the man (and his band) have become a borderline obsession. The only foil in my attempt to learn more about the man is his impossible to manage Web site.

1) Rage Against the Machine- This really needs no explanation. Quite simply, without Rage, this trip isn’t happening. They are the reason why I plan to skip a week of school, put 3,600 miles on my car in 5 days, and plan to risk physical (and emotional) health in Tijuana. For as long as I have known Zack, we have dreamed of a Rage reunion.

Wayne's top 10

Wayne Utterback wrote the following text after I asked him for a post about his 10 favorite Coachella acts. Rage no. 2? I may never look at him the same again:

At the behest of Monsieur Quaintance, I have assembled the top 10 bands that I indulge with my presence Coachella.

10. Peter, Bjorn & John- The beauty of Coachella is to see bands you’ve only heard a little bit from. Take PB & J as a great example. They just released “Writer’s Block” to much critical acclaim. Now is my chance to see if they live up to the hype.

9. Hot Chip- Fun electronic infused pop straight outta London! These guys put on a crazy and fun show. I’ll be sure to put on the whitest of dance moves during their stage time.

8. Explosions in the Sky- If this band sounds as good as they are on their recordings, I’m going to be utterly blown away (hehe I said “utterly”.) These technically proficient Texas performers prove that you don’t have to have lyrics to say something.

7. Grizzly Bear- All I can say is search Youtube for their performances with director
”Lablogotheque.” Yeah… they can sing in a bathroom, think of how great they will sound in California.

6. Rufus Wainwright- I was smitten by Wainwright’s music the moment I heard his cover of the Beatles “Across the Universe,” and he’s only continued to amaze with each record. I have a feeling his performance will be a good time to be had by all.

5. The Decemberists- The Decemberists have been picking up steam lately with their latest release. They’ve been on the Colbert Report! I’ve always enjoyed their music, especially “Picaresque.” If they don’t play “Eli, The Barrow Boy” I’m going to punch all of them.

4. Sonic Youth- Thurston Moore and Co. have been a band that always captured my attention. With “Daydream Nation” they truly brought the grunge sound to the world, though Nirvana was the first to really mark major financial success with it. In fact, last year it was inducted into the Library of Congress' National Recording Registry, so yeah, they are important. Their latest album “Rather Ripped” rules too.

3. Bjork- Really Arcade Fire and Rage stand about the same along with Bjork. All three are playing on separate days, probably near the end of the day. All three will be performances I will never forget. Bjork will be the most unique of the three. She’s odd, she’s adorable and above all, Icelandic. I’ve always been a fan of her records and loved her videos, especially those with Michel Gondry and Chris Cunningham. I have a feeling that her presence alone will be awe-inspiring.

2. Rage Against the Machine- What can I say about Rage that isn’t already known? The most influential period of my life (high school) rotated around Rage, Soundgarden and Tool. These bands defined what music was to me. Rage, however, was always the most definitive of the three. Always with an important message, always getting in your face and always being unapologetic with what they said. When I and thousands of others scream “Fuck you, I won’t do what you tell me,” in unison, I’ll feel like I’m right where I belong.

1. Arcade Fire- I know, I know… it’s blasphemy to put Arcade Fire before Rage Against the Machine, but hear me out. Since the Arcade Fire released their first self titled EP, I’ve been in love with them. I have a severe man crush on Win Butler because he does what I wish I could; make important music while dressing like he is attending a funeral. I’ve missed so many opportunities to see this band. The first time I was to see them, my ride bailed on me. The second time I was to see them; I was told I had to work or be fired. After such a long and arduous journey, I shall see them at Coachella. All will be well in the world of Wayne.

Zack's top 10

Here are the top 10 acts I'm most excited about seeing and some brief commentary about each:

10). Brother Ali, I kind of saw him once before. It was during my second and final year of junior college up near Chicago. I got hammered in my friend's car on the way to the show and had no idea Brother Ali was even performing. I familiarized myself with his work after I ran out of Atmosphere albums. He's an albino Muslim that plays on the same label as Atmosphere. His lyrics are also far better than Slug's, no surprise there. He was opening for Atmosphere actually when I got too drunk to realize he was on. I do, however, remember we went to Taco Bell after the show and pissed off the drive thru line when we started throwing empties out of the driver's side window. I really don't miss drinking.

9). The Red Hot Chili Peppers, I've been a fan of these guys since I heard Under the Bridge when I was in fifth grade or so. While I realize they are like any other commercial band, I still can't help enjoy their music. The band's latest double disc album has worn its way into my stereo. The lyrics aren't particularly deep, mostly stuff about Cali, but the music just makes me feel good.

8). The Nightwatchman, more out of curiosity than anything else. His fist single plays on my myspace page. Tom Morello plays guitar like few others and his guttural vocals bring even more depth to the sound on the first track. What I'm most interested in here is the political message he fuses to the Nightwatchman. Even if it's just an expansion to Rage's message, I'm still very interested. This guy has a degree from Harvard.

7.) The New Pornographers, Coachella has inspired me to familiarize myself with as much of its line up as I can. Thanks to Wayne and Tim, I've gotten my hands on much of the music and given almost all of it a quick listen through. This band really jumped out at me with its catchy melodies and feel-good, quasi-pop sound.

6). The Roots, The media often touts this band as hip-hops best live show. These guys are pretty infectious on their albums. I can't wait to see what they do in person. Plus they often feature Razel, one of the world's best beat boxers. I'd really like to see him live.

5). Bjork, another act I've gotten to know recently. She plays last on Friday, the first day of the festival. I can't think of a better way to cap our first full day in the desert than with Bjork's melodic performance. I hope it's a beautiful night.

4). Lupe Fiasco, the best new rap artist I've heard in I don't know how long. Food and Liquor could be my favorite album from last year. A Chicagoan and a skater, there's a lot for me to like about Lupe. Also, his lyrics are far smarter than most commercial hip hop I've heard as of late. His name is very small on the flier for Sunday, meaning we could see him early in the day with a manageable crowd. That'd be ideal.

3). The Arcade Fire, just listen to their music. I had their first album, Funeral, still on heavy rotation in my car and home when I got my hands on their sophomore effort, Neon Bible. That disc is spinning all day every day. A seven-member group from Canada, the Arcade Fire has wowed me more than any other indie band. I've watched youtube videos of their performance last year at Coachella as the desert sun set. It looked amazing, and rumor has it they will be playing at dusk again this year.

2). Manu Chao, please refer to the many other posts about why I'm excited for this guy. All I can say here is I'm impatiently waiting for the album and concert DVD of his I ordered off half.com to get here, and it's killing me.

1). Rage Against the Machine, the band that inspired this trip. I will camp in front of the main stage all day if it means being up front when these guys come on. Rumor has it, the last three acts on that stage will be Roots, Manu Chao and then Rage. I must devise a way to go to the bathroom and eat without moving from that stage.

How long? Too long.

We’re in pain. Every second that still must tick off the Coachella countdown clock kills us. We’ve all coped in different ways.

I use this blog as therapy. The blog updates every morning. So when I find myself grimacing at the massive amount of time separating us from Coachella, I remind myself I still have more than 50 blogs to right.

My mind wanders away from the countdown. I conceptualize more blogs, I surf the Web for Coachella-related images and I wonder who all reads this daily.

Tim has added a Coachella countdown widget to his computer. At first, one would think this would seems foolish for someone trying to avoid being overwhelmed by a huge countdown. But one doesn’t know us. The widget just saves time. Without it, we would trudge to Coachella.com for our countdown. That’s more work and it makes the let down more severe when you eventually find out there’s still 58 days left.

Tim handles the countdown by breaking it into pieces. He can often be heard saying “we just have to get to spring break and we’ll go from there.” It’ll be interesting to see what happens when spring break comes and goes.

Anthony, he’s a busy guy, so the wait doesn’t hit him as hard. But we keep reminding him how long is left. And Wayne, I’m sure he savors the time until we go, rubbing his tickets in everyone’s face. He has photocopies taped to the top of his briefcase. Go ahead pick up your jaw and stop being shocked. That’s right, Wayne carries a briefcase.

As I prepare this post, 56 days stand between us and Coachella. Feels like I'm stuck in the world's most snarled traffic jam.

The long trip home

In my mind, little rests beyond Coachella.

I understand I will return to Carbondale for two weeks, finish up my time as assistant editor of the Herrin Independent and Carterville Courier, and leave southern Illinois forever with a degree in journalism.

As it stands, I’m contractually obligated to be in St. Petersburg from June 3 through July 17 for a summer fellowship program many describe as journalism boot camp. But all this seems vague to me. In my minds eye, only Coachella is sharp.

My college career, much like the rest of my life, featured few conventional events. For the first two years, I attended a community college. I went to class for two hours each morning, drove to Panera Bread, changed into my uniform in the parking lot and worked a full day. I wasn’t a college student. There were no frat parties, no one night trists with women I barely knew and no extra curricular activities. Instead I spent my days selling soup, speaking Spanish to co-workers and writing in a journal most nights when homework was done.

I transferred to Southern Illinois University Carbondale three years ago, mostly because they were the only school in the state that would accept me and also offered a journalism major and creative writing minor. While I have since swapped creative writing for Spanish, that is what drew me here. Once I arrived I fell into a very serious relationship and a very serious job at the school paper. Between these two endeavors, I had no time for the typical college lifestyle.

This trip to Coachella is my way of making up for lost time. I have quit drinking and don’t plan to indulge on this trip. To me, there’s something far more beautiful, far more relaxing and much more special about sitting sober in a packed festival watching a band spill their personal material as a scorching southern California sun sets behind them. Surrounded by good friends, where could I possibly go after that?

The trip home scares me. I’ll be tired and energized at the same time. I’ll have two weeks business left to handle, but no certainties after that. If only my transition into real life could be as simple, beautiful and pure as a five day, cross-country trip with three good friends to see a favorite band from my youth reunite.

But something tells me nothing in life will ever be as simple.