Railbird Festival in Lexington Kentucky

[Pineapple]

Railbird should book MMJ for a free concert at Rupp Arena to make up for the shitshow yesterday with no food or water... luckily it was all worthwhile to see the boys again!

[ranyart]

No food or water?  Are you serious?  Wow...

[Towski]

It was a complete disaster.  HourS long lines for food and drinks. Even water refill station were an hour long while waiting on asphalt in the sun and 95F.  So bad that we ate night two of hotel and rented a car to drive home a day early.  MMJ was awesome as always...but I'll never go to Railbird again.  Ever.

[AKS]

Shit show doesn't even begin to explain how poorly ran the festival
was yesterday. They're lucky they had the bands they did to help take away some of the negative feedback they're getting. I don't know how this festival recovers and comes back next year. We lucked out because we got there a little later, which meant not dealing with the lines to get in but getting a beer, no chance, food, nope. Better hope you brought a water bottle in and could find somewhat cold water at the re-fill stations.

The boys did what they do best though and that's what it's all about. I'm being very picky but a little annoying we didn't get a full 2 hours. When it's a band this good and you don't get 1 or 2 more songs it always sucks! We shall see how their "changes" for today go!

Anyone needs two passes hit me up!

It was a complete disaster.  HourS long lines for food and drinks. Even water refill station were an hour long while waiting on asphalt in the sun and 95F.  So bad that we ate night two of hotel and rented a car to drive home a day early.  MMJ was awesome as always...but I'll never go to Railbird again.  Ever.

[Towski]

I heard they were late taking the stage because Jim was stuck in line trying to get a water.

[Cameron]

Sucks y'all had to deal with that!

[ranyart]

Just found an article about the Railbird troubles in the local rag...

https://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/2021/08/28/railbird-music-festival-sees-long-lines-water-food-and-beer/5639394001/

Sounds like they are going to try to do better today, but time will tell, and this year's event was 2x 2019 so sounds like they didn't plan properly for the growth.

[MMJCOBRA]

My Railbird Festival 2021 experience wasn't as frustrating for me as it was for the average person. I went in knowing I wasn't going to buy anything there (except maybe a poster or something after the show was over - I didn't even do that). I had my last toilet break just as we exited the parking area. I had my Camelback Classic with me and made my way to the line for free water. We got through the entrance gate at 3:30, and it took me about 20 minutes to wait in line for water. I then made my way to the left of center side (cheap side with no VIP cut-out section up to the rail) and found a good piece of unclaimed grass and sat down about halfway between the soundboard tent and the front rail. I listened to my first act seated right there. After people left that stage to go over to the other stages, I decided to make my way to the center railing that divided the left and right half and provided for the cable runs and the crew to move up and down (you all know what I'm talking about). I was able to get right behind a couple who had brought a blanket, an umbrella and other stuff and were permanently camped out there (until about a third of the way through MMJ's set and they move out). That meant I had the center rail to lean on for old man health reasons and nobody pushing past me to get right in front of me. I talked to a few of the people in my immediate area and saw and waved down two friends from here on the Forum and spoke with them a few minutes. Besides that, I kept to myself, tried to conserve energy, drank slowly on my Camelback water supply, and waited for my favorite band to take the stage. There was a 25 minute delay in them going on (they started at 9:25 instead of 9:00), so that might have effected the on stage time quite a bit, but I still don't see why they couldn't have just said the hell with it, we're playing longer. These fans deserve it. Anyway, I did enjoy my time at the Railbird Festival, but that's simply because I came prepared, had on the right clothing (even snuck in a large chunk of ice in my neck wrap that lasted about an hour), conserved my energy by never moving from my chosen spot, and waited to rock out till the end (the other acts weren't very rockin'). Also, the 25 minute delay might have been some sort of electrical or soundboard cable run issue. They started pushing road cases down the center path toward the stage and pulled up the right side of cables right around the time MMJ were supposed to take the stage. I mentioned it to one of the crew working security, and he said he had no idea and didn't know what in the world it could be related to. My friend and his wife said the sound wasn't mixed right in their opinion from where they were way back in the field. Earlier in the day, a lady behind me that I had been talking with mentioned that something seemed off with the sound during that particular band's performance. She said something like it had too much reverb. I don't know. I had my earpeace hearing protection in for the entire festival (I've been having some hearing issues lately and didn't want to take any chances at a festival). Hope there is an audience recording of the show though. That's it. I'm back on the mend with a good helping of MMJ's Healing Music!

My man!!!!  Focus on the positive!!! I love it

[slappymoe]

wow, i didn't pull the trigger on a Saturday ticket because a single day was going to cost at least $200 overall.  plus the old man in me has developed a powerful aversion to outdoor shows in the summer heat.  hell, i won't even play golf anymore if it's over 90.

reading some of these railbird horror stories makes me oh so glad i passed.  dying to bask in the glory that is MMJ live, but it can wait a couple more months.

[ranyart]

Nice review Mr. White and glad it worked out for you.  Sounds like Sunday went better especially with the water situation.  I'm right there with you on the hearing situation.  The last MMJ NYE shows I thought were super loud so after the first night I picked up a set of good ear plugs and they are a tremendous help.