As a preface, this will likely be my last Gorge trip where the sole purpose is to pregame and get super messed up before the show. I’m not exactly sure how many times I’ve been to the gorge but I believe this was my 7th time and just as it was with going to Panama City beach for spring break 3 or 4 times, the experience gets less and less meaningful the more times I go. I guess you could say the “glamour” and fun of partying all day just loses it’s edge over time. Plus I’m old now. Being 30 has its downfalls I guess.
Anyways, I was really looking forward to this show, mainly for Spoon who I listen to on a regular basis. I like Cage the Elephant a lot too, although not to sound too snobby but that is largely due to their first album. They were playing around the area a lot when I started my band Po’ Brothers back in 2010. Once I saw Beck was on the bill I felt this was a must see show. I figured it would be no issue getting a large group of friends to go to the gorge and even tried to get Jake from Indiana to come but no luck. Everyone had plans and things they were already doing. Luckily for me I had my always faithful concert friend, Jake Flatt, down and ready to go.
As opposed to almost every other time I’ve been to the gorge, we decided to wait until the day of before heading up to the show. The whole week I had been experience stomach pains and it thankfully let up the day of the show. I don’t know if this was me mentally willing it to be so or if it was just coincidence. I later found out I had appendicitis so it was probably a good call I didn’t head up the night before!
We took our time on the way up. Stopped at the twin peaks cafe in North Bend, got the biscuits and gravy to help soak up the booze I would soon be ingesting, and then we were on the road listening to good tunes the rest of the way. Trip was quick for once, I think we got their in like 2 hours. I had just got the Raconteurs album so pretty sure we listened to that all the way through 3 or 4 times.
Once we got up there we hit it pretty hard. It helped that it was hot outside. Not too hot but probably every bit of 85 to 90. To halfway quote Dumb and Dumber, the beer flowed like the salmon of Capistrano. As a sidenote and as a reference to the earlier preface, this is exactly what I want to avoid in the future as this would later set me up to barely remember the whole show. Anyways, we met our neighbors who were pretty cool (a young 20 year old company who were just coming to the gorge for the first time).
The beers continued to flow and we went with our new found friends to meet up with Scott who plays in another local band, Either / Or. He had some friends with him and after my urging everyone, we headed on the road to the stage. I definitely didn’t want to miss Spoon which was pretty much the whole reason I wanted to come. Luckily, after the mile walk we got in now problem and I was sitting on the hill halfway through their first song.
Unfortunately we had some far away seats and the bands didn’t have a big TV screen for people in the back to be able to clearly see what was going on on-stage. Our seats were conveniently by the beer and food stands so that wasn’t an issue. We also weren’t far way from the port-a-pots so silver linings I guess! Anyways by this point Jake had given me a few adderalls so I was feeling very high strung I guess you could say. Anyways this was the highlight of the show for me as I enjoyed every single song Spoon played, with probably, surprisingly, Hot Thoughts being the favorite.
I have bad eyesight so honestly I couldn’t see much of that was going on stage. I could see the faces of members of the band projected on the TV but as for stage presence and what was going on, you could tell me just as much as I could tell you. What I can say for certain was they sounded great, super tight, which says a lot considering they have a new touring bassist. They ended their set on Rent I Pay.
After them I was surprised that Cage the Elephant was on next. I had expected going into the show that Beck would be on second. Since Beck was the artist I was interested in least this boded well for me and my drunken state.
Cage the Elephant sounded good as well but again I couldn’t see much of what was going on. I only clearly remember the first couple of songs of their set. I was disappointed I couldn’t see much because I have seen Cage the Elephant play at Easy Street records and his stage present is amazing. Brokenboy, Spider head, and Cold cold cold were all great and sounded good. I would say the only criticism I could offer was it sounded like was listening to the radio. No real improvisation or added musicality to make the songs truly special.
Cage the Elephant ended and on came Beck. I was so happy he started with Loser because its one of the few songs know by him. After that were a lot of songs I wasn’t familiar with. He had a better presence with the crowd than Cage and Spoon as he seemed to talk to the crowd more than the others. However, since I was messed up and unfamiliar with the songs, Jake and I decided to beat the crowd and head back to the campsite. Long story real short, I made it back sat in the chair and almost passed out. I then made my way to my tent and had one of the most rock solid sleeps at the gorge of all time.
I sadly woke up at 6 am with Jake sleeping in the grass in front of the tent. I started packing up shit and we hit the road at 7, which is by far the earliest I’ve ever left. We had an awesome breakfast in Ellensburg at a place called the Red Horse Diner. Definitely want to make it back there.
In conclusion, and looking back, I have a couple things I want to change up in the future:
- From now on I am going to get good seats at the Gorge. I’m over bad seats. Chalk it up to me being older and having more money. I’m in my prime and want to fully enjoy the show. I put a lot of time in coming out to the gorge and I might as well be able to fully utilize and enjoy the time
- I’m going to drink more responsibly and not smoke weed at the show. All this does is cause me to be super out of it and not fully enjoy it. Plus I’ve done it so many time the thrill has worn off.
- I’m going to buy merchandise. I did it this time with buying a Spoon shirt and its so worth it as it allows you to have a keepsake from the experience.
All in all I was disappointed with my bad seats and my..uhh..lack of attention. But that being said I did have a great time with Jake. I now know that all 3 bands are good live and I look forward to catching them at some smaller more intimate venues in the future!
Favorite song of the whole show below: