That guy should have been thrown off the stage...

[Wakawaka]

Just got back from Wakarusa. It was a good weekend but there were a few things that weren't soo good about Wakarusa. First and most important was the guy who introduced each band, was horribly annoying and should have been kicked off stage and never allowed to speak again ever!!! He ruined the vibe of the whole festival, i felt like was at spring break or some crappy rock concert. It was just bad, and that was my biggest complaint.

Now for a few small things. My girl friend made a good point that they should have figured something else about the walk to the stages. It was long and dark, it would have been alright if there were vendors or like Bonnaroo walk through the cmap to get there just anything to not make it dark and long. Next was the cops, i personnally had no bad encounters with them but i did see about 5 of them lurking through the camp ground looking in cars and tents hoping to come across somone enjoying themselves and minding there own buisness.

Last, and this is my opinion of course and to each there own, but i didn't feel like Wakarusa was a festival, the only thing that saved it as a festival were the bands. This might be because i have been to 7 other festivals including Bonnaroo Jerry's Birthday Bash and All Good and i enjoy the real heady relaxed scene. I feel that the amount of One-dayers migth have casued it not to feel like a festival they were all drunnk teenagers making fun of the hippes which sucks because we were all there to enjoy the music not their company. I enjoy a diverse community of music listeners but these kids had no respect for anyone else excpet there drunk-ass friends.

Well don't get me wrong i drove 9 hours to Lawrence for the festival and it was well worth the drive and the $65 ticket to get in. I was there for the music and enjoyed it but the scence as a festival was alittle dissapointing.


FOr those who think this festival might revial Bonnaroo or even High Sierra, you might have to wait unitl next year for that ....

[NCTRNL]

The announcers...except for Beatle Bob, we're annoying as ****. I couldn't stand any of them. Especially before Dirty Dozen Brass Band when he wouldn't shut the hell up. Lots of good things and some bad...but the bands...great job.

We just drove right up to the front instead of walking, which was nice!

[Dgold at An Honest Tune]

I agree the DJ announcers were terrible (*except for Beatle Bob*!). They had so much drippings of fake lingo. Beatle Bob was the shiz tho, he made up for the others.

That was just about my only complaint, an awesome festival!!

[goodcrack]

you guys got it right about the guy being annoying. i'm pretty sure he was one of the organizers as I think he was pictured in the Lawrence.com print version that they were handing out at the event.

there is a first time for everything and this was the first time for Wakarusa. hope it's back next year with a few improvements and a few more people. just not too many more. just enough so they make a tiny bit of profit.

[HerperPsychlobe]

I remember right before Robert Randolf, the dude introduced the Frisbee Golf champion of the world (or something) and he said...\" (Whatever the frisbee dude's name is)...I bet you have done enough drugs to blow my mind,\" or something like that. I was like...whoooooa, thats neat. Anyways, the festival was fun. The music was insane. I really loved the little drum vendor who let me play his hand-drums. I think that as mentioned before, Uphrey's McGee would have been a great addition to the line up, as well as Yonder. I heard for a while that SCI or Moe were going to show up. Although I knew it to be unlikely, I still hoped it to be true. Despite this false rumor, the bands were awesome and Galactic rocked my world!
Herpetology Rules!

[soydeLawrence]

i could not agree more with you about the announcer, he was damn annoying. just walking through the festival grounds, hearing him talk ruined it. everyone around was always yelling \"shuuuut uppppp\" and by the end of the first day, i was completely tired of him.
as to the police officers, they're obviously needed and it seemed they went soft for the most part. one of my friends was busted toking up, but they just told him to put it away. dont know how it worked out for others.

The announcers were terrible. Especially right before Dirty Dozen Brass Band - if I was the stage manager I would have yanked him no matter who he was (even if he was one of the main Wakarusa organizers) he was totally ruining the vibe and if he had gone on for much longer, people might have gotten violent/destructive

[PolyOntology]

Wow, you think it would've gotten violent? I guess people really are that retarded though. Yeah the guy was annoying, but does it hurt you THAT bad? I couldn't help but laugh at the cheesiness of that guy...but I don't think he deserves to have his ass kicked or anything. If your \"vibe\" is ruined by something that trivial, then maybe its time to get a new \"vibe\".

LOL...it was a little exaggeration to underscore the fact that the guy sucked with the hope that he won't be back next year. Relax!!!

Nobody in that crowd would have gotten violent, but that type of announcer has no place at that kind of festival. He obviously knew very little about the bands he was announcing; otherwise he would have realized that everyone there knew how good the bands were without some jackass telling them that he 'had seen these guys once in indiana and they rocked!'

:cry: :cry: wow i thought i was at a pop concert by the way most bands were announced. 95% of the folks at the shows know it takes time to change a stage. we've been doing it for years. please please get rid of that annoying dj

:cry: :cry: wow i thought i was at a pop concert by the way most bands were announced. 95% of the folks at the shows know it takes time to change a stage. we've been doing it for years. please please get rid of that annoying dj

[mastersplinter]

someone should have hit him with those beachballs they threw out right before DDBB...someone did hit him and the crowd went NUTS!!!

I do know that he put more into that show than most the regulars 8)

seems a grommit should shut the hell up :shock:

just dissin my shnizzles 8)

all about a peace thang :P

put up and frizzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzB

He is an organizer and his pic was in the paper - He's a hell of a nice guy and probably had a few bills to pay just like a radio station.. The guy friday night was alright and was to the point before the other guy jumped in -- The beads were kewl too.

[momma c]

my take on the announcers is as such
most of us are a laid back crowd and didn't need to be encouraged to be enthused - steve and i drove 7 hours to get there - were were already enthused! also if i want to go to smoking us 30 drag strip where the great ones run, i will.

what was disconcerting to me was the police being everywhere (it is state property i think and they were being very cool from what i could tell)
but the announcers were making very sophmoric statements about getting high smoking the green etc. That sends 2 statements to me
and that is not cool

as a promoter of a festival or any event - whether your participants are doing drugs or not - don't encourage your guests to party while the police are touring your festival grounds - just plain dumb business sense.

ya know what i am saying?!

on the other side, i also saw up front how hard the guys were working on stage to make it all happen try to stay on schedule etc.
there were no premadonnas all were busting their patooties trying to set-up and tear down and stay on schedule.
so for me a little hawking is ok - if you have been to telluride to hear pastor mustard for 4 days, you will this this was a drop in the bucket.

next time no drug references - if we smoke etc, we smoke
so silly children's titter titter
and don't make it seem like it is cool to partake when johhny law is 10 feet away from me.
as a fellow festivarian you should be looking out for me
i hope this makes sense.... c

[kinderkitti]

momma c, be sure to post your thoughts under feedback on the main waka page.

[JustBob]

momma c, great point

I'm all about discretion. I don't care if its pooring a drink from my flask that I shouldn't have in the concert field or my friends smoking, you have to keep it on the down low.

Bob

[daytripper]

The announcer dude was bad... I think i've seen him at other festivals announcing. seemed like he was wasted to me. Not a good impression to leave when the announcer is more messed up then the crowd. Its a tad amatuerish. I thought it was laid out pretty well. But where were all the people? It seemed pretty sparse to me, but thats cool more space for me to kick back!

[nwb]

I agree the guy from the radio sucked my shweaty balls.

On the other hand...BEATLE BOB ROCKED! I vote him MC of Wakarusa 2005 at least at one stage for the entire weekend.

[psycho rob]

I agree the announcer was cheezy and should be gone, but ruin my vibe? No way. I was too busy kicking it w/ friends between shows to pay much attention.

[OneBusyMunkee]

Yea, that announcer before Dirty Dozen has to go! He said many things that he shouldn't have. He was wasted. If Wakarusa is going to have him there next year he should be the guy who cleans porta potties.