I just got back to my Airbnb after attending this three-day festival, alone, and have a lot to say…read moreso I figured I'd just write the dang thing now.
I planned my trip to Boston at the time that was best for me and the friend I came to visit, and both this festival and my birthday coincided so I figured, heck, why not? You may never have the chance again. So, even though I was curious as to why the 10-year anniversary lineup looked mostly like a frat party playlist, I went ahead and bought myself a wristband.
First thing I noticed upon walking into the festival area is that sandals, perhaps specifically Birkenstock's, are very low on the list of appropriate footwear to wear to this festival. That, my fellow Yelpers, is because 70% of this festival is on turf, and 5-10% is on dirt or rocks. It was the most uncomfortable I've ever felt wearing my sandals. The only other shoes I brought to the Airbnb were my doc Martin boots, so I had to wear those the second and third day (also uncomfortable because of the heat).
Next I start to realize why the lineup was the way it was: because nearly every dude there was a bro. You know the type. The "my parents pay for my lavish lifestyle and I only came to this festival because it was on my campus, bruh" bros. The festival is on part of Harvard's campus. I guess I shouldn't have been surprised.
I witnessed men who were college/post-grad age hitting on girls who were clearly under 18, which is something I surprisingly don't see often at the festivals in California. I also witnessed a lot of homophobia...guys freaking out that people in the crowd are having fun, or making fun of the male dancers of the Boston ballet or Christine and the Queens. Come on, y'all. It's 2019. Aren't you tired of your bs toxic masculinity yet? If it's not your thing, go see another act.
People were also talking (rudely) when Imogen Heap was giving her talk on technology and her profits as an artist. I don't mean the people sitting next to me--the ENTIRE arena was talking, and you could hardly hear her. She was good about it though, even when some rude lady came in and screamed, "WHY ARE YOU NOT SINGING? STOP TALKING," and boo'd her as she stormed out, drunk, with her friends. Luckily no one found that stunt amusing, and some people were pretty pissed and called her out (thank the lord).
Not that this matters to me, but I witnessed a handful of times where security came out of nowhere and snatched up people's vape pens without asking them if they had nicotine or cannabis, and either kept them for themselves or threw them away. Isn't recreational smoking legal here? Isn't vaping (nicotine) legal at music festivals? Y'all need to chill out...
Lastly, I got pushed pretty far toward the front during Tame Impala last night, and about 20 minutes before the end I REALLY had to tinkle, and when I attempted to leave, everyone was intentionally making it super difficult for me, and some people were just shaking their heads?? Sure, I get not wanting to let people into the crowd during a set, but not letting someone out of it toward the end?
Yeah, this was probably the worst crowd of people I've ever encountered, and I've been to over thirty music festivals.
Don't @ me, just do your part to make future years better.