Choad at Moondance Jam 2015

The 20th Anniversary edition of Moondance Jam was this past weekend. I was only able to attend the Thursday shows, but we still managed to have plenty of exhausting fun!

After picking up the RV from Pleasureland RV in St Augusta, I began the trek up north. WAAAAY up north. A pit stop to pick up the wife and beer and then back on the highway.

I figured traffic would be a pain through Nisswa, as the previous weekend's storm had absolutely hammered that area. But apparently that wasn't enough for someone, who got into a wretched car accident that backed traffic up for at least a mile. Minnesota Nice went out the window as drivers honked and cussed and refused to zipper merge. Yes, honk at that damn ambulance trying to get to the scene of the accident, THAT'LL teach him!

After that fiasco we pushed onward towards Walker. The traffic wasn't terrible (although some jackass towing a boat decided that he should pull onto the highway 50 yards in front of me, force me into the oncoming lane, and then hammer the gas when I was almost past him) and the weather seemed to be holding out.

The staff at Moondance Jam was courteous and cheerful (although it was only Thursday). After getting lost in the vast reserved camping area I finally found media row. Some maneuvering and turning around and parking was followed by still more maneuvering and turning around and parking. Finally got the RV relatively level.

Off to the Lazy Moon Saloon to pick up media credentials...which weren't there. Keep in mind: there are a LOT of radio stations that attach themselves to this festival (none as good as us, of course). These things happen. Big thanks to Bernie for getting it sorted out!

Gots my creds, now time to gets myself a beer!

We (wifey and I) got to the Billy's Backstage Bar (BBB) tent right before the rain started. It started as a light rain. And THEN...
...it fricking POURED. We actually watched the wall of rain move in while on the side of the stage waiting to introduce Pop Evil. "Oh *cuss*" echoed through the side of the stage. I looked behind me to the stairs leading back to BBB and it was as if they weren't even covered. The rain was coming down so hard it made quick work of the canopy. The stairs were underneath a waterfall. And THEN...
...I got the cue to go on and intro Pop Evil. There was still a small crowd in front of the stage. These people were/are nuts. So they HAD TO BE REWARDED!

I have to say: I LOVE THIS STUFF. Emceeing, doing "stagers"...love it. It's what I love about summer concert season.

Pop Evil rocked their set. Black Stone Cherry unfortunately had their set cut off by the rain. Papa Roach had to cancel their set altogether.

And then the question was...are we going to miss Sammy?!?! Is this rain going to d-bag us out of The Red Rocker? Word got out that the Main Stage was washed out for the night. SonofaWHAT?!?! He's playing the Saloon Stage?!? No fricking way!

Way.

After this, I'm firmly on Team Hagar (and Team Anthony for that matter). Two HOFers saying, "We want to rock!", and forgoing the big stage for what is essentially a 500-person club. I think a lot of people joined Team Hagar and Anthony that night.

Big thanks to Moondance Jam and congrats on 20 years! Next year, Moondance Jam can legally drink!