Van and I could scarcely believe it when we learned that our first (and only other, so far) time at The Gorge was in summer of 2022. Surely it wasn't that long ago, right? Alas, it was, and it was a different time and experience. We were there for an Above & Beyond Weekender. Warm weather, sunny skies, a mellow vibe, the feeling of being part of an experience. I had such a good time.
That sort of sets me up for saying that this time around, for Above & Beyond Group Therapy 700, was not a good time, and I don't want to give that impression. It was a different experience this time, simple as that. Let's get into it.
The event runs from Friday through Sunday though we don't go to the VIP or what-have-you stuff on the Friday. Instead, we rolled in late in the afternoon on Saturday. Made it through the security barely - they were prepared to quibble over the size of our clear backpack but decided to let us through because the two people checking bags for our line were young kids who couldn't immediately find their supervisor to ask if it was ok. Thank you to them for using their discretion. I'm honestly boggled that we almost didn't make it through given the other things that people brought in with them, but it's all good.
Once through the gates,
we decided to check out the merchandise. And then we saw the lines for the main stand. Yikes. Nope. We headed to the smaller, other stand, and 45 minutes later, we had a few items in hand. The music had been well underway for at least a couple of hours at this point, so we headed to the amphitheatre to grab an empty space on the hillside.
We settled in, enjoyed some music, eventually grabbed some drinks and bites, and listened and relaxed while the hill filled in around us.
19,000 attendees, I think I read.
The evening came on, things got darker.
I spotted a coat that I want so badly that I think I may try researching online for it after I finish writing this. We were on our third DJ set of our time there, I had come back with some wine for us, and the wind had kicked up. Hard. As I got back to where we were sitting (with thanks to a young guy who came and grabbed me when I walked by Van without seeing him), there were announcements that the set was paused because it was unsafe down at the stage. The pit in front of the stage was cleared as well. Folks were urged to move higher and wait it out.
But it was cold and dark and windy, and there was rain in the forecast, and Van and I are old. I joke a little, but it's true. We like having seats, we like being comfortable. I'm 56, he's closing in on 65. And yes, there were other, um, mature folks there, but we're not spry young people any longer. Heck, was I ever?
Anyway, we joined a stream of people heading out.
Some were going to take shelter where they were camping, some in their cards. Us? We headed to the car, drove on off. We were done for the night. As we left, there were drops that grew to a steady but not heavy rain by the time we got back to the hotel about an hour later. We kept checking online about what was going on, no intention of going back. After two hours, the organizers resumed the music, and the people there went well past midnight listening and dancing.
The next day it was raining when we got up.
It rained in Wenatchee through lunchtime, approximately. An inch of rain there, 3/4 of an inch down at The Gorge. The temperature was in the low 50s and promising to go no higher than the upper 50s after the rain stopped. We suspected that things would be damp and even muddy, not drying out through the day. It didn't take much discussion, and neither of us tried to sway the other to go back. We were done.
Looking back, the music was fine. I liked the Grum set
most of all because he mixed in familiar songs. And I think that differentiates me from so many that attend - they are there for the trance mixes that the other DJs do, and I want to hear stuff I actually know at least some of the time. The people-watching was terrific, though.
Oh, I wish I had a photo of the man in the multi-coloured checkerboard patterned suit. Awful shoes with the suit, but what a great suit. And THAT COAT!!!
We chatted a little with others in the merchandise line, and that was nice. The setting remains fantastic, too.
I would love to find myself there for a summer concert, a different summer concert.
I said to Van, though, that it felt different this time. Less community, less experience, more just like any other concert I go to where they may be some jostling for position and merchandise. Not badly so, no, but I guess you really can't go back to what it was before. A pity about that.
A costly few hours at the Gorge once you factor in the hotel costs and such, but I'm not upset, and neither is Van. We had a different weekend than planned, but a good weekend all in all. More to come on that in another post this weekend....
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