I drive all night, just to get back home

Yesterday was the loveliest day I’ve ever spent at Summerfest. In the shade, it was the kind of weather that’s almost non-weather: a very light breeze, low 70's. Absolutely gorgeous. We spent the day as one should at Summerfest – eating, drinking, talking, dancing, and listening to three, count ‘em, three cover bands … all of whom were apparently contractually obligated to play at least one Bon Jovi song, and that Bon Jovi song was usually “Wanted: Dead or Alive”. We were pushing for Wilco to play it too, but Jeff said they hadn’t practiced. I ask you, if they’re not practicing Bon Jovi covers, what are they doing with their time?

To be perfectly honest, although three cover bands (each of whom played for nearly two hours) was definitely too much, I enjoyed them more than I should probably admit. The spirit of Summerfest is exhibited in its purest form when you wander over to a stage and see a flabby white guy in shiny black pleather pants gleefully performing “Hey Ya” to a sea of cowboy-hatted women wearing “Sweet Tarts VIP” laminates, sloshing beer and dancing on metal benches. I couldn’t begin to list all the songs we heard. Think of karaoke night at your favorite bar, and you’re pretty much there.

I also ate the best corndog ever, drank ample amounts of lemonade, and then right before Andrew Bird started Jeff (W.) returned to our seats with a couple of funnel cakes. He’s my hero of the night. Andrew was great and unusual, as always. I love the little ad-libbed details he adds to his songs live, and I love his striped socks and the fact that I’ve never seen him complete a performance with his shoes on. I really do get the impression that he lives in a slightly different world than the rest of us. It’s very similar, and overlaps at times, but it’s not quite the same.

Wilco came next, and played an upbeat if slightly abbreviated set. Jeff’s right leg was indeed moon-boot encased due to a stress fracture, but it didn’t seem to be bothering him too much during their time onstage. If it was, he did a good job of hiding it. It was a fun show, with some nice crowd interaction. It seems like Jeff and Nels are playing more guitar as a sort of two-part machine at times, which is a joy to behold. It was also my first concert with glasses, and although they sometimes amplified the impact of the lights right in our faces, the clarity in darkness more than made up for it. Oh, the detail! Driving home in the dark was like a fun new game with them on. Yes, I needed those.