So, this is my first post POST-Vans so lets discuss Vans for a moment, shall we? Ohmigod, I saw less than jake and they were great. Less than Jake played on a stage. Less than Jake had some horns. Less than Jake played songs. Less than Jake played instruments and sang. Omigod.

Oh, sorry. I must have been possessed by the spirit of the Vans Pit Reporter (Katie, "my boyfriend is in Between the Buried and Me. Did I casually mention that?") on that one. Her posts are so insightful and well-rounded. All those Less Than Jake mentions and I truly feel as though I am not at Vans, but at a Less than Jake concert. ALL SUMMER LONG. But maybe I am being too hard on her. I mean, she is probably a "serious" journalist. There was that time she left a message on Tim's voice mail, the guitarist for Protest the Hero. And when he didn't call her back in 4 or so hours, it obviously meant that he was too "ROCK STAR" to return a reporter's call. I mean, it couldn't possibly be because he is on tour with Vans, and has to sleep and set up and eat, and do any number of possible things that one might do within a 4 hour period, as opposed to checking your voice mail and immediately calling back someone who you don't know, and therefore does not take precedence over, hm.. I don't know, PERFORMING? But that is just me.

So, back to Vans. Rise Against. Ah, Rise Against. How I love you. We won't mention how I absolutely and completely and utterly CHOKED when it came to meeting Tim. "Uh, uh, Uh, I... I... I....". That will just be my little secret. My horrifying and utterly humiliating secret.

But Gym Class Heroes, Living End, The Bled, Alexisonfire, Protest the Hero, The Sounds, and so many other bands brought it. In fact, the only band that I saw and heard that truly sucked, sucked, and sucked, were the Donnarots (?). Donnabots? On the Volcom Stage. "Oh, don't look at the other stage, watch us perform! We are nice people!" AHHHH! Did it ever occur to you that maybe the reason why no one wanted to watch your band perform, and would rather watch the empty space on the stage beside you, is because you sucked, sucked, sucked? And your lead singer's voice was pitched at a frequency that only dogs could hear? Hm.. just a thought.

Can't wait for Alexis to come in September! I might cry like a big baby if they come while I am in New York. Wah! Finally got to see the Bled who played a lot of songs from Pass the Flask which excited me and made me happy. I am not a huge fan of the Sounds but they really surprised me. They put on an incredible, energetic show and I was really glad I got a chance to check out their set. It was fantastic. And the Living End? Could you expect anything other than a mind-blowing set from three guys from Australia who have a standup bass player? Bring on the rockabilly because I totally dig it.

Lastly, but certainly not least, Gym Glass Heroes. Damn. Not only are they an incredible indie hip-hop group, but one who plays their own live music instead of spinning tracks. I could do without the booger threatening to rain down on my head, but Gym Class Heroes put on a show-stopping set. Can't wait to see them again. I am also really digging the collaborative Cobra Starship stuff that Travis is featured on. I don't know how I feel about The Academy Is, but damn William Beckett can sing.

Oh, and P? If I had to choose you or the sun, I'd be one nocturnal son of a gun.

This has been your daily dose of smart-assed, only slightly sarcastic, comments.