Indeed, this year’s Virgin Mobile Festival was totally free, and Richard Branson’s attempt to “put a smile on people’s faces” totally worked. Aside from those grumbling about the long lines for admission, because everybody loves complaining about something. The day featured sets from a reunited Blink-182, Weezer, Wale, and made for some fantastic scheduling when Chuck D and Flavor Flav’s set gave way to the National’s. (Said Berninger: “We do the same sort of thing as Public Enemy.”) Being free meant abundant branding at every turn, but there were attractions to divert attention from corporate slogans by way of vaudevillian psychics, street performers, and the traveling hipster roadshow that is a Girl Talk set. Here are some sights of the scene at Merriweather Post Pavilion, most by Graeme Fleigenheimer.
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does Weezer’s setlist really tell Rivers when to insert stage banter?
Nice photography stereogum and company. The shot above is one of the best I have ever seen.
You know the world has ended when they combine gypsy-type culture and BLATANT advertising. And was that guy advertising Wal-Mart or was he dissing it? I honestly don’t know he knows.
Free? More like free inventory for scalpers.