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Ozzfest 2006 review
This year, Ozzfest skipped Dallas. So I nearly skipped Ozzfest. But since System Of A Down will be breaking up after this tour, and since I missed them when they were in Dallas just a few months ago, traci and I decided to take the 5 hour drive to San Antonio to see the all-day music festival.
Driving down was a kick in the balls, as expected. But having traci in the car makes it fun (that sounds really odd, but I think you know what I mean). We managed to have fun with it anyway, which is one of many reasons why I’m so in love with this girl. Doesn’t matter where we’re going or what we’re doing, she finds a way to make it fun. Case in point, as we’re trucking along, we see someone who has a sports team slogan drawn on their windows. traci asks if we can stop and buy something to write on our windows regarding Ozzfest. So we stop at a Wal-Mart to get some of that glass chalk. No dice on that stuff, apparently they had a run on it or something, so we darted over to the shoe departments for some old fashioned white shoe polish. In no time, I was putting “Ozzfest or bust” on the rear window.
Who coined the term “… or bust” anyway?
Oh well.
News flash: when Radisson hotels advertise that they have those Select Comfort “Sleep Number” beds and it sounds like all their rooms feature Sleep Number beds, they actually mean they have some Sleep Number beds. Don’t know how many. But it doesn’t matter. ‘Cause you won’t be getting one. Even though you had a reservation. What they can assure you of, however, is a somewhat clean but very old bed that is guaranteed to hurt your back in 5 hours or less. Just thought y’all might like to know, ’cause they don’t make that part clear.
See what you learn by coming here? How good is that?
Monday evening was very cool. We started off by visiting the Alamo. Even though I’ve been to San Antonio twice before, I had never taken the time to actually go inside the Alamo. Personally, I’m moved by it even though I’m not a native Texan. I dunno, but I’m stirred by the fact that those 183 Texans fought for Texas’ independence, held out for 13 days against a force of over 1,600 Mexicans, and managed to kill over 200-600 of them (depending on who you ask)before it was all over.
Afterwards, we walked around the Riverwalk a bit, had some good Tex-Mex food and enjoyed sampling margaritas from several different restaurants and pubs. And by sampling, I mean guzzling giant 20 oz glasses of tequila featuring some crushed ice and a bit of lime flavoring. Actually, some of them were pretty good. Not as good as my own recipe, of course, but good enough. Good enough to kick our asses, that is.
Since we woke up in our hotel room Tuesday morning, we got dressed and lathered on the sunscreen before heading out to SA’s Amphitheater. At last year’s show in Dallas, we were just a few feet from the second stage and were soaked via water hoses all day. This year, we were more toward the back of the crowd where no such refreshment was possible, save for $3 bottles of water and whatever scant shade we could find. We made several trips over the to covered area where our seats were in order to keep our flesh from melting off our bones.
I totally took a pass on downing $7 beers. I’m not big on America piss beers like Budweiser anyway, but it was just too damn hot to even think of drinking alcohol.
Not for some people. There was no shortage of adolescent dumbasses (of all ages) who got drunk and either barfed, passed out, or got into fights and got their stupid asses arrested.
Oh, and a few thoughtful souls decided it’d be nice of them to share their half-drunk beer with some stranger several rows ahead of them by flinging it into the air. How thoughtful, eh?
God, I hate people sometimes.
The cool thing about festivals like this is all the various skin art you get to see. There are a ton of people walking around with visible tattoos. Many of ‘em suck ass. But every once in a while, you get to see some great work. And, of course, it’s always nice to receive compliments on the art we’re sporting. Several times we were stopped by girls who wanted to get a better look at traci’s art or ask a question about it.
Another cool thing about festivals like this is that some girls opt to have their tits painted with an airbrush. And for whatever reason, that allows them to legally walk around topless. Let’s hear it for loopholes in the law!
The music was incredible, of course. Black Label Society’s Zakk Wylde did a kickass guitar version of the Star Spangled Banner. And Ozzy, the Prince of Darkness, played the second stage at 4:00 in the afternoon. Go figure. But he kicked major ass, too!
There were many other bands throughout the day, but the only new band we heard that we actually enjoyed was Dragon Force. Yeah, I know, it’s a stupid name that sounds like it was thought up by some 8th grader drawing in ballpoint pen on his denim notebook in Civics class, but they had some pretty killer music. They come with that old school sound which features twin guitar riffs, not too far off from Avenged Sevenfold – currently one of my favorite bands.
Who, by the way, tore up the place when they played a cover of Pantera’s “Walk.”
Disturbed was also on the docket and put on one of the best shows of the day. And the headline act of Ozzfest 2006, System Of A Down, did not disappoint. I was glad that singers Serj Tankian and Daron Malakian were able to get over their current shitfit and put on a kickass show together.
Our trip back to Dallas was thankfully uneventful. But it does most definitely suck to have to go back to work. Even more of a kick in the balls than a 5-hour drive.
No matter. Next month we’re gonna be seeing Nickelback and Hoobastank as well as Rob Zombie with Godsmack, all in a two-day period. And right after we get back from Cancun.
Life is SO good sometimes.
Posted by FullMetalPatriot
12th gen. American, Constitutionalist, Harley-riding Texan, gun owner & NRA member, blogger, illustrator, Florida Gator alumnus. #TCOT
12th gen. American, Constitutionalist, Harley-riding Texan, gun owner & NRA member, blogger, illustrator, Florida Gator alumnus. #TCOT
