Mayday Mayhem

[Combat Chuck]

This is the official report thread for the events that passed tonight, May 8, 2003, at the Mayday II festivities. I encourage all Nubblites who were there and were witness to the all events that happened to relate their evening, because of course, not all stories are going to be exactly like mine.

This is basically the lowdown on the whole shebang, so it might be lengthy....but read it anyway. It's not like you have anything better to be doing.

The evening started when I got there around the middle of Stealing September's set, which, from what I heard outside the pig barn, went a little awry, but nonetheless got the crowd going, and didn't sound half bad. Do not take this as a bash against Stealing September, I just really can't give a formal opinion, since I was running around unloading equipment and all.

Then Brittany Kusserow took the stage, and as always, gave a solid solid set. I envy her and her songwriting skills so much, it's not even funny.

Ingsoc played next, and....they seriously weren't horrible, but man, they needed to get rid of the feedback, because it was fucking annoying. Their set was one of the most attended of the night, and they looked to have pleased the crowd right good.

Then came a pleasant surprise, in the form of A Thousand Seasons, who played a one song set. Jetter was unable to attend due to his attending of Lakeland's prom, but Woodward expertly took up the mike duties and screamed his way into the hearts of millions. Anyway, I was glad to see they could at least grace us with one song.

Then, the event of the night.

The event that I had been waiting for, and had specifically set aside time for, had come. The next band was one that I had been able to witness in the early stages of formation, had been able to attend their first amazing show, and had been able to support regularly....until they started playing out of town, at Rex's, and on nights when I....couldn't attend their shows. Suffice it to say, it'd been a long-ass time since I had seen the rock and roll heralds of Warsaw, IN, play, and boy, was Seraphim's set something to behold.

I've come to realize that for the past year, there has been a Seraphimal void in my soul, one that was hungering for nourishment, for appeasing. And it was nourished tonight. It had a fucking feast.

Only four songs. Only four, all during the time when rumours (yes, rumours) were flying about the presence of possibly a tornado, severe lightning, 80-mph winds, and the face of Satan forming in the clouds.

Did we care? Nah. I was too engrossed in the onstage antics of this "man they've gotten better since I last saw them...and that's saying something" group of guys.

Sadly, this was the lead guitarist's, Mikey Ellis', last show. But what an amazing way to go out, to give one last farewell to the fans who done you proud. I gotta say, on the last song, "Only A Man", I almost shed a tear. But it didn't fall since I was jumping around like crazy.

But alas, here's where the mayhem started.

My father came at the end of the set and informed me that there had been a tornado touchdown in Etna Green, that it was headed towards Warsaw, and that I needed to come directly home. However, I had all of my band's (Barefoot At The Opera) equipment, and I wasn't just going to leave with it. I informed my dad that I was going to gauge the weather situation (it had yet to start raining) and I would come home if I felt that it wasn't safe.

I then went to the "safety barn" as victim so deftly put, and realized that we were all going to die horrible gruesome deaths if the tornado came within even a mile of us. I didn't really feel like dying at the moment, so I went up the police officer and asked him what he thought of the situation.

He so expertly laid out the situation that I was in awe of his skills as a mediator and as a police officer. Truly, if there were to be a tornado touchdown in the fairgrounds, this man would lead us all to safety, saving us all from the wrath that was so surely going to be inflicted upon us.

Actually, the man was incompetent.

He said that it had started hailing (YOU THINK!? I JUST WALKED FROM THE PIG BARN IN IT, AND I DIDN'T NOTICE A THING!) and that meant it was going to be bad. Wow. Give them man a green screen, cause he KNOWS WHAT'S GOING ON. I was about to ask him the barometric pressure when I decided to actually get some information after being told that "all we can do is wait til it blows over." No words were fabricated in that last quote.

I called my mother who gave me the actual lowdown and found that there really hadn't been a tornado, and that there was only a Severe Tornado Warning effective until 9:15. I thanked her, and went back to the police officer, telling him that there wasn't anything close to what we had all been told, and that there was only a T-storm warning.

He then turned to me, put his hand on my shoulder, and commenced to say:

"Thanks for the update...DICK-ASS."

I was a bit surprised, and a bit angered, but I laughed and walked away.

I'm glad I did, because I seriously wanted to get arrested for assaulting a police officer. I've never tried it before, and it seemed like the best time to test it out.

The storm passed and everyone relaxed, couples began prying themselves away from each other, the straight-edge kids put down their cigarettes, and a collective sigh of relief was issued. Almost toppled the "safety barn", I swear.

Alot of people were ready to go back and continue the show, but the moderators of the shindig decided that the best thing to do was to close up shop.

I can't reiterate this enough: This was the best thing to do. No other decision would have been logical, or smart. With the muy-expensivo sound system, the massive amount of electrical equipment necessary for continuing the show, and the fact that the whole thing had been torn down in the frenzy, the best thing to do was exactly what was done.

Sure, it was disappointing that bands like Adison, Corporate Circus, Sonorus, and Barefoot At The Opera didn't get to play, but there was no valid reason to keep this up. We all knew that the storm may have passed, but there were more coming, and we couldn't keep this up all night.

I got home later to find out that my Dad had only been telling me all the things he said because the incompetent 'police officer' had given him all that information. What a jackass. I wish we would have started a riot, and seen him try and contain us all.

All in all, it was still a great night, one that I wish could be given a second chance, but seeing as how all the preparations took many months to plan out, it doesn't seem likely. But hey, someone out there will organize a show that can allow the bands who didn't get to play their chance.

Thanks for all that came out tonight and were able to enjoy what they could out of the evening.

I also want to thank SSU for setting up the whole shebang....it was a great effort, and we all appreciate the immense work that you guys put into this.

That's it, enough. Signing out, and God Bless.