First reaction: $10 to park at UCC? What the hell is that? I expected a long walk, not that.
Second reaction: If you live in Cranford, it's better to walk since the alternative is parking at Verizon and waiting for the Runnells handicapped shuttle buses (I wonder what the dialysis patients are doing today) and sitting in one of the tethered wheelchairs.
So we got there when Pat DiNizio was playing and he seemed annoyed (and understandably so) since there was another act paying on the main stage at high volume (not to mention something coming out by the BMX area) and made it even more distracting - maybe the WalMart Stage wasn't the brightest idea.
So I did what every responsible parent should do (and many, many did so DYFS can't lay a glove on me) and took my little one to hear Cracker. (I also brought hearing protection for the little one just in case, so there.)
I have to mention that Rick Proctor, Debbie Scanlon, and our pal Bette did not come across too well, Why do all three of them have to grab the mic for the intro? My favorite was Bette: "And now, CRACKERRRRRRRRR" like she was kinda liquored up.
I have the first two Cracker CDs...they are often sarcastic and have a sense of fun, which more bands could use (ala Teen Angst and Happy Birthday to Me, both of which they played). The kid spent two thirds of the show on my shoulders and thought they were great. I wouldn't disagree.
So when they finished up, we moved closer to the main stage with Everclear...thinking that even though they are a darker band, she wouldn't understand the lyrics well enough to care. And for the most part I was right. For example, they played "Father of Mine" which is a bummer tale of abandonment and she thought it was a nice song about daddies.
But after lead singer Art dropped a couple of F bombs, and she started to fade since it was getting late, it was time to go.
Overall: WHERE DID ALL THESE COUNTY COPS COME FROM? There were dozens. The taxpayer in me looked at every light tower, every County Police Segway (WHAT THE HELL IS THAT FOR?), the event security guys, the shuttle bus drivers and shuddered to think what it is costing.
Bottom line is that if they do it, we'll still go, but I still think that this is so not a thing that government should do.
Original source: http://cranfordpundit.wordpress.com/?p=324
