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When I arrived to check-in, I put on an xxl neon yellow shirt (because that's all they had left) and am told that I'm being moved to the front gate. This was not good news because I wanted to hear !!! and other bands playing on the stages that I was near Day 1. The main gate was closest to the BMI stage, which is apparently the crappiest stage in ACL history. I'm sure the Kiddy stage is better. Aside from John Vanderslice, the lineup consisted of people who I'd never heard of. Not that I had time to listen to these bands because the people would not stop coming. It was a constant flow of hundreds. I realized where the crowds came from as I continously checked wristbands.

Rain is not a deterrent either. If I'd spent that kind of money on a three day pass, or even a one day pass, a torrential flood wouldn't stop me from going either. And this gate was not so forgiving with the lunches. I wanted to see if I could get away with running off to see Grizzly Bear, the Decemberists or Federico Aubele, but no dice. I had to take my lunch when they told me, and there was nowhere to sit as it was raining. A LOT. And then my mood turned sour when some motherfucker decided to shove me out the way, and take off inside. Of course this was the only time when everyone who would normally prevent that from happening was distracted. I'll give him props for timing but, if I ever see him again, I will have to chop off his testicles with a dull knife for touching me.

After that incident, I was treated like the belle of the freaking ball but I didn't use it to my advantage, namely because I didn't have anything that I wanted. I did see part of ghostland observatory and they were really great live. I heard part of grizzly bear and the decemberists' set before it was drowned out by the unforgiven sounds of the BMI stage. Oh and part of !!! though the rain and horrible tunes also drowned them out.