Virgin Fest | 8.09 & 8.10 | Baltimore

I wish Zimmerman would write more reviews! Great stuff! specific lyrics annotated in his piece. specific observances about their live performances. Critical tone on some of those artists who deserved it (ie - duffy, lil' wayne, jack johnson, etc..) etc..) meant this review was not just a fluff piece. He is spot on about Jack Johnson and Lil Wayne btw. He is also spot on about The Go Team and Black Keys. While not a Kanye fan, I am glad Zim gave the dude a chance and he delivered. Also, great photos guys! again, this is what live reviews of shows/festies were intended to be. thank you.

I can't believe a performer could make someone despise the idea of a Hawaiian vacation?...crazy. And who doesnt love "narcissistic" rappers?

NINE INCH NAILS Ruled this festival. Easily one of the top 3 shows I've ever seen. They were great. Lil Wayne put on the worst show I've ever seen in my life. And I like Hip Hop/Rap. He rolled on the ground for 5 minutes saying he was the "Pussy Monster". The guys a total joke and doesn't respect his fans or fellow musicians. Rabbit in the Moon was also crazy. They should definetly play a late night festival show. FUCK LIL WAYNE. NIN RULES!!!!!!

I don't see how he saw Jack Johnson/Foo Fighters and NIN/Kayne because each of those bands played at the same time on sat and sun.

how was the crowd? looks kinda ghey in the pics... how come the crowd never seems to be part of the review?

The crowd was cool. People like you and me. And smokin' hot chicks everywhere. Always like that in b-more. If thats ghey(?), than yes it was really ghey.

I was thinking to myself the other day... If I were in a band that was playing at a festival, I would turn down offers, no matter how lucrative, to festivals where I would share a stage with bands like Paramore. How can someone like Jeff Tweedy, Dylan, etc., who have spent their lives perfecting and pouring their hearts into their music, share a stage with a band like Paramore? Some asshole in a suit decided he could make some money off of those teenage jerks, and here they are with a shitty album and tour, playing alongside real musicians. Shame.

schofizzl, i guess only greasy smelly hairy wookies are non ghey music fans? Remember, those people are the reason why the biscuits play the same size shows for the past 5 years and why phish is no longer a band.

This fest smacks of the latest form of "payola"-record labels actually pay the promoters to add thier "new/hot" band to the lneup, ..not to mention the endless corporate sponsorship..clearly some BIG money was made before the first ticket sold, and then we fans pay like what $150+stupid charges for a ticket, the promoters double/triple the income from an honest show/fan- centic fest.

I hear the first PHISH SHOW will reunite the band dec. 31 2008 Mexico City ....tickets go on sale oct, 31...Hope this is not a phishy trick,,,,source reliable,,,,,,see you at the show

REVPNICE - the buscuits play the same size shows for the past 5 years because the ssssuuuuuccccckkkkk. Phish are not together anymore because of trey's past ego issues, burnout, & drugs. Also, I think you are GHEY!

only for you CLIFTON. Sorry to insult your boyfriend.

i'm just making an estimate based on the pics... you got your hot chick crowd surfing who will later complain about people groping her while she was up there although she knew it was gonna happen before she went up... shitload of dudes surrounding her, probably groping (notice the one guy pretending it's so very important to hold up her left foot, making sure her flipflop doesn't meet the same doom as the right one, perhaps?) right below that you got people being way too smashed into that rail... scroll down a bit you got your dance/dj tent where you have to be wearing aviators, flat brim hat, or a bandana on your face to get in. scroll a bit more you got a bunch of dudes acting like they all just invented crowd surfing...

i have short clean hair under an STL hat and the occasional dead shirt is as close as i come to hippy apparel, but nice try with the 'wook' assumption. you know what they say about ASSumptions.

oh and in the 2nd picture down, see the guy in front in green shirt on the left? definitely looks like somethin kinda ghey goin on with him and the guy directly behind him, judging by the look on green shirt guy's face, lol. that's the lame part about being in a crowd that thick.. everybody thinks they can be up on your shit.

^^^ You have issues. People are people bro.

Wow, salty review there, Zimmerman. But I have to say that at least it was your honest take on the fest and not just one glowing review of a band after another. I commend you for sticking to your guns...

schofizzl, your making ASSumptions about people because of whast they wear. What a douche bag. I hope you don't come to these shows where there are people. You should goto aliens only concerts because obviously people disgust you. You are very insecure about yourself. Or maybe thats just an ASSumption.

It's unfortunate that this review entirely skips over the goodness going on in the DJ tent that weekend. I saw Underworld instead of Foo Fighters or Jack Johnson and it was like no show I have ever seen before. Jack Johnson is playing every festival and everyone is familiar with the Foos. Why not touch on something new? Also, Moby was one of the best shows I saw this weekend. I left Moby to see some STP but every STP song though well played was at half speed and kinda a snooze, so I went back to Moby. Ranking the music I saw would go like this; NIN, Underworld, Radiohead, Wilco, Moby, Rodrigo y Gabriela, Black Keys, STP, Lupe Fiasco, Kanye West, Lil Wayne, Chuck Berry

Also, about it being corporate - It was one of the best run festivals with some of the biggest names. Went off without a hitch and everyone's needs were met. I don't mind paying top dollar when I see the results of the money. Anyone see Richard Branson walking around? I did.

I hate how all these corporate festies are ripping off structures from Rothbury. How dare you abuse the tripolee dome by turning it into a corporate skate/surf shop, and covering it with a tarp plastered with corporate logos? Removing the lights from its glorious jungle gym framework was like taking the nuts out of a man's sac. Also, the pumpkin shade tents from Sherwood were relogated to the mere "green spot"? They weep because they are surrounded by Sig Delta Chi plaid shorts and trampled fields instead of being nestled nicely into the womb of the forest of the "answer" to festivals. Which, by the way, is almost completely green. This festy sounds like that one they threw out west... oh wait... this is the east coast Virgin fest, and the other was the west coast Virgin fest? Now I've got it. Same on you corporate America. When you have a dream one night, and then that dream comes true, some people call it a miracle... I call it Rothbury. I call this BS. Lil' Weezy can go suck a camel. So can Richard Branson.

hey shanky 95 and all those people talking about corporate america and how crappy real festivals are i hope you dont have a cell phone, or a car, TV, hopefully you dont work for a company or have a microsoft or apple computer where you write on forum walls. ive been to hundreds of concerts from moe to santana to allmman brothers to trey shows and because of retards that sit around and complain about how this country works makes me sick of the whole "scene." and for saying fuck Richard Branson, have you ever heard of the Elder a group which Branson works with to solve global conflicts in areas like Africa. Not only that but he is an environmentalist that donates and physically helps many other organizations. Let me ask all yall, what do you do. maybe volunteer at the soup kitchen, maybe give money to bums or maybe just sit around smoke pot and talk shit on jambase.

Wow! Motherf-n Chuck Berry! I would love to seem him.

nice job on the article. really enjoyed reading it

shanky, you rip on richard branson and you sound like an idiot. try learning about the guy and you would take back that sentiment real fast. he has got to be one of the coolest, most interesting men on the earth. reading about his life is incredible, and now currently what he is venturing into is remarkable. he probably doesnt have anything to do with the actual fest, other than its his company's namesake, but i love the fact that he interacts like anyone else and isnt hiding in some vip tent all day

but rothbury was unreal...

Going to a festival you have to know what you are getting your self into. If its in the middle of a city with tons of bands you hear on the radio, you just have to expect it to be more about them making money. Plus don't forget the bands kinda dictate what the crowds will be like. So if you dont like corporate America do a little research about the show before you spend a ridiculous price for a ticket. If you ask me 4 days with camping should be how all festivals go, but we cant always get what we want in life.

Shanky, your post is hilarious. Ask Rothbury where they got the idea for the monkeys. (burning man anyone?)

why the talk of rothbury?

Vfest has been doing this thing for the past few years...because they are on the make everything green, save the world, etc??? well isnt everyone doing the same?

if you werent there, why bitch! it was a great time and the bands DO indeed indicate the crowd that will be involved...this was a very good lineup...

also, whoever said something about the DJ tent was spot on! this was by far the best dj tent i have ever been to at a festival...