Last weekend, Julie Rogan and I went to EndFest 14.  I know, this is completely out of character for me, Josh doing something fun, but Julie had an extra ticket :).  Other than a slight case of deafness, I had a really good time.  The only problem...I didn't bring my camera!  For some reason, I thought I saw on the web site for this that cameras weren't allowed.  How wrong I was.  Next time, I will have proof that I did something interesting!  Some details/highlights:

EndFest Info: 18 bands on 3 stages, going from 1 pm until 11 pm.  I was there from 2 until 8:30, roughly.  Took place at the White River Amphitheater in Auburn (i.e. way south of Redmond).

Best Band: Mountain Con.  Who?  Exactly.  They are a local Washington band that played on the smallest stage, and they were the first band I saw.  Their music had some variety (creative use of electric string instrument, harmonica, and an entertaining lead vocalist), and they were fun to watch.  Definitely a surprise!

Worst Band: Tegan and Sarah.  Two Canadian girls with whiny voices.  The radio station was touting them all the way to the show.  Julie and I heard one song, looked at each other, and decided it wasn't worth it to stand there and listen to that.  Very disappointing.

Loudest Band: Social Distortion.  They also get the prize for rowdiest crowd.  There was a full-on mosh pit going on for them.  Which leads to my next award...

Funniest Job: Main stage event staff.  Their job is to catch crowd surfers.  During the Social D set, there was a crowd surfer about once every 30 seconds.  They always ended up at the front of the pit area.  The event staff would be there to catch them, and would shuttle them around to rejoin the crowd.  It was like an amusement park ride, quite funny to watch.  The event staff also dealt with the occasional injured girl, for all of whom I had little pity (you're in a full blow mosh pit and you got hurt...GASP!)

Most Disappointing Band: Interpol.  They were competent, but boring.  They didn't do anything exciting, and their last song was uninspired (and I hate it when bands leave the stage below their highest note).

Band I Wish I'd Seen: Vendetta Red.  Another local band on the small stage.  I was waiting for the Social D performance when they were on.  I didn't know it at the time, but they just released a song I heard on the radio that morning that I really like (Silhouette Serenade, check it out on MSN Music).  In hindsight, I really would have liked to see them.

Funniest Sign: "Safe Insane Fireworks."  We saw this sign on the way to the show.  I have no idea what it is supposed to mean, but Auburn seems to be a fireworks hotbed.  Fireworks in straightjackets?

Worst Snack: Minutemaid Frozen Lemonade.  I am something of a frozen lemonade connoiseur, and when I saw "soft frozen lemonade" advertised I was expecting something scooped nicely from a vat.  Instead, for five dollars, I got a prepackaged cup.  OK, fine, at least it was big.  But wait, when I opened it up, it was rock solid and flavorless.  Turns out, the good people at White River Amphitheater decided to freeze, thaw, and then deep-freeze it with liquid nitrogen.  This resulted in the ingredients separating, leaving tasteless frosty ice in the top half, and icy sheets of tangy junk beneath.  Mixed together and soft, as it should have been, it may have been passable.  I threw it away after finishing one third of it.  It is difficult to ruin frozen lemonade.  But not impossible.