Hey, why not? (Completely random)
Cheers:
- Station 4's decision to not have Sloppy Joes during HC III. The smell was actually tolerable this year!
- Iced Earth for scheduling their show on Thursday, thus providing an instant, unofficial and awesome pre-party. And I got to hear Barlow sing the 3rd part of the Gettysburg Trilogy! (read:
). No When the Night Falls or Travel in Stygian (both long overdue for a setlist revisit, but I'll take it!)
- swizzlenuts for taking the time to brew an awesome batch of Heathen Red Ales, which far surpassed the beer being passed off as Heathen Ale at Station 4. It was lively, hoppy and delicious!
- JayKeeley, for being able to make it out through a last minute intervention by the gods of Heathendom. It made an awesome weekend.... well....just that much more awesomer!
- The entire RC/UM crew (too many names to isolate, too many names to thank, too many great memories to list). It was better than ever this year and I hope we can keep what is turning into a great tradition going.
- The festivities at the Holiday Inn. It didn't matter who you were, if you were a fan, you were welcome by almost anyone who was partying. Best example: 5-6 of us were getting into the elevator and 5-6 folks were also getting off the elevator. All of us instantly stopped and cheered each other as if it were a huge reunion. It was actually touching in an inebriated way. That kind of camaraderie will always keep me coming back for more.
- Ancient Rites, for overcoming multiple last minute roadblocks to deliver a passionate and inspired performance. Next time more from "The Diabolic Seranades" please, but hey, that's just a selfish me talking.
- Woods of Ypres, for playing the entire "Against the Seasons" album. If someone had asked me beforehand what should be included to make up their perfect setlist for the show, I would've said, well..... the entire "Against the Seasons" album.
- David Gold, for hanging out and seeming genuinely happy to just be one of the gang.
- Ulveheim & Inquisition for supplying the annual out of nowhere "holy shit these guys rock live" moments.
- Moonsorrow, for taking charge and leading the way only a true headliner can. They showed just how worthy of being the main event they were.
- The sound and band orgainization at Station 4. Hardly any problems whatsoever with band changeovers and top notch sound almost all the way around. Kudos and thank yous are in order.
- Perkins, for providing all day breakfast service.
- Gatorade & Advil, for providing near instant hangover relief.
- The weather, for not being too unbearable this time around, and providing just enough "grimness" to add to the atmosphere.
Jeers:
- The lighting at Station 4. As well run as the festival was, this situation has to be remedied. I felt like I needed sunglasses all weekend and several times was actually glad the poles were there in the middle to provide some eye shielding. Constantly squinting is not metal.
- The security at the Holiday Inn. It was way over the top this year. If you don't want loud metal heads partying all over your hotel, don't provide a discount group rate and welcome it with open arms. Obviously I understand the need to prevent incidents like property damage and the like, but enough is enough already.
- The lady at the front desk on Saturday for providing false directions to Perkins. It's funny, as soon as she wrote down the directions and copped an attitude while doing it, I said to our colleagues, "I wouldn't be surprised if she gave us the wrong directions". Sure enough, she did.
- The male bartender at Station 4 on Saturday. What was with the chip on his shoulder? I mean, if you don't want to be there, then don't be there. Stop acting like every time we're ordering a drink it's somehow causing you stress. (By contrast, the main server on Friday was extremely friendly and approachable)
- The bar running out of Winter Ale early on Saturday.
- Having a 7:45 am flight on Sunday morning causing me to miss out on hanging after the show on Saturday (fortunately, the festival on Saturday was so good it more than made up for it).
Jason
Cheers:
- Station 4's decision to not have Sloppy Joes during HC III. The smell was actually tolerable this year!
- Iced Earth for scheduling their show on Thursday, thus providing an instant, unofficial and awesome pre-party. And I got to hear Barlow sing the 3rd part of the Gettysburg Trilogy! (read:
). No When the Night Falls or Travel in Stygian (both long overdue for a setlist revisit, but I'll take it!)- swizzlenuts for taking the time to brew an awesome batch of Heathen Red Ales, which far surpassed the beer being passed off as Heathen Ale at Station 4. It was lively, hoppy and delicious!
- JayKeeley, for being able to make it out through a last minute intervention by the gods of Heathendom. It made an awesome weekend.... well....just that much more awesomer!
- The entire RC/UM crew (too many names to isolate, too many names to thank, too many great memories to list). It was better than ever this year and I hope we can keep what is turning into a great tradition going.
- The festivities at the Holiday Inn. It didn't matter who you were, if you were a fan, you were welcome by almost anyone who was partying. Best example: 5-6 of us were getting into the elevator and 5-6 folks were also getting off the elevator. All of us instantly stopped and cheered each other as if it were a huge reunion. It was actually touching in an inebriated way. That kind of camaraderie will always keep me coming back for more.
- Ancient Rites, for overcoming multiple last minute roadblocks to deliver a passionate and inspired performance. Next time more from "The Diabolic Seranades" please, but hey, that's just a selfish me talking.
- Woods of Ypres, for playing the entire "Against the Seasons" album. If someone had asked me beforehand what should be included to make up their perfect setlist for the show, I would've said, well..... the entire "Against the Seasons" album.
- David Gold, for hanging out and seeming genuinely happy to just be one of the gang.
- Ulveheim & Inquisition for supplying the annual out of nowhere "holy shit these guys rock live" moments.
- Moonsorrow, for taking charge and leading the way only a true headliner can. They showed just how worthy of being the main event they were.
- The sound and band orgainization at Station 4. Hardly any problems whatsoever with band changeovers and top notch sound almost all the way around. Kudos and thank yous are in order.
- Perkins, for providing all day breakfast service.
- Gatorade & Advil, for providing near instant hangover relief.
- The weather, for not being too unbearable this time around, and providing just enough "grimness" to add to the atmosphere.
Jeers:
- The lighting at Station 4. As well run as the festival was, this situation has to be remedied. I felt like I needed sunglasses all weekend and several times was actually glad the poles were there in the middle to provide some eye shielding. Constantly squinting is not metal.
- The security at the Holiday Inn. It was way over the top this year. If you don't want loud metal heads partying all over your hotel, don't provide a discount group rate and welcome it with open arms. Obviously I understand the need to prevent incidents like property damage and the like, but enough is enough already.
- The lady at the front desk on Saturday for providing false directions to Perkins. It's funny, as soon as she wrote down the directions and copped an attitude while doing it, I said to our colleagues, "I wouldn't be surprised if she gave us the wrong directions". Sure enough, she did.
- The male bartender at Station 4 on Saturday. What was with the chip on his shoulder? I mean, if you don't want to be there, then don't be there. Stop acting like every time we're ordering a drink it's somehow causing you stress. (By contrast, the main server on Friday was extremely friendly and approachable)
- The bar running out of Winter Ale early on Saturday.
- Having a 7:45 am flight on Sunday morning causing me to miss out on hanging after the show on Saturday (fortunately, the festival on Saturday was so good it more than made up for it).
Jason
Rosco from night three on the other hand can go suck a bag of dicks. (Now with ridges) The second floor is comprised of a lobby area and a slew of conference rooms. There wasn't a non-heathen guest within ear shot, but this negar from deepest darkest Africa felt compelled to rain dance on our gathering, despite the majority of the party goers casting a ballot in Barack's name one week prior. Kelly Inn for HIV. 
