The O-town Scene - Oneonta, NY
Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/377200
Is there anything better than GOOD VIBES?! The Gath- ering of the Vibes music and arts festivals delivers just that, to the multiple of everyone of its tens of thousands of beautiful attendees. Located in Bridgeport, Conn., in Seaside Park, which overlooks the Long Island Sound, Vibes is one of the few festivals based on a water front, with the Green Vibes stage leaving you with sprawling ocean panoramas while you enjoy the show. In its 19th year since its inception in 1996, GOTV was started to celebrate the music of the Grateful Dead after the passing of Jerry Garcia. It's fitting that the festival dates, July 31-Aug. 3, would include the birth date of Garcia, Aug. 1. This prompted a shoutout by every per- former, along with many Dead covers, on that date. Just like the community the Dead built, community is what sets GOTV apart from the rest. There is a univer- sal love among attendees; everyone is automatically a friend, everyone is looking out for everyone else. Even better, the security and staff are included. No one was out to get anyone or anything; they were only con- cerned with safety and happiness. These are thriving conditions that allow everyone to be themselves, to be a part of a community that is indis- criminately loving and accepting brings out the best in every attendee. From costumes, to painted faces, hoopers, people on stilts, totems, a dual passenger bike with a skeleton manning the back, jugglers, and fire spinners; even one of the police horses sported some oversized clown sunglasses. Everyone played a part in painting their own colors on the event. This community isn't just for Deadheads or serial festivalgoers; everyone is welcome, kids included! Vibes proudly hosts the most family-friendly festival I've ever attended, with events, attractions, and safe/sober camp- ing available to families looking to experience such an influential moment with their young ones. The music was a favorite of mine for Northeast lineups. GOTV hosted more great music than Top 40 radio has played in a decade. Unforgettable sets by the talents of Dispatch, Edward Sharpe, Twiddle, Donna The Buf- falo, Kung Fu, Strangefolk, Ryan Montbleau, Leftover Salmon, Joe Russo's Almost Dead, Dark Star Orchestra, Trombone Shorty, Allen Stone, Dumpstapunk, Rodrigo y Gabriela, Ziggy Marley, Slightly Stoopid, moe., Um- phrey's McGee, and the legendary John Fogerty should warrant a return to its 20th anniversary next year. Yet, If that wasn't enough, perhaps the two historic performances in The Disco Biscuts joined by Mickey Hart and Bill Kreutzmann of the Grateful Dead, and Lotus's Talking Heads Deconstructed tribute would do. Still need more? My favorite performance, PANIC. Widespread Panic made one of its rare appearances in the Northeast. The southern sound took the crowd and flooded it with swampy knees dancing every worry in the world away. If you're still not ready to buy your 2015 ticket, perhaps the late night acts of Dopapod, Karl Den- son's Tiny Universe, EOTO and Deep Banana Blackout would turn late-night music into religion for you. Speaking of late-night music, Vibes goes bigger than any other. Music was scheduled until 4 a.m. but often ran until 6, and Saturday night (Sunday morning) until 8! If the stages didn't rock your socks, there was a dual DJ Silent Disco ON THE BEACH. I will never forget shar- ing the moment with new friends, dancing in the sand with headphones on, each set with a blue or green light, indicating if you were listening to the blue or green DJ. It was a party, and if you'd take off the headphones ... crickets. The sound of silence was as moving as Simon and Garfunkel's track that helped define the '60s. The event's intimacy is incredible with the amount of at- tendees. No one is a sheep here. A mature festival, it's sophisticated in catering to its fans with bigger concepts than simply building an event for the masses. It's truly brilliant. Gathering of the Vibes gives you the feeling that there is hope for today's society, the feel- ing that if it was happening here, that peace and love could happen anywhere. If there was a heaven of festivals, Gathering of the Vibes is that. It's that much more wonderfully ironic that this heaven on earth is a tribute to the Dead. Chad Ritchko can be reached at critchko@thedailystar.com. Gathering Of The Vibes Defines Community A11 Sept. 4, 2014 O-Town Scene 11 The IT Guy By Chad Ritchko 281303 Make your visit to Oneonta memorable with a visit to Morey's Family Restaurant. We're open 7 days a week serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. We're famous for our breakfast specials with hot pancakes; lunch specials with fresh soup of the day, award winning french fries and Mega- Fixin's salad bar. Evening dinner selections include various beef, chicken, seafood and vegetarian dinners. All dinners include our famous salad bar. www.moreysfamilyrestaurant.com Daily Specials Salad Bar ❧ ❧ ❧ ❧ 244 Main St., Oneonta, 432-6845 www.autumncafe.com ❧ ❧ ❧ ❧ ❧ ❧ ❧ Started in 1980 by SUNY Graduates Comedy Central Trivia Night Last Thursday of Every Month. Bring a Team - Win Prizes! $2/Team Check Our Facebook Page for Daily Specials. Beef & Veggie Burgers Best Brunch In Town 279713 Take Out ANYTHING! Tracy Abrams now at Come see me for all your styling needs! ◊ Hair Cutting ◊ Coloring ◊ Perming ◊ Styling ◊ ◊ Make -up ◊ Waxing ◊ Xtreme Lash Extensions ◊ ◊ Weddings and much more ◊ Call for appointment 607-287-4294 9 Elm St., Oneonta 281632