Bamboozle!

This past weekend, the annual Bamboozle event took place at the Meadowlands Sports Complex in New Jersey. These sorts of shows book a large amount of bands, spread them out on multiple stages, and let the games begin. It's a great way to see a lot of your favorite musicians at once - the tickets are a little expensive (for Bamboozle, it was roughly $50 per day), but likely less than you would pay to see each band individually.

Although it's a great opportunity to rock out all day long, come prepared! Your bands will probably only play the popular crowd-pleasers, so if you're looking for an intimate event where you hear the full repertoire of a band, this may not be the event for you. Additionally, crowds usually get very rowdy, so it's not always worth it to be stuck in a pit close to the stage - sometimes staying further away is more gratifying. This year, I found the crowd to be obnoxious and lacking in rhythm, but perhaps this varies by year and festival.

This year, I went to the second day, where Weezer headlined. As usual, they put on an amazing, entertaining show - complete with beach balls, a Lady GaGa impersonation, and general Weezer shenanigans and jokes.

The other bands of the day performed well, my favorite being the reunion performance by Piebald. Stuck on a smaller stage, this Massachusetts band rocked hard and got their entire audience dancing for every single song. They've broken up, but it's still worth looking into their discography: particularly their "We Are The Only Friends We Have" album.

So stay on the lookout for music festivals and events such as this. It's easy to get into New Jersey and other nearby locations where these are held - All Points West is normally held over the summer in Liberty State Park, NJ, although it is rumored to be canceled this year.

Plus, bands often play additional shows while they're in the area - MGMT played a show at Fordham the day before they performed at Bamboozle this year, and other bands will play at schools and open venues during these times as well. So even if you can't make it to the big show, you may be able to catch the bands somewhere else in or near the city. Check specific band websites for details, or for rock bands they are often listed on OhMyRockness.