Photo courtesy of JQ. This year, we're bringing our OWN camera!

Exactly one month from today, I will be on a plane for High Sierra.

If you think I am not counting every single second between now and then, you're sadly mistaken. If you think I haven't been counting every single second for, oh, the past 6 months, you're sadly mistaken. High Sierra last year was probably one of the best weekends I've ever spent: friends, music, mountains, music, friends, camping, dancing, music, dancing, really good beer...the list goes on. This year promises to be just as wonderful.

I cannot wait.

One of the things that High Sierra does extremely well as a festival (outside of everything) is their kickin' late night lineup. They have four official late night venues (and a few side acts) and they schedule two bands per venue per night for each of four nights (that's 32 late night shows, kids, plus some). Last year M and I went to late night shows all four nights. I don't care how old you are, that's not easy: music each day from noon until 4am, with only small breaks for showers, napping under trees, and sitting in the gazebo (yeah...I know...rough life, huh?). I ended up sleeping from about 5pm until 10pm one night between afternoon shows and late night because I wanted to be able to stay up late more than I wanted to see Gov't Mule. When we left, we swore that next year we'd take it easier and only go to a few late night shows.

And then the schedule came out. (I know you can guess what happens next....)

Thursday: We have wristbands, which means we'll wander between The Radiators, The Mother Hips, and ReBirth until 1am, and then between Umphrey's and Zero after 1:30.

Friday: Wristbands again...and the hardest choices to make...do we see Surprise Me Mr. Davis or Robert Walter first (probably SMMD)? Then ALO, GAT, or MMJ (heh)? I honestly cannot decide.

Saturday: Easier, but probably the one I'm looking forward to the most. We'll see Hairy Apes BMX for one of their last ape-outs ever, then Tea Leaf Green until the morning sun (pun intended).

Sunday: We will be dragging, but we'll be at Bisco.

I know what I'll look like on Monday: