Dave Rat - Roadies in the Midst

That would be a Bradley Fighting Vehicle. An armored personnel carrier being carried. I believe that is a calvary symbol on the side of what I recognize as a TOW Missile launcher. Ah, my past flashes before my eyes as I drive out to a big rock show and the thoughts of "what if" slip in and out of my mind. Oh, so glad I gave up the life of working in the industrial military complex.

Sweeping ourselves over to the other side of life, welcome a the world of embracing fun! I love this band, they are one big fiesta and end with the song that never ends, check out Gogol Bordello back again at Coachella but graduating to the big stage this time

As fate would have it, with a little help from princess Vixen, I ended up having a few drinks with some new friends

If you ever get the chance, I highly recommend seeing them and tell them them hello from me if you do!

And speaking of friends, how about some more celebrity shots where I go find a super cool person and stand in front of the camera with them. Meet Kevan, one of the main masters of counter-disaster behind the smooth operation of this massive festival.

And in a rare and honored photo op, meet Paul, the master mind behind the creation of the event.

I remember 10 years ago, with clear vision and momentum, Paul and Rick describing their vision of creating the largest coolest west coast festival where all others before had failed. Though Rick has passed on, his spirit lives in the dream he and Paul created. The words to describe how incredible it is to look back upon how strangely, sadly and amazingly things unfold, escape me. Who would'a knew!

Speaking of pasts unfolding, say hey to Rob Rule. Robbie was guitar tech for for Peppers when I first started doing sound for them and for many years after. He went on to sing backing vocal on One Hot Minute tour, opened for Peppers and is master of the "knife trick."

Jason is the one that got the Rat onto the Pig's foot and that ruled!

I wish I had pics of everyone but my distraction level was incompatible with keeping focus on that project, though I tried. Michael mixes Jack Johnson which happens to be just about the best sound gig on the planet.

Each Coachella Stage has a dedicated production manager with near total control over their world. Wiley is the main man behind the Sahara tent

I just know the Rat crew loves it when I run around with a camera taking pics. At least I think they do. Or at absolute minimum, they put up with it well. Meet most of the the Main Stage, Rat stage crew.

Enough for now. Next up, I will sweep up the last bits of Coachella, a bit on Stagecoach festival and join me for something really scary when I travel out to Florida and find myself still on stage when the show starts. Uh oh! we got no band! We just got me, a mic and a four hour time slot rapping to the students at Full Sail University. Talk about something I really thought I would never ever do! But hey, I got straight "D"s in English and I write articles for national magazines and this here blog. Why let mortifying stage fright stop me for going solo and speaking on stage? And why are the scariest things the most fun?

Dave Rat