It is fair time, Doobies and Uncle Cracker

This week in the lovely Benton-Franklin County Fair. For those of you used to a good size fair, think King County or the mother of all fairs, The Puyallup,this is a sad little fair. They rip you off with parking (5.00), admission (10.00) and the usual bad fair food. Last year I was treasurer for the local Democrat group so I was at the fair twice a day (bringing money in, taking money out).  Spent way too much time at the fair that year.

Like other fairs, they have entertainment, $6.00 if you want to sit in the "special section" (read chairs with backs on them) or free if you want to sit on the grass or in the uncomfortable bleachers.  They usually book those acts on their way down the ladder of success, last year was Styx (which I have had the opportunity to see at least once every summer for several years, not the scarcasm in the typed word and will be seeing them yet again next month, can you say Antichrist?), a few country people and the perennial downward sprial of Eddie Mooney (who was selling thongs with his picture on them, just not right).

This year's entertainment offering was/is the Doobie Brothers, some more country and Uncle Cracker.  Doobie Brothers (not sure how many were original to the band) did draw in a huge crowd and they were there on opening day of the fair.  I saw them back in the day (on their last farewell tour) and wasn't really impressed with them this year.  I was expecting the Greatest Hits and got some of that and some new stuff that I wasn't prepared for.  Uncle Cracker was tonight (which was also Senior Day).  He did clean up his act, I was a bit concerned with all the little kids in the audience and some older folks.  I did wonder what the old folks were thinking, he did do a couple of songs that would appeal to my generation.  Mark went with reservations but he really didn't have that bad of a time.  It could have been worse, I could have found a Snoop Dogg concert to drag him to.

I believe I am now done with the fair tour this year.  There are some people I wouldn't mind seeing at the Puyallup but just don't have the energy to drive over, spend the night and deal with it all.  It also usually rains during that fair and there is nothing worse than sitting without roof during an all weather concert when there is weather.  Did it last year (for guess who?).  It was the same weekend as FarmAid so we were over there anyway but it was a miserable weekend (not to mention the speeding ticket I got on the way).

Just two more concerts on the books for this year,  Tom Petty Labor day weekend at The Gorge and my manditory penance of Styx at the Gorge later next month.  I even get to suffer through REO Speedwagon and Foreinger.  This line up is better than last year's concert where Nelson (David's little boys) opened for Peter Frampton.  We sat next to a couple who just loved Nelson, they played on the cruise that they took for their honeymoon.  I just sat there wondering if I could force myself into a coma for the next 30 minutes that they were on stage.  The rest of the line-up was better, Blue Oyster Clut and Kansas (considering we are desert, Dust in the Wind was appropriate).  Steely Dan must be out of the "we sing about incest" tour dates since they did tour the Northwest this summer.