ALL. POINTS. WEST.

Fuck.
That is the word that was running through my head in big Cheshire Cat bubble letters two nights ago as I trudged through the shin-deep mud that made up the ground of Liberty State Park after the mind blowing festival All Points West was done with it.
Fuck, fuck, fuck.
I'll back track.
11 AM. We arrive at the park only to wait in the torrential rain for an hour before a director ushered us into a freezing cold ferry terminal to "wait it out."
2 PM. Still waiting in said ferry terminal, I begin to have hunger pains of diabetic proportions, decide to stand in line for the shitty snack stand in terminal.
3 PM. Still standing in line.
4 PM. Fuck it, we're (i.e. me, cousin, friend, and sister) ditching the line because we see a rush of people running to the front of the terminal.
4:15 PM. Turns out to be a tease, no one's being let out.
4:30 PM. SUNSHINE. We're let out of the terminal (after many of my albeit, overexaggerated, accusations of kidnapping since I am technically a minor) and it is fucking sunny outside. All right, let's go, onward!
Not so fast. waiting on line, outside now, to be let into the actual park.
5:00 PM. We make it into the park! Since now I am incredibly grumpy because I am ridiculously hungry and The Gaslight Anthem's set was cut, we decide to go eat an overpriced burrito and catch Akron/Family's set. They were great, kept the crowd upbeat and had a really good vibe and sound.
6:00 PM. We Are Scientists. Bass was far too loud, and not a strong stage presence but we got to the front of the stage, so we were in good shape for the acts we actually wanted to see there.
7:00 PM. HOLYFUCKINGSHIT. Mogwai went on. I had no idea what to expect since I'd never heard them before but I was told they would "nurse the wound of The Gaslight Anthem" so I was excited. They exceeded whatever expectations I might've had. Probably the best prog rock I've ever heard. Insane shredders, great instrumentals, and on rare occassion, vocals. Insane.
8:20 PM. The Black Keys. All I can say is soul. Who would've thought two skinny indie kids from Ohio could have so much?
9:35 PM. MGMT went on. I've been dreading typing this part because no words I write here could do them justice. They stole the show. It's a beautiful thing, having thousands of people jumping in unison to a song every single person there enjoyed (and I am a really small person so for that word to be "beautiful" instead of "scary" or "terrifying" is a major feat and a good testament to the power of MGMT). Especially "Electric Feel" and "Kids". Look the performance of those up on YouTube. You won't be sorry.
So I couldn't believe I was there. I felt incredibly lucky and like it should have cost me more than a five hour wait and $110. But that's completely irrational because what would be worth that night? My soul? No, not enough.
Anyway, it was amazing. I could not recommend the festival enough. Go!