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Aug 6: The Downsview Park concert review.
My plan was to circle the fence surrounding the venue hoping to see a glimpse of the stage. I drove to my dad's office across from the former army base around four in the afternoon. Along the way, hucksters tried selling me parking spots for upwards of $25. Walking along Sheppard Avenue, I saw throngs of people excited about the day ahead. There were more vendors selling everything from water and soda pop to disposable cameras and memorabilia. Already there's garbage lining the street, mostly alcohol-related.
I came prepared for my walk with two water bottles, a hat, and a cheap digital camera. No food, sunscreen, or most importantly, much money, as I didn't expect to be out more than a couple of hours. I briskly walked to the corner of Sheppard and the Allan Expressway where gate two was located across from the Downsview subway station. Here, thousands of people came from every direction through the normally busy intersection. Except for the occasional emergency vehicle, there were only bicyclists to avoid. Continuing my hike on the Allan, I couldn't hear or see the musicians, and it appeared my plan had failed.
After turning onto Transit Road, I met a group of people who asked what I was doing. When I told them my story, they offered me an extra ticket, which I gratefully accepted. Then it hit me: now I have to walk all the way back! My pace and heart quickened as I realized that Rush would soon be taking the stage. One problem: my digital camera was on the list of prohibited items, and that meant dropping it off at the office, or risk losing it to security. Fast forward to gate three's entrance and the tired looking guard who leisurely checked my bag. The camera could have easily been smuggled inside, but it doesn't matter now. I could hear the music.
Walking over uneven ground, I headed to a First Aid station for a free water bottle. They were being handed out from a trailer to a growing crowd eager for relief. People took shade wherever they could. Empty bottles littered the grounds. Completely ignoring the merchandise booth and hot dog carts, I made it to the main viewing area. On the fringes were scattered groups of people that soon became a tightly-woven mob. I thought about going back to the open field behind me, but it was too difficult. Luckily, I found a small piece of land with an unobstructed view of a large projection screen. This was home for the next three hours.
I arrived just after The Guess Who began playing, and wasn't disappointed by their performance. They really enjoyed themselves and had fun singing with the crowd. During the break that followed, a DJ spun some tunes. Finally, Rush took the stage, and my efforts to get this far seemed worthwhile. Launching into fan favourite, Tom Sawyer, those around me suddenly awoke. I overheard someone ask, "What's with the laundry machines?" Laughing to myself, I remembered them from the last tour continuously spinning in the background. Unfortunately, their set was short and were done playing after forty minutes.
AC/DC were the evening's highlight for many concert-goers. They knew the role being asked by event organizers: to warm up for the Stones. Maybe a daunting task for another band, but these Aussie rockers grabbed the crowd by the throat and didn't let go until seventy minutes of intense ear-splitting music had been delivered. By this point, my body was aching after standing so long. My water supply empty, hungry, sweaty, and tired, I decided to leave. In August 1994, I saw the Stones perform at Exhibition Stadium, and wasn't impressed. Apparently, neither were thousands of others who left before the headliners.
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