It was out with the hip Puma sneakers and cotton hoodies and in with the dorky rubber boots and rain ponchos at Rock the Garden 2011.
Even before the gates opened to the trendiest outdoor concert of the year Saturday, the skies opened up on the grassy grounds outside the Walker Art Center, where the Guthrie Theater used to stand. The incessant rain, however, did little to demolish the anticipation for the sold-out indie rock fest, a membership-driving event for both the Walker and co-sponsoring station KCMP (89.3 FM) "The Current."
"We came too far to let a little rain spoil it," said Brad Thies, who attended with his daughter Maddie, 14, just a few days after the family returned from a nine-month teaching excursion in South Korea.
Like many of the 10,000 attendees, Thies logged on the morning that tickets went on sale in April not even knowing who the performers were. His determination was a good thing, since tickets were gone by the end of the first day. "The Internet wasn't working [in South Korea], so we had a moment of panic, but we got them," said Thies, who also attended the festival. "It's the perfect event to come home to."
Jonathan Alexander, 29, of Plymouth said he has been to four previous Rock the Gardens, and this year's lineup of performers was his favorite yet. Kentucky's soaring rock quintet My Morning Jacket headlined alongside alt-country queen Neko Case, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame organist Booker T. Jones and local indie heroes Tapes 'n Tapes.
"It's a little bit of the wide variety of music" played on the Current, Alexander said as Tapes 'n Tapes started up its rapidfire rock in a slow downpour. "They do a good job keeping this thing unpredictable from year to year."
The rain did keep fans on their toes, though -- literally in the case of Alexander's friend, Jessica Reiser.
"I'm trying not to get my feet wet," she said, trouncing around puddles. Chances are slim that worked out.
Chris Riemenschneider • 612-673-4658
