The Dark Side of the Longest Day + more better punk rock

The longest day, and consequently the shortest night, are cause for celebration. I ate, I drank, I made merry, and I saw some excellent music. In honor of the good time I had (all hail me and my awesomeness) I will now recount the best-of-the-best of Vilnius punk rock and the concerts I got to see during the few days of never-ending sunlight and parties.

Vytas (not Vytis)

Gaile has a friend, and he has a band. His name is Vytas. Say hi to Vytas.

Vytas in Mekas Duo

Mekas Duo...there are two of them

Vytas was introduced to me several times and has really been a great guide to the local music here. He showed me the most amazing underground website that has been up since the inception of the punk, metal, avant-garde scene here. (hardcore.lt) It is a really good source for information and music from the best of Vilnius, as well as being a central point of unification for the scene.

Vytas Live in Concert

Vytas' band's name is Mekas Duo, they are awesome. Say hi to Mekas Duo.

SC

SC is comprised of: 2 singers (1 female, and 1 male), 1 bass player with an amazing dreadlock mullet, and 1 incongruous drummer. They are also awesome.

Say Hello to SC.

The first time I saw SC they were playing at 11-20  when we arrived for the first time, I only caught the end of the show so I had no idea how good they really were. They have been around in the Vilnius punk scene for a very long time (according to our guide Vytas) and I would have to describe their sound as a Halloween-carnival ride with perfect dissonance in the vocals, and absolutely no resemblance to any other band I know (so I'm not going to say shit like "they sound like Fleetwood Mac dry-humping a distortion pedal while Jim Morrison masturbates in the corner...even though that would be awesome).

Nomeansno

Nomeansno is an old-school punk band from Canada (and when I say old-school, i mean they are all really old now and should be using walkers to get onto stage). SC opened for them at a very cool warehouse-converted-venue in Vilnius. If you don't know, now you know...

Also...Linas, Gaile, and I were caught on camera and showed up on the facebook photos for the concert. Not a terribly interesting story, we were just hanging out on the back patio in-between sets, but doesn't Gaile look like she's having fun?

The Vytis + A Patriotic Tattoo

And now...some ink! I had been asking everyone who might know, where to get a tattoo in Vilnius...and everyone invariable said the same thing "Angis". Sot there I went, and, after a protracted process of delivering drawings and hashing out the placement with the artist over several days, there the deed was done.

Angis Tattoo...my camera sucks, it was sweet looking

Fresh Vytis

Final Product

In Trakai + A Real Life Renaissance Festival

Trakai is the historic capital of Lithuania, it contains many medieval structures, including: the lake castle, a treasure vault, and a bunch of dorks in tights.

A brief history of Trakai...no I'm not actually going to go into feudalism and shit here, go read it yourself.

If you held a Renaissance festival in a real castle, year round, and took it very seriously, you would have Trakai. Pure. Awesomeness.

I went with Linas and Remas, and yes they are exactly as much fun to hang out with as it is to say their names together.

We spent the majority of our day wandering through the castle and it's various museum-like rooms of armor, treasure, and creepfully knowledgable tour guides. (Yes I know that is not a real word, but it should be.)

Remas and Linas were both very familiar with the place and knew where to go and what to see. I, however  was like a kid in a medieval armor-and-treasure-candy-shop.

They put up with my enthusiasm with the patience of mountain goats (I don't know if mountain goats are actually patient, but it seemed like a good time for a folksy descriptor here).

And now...a photographic interlude.

Lithuanian Chads do not mix well with boating

Which way to the gift-shop? 

Kind-of reminds me of the painting of Vigo in Ghostbusters II

Shiny

Not creepy. At. All. 

And then...

I found the tattoo I had been looking for

I Thought that this trip would give me some inspiration for the tattoo I wanted to get to commemorate my trip and whatnot (I say whatnot with the highest regard for all the whatnot that took place here) and I was right.  The Vytis is the historic and iconic protector of Lithuania, he is the coat of arms for the country as a whole. The name means "chaser" he was not a conqueror but a defender, and would chase the enemies of Lithuania to the borders...and no farther.

Just a few smoking accessories

 We did wander over to the jousting grounds and the historic re-enactments were a sight to behold. Men in tights are the coolest, no?

In closing I would just like to say thank you to the Tartars for their strict religious beliefs and delicious food. For without you Trakai would have been just another castle.