"Be prepared", goes the old boy scout adage. So when the weather report for the Asagiri Jam area showed the possibility of rain and cold, my old scout reflexes snapped into action (wait a minute, I was never a boy scout). The threat of persistent showers and chilly nights had me packing more fleece and socks than a single person should be able to wear in a 2-day period. My pack weighed more than Musashimaru, but I was confident that I had prepared for every adverse meteorological situation. After all, I didn't want to be cold and miserable by Aphex Twin's evening set.

But in the case of this year's Asagiri Festival, it seems that Mother Nature and Murphy's Law work hand-in-hand. What started as a concertgoer's nightmare was soon to become an ideal paradise for bands and fans alike.

Arriving at 9am Saturday, however, the crew's fears seemed realized: the outdoor arena looked like some swampland from a B-grade monster movie. There was standing water as deep as 4-5 inches in places and fog so thick you couldn't see the stage from 10 meters. The chill in the air was unmistakable. Asagiri Jam was a bust, I thought. But thank god I was prepared.