I was appalled by the concert yesterday, which I was fortunate enough not to experience in person--my boss called me back inside to type up posts from Jule Banville, who was in the thick of things by one of the Jumbotrons. So I listened on NPR. The lineup was so boomer-oriented! It was creepy, like your parents offering to try pot with you your first time, because they'd been through the Summer of Love and could be good spirit guides. Gens X and Y may have been the engine of the Obama campaign, but it didn't take long for the People Who Remember Vietnam to remind us this was their dream first, even to the point of hauling out poor old Pete Seeger for one more round of "This Land Is Your Land."

I don't mind hearing about art from Ashley Judd or sacrifice from Jack Black or citizenship from Marisa Tomei. You take Hollywood money, that's the price I guess, and it's relatively innocuous. But when Bono gave a shoutout Joe Biden it was almost too perfect--a boomer rock star calling out an archetypical boomer politician. This dream, Bono announced, was the American dream. But it was also the Irish dream. And the Israeli dream. And the Palestinian dream. And so on, till the dream's significance had become so diffuse it was really more a notion, a goal, or a New Year's resolution.

After the third or fourth old white rich singer performed with gospel singers--a slam-dunk signifier of soul to boomers, who gave us gospel brunches in addition to herpes, Billy Joel, and all-star jams at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame--I just had to wonder how the music would have been different had Hillary Clinton been elected instead. Maybe Fleetwood Mac, I guess. But really the only thing missing was Sting and his fucking lute.

Photo by David Katz/Presidential Inaugural Committee

Jule Banville reports from the We Are One concert:

John Jeter of the District got a couple of African-American dolls from eBay and "styled them" with a dollar-store dress (Michelle) and a tuxedo from some Ken doll clothes (the 44th president of the United States). He's basically holding these things up and walking around the crowd, Banville says. There's another guy following him with a video camera. It's pretty creepy. Jeter's holding the dolls up behind people when they're taking pictures. He's a playwright and videographer and they're doing this for YouTube. He's asking people what they'd tell the first family.

Banville also reports that the invocation from the gay bishop has started. She can't hear it though--Jumbotron is fixed but the sound is off.

Jule Banville reports from the We Are One concert. She is bored. Her husband has heard that Obama is going to arrive, part the Reflecting Pool, then walk on the water. Jule sees a dude walking around with Michelle and Barack action figures. She reports spontaneous line-dancing, among other disturbing developments. Says it's getting crowded and she's determined to defend her spot.

Jule Banville reports from the We Are One concert: Getting in via the security gates pretty easy. Bag restrictions were not really followed. Bags were not confiscated. They were checked in a cursory way. Basically it was like security at any big outdoor concert. People are bringing in chairs, strollers, and blankets with no trouble.

But if you're hungry there's a big problem. The line to get to the refreshment tent: Mammoth. Kaitlyn Boyle, 20, a student at Catholic, got to the grounds at 9 this morning and got through security in 15 minutes. But it took her two hours to get hot dogs. Those hot dogs, which are sold with chips, cost $6 apiece. Her total tab, with a $2 cookie, was $14. She's p.o.'d because all she really wanted was hot chocolate and they ran out by the time she made it through the line.

Banville went to back of line to find someone whose hopes she could deflate. She found Craig Massari, 39, a steelworker from Buffalo, N.Y. He'd left Buffalo at 2:30 this morning; the bus dropped his group off here. They have to get to Baltimore, where they're staying, tonight. The bus trip and hotel is costing him $900 for the weekend, but it's worth it because he wants to be part of history. Unfortunately, he also wanted some hot chocolate. Banville broke the news to him.

"Well, then I'm going to storm the place," he said. And then he continued to wait in line.

Banville also reports that the Jumbotron she's standing by, between the Korean War monument and the Reflecting Pool,  just went dark. Says there is a "Huge, huge, huge amount of porta potties." If you've gotta pee, you're taken care of, she says. If you didn't bring snacks, you're fucked.