by Brian McKay

It’s here! Treefort is back for another glorious year, and this guy got his start on Thursday, March 23rd, wandering out of his cave to catch some music.

This year's tale is on a slightly more serious note, as I noticed this week that I am suffering some mental health challenges, primarily some debilitating depression. Before writing this, I had a panic attack and thought I would throw up. Unable to focus, I fell asleep for an hour.

While I am questioning my attendance tonight and hate missing my roaming session, I fully intend to enjoy Saturday and Sunday at Treefort.

So I am positioning my Thursday Treefort roaming against a period of suffering through some mental challenges.

On My Way

It took a bit to muster my intention to head out, but I wanted to experience the new venue and see what challenges or advantages moving the main stage to Julia Davis park would present. Finally picked up by the Uber at 5 pm, I was on my way, putting together a short list of bands I needed to see.

I settled on seeing Petey first.

Hello Park

A drop-off at the park started a little exploration. Julia Davis certainly has plenty of room, easily accommodating Ale Fort, vendors, the Hideout, Main, and Radio Boise stages, and Art Fort.

With the Hideout and Main stage very close together, the crowd easily moves between stages as one band plays while another sets up.

I anticipated one major challenge with this year’s Treefort; it’s cold and wet, making this year's Treefort the coldest I have experienced. It is also being held in a park, not a paved lot, with the potential for some serious mud. Was this year’s Treefort about to become a Woodstock ‘99?

The ground is certainly soft, and the mud is apparent, but a park that has been tamped down over decades handles it well. No mud ended up on my high tops, and no more rain is predicted, so it should be all good.

A Little Rap

After some roaming, I caught the last rap song of Daisha McBride and immediately wished I had seen the whole performance. Pretty spectacular.

Of course, I took some video though.

Recovery

While in past years, I have happily be-bopped around on my own, just doing my thing, this year felt different. I dreaded the thought of being alone this year, and the feeling seemed only to heighten as I observed groups of all ages having a great time.

I live alone, work from home, my daughter goes to school on the East Coast, and I am 52 now. Men nationwide are experiencing a post-COVID loneliness epidemic, which seems to have caught up to me as well. The pride I have often felt for being able to enjoy my own company and always meet new people has dissipated.

I assume this onset of loneliness contributed to depression and numbness. Add in the difficulty of being a freelance writer and income's scary ups and downs.

There was a temporary fix, though, Petey.

Petey

From Detroit, Michigan, Peter Martin is a force on stage. He rose to fame on TikTok during COVID, playing a cross of indie rock, electropop, soul, and alternative. There’s no way to really identify Petey, which makes him great.

His near screams at times and his lyrics result in a refreshing Detrot brutality that I loved, and it lifted my soul.

In Don’t Tell the Boys, a song hinting at hiding his love and soft side from his boys, Petey sings in the 2nd verse:

Don't tell the boys that we done spent the week inside

And watched three seasons of The OC, 'til Marissa fucking dies

You know at times I'm more like Ryan, and you're a little more like Seth

You're so quick witted when we talk about what happens after death

I heard your brother's in the desert, he's been fighting for our freedom

He's been chasing nameless faces ever since he finished rehab

Can we support the individual, without supporting the whole damn complex?

It's either shooting guns or heroin, at least one of them pays for college

When Petey screams, “don’t tell the boys,” in the refrain, you have to love it.

The official first act was outstanding.

The Heavy Heavy

The Heavy Heavy is just fun. Their cover of Real Love Baby is a blast, and this band harmonizes so well. Running into Zenruptors Jerry and Lila was a great bonus while enjoying this band.

This retro-inspired band describes themselves as making the music the sixties forgot and worth a listen whenever you want some smiles.

Onward

The rest of the night included a mandatory stop to watch the Zags beat UCLA, a pleasant surprise I heard while walking passed The District coffee house, and the trek to check out the Bus Depot venue.

I heard the delightful sounds of Boise-based Natalie Somo coming from The District and stayed to watch the rest of her set. She’s a talent that needs to see much broader success. A mix of Sara Bareilles meets Alicia Keys, Natalie’s voice is pure Heaven, and her backing band is seriously tight.

Whenever you see her name, go see her. Natalie creates smiles.

The Bus Depot? It’s a walk, but I can’t think of a cooler way to put an old Greyhound station to use. It looks like classic raw Treefort and supports two different stages. Using a bus bay for a stage? Brilliant.

New Logistics

Treefort is more spread out than ever and incorporates new venues, including a Duck Club-owned concert hall. I have a lot left to see. It’s more walking than ever and should be the best week ever for the scooter companies.

I wonder, will the distances segregate audiences? Will people head from Julia Davis Park to the Bus Depot? Will smaller crowds downtown change the feeling?

I can’t say. Regardless, Treefort delights as always, and the Zenruption team is fortunate to cover it yearly.

This guy will be back for the rest of the weekend. I feel bad missing so many great acts, especially as I attempt to move into talent management, but life throws us curve balls sometimes. It can hurt, and depression and mental illness have an incredible ability to rob us of good times and memories.

I am luckier than most as I recover quickly and manage such episodes well. This one is just much larger than I have dealt with in a long time.

If you or someone you know suffers from mental illness, many great resources exist, and you are not alone.

If you are currently having thoughts of self-harm, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is available 24/7 by dialing 988. Please call their caring and educated professionals.

Brian McKay is one of the founders of Zenruption Media, a professional writer, and has recently started Psyco Gecko Talent Management. He looks forward to seeing as much music as is humanly possible and helping artists pursue their dreams.