I do like it when festivals exhibit some sort of theme, however loose it may be. Bonnarroo is (or at least was) pretty jammy, Lollapalooza is alternative, Coachella is indie and hip, Warped Tour is punk. I didn’t see any such theme in Big Guava’s lineup. That’s not to say I don’t appreciate variety; I think it’s awesome to have so many different styles available to tickle the ears. I just think that a little direction helps give each experience its own personality. That being said, each day of Guava had its own characteristics, both musically and atmospherically.

Day 1 was a lot heavier on trad rock and organic sounds. Even though by the time we arrived the grounds had been open for several hours, there really wasn’t too big of a crowd; we could move easily and no lines were very long. We went into a Jack Daniels exhibit that detailed how the whiskey is made. They had sample barrels and demonstrated the difference between the smells of fresh and sweetened/aged whiskey. It was pretty cool, even if my nostrils were singed a little bit. They revealed to us that it’s possible to purchase your own barrel; my friends and I contemplated the logistics of doing so. It would be a really good story and class marker.

The first show I caught was Jenny Lewis. I had just gotten into her a couple of months prior, so wasn’t super familiar with her catalog but am really attracted to her songwriting voice. It’s very real and lends itself to expressing the bare intricacies of emotion. Her former band Rilo Kiley has more of an alternative vibe, while her solo stuff is more indie with a dash of country influence. I knew the crowd was going to be mostly fans intimately familiar with her work; she’s not a huge name. I missed the first couple songs, unfortunately, but quickly found a spot close to the stage and settled in. She wore a tie-died one piece with almost Dark Side of the Moon type prisms on it; it looked cosmically Americana in the Gram Parsons sense. The mood was only increased by the vintage arcade games and taxidermy big cats on the stage. Lewis played well and tried her best to engage the crowd, and she seemed very likable. The highlights came when, with balloons bouncing through the crowd, she launched into an old Rilo Kiley number called “A Better Son/Daughter,” which was amazingly fortified and built up to almost a bolero of self-empowerment. By the end many in the crowd, including yours truly, were raising their fists to the beat of her proclamation. Afterwards, she closed by singing “Acid Tongue” acoustically, backed only by her band singing six-part harmony. It was magical. They captured an early 70s Laurel Canyon vibe that allowed me to just drift away. It was a perfect opening for the rest of the weekend.

Immediately after Lewis, Ryan Adams was up on the same stage. During the break we saw the tail end of AWOLNATION’s performance in the amphitheater. The less said about that, the better. They sounded terrible and could not fill up the large space. Anyway, back to the good stuff. I had been looking forward to Adams’ appearance more so than almost any other act on the bill. I was not disappointed. He kept the same stage setup as Lewis and added an American flag with a peace sign in the blue – they have been touring together and guested for one song each during their sets at Guava. I loved to see their working relationship. I don’t think Adams was with the Cardinals, just his usual backing band, but they did not disappoint. He stuck mostly to his country roots; the only punk aspect that crept out was his Misfits shirt. His band played through a lot of newer material, and, as the sun set over Tampa, they settled into a nice groove that allowed them to stretch out. I would have loved for them to jam a little more, but the economy was extremely effective. With only a two guitar lineup the space between the notes added a good bit of emotion, and Adams’ performance ebbed and flowed with his words. By the time he closed out his set, he and his guitarist and organist were trading elegaic solos, Adams’ back bent in front of his Marshall stack like he was air guitaring at home. My two friends and I had worked up a nice buzz by this point and were swaying in twilight. I wish I had a lighter. It was without a doubt one of the best performances of the weekend. While I’m disappointed to have missed Passion Pit, I’m confident that I made a better choice.

Finally, the night closed with Pretty Lights, an electronica DJ. I’m not familiar with his music at all. It was cool and relaxing for the time, but I don’t remember any of it a few days later. The best part about the whole thing was the atmosphere. His show was held in the amphitheater, and we sat out on the grass, dead center. By this time it was completely dark and the entire area lit up with….pretty lights. The light show really was fantastic and complimented the numerous dancers, hoopers, and revelers. It was the most “EDM” part of the weekend, but it maintained a more subdued vibe that fit the coastal Florida evening. Friday was the day that jived the most with what I expect a festival to feel like, between the laid back fun, free expression, and great tunes ushering in an even more relaxed night.