In a lot of ways the Mile High Music Festival was a baby-faced, starter version of America's original take on the European festival experience. I speak of course of the one festival that is most nearest and dearest to my heart, Coachella. From the expanse of closely cropped grounds, to the mountain views ringing the venue, even the oppressive high temperatures reminded of annual pilgrimages to the California desert. As luck would have it, the mile high addition to the ever growing list of stateside festivals happened to coincide with two of the hottest days Colorado has seen this year. Temperatures were in the high 90s both days. It was an interesting juxtaposition for my fellow Coachella vets and I, one that would echo throughout the weekend.

As unfair as it might be, Coachella comparisons served as a measuring stick for contrast too. I'm fully aware of the inherent problem with such correlations, but the stark similarities are hard to ignore. If anything MHMF organizers stand to learn a few things from the SoCal model as the reflective, post-mortem process begins in preparation for the inevitable refinements for next year (unsubstantiated reports state arrangements have been made with Dick's for future editions).

Here are some major spots where MHMF can improve, in order of importance:

[Dave Matthews crowd]

1. This type of lineup is not sustainable.

My feelings leading up to the MHMF are well documented in the merryswankster public record. I didn't even try to veil my displeasure at the lineup. All weekend long I tried reconciling the often clashing desires between my usually under the radar personal tastes and the economic realities that come with putting together events of this size. MHMF was not ambitious by any stretch of the imagination when they cast their net with middle of the road, commercial safeties as the big headliners. Arguably the chum of the lesser known acts provided some new names for attendees to indulge in, but nowhere near the diversity in styles one expects at festivals this size. Not even close.

Dave Matthews Band could probably singlehandedly fill the space (and judging from the size of the crowd they commanded on Sunday night, did just that), but in terms of a future endorsement, going the young-adult, contemporary route is a sure fire way to drive this thing into the ground as a one and done event. Part of the fun of music festivals is discovering something new, going outside the norm and giving something different a shot - either by choice, or by accident, it's these surprises that keep people returning to the big boys of American fests.

MHMF had little of this. Neo-hippie bands like Tea Leaf Green, O.A.R., DMB, and blues rock adherents from the Black Crowes, Tom Petty and John Mayer draw tremendous grassroots support, which is commendable and in no way being questioned, but not a terribly exciting genre to stick with year after year. Bonnaroo learned this lesson as it slowly mutated from the insular colony still mourning the post-Phish era, (think lost hippies trying to determine which new jam-train to latch onto), and evolving into the dynamic marathon of miscellany best fit for the current culture of the "shuffle" generation. Metallica, Pearl Jam, alongside Jack Johnson, Trey Anastasio, Widespread Panic, and practically every important indie band in existence.

2. Tighter grounds.

MHMF is enormous. Without resorting to surveyors, it's a safe bet the grounds of Coachella could fit in a corner of MHMF's. Think about tightening up the space for better (i.e. quicker) accessibility for ambitious festival goers traversing from one end to the the other. With three large outdoor stages and two immense tents the availability of venues was fantastic, but much too spread out than needed to be. It often felt too sparsely laid out, even on Sunday which drew a larger turnout.

Big spaces can feel somewhat empty when not properly utilized. Maybe condensing the space by adding a camping area? Or if camping is not in the cards perhaps a greater emphasis on large scale art installations to break up the monotony of walking through the bland canvas patchwork of endless soccer fields.

3. Incorporate more local flavor.

While done to a moderate degree with several Colorado eateries represented (Steuben's, holla!), my biggest gripe with this issue was the poor beer selection, which is really a misnomer considering the choices where Bud or Bud light for your well earned $8. This is Colorado! We have breweries like Williamsburg has sidewalk sales!

Look, I'm a pragmatist at heart and I wholeheartedly understand the futility in complaining about high food & drink prices at ticketed events, yet at the same time I don't think there is any wisdom in just accepting such things as inevitabilities when the grousing is valid. Eight bucks for a bud? At least provide some selection so if I want to get expensively drunk I can do it with better quality sauce. Better to get ripped off with tastier brews for rationalization's sake.

In closing, MHMF has a lot of positive things going for it. Much more than I could have envisioned when I repeatedly dismissed the event from the comforting glow of my laptop's radiating screen. I will gladly eat my words if the lineup complaints are corrected and MHMF evolves into the event it originally positioned itself when first announced - a large-scale, multi-day, music festival catering to all. However, if their target remains people who go to one or two concerts a year, continue doing what you're doing by playing it safe and creatively boring.

I have no idea what the future holds for the MHMF. If all else fails I can thank my lucky sandstone formations for Monolith's indie-tastic lineup, which for the umpteenth time: totally rules.

Check merryswankster.com throughout the day today for photo sets of MHMF performers.

[city in background not as close as it appears]