Bamboozle 2012: 10 Best Moments From Day 2

Even before the "Jersey Shore" cast member performed his DJ set in Asbury Park's Convention Hall, the moderate-sized venue had hit capacity. But drunken fans intent on seeing him were not dissuaded: They stood around chanting "Let us in! Let us in!" on and off for a half hour. One devotee explained her insistence on staying even when there was only 15 minutes left of his set: "I hate to walk away when I still have the possibility of seeing him."

For someone wearing a bright yellow banana suit, this girl was surprisingly reserved—she didn't dance, shout or even nod her head (or "nod her stem"?) all that often. I kept my eyes peeled for her throughout the Foo Fighters' set, but I didn't see her there. She must have split by then.

And the Minneapolis punk-pop outfit still played faster and harder than nearly every other band at the fest. Both times.

The Australian rapper said she had some trouble crossing the Canadian border on her way to The Bamboozle and they almost sent her packing back to Kangaroo Land. Her set—which revealed her to be as comfortable onstage as in viral YouTube videos—was one of the day's highlights, so thanks for working things out with her, border patrol agents.

I have no idea what this "Beetlejuice"-esque costumed woman on stilts was supposed to be doing, or why she moved like a praying mantis, but I do know she delighted the young and frightened the stoned.

The Queens chef-turned-rapper shared some hip hop brotherly love with Soulja Boy-signed rapper Riff Raff. Hugs not drugs, guys! Well, maybe not so much that. After all, Action Bronson opened his (incredible) set with this dedication: "Make some noise for the sponsor: Drugs."

Blink-182 were forced to cancel their Bamboozle appearance after Travis Barker's emergency tonsillectomy, so Jersey's own My Chemical Romance stepped up to the plate. Although Blink was greatly missed (I overheard one concert-goer wistfully mention that "no one's stage banter is as funny as Blink's"), MCR more than satisfied. Their set was 55 minutes of tight-knit punk-pop augmented by succinct, sick guitar solos from Ray Toro. After it was over the crowd was all like, Blink One-Eighty-WHO?

Performing right on the Jersey beach, A$AP turned out the best hip hop set at the fest so far (which is saying something, because Action Bronson killed it, too). Within minutes of being onstage, he fearlessly plunged into the crowd and rode a wave of love (and more importantly, supporting hands) from the frenzied crowd.

Blink-182 actually did make an appearance at Bamboozle, of sorts. "Hi, we're Blink-182," Less Than Jake's Chris Demakes joked to the audience. "No, wait, we're Blink-183." Later in the set, he talked about the band's recent trip to Kentucky and why they hated it so much: "We were in the hotel bar and they had a cover band of The Offspring. Just f**king shoot me."

There were plenty of highlights from Foo Fighters' magnificent two-hour set (two hours! That's 7,200 seconds of rock bliss!) but Grohl affectionately ripping on the VIP section was my favorite part. Singling out those who were separated from and elevated above us unseemly plebeians, Grohl told the VIPs, "You should get your asses down into the crowd. Where it's fun. At least for one song." You tell 'em, Rock n' Grohl!