Fat Konkins, black flags, on-site conversions, grilling and #WhiteBoySummer.
A total riot (with no littering) and how I achieved fleeting inner peace.
Chillderburg’s third year kicked off this Memorial day weekend 2021 in surprisingly green Texas, just about an hour west of Austin. Despite a heavy rain and hail storm on Friday night, libertarians, Anarchists, Agorists, Anti-War activists, Crypto guys and all sorts of other freaks and geeks of the most charming variety drove and flew in from all over the country. They funneled into Muleshoe Bend Recreation Area campsite throughout Saturday morning, a picturesque Texan hill country lake with hillside camping, wildflowers, and trees for shade. Was there to be some kind of secession? A lone star state CHAZ attempt? Perhaps even a quasi-religious, allegedly heavily armed, commune starting up?
Not quite, the most sinister running theme of the weekend was the concerning amount of ordained Universal Life Church members that were on hand in case a spontaneous marriage were to go down.
So what was really happening to draw a crowd of around 200 liberty oriented and liberty adjacent people to this event? Chillderburg is a group camping meetup for the liberty community, the brain-child of Jacob, host of the Tasting Anarchy Podcast and Californian in Exile and main organizer for the event, and Car Campit, host of Timeline Earth and The Signal. For one, the previous year had been hampered by pandemic travel restriction nonsense and the uncertainty of the time, so people were more rabid than ever for a big social event in our community. But unlike others of it’s kind, the focus of this event is not preaching the message of liberty, speeches and strategizing, it is community first and foremost. Not in some kind of awkward, forced manner, but simply by being a beacon for a bunch of people in the same loose movement. They get to come together, break bread, share Agora Brewing’s Mead, enjoy music and comedy together and for those willing, participate in some Woodstock shenanigans after sunset (and then again at 9am the next day). Most quietly appreciated after the fact was the blissful ignorance of what fear mongering trash was on the news at that time.
Of the some 200 people in attendance throughout the weekend, around half were camping. Of those present, widely known individuals included: antiwar.com's Scott Horton and fellow Libertarian Institute Podcaster Tommy Salmons of the Year Zero podcast, Antony Sammeroff of Scottish Liberty and author of Universal Basic Income: For and Against (A great aide to your sex life if you own a copy, as per Sammeroff), Robby ‘The Fire’ Bernstein of the Run your Mouth and Part of the Problem podcasts, who performed stand-up on Saturday and many, many more wonderful and interesting faces from so many different parts of the liberty community. This being only the third year, attendance had dramatically increased as FOMO has grown for the fire-side conversations that can be had with like minded lads and ladies. By Jacob’s own estimates, the first year Chillderburg had 30 in attendance. The second, about forty. After this year’s showing with between one and two-hundred at any given time, Jacob expects at least 300 so far for Chillderburg Vier, or four (Each years number is in a different language). So why all the buzz? What went down?
Friday night was the early birds as Chillderburg didn’t officially start until Saturday, some had flown in and been bussed to the site, often provided camping gear by caring internet friends who by the end of the weekend, would feel like something akin to family. The early arrival bonding (I wasn’t there until early Saturday morning) was reportedly very similar to the first two Chillderburgs in terms of number of people at the campground initially, whom after having some time to get acquainted and set up tents were pounced on by a brutal hail and rainstorm. It was during this chaos that the #NotACult’s first conversion would start to take place, a middle aged ordinary camper with no prior relation to the event was locked out of his car during the storm and after the campers on site failed to help him break in (Where was Pat Watson when we needed him?) he was given a spare tent that was already set up by Jacob. More on him later.
Attendees from all over continued to pour in Saturday morning and getting to setting up camp, shaking hands and exchanging real and screen names while tents hung upside down like we were in some kind of bizarro world, drying from the storm the night before. As we decided on our spot, I noticed a car flying a black ‘Circle A’ flag and I knew we were in the right spot. I flew my own version, the ‘Peace, Autonomy, Liberty’ flag to let anyone who might know of me but not my face that I was there. Shortly after midday, the campers began migrating to Iron Wolf Ranch & Distillery for the evenings music and comedy show.
The venue was a beautiful spot in the Texan hill country, a large outdoor area including a shaded stage as well as a raised patio close by the bar of the distillery itself. The entertainment was largely involved with the liberty community and many of whom you’ll have probably heard of in our circles before: Opening the evening with musical performances were Kwesi, Owen-Glass and the Palace Saints and Nicky Pecone, all doing a stellar job of maintaining the vibe and energy felt back at camp. After the music, we had the pleasure of a whole lineup of live comedy: Micah Brown, Brian Breckenridge, Kyle Ruff and of course, Robbie ‘The Fire’ Bernstein. A few in attendance mistook Robbie’s routine for being audience participation based after an evening of ‘staying hydrated’ at Iron Wolf, something which was expertly handled by Robbie to the rest of the crowds enjoyment. The show was a massive success with the highest attendance of the weekend with 200 present before all filed back either to camp or elsewhere for those just in attendance for the evening. Saturday evening turned into Saturday night and then Sunday morning as the energy from the show kept some going into the early hours, Woodstock shenanigans took over plans for several live podcast sessions which instead would take place on the Sunday.
The final official day of Chillderburg was for me, truly what the whole event was about. We had all arrived, mixed, had a big event to enjoy together and this last day allowed people to make the most of our time with each other. The only planned events were Agora Brewing’s Mead tasting and a grill that night to make Fat Konkins, a surprisingly delicious burger named after the portly Samuel Edward Konkin III, the man behind the Agorist school of thought, made with the following recipe by Cook Shanty, who killed it keeping us fed:
I awoke Sunday morning to the camp the next over from ours being occupied by Scott Horton, Tommy Salmons, his wife and other excellent company, I’d expected to perhaps awkwardly brush shoulders with a few of the people at the forefront of our movement today, but it was a whole other pleasure getting the chance to sit down and relax with them for hours. Whether it was talking anti-war, liberty, life experiences or drunken tales, the conversation flowed in all talking circles throughout the campgrounds and what struck me the most was the chance to talk to people whom operate at all levels, from the anonymous lurkers to the well known advocates, as equals. There was no ego beyond making jest, the respect between everyone in attendance is what made this thing so special. While we sat and smoked and joked, we were approached by multiple people letting us know that the Mead tasting was beginning.
For the uncultured, which includes myself because I’m a shitty European, Mead is a fermented honey based alcoholic drink sometimes made with the addition of spices, fruits, grains and hops and is most comparable to wine in how it sips, thought it is in a separate category of alcohol altogether. Agora Brewing did a killer job with a crowd of around 40 people, potentially more (Did I mention some of that stuff was pretty strong?) explaining the name and story behind each of his home brewed samples, it’s ingredients, how it will taste and finish and then proceeding to hand out samples to the beaming crowd. What a feeling to appreciate someone’s hobby and the fruits of it in such a warm atmosphere. We couldn’t have asked for a better setting: a perfect sun shining down on us, a few hundred feet away was the lake reflecting it, in the opposite direction perhaps 50 feet from us was a meadow of tall grass, twisted trees and beautiful Texan wildflowers and the crowd itself was filled with polite, interesting folk who exchanged opinions on the Mead, jokes and politics while we awaited the next offering from Agora. Ranging from the sweet to pretty damn spicy and including an unexpected favorite, ‘I can’t believe it’s not a Lager’ or ‘Not a Lager’ for short. I’ve never been much of a Lager or even Beer kind of guy, preferring Whiskey, but I could for sure imagine myself drinking the Mead equivalent pint after pint. It was a totally unexpected surprise I could like something that replicates that taste, but after discussing this with Agora after the fact, he says the difference might be the taste of barley and grain based alcohol.
After the Mead tasting, I sat down with the podcasters (though that could be said when sitting with over half of those in attendance at any given time) and enjoyed Bird-archist, Co-Host of Timeline Earth with Car and Aaron, firmly grounding the vibe of the group playing Rush whilst we were all huddled under a tarp in a mild downfall of rain. It was at some point during this period of the day that the man who had previously been locked out of his car in the storm came to repay the campers who had helped him with beer. Now, from this point onward, the man who would become known to all as ‘Grillburg’ would somehow become tied up in the event, politely chatting with the friendly radicals scattered throughout camp and seemingly unbothered and maybe even interested by our politics, he stuck around. As the evening got darker, and the live podcasts started recording, the Woodstock shenanigans once again started. Most notable for documenting this part of the night was Slurpgang, hosted live by Ace-Archist and Cotton (with co-host Jay absent), interviewing a whole host of attendees, see the Tweet below for the whole list:
A short while later with the sun having set and the night shifting to an almost Bohemian Grove vibe, Cook Shanty got on the food with the assistance of Grillburg, our newest addition to the cult. In spite of day drinking and almost certainly some second hand, if not first hand, smoke, the man grilled for the camp like he was born to do it. I was one of the last to grab a Fat Konkin thanks to my own enjoying of the atmosphere, and I received a patty and bacon cooked to perfection that somehow tasted incredible with banana and peanut butter. I thought the concept was just a meme but my god, turns out the combo was life changing. Some time after eating, an individual that at the time, my stoned mind could only identify as the ‘shroom angel’ brought around a deep Tupperware of Psilocybin mushrooms to share. The final hours of the night were for many, a fantastic trip surrounded by people that felt closer to a united tribe than internet acquaintances. Finally calling it and going to bed was difficult, as we knew this was the final night where most would be at the camp, though some did stay a day or so longer. The rants and rambles on everything from psychedelics to Bitcoin to the Mises Caucus of the LP carried on until witching hour.
The next morning good-byes were exchanged, camps taken down and people started making their way home. I dragged my exhausted, but fulfilled, body down to the lake for the first time to take a dip before a 14.5 hour drive back. I hadn’t managed to touch the water once, being so busy enjoying the company of everyone I came across or occupied with the goings on, and I suddenly remembered like many there, I’m an introvert. That was an odd thing to consider as I had rarely needed a break from anyone the entire weekend, aside from a short solo walk doing some photography on an edible. These people understood me and I didn’t need to bite my tongue once, the interaction was just, easier. Parents openly and proudly talked about their homeschooled kids, guns and gun rights as well as medicinal and recreational drugs were just an obvious component of some people’s lifestyle instead of some hyper political discussion. After taking a much needed swim, I couldn’t stop smiling. We were leaving, but I knew I had built friendships with many there and that this thing would only grow bigger and better with next year and the years after. It was a relief to know this crowd beyond the tweets and podcasts, and I know it will be a mainstay in my annual plans as long as I can sustain it, which might become even easier having seen how beautiful Texan hill country is and my new obsessive hunt for property out there. It was indeed fleeting, but there was an inner peace being surrounded by these people. I could truly see this becoming our community’s burning man, and many are calling this Chillderburg’s break out year. It’s only going to get bigger from here folks!
The tickets for the music and comedy show were ‘pay what you want’ and all proceeds went towards first, covering the cost of Chillderburg III with the additional revenue going towards FreeRoss.org, the organization dedicated to freeing Ross Ulbricht from his outlandish sentence of two life sentences, plus forty years for running the Silk Road website. By the end of the weekend $1200 was raised with an additional match on the first $200 from Tasting Anarchy bringing the total to $1400 raised, not bad for a weekend of camping!
I highly encourage everyone interested to keep their calendar clear for memorial day weekend, 2022 and to head to chillderburg.com to sign up for their newsletter.
Until next time, everyone present has my love and I hope to see many returning and new faces at Chillderburg Vier!
Some Podcast episodes covering the event:
The B.R Hates Feds Show - E018
Timeline Earth - TLE 27
SlurpGang - Ep.7
Run your Mouth
The eMilitia Podcast - E065
UPDATE:
You can now reserve your camping spot for Chillderburg Vier here!