Didn't make it to Lolla this year?
Or did but don't remember anything?
Don't worry! I got you covered.
Or did but don't remember anything?
Don't worry! I got you covered.
Let me be your personal guide into the Molly-filled Labyrinth that eats up Grant Park every year in August.
Everything you missed at Lolla from your own
Friendly Neighborhood Blogger.
Friendly Neighborhood Blogger.
Enjoy!
Dancing to the Killers
Are we back in Middle School?
YES AND I WOULDN'T CHANGE IT FOR THE WORLD.
Sure, their new stuff is nothing to brag about, but screaming MR. BRIGHTSIDE!!! at the top of your lungs releases any embarrassment you might have for knowing every word to every song.
A couple or drugged out stoners danced with me and my volunteer partner in the back of the park and you know what? It felt like some sort of weird tribal dance.
It could have been the lack of food and water, but I was feeling that concert high.
And it was only night 1.
Singing to Postal Service
If you've never seen The Postal Service live, then TOO BAD!
This was their last show in Chicago, and they're
NEVER GOING ON TOUR AGAIN, SO THAT SUCKS FOR YOU!
Ok, now that I'm done bragging, let me now suggest that if you've never attended a concert by yourself, it is the most liberating experience you may ever have.
I saw Death Cab for Cutie by myself 2 years ago (no, I did not wear all black or black eye liner, thank you very much-)
But no obligations! No one to constantly 'share the moment with.'
Just you and the music, mannnnnn.
Postal Service delivered (check out that pun.)
A crowd of 7,000+ people singing every word to their songs-
It was something special, and we all turned into 13 year old girls that night.
Free Lobster Dog
If you've never tried the Gramawich Lobster Dog, then
TOO BAD YOU CAN'T NOW BECAUSE THE RESTAURANT IS CLOSING, BITCH!
Whew, ok I'm done for real now.
But it's true- Red Eye reports that the satellite diner that famously serves the Lobster Corn Dog will be closing its doors, and Lolla was its Grand Finale.
But that does not wipe out its delicious Lobster filled, sour cream drizzled, crisp coating from my mind.
Oh yeah, and it was FREE.
(I had to # something or something, but Free is Free, and my twitter followers can suffer a couple meaningless tweets if it means no cash flow from my wallet for this little piece of heaven.)
1 Song from Mowgli's
Look how Indie these guys are!!!
Now, I love music, and I know my stuff, and I know this band is good, but honestly a huge appeal is
HOW FREAKING INDIE THESE GUYS ARE.
There's one song of theirs that rotates on Pandora constantly, other than that, these guys are (not off the charts for those of us up on it, but off the charts for your average Joe and Moe.)
Again, JUST LOOK AT THE INDIE!!!
They were full of energy and had a GINORMOUS crowd for such a small stage (they got stuck on the side BMI stage- big mistake with the scheduling there-)
One man even climbed on a lampost to get a better view, Zacchaeus style.
But we left soon after for a more embarrassing endeavor, which I will highlight later.
... But let me just say, these guys can pack it in, and you'll probably see them rise onto the radar soon.
Front row for Deap Vally (where they dissed the Stanley Cup)
Two. Rocker. Chicks.
Need I say more?
They've only released, what, 5 songs?
But these girls know how to work it on stage, and yes, we made sure we were front row.
They were one of the first acts of the day (so it wasn't difficult-) but
you could feel their sweat coming from their rocker pores.
Oh yes, and they at one point thought Chicago won the Stanley Cup for football.
People retaliated until they dove for cover into another song.
Songs speak louder than words, so please, take a bite from this sweet hardcore apple:
Frot row for Little Green Cars (best love story ever told.)
Let me tell you a little story about a band called Little Green Cars.
They are from Ireland, and dropped out of school to pursue music.
In the course of all of this, the girl and the guy to her left (in the above picture) fell in love.
At Lolla, they announced that the girl had tragically lost her voice the night before, so couldn't sing her solo song.
Crowd was sad.
Boyfriend playing guitar snuck kisses on her forehead, then told the crowd to cheer for her!
Maybe she'd feel better and be able to sing!
Oh god, did we cheer.
She stepped up to the microphone, and belted out her crowd stopper, "My Love took me Down to the River."
It was haunting and beautiful, and her man couldn't take his eyes off her.
LOOK AT THAT LOVE!!
Nevermind that they're all 20-somethings and the relationship with inedviably crash and burn, tearing the band apart, and ruining what could be a prosperous and lovely career
FOR NOW IT'S AWESOME
and who doesn't love a little backstory?
(also, I highly recommend this band and their new cd, ABSOLUTE ZERO.)
Never once stepping foot in Perry's tent.
If you see this sign, RUN THE OTHER WAY!!!
It is a red sign of horror.
On the map, it looks like this:
If you are anywhere near that pit of despair, RUN LIKE YOUR LIFE DEPENDS ON IT, BECAUSE IT DOES.
Ever wonder what Hell's final circle looks like?
IT LOOKS EXACTLY LIKE THIS:
THE FACES OF THE DAMNED:
I had a friend who once walked into Perry's just to see what the hype was all about, and I haven't seen him since.
Also, its just DJ's and no live music, so WTF ammiright?
The Vampire Campout (or, ARE YOU SITTING???)
So, earlier I mentioned we let the Mowgli's for some reason.
That reason was to camp out for a show I've been wanting to see since about 8th grade.
We paid dearly for this dream to come true (specifically, we had to suffer through and entire Two Door Cinema Club concert-)
We also decided to sit on the ground to rest our feet for five minutes, and EVERYONE was yelling at us and calling us assholes (me and my feet could've cared less.)
We also decided to sit on the ground to rest our feet for five minutes, and EVERYONE was yelling at us and calling us assholes (me and my feet could've cared less.)
But the reward? Oh so sweet.
You see this crowd?
Yes. I was in the front of that crowd.
Vampire Weekend, baby.
Yes I knew every word to every song, I don't even care, judge me.
Their first CD played every morning on my way to school as I drove past Lake Michigan feeling feelings.
Look at the smile on Ezra's face!
and the lip bite!
I was close enough to see the lip bite!
I was also close enough to see that guy hop on stage, then get pounded by the security guard!
They sang like beautiful angels, and every note was more clear than the last.
I wanted to go write some bad poetry and shuffle my feet through an academic hallway, and it was glorious.
Keep doing what you're doing, boys.
The spa bath at my friend's condo
Now, this one isn't entirely fair, because it's not technically part of Lolla.
But let me just say,
THERE IS NOTHING BETTER THAN RESTING YOUR THROBBING FEET AND ICKY BODY IN A WONDERFUL POOL OF HAPPINESS.
I stayed at my friend's condo, and yes I left the park a little early every night just to retire to this oasis of wonderful warmth.
If Perry's is hell, this my dear friends, is Lolla heaven.
Seeing Edzo Sweatbands on everyone's sweaty heads.
Now, if you've never had Edzo's, as an Evanston resident let me just say
BELIVE THE HYPE ALREADY, MOTHERFUCKERS!
Look at that Burger.
It is perfect in every single way.
Edzo's second year at Lolla has given him the crown of "Best Burger at Lolla" (Kuma's Corner was inexplicitly absent- I can only hope it was Edzo Hit-Men that took him out in the dead of night.)
This year they gave away headbands with the Edzo's logo, and every frat boy, flower girl, kid, mother, Molly eater, and festival worker wore it as a proud badge of honor.
Edzo's is something we can all get behind, and I suggest you join the movement.
^ you don't want to mess with this crew, trust me.
Wheel chair dude being crowd surfed at Kendrick Lamar
No, yes you read that correctly.
A man in a wheel chair crowd surfed to the front of a crazy on fire Kendrick Lamar concert.
Here is proof:
I was there, and I can hardly believe it.
Kendrick stopped the concert to pay his respects to not only that brave soul, but to the loving crowd that carried him to the front.
Kendrick let him have the front row seat, and continued the concert "at a 10!!"
He went 15 minutes over his time limit which means he'll probably never be invited back again, but hey.
For that one dude and probably also Kendrick, it was worth it.
And I only came to get a good seat for Postal Service but OH GOD it was a great concert (not a huge rap fan- I enjoy it but its not my style-)
But hey, what can I say?
A part of me inside converted.
People contracting Lana Del Ray-bies.
Kid you not.
First, take a look at her:
She's CLEARLY an undead Zombie, right???
She also somehow infected hundreds of people with Lana Del Ray-bies, with people always asking "when is she on again?"
"what stage?"
"when are you getting there?"
"what song do you want her to sing?"
"do you think she'll wear clothes?"
The whispers buzzed in and out of the concert babble with increasing frequency as the virus spread.
I do not know how many people were sacrificed in her blood orgy, but seriously she's a freaking weirdo-
^ bite marks, 'nuff said.
The Hangover
So, year 3, and concert (roughly) #32, what's the Lolla hangover feel like?
A wonderful mix of nostalgic and new made this Lolla a top notch experience.
Whether I know what song they were about to play just from the first note, or if it was the band's biggest crowd they've ever played, each moment was like a little diamond in a bag of rocks that I got to soak in a Spa Bath with every night.
Music can be such a personal experience, that you need concerts to reinvent what music means to you. It can and should be shared- and whether the person next to you is your best friend or a stranger you're all there for the same reason.
So there's my Lolla report.
Lots of smiles, lots of miles walked, and lots of smelly clothing still sitting in my laundry hamper.
Thanks for coming with me, and hope to see you again next year!!!
Click on the Link below to get my Spotify Playlist, and experience the music I saw first hand!
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