LOLLAPALOOZA 2013, DAY 1, FIRST HALF

When I decided that I couldn't do Coachella in Indio, the consolation prize was Lollapalooza in Chicago.  But it was no consolation prize when I saw the bands that were scheduled to perform in Chicago: The Killers, Baroness, The Lumineers, The Cure, Phoenix, Vampire Weekend, New Order, Imagine Dragons, and many more that I wanted to see.  Not only are the more well known bands a draw to Lolla, the opportunity to see many others that I was unfamiliar with is what I like about music festivals, an opportunity to be exposed to new music.

The only problem was the cost of attending the three day festival: travel, hotel and the entry tickets.  I added it all up and was about to say it was too much when a friend of a friend offered me their reserved parking space in a secure parking lot in a nice neighborhood. That was all I needed to hear, this offer sparing me the expense of a hotel in Chicago, choosing instead to sleep in comfort in the back of the truck.  I immediately bought my tickets, which sold out within 10 minutes of becoming available online.  A hundred thousand people and I were going to Lollapalooza!

I left work Wednesday night and immediately hit the road heading east.  I went to sleep that night in a park just on the other side of Omaha in Iowa, more than halfway there.  The following day I got up early and was meeting Julie at about 2:30 in the afternoon, the truck parked for the remainder of the time I was in Chicago.  I thank Julie for her hospitality, especially since I was a stranger to her.  After she gave me a tour of the neighborhood (the train station, grocery store, all night 7-11, restaurants and Dollops Cafe where I would be eating my breakfasts), Julie wished me a fun and safe stay in Chicago.  I them grabbed a few things from the truck and walked to the nearby public beach where I spent the remainder of the afternoon, wading in the warm water of Lake Michigan (they did not allow people to go into water deeper than ones waist).  The early evening was spent on the water front overlooking Chicago, watching the boats that came and went, the lengthening shadows as the sun set and having a cigar.  A dinner of pizza and a second trip to the marina for a night time view of the city and a second cigar.  The police eventually came through to announce the park was closed.  It was past midnight by the time I was sleeping peacefully in the back of the truck.

On the morning of day 1 I had breakfast and then took the Red Line train into downtown Chicago, getting off at the station near the Chicago Institute of Art.  I considered going in but since I would have had a very short time to tour the contemporary art wing before Grant Park opened up for the music festival, I passed up the chance of visiting the museum, especially considering the entry fee was $23.  I also considered visiting the Contemporay Museum of Art but passed on that for similar reasons.  I was here for Lollapalooza and nothing else.

The gates to Lolla opened up at 11, and the music began at noon.  I took the time to get organized and buy some beverages.  In preperation for the festival, I used YouTube to check out all the bands, identifying those I wanted to see.  But with eight stages and bands performing all the time, I had to make the hard decision of who to see and who I'd have to pass up.  So each morning I had a good idea of who I wanted to see, what stages I had to be at and by what time.  It needed to be well planned considering it took about 20 minutes of fast walking to get from one end of the park to the other.

THE NEIGHBORHOOD

The first show on the first day, feeling the excitement, so it had particular significance to me.  I made the right choice with The Neighborhood.

"Genre-crossing outfit the Neighbourhood mix atmospheric indie rock, electronica, and hip-hop beats with melodic R&B-inflected vocals. Formed in Los Angeles in 2011, the band centers around lead singer Jesse Rutherford, guitarists Jeremy Freedman and Zach Abels, bassist Mikey Margott, and drummer Bryan Sammis. In 2012, the Neighbourhood released the EP I'm Sorry..., featuring such singles as "Sweater Weather" and "Female Robbery." In 2013, they delivered the two-song EP Thank You as a prelude to their debut album I Love You, which was released that same year."

Although I didn't know them by name, I had heard their music on the radio back home.  Loved their sound.  This is a band I plan on following, who are sheduled to perform in Denver in October.  I'm going!

Download the 320 kbps mp3 of the show here:
http://www.filefactory.com/file/hyltio4mznt/n/Neighborhood_Lollapalooza_August_2_2013.mp3

DEAP VALLY

The second show on a different stage was with Deap Vally, a band consisting of two very attractive women who rocked the crowd.  Never heard of them before.  I was impressed with how much sound two people were able to make by themselves.  They were a hit with the people who chose to spend the 1-2 PM time slot this afternoon.  Another band I'll follow to see where they go.

"Deap Vally mix bashing hard rock and greasy blues riffs, much like the White Stripes and the Black Keys, into their primal sound. The female indie duo formed in Los Angeles, after guitarist/howler Lindsey Troy took a crocheting class taught in a San Fernando shop by drummer Julie Edwards. The two swapped CDs from their respective projects, and soon decided to jam together. Deciding on an image based around halter tops and short jean shorts, they played their first show at Silverlake Lounge and, within a year (before they had even released an album), their raucous on-stage presence earned them some big spots with major British acts like Muse and the Vaccines. The self-professed Valley Girls released a four-song EP, Get Deap!, produced by Lars Stalfors, in the spring of 2013, in advance of a full-length debut, Sistrionix, also produced by Stalfors."

Download the 320 kbps mp3 of the show here:
http://www.filefactory.com/file/45kn8tks21zl/n/DValley_Lollapalooza_August_2_2013.mp3

THE AIRBORNE TOXIC EVENT

Lollapalooza marked the beginning of the concert season, with a busy schedule planned for August through October.  Even though a few short days elapsed since my day-long drive back from Chicago, I was up for the Friday night show with The Airborne Toxic Event at the Fox Theater in Boulder, Colorado.  I drove up a little early to hang out in the nearby park to smoke a cigar (I first checked to make sure this was OK because, you know, this is Boulder!) before getting in line at this small venue.  Saints of Valory opened the show (wish I had taped them!) followed by City and Colour.  The place was packed and the crowd was anxiously awaiting the headliners.

Their show at the Ogden in April was described as:

Throughout the past few years it’s been hard to figure out the identity of the Airborne Toxic Event. The band skirts the line between mainstream and indie, between hard rock and alternative, between innovative and generic. While it’s easy to pass the group off as one that lacks personality, what they showed on Tuesday night is that to really understand the band, one must spend a night freaking out with them at the sold out Ogden Theatre.

Throughout the show, lead singer Mikel Jollett bounced around to fast guitar riffs and belted out in his deep, and at some points strained, voice to a cheering audience. Any critique of the band’s sound, which casually drifts into the mediocre, was made up for by a brilliant stage presence. Under a giant, arrow-pierced bird, Jollett never stopped running around. He was all over the stage — helping out on a drum interlude and appearing in the middle of the pit. He even jokingly strummed his guitarist’s guitar in the middle of a solo and started singing while sitting on the drum kit.

All antics aside, the Airborne Toxic Event also has an incredible amount of talent. From the tight guitar playing to mesmerizing violin skills, to the constant genre bending, the band was able to show its range. Most notably, the band showed its dynamics between the dark, feedback-heavy “Numb” and the romantic “Timeless.” They even opened their encore with an acoustic cover of Peter Gabriel’s “Book of Love” to keep the variety.

Some bands are made for radio. Other bands are made for the rock clubs. The Airborne Toxic Event showed Denver last night the right way to balance both. Even though the reverb-filled guitar and borderline monotone vocals can get lost in the mix of top 40 songs, an impressive live act counts for quite a bit.

http://www.heyreverb.com/blog/2013/04/05/airborne-toxic-event-photos-review/66029/

The show came to an end around midnight, after which I had a slice of pizza at a very busy pizzeria, the only place nearby serving food this late at night.  Walked back to the truck parked on a quiet street, crawled in the back and had a very relaxing sleep.  The following morning found me at Alpine Lumber purchasing material for the new deck I am planning on building, after ripping out the old one.  The summer renovation project gets a late start.

Download the mp3 of the show here:
http://www.filefactory.com/file/1hqx489o425x/n/TATE_Fox_Theater_Boulder_CO_August_9_2013_rar

DEAD SEXY

This weekend I listened to Michael Aston's album "Dead Sexy" (released in 2009), Metric's October 13, 2012 show at the Austin City Limits Festival and PIL's April 11, 2013 show at the Enmore Theatre in Sydney, Australia.  I'm finding myself wanting a "fix" of Gene Loves Jezebel every weekend, leading to making the commitment to see him perform live in LA this coming September.  I literally can't wait.  However, the next stop is Lollapooloza in Chicago.

Sugarbuzz Magazine writes:

GENE LOVES JEZEBEL'S "DEAD SEXY" is a heartening throwback to the more song-oriented, guitar-friendly, rock'n'roll side of goth, which is a welcome relief for many of us who are so tired, and bored senseless, with all that last century, "industrial", noise hammering. All you voodoo dollies with access to strong opiates, and heavy incense, who live in big houses full of candles, with velvety tapestries on all the walls, will surely love the swanky, and sensual, ethereal sounds of Michael Aston's "DEAD SEXY". All you gutter punks and whiskey swillers will probably prefer to stick with your regular Motorhead, Rose Tattoo, and Lower Class Brats. Myself, I'm pleasantly amazed by how much I've been enjoying "Dead Sexy".

Apparently, "Dead Sexy" is a "best of", compiling Michael's favorite tracks from '93-'03, Michael has expanded and developed his moody repertoire. Familiar flights of fancy, and otherworldly processions that sound both ancient and post-post-modern. He's written excellent songs, you get value for your money, here. This was a monumental undertaking-eighteen songs, on two discs. His voice has matured-there's far less keening and preening, and more importantly, his songwriting has continued to advance.

"DEAD SEXY" far exceeded any of my expectations. SOMEHOW, he's assembled a really top-notch, world-class, rock band, certain to appeal to diehard partisans, or really, anyone who ever liked anything like Peter Murphy, 39 Steps, "Love" era CULT, or the Mission U.K. The lyrics are thoughtful, and poetic. The guitars are epic, enchanting, magically delicious. It's a spell-binder. Clearly, he invested a lot of real passion into the making of this work, which is a bit shocking, because so few of our American artistes can even be arsed to create anything that resonates with authentic emotions, or the ring of truth, or moral courage, anymore. This album's soulful and shamanic. Welcome to the States, Michael Aston. It's only, ever, been peace loving, gentle-spirited, creative and talented, hard laboring, good hearted souls like yourself, who have ever made this melting pot worth living in. I strongly reccomend this L.P. to all Gene Loves Jezebel Fans, and any others inclined towards melodic, melancholy music. Good Listening. Nice job, lads.

http://www.sugarbuzzmagazine.com/bands/geneloves/geneloves.html

A sample off the album:



Go out and buy it!

PLAIN WHITE T'S

Friday evening radio personalaties Slacker and Steve with Alice 105.5 hosted the Plain White T's to a short acoustic performance on the outdoor rooftop patio at The Tavern in downtown Denver.  Not all the band was in attendance, this show meant to be a warmup to their upcoming tour in July, with two shows scheduled in Coloraod for early August, just as I'm on my way back from Lollapalloza.  I decided to attend this evening simply because I like their music and it was a free event.

The place was packed, but mostly with these young girls, some of whom just couldn't stop talking.  Being the only guy anywhere near the stage, they probably saw me as the dirty old man.  One woman who saw me fiddling with the digital audio recorder thought I was scanning and stealing credit card information.  Between all the chatty gals and the crappy speaker system, the audio recording is not much to brag about.  I guess the only positive outcome of the event is that I did get to hear their music and continue testing the capabalities and use of the new microphone.  Since it was free, I have no reason to complain.

Download the show here:
http://www.filefactory.com/file/45agh45fi0ij/n/PWTs_The_Tavern_Denver_CO_June_28_2013_rar