Lollapalooza 2009

Had the pleasure of attending Lollapalooza with my godson Nate and his cousin Justin.

Day One

Acts I saw:

Manchester Orchestra: I loved this band! We met them and got their autographs.
Hollywood Holt: More cursing than a Quentin Tarrantino movie.
The Virgins: About what you would expect from an NYC band started by a male model.
STS9: Due to geographical challenges, I watched this band for 15 minutes under the impression they were Ben Folds and marveling about how much weight he had lost.
Asher Roth: The kids made fun of me, but I have to admit I was very entertained by this affable frat boy rapper.
Peter Bjorn and John: Three Swedish guys; the lead singer was wearing white bermuda shorts; looked like he just came in off the golf course; they tore up the stage! I really enjoyed them.
Of Montreal: Mind boggling and eye popping. Amazing.
Kings of Leon: I saw a lot of drunk girls falling in the mud during Kings of Leon.
Crookers: A naked man ran past me during their set. For real!

Other factors:

Rain: persistent. We had to go buy trash bags at CVS. Nate and Justin dressed in them, and I sat on mine.
These young people today: I left the kids alone for a couple of hours and found out later that they spent the time resting!

Day Two

Acts I saw (or not):

Ida Marie: Bjork for the masses.
Atmosphere: I really liked this hip-hop group. The live musicians were great. Plus, the MC reminded me of one of my ex-boyfriends, had the ex-boyfriend been a white rapper from Minneapolis.
Gomez: Enjoyed their set lounging behind the stage near the porta-potties.
No Age: I loooove noise! My favorite of the day.
Glasvegas: Missed my chance to see attractive Scottish people playing music of "great depth and beauty" (NME), because Nate inveigled me into helping him get Coheed and Cambria's autographs. Justin and I sat under a tree conversing while Nate stood in line until Justin was nearly puked on without warning by a drunk girl.
Rise Against: They were good but strangely uncompelling.
Animal Collective: Good music for staring at the sky.
Tool: Tool inspired a lot of horseplay and other male bonding in the crowd. Plus they had some disturbing-ass videos.

Disturbing-ass trends:

Budweiser Lime: Ick!
People spotted texting as they both entered and exited the porta-potties: Created images I would rather not have in my head.
Midsection body fat: One of the primary reasons God commanded Adam and Eve to clothe their nakedness.

Day Three

Acts I saw (or not):

Kaiser Chiefs: British guys. They were good. The lead singer had a really bad sunburn.
Gang Gang Dance: More good staring music.
Vampire Weekend: Cute, funny, and no need for chick back-up singers with those boyish falsettos.
A word:
Lou Reed: It goes without saying that Lou Reed is an iconic figure in rock and roll. I also owe him personally since I have dazzled many a karaoke audience with my rendition of "Walk on the Wild Side." I was lucky to see him in 1977 when he was at his sneering, scowling, swaggering best. I don't want to see him as a grand (or grumpy) old man. So there.
Snoop Dogg: Gave a "special shout out to the sign language ladies" for signing all the curse words in his songs.
Deerhunter: Prefer "fast and loud" to "arty and loud."
Silversun Pickups: They managed to sound both sinister and poppy at the same time.
I planned to see all three of the headline acts:
The Killers: They were very entertaining.
Deadmau5: I never actually saw this DJ who doesn't go out in public without wearing a giant mouse head (gee, what a concept) because
Jane's Addiction: Blew me away; my favorite show of the day. By the way, props to Dave Navarro and Perrry Farrell. No midsection body fat for me to complain about on those guys.

Favorites:
Band: Manchester Orchestra
Food: Lobster Corndogs. Yeah!

Emerging trend:
Sagging tatooed geriatric flesh: It's gonna be here before you know it!

Thanks to Nate and Justin for hanging out with me.

www.themanchesterorchestra.com/us
www.myspace.com/nonoage
www.janesaddiction.com

















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