I'm a dream enthusiast & a fairytale believer

For whatever reason (i.e., because Pearl Jam was playing on the radio) I have been thinking a lot about Lollapalooza lately. Some of my greatest concert memories have been there, which I feel like is kind of weird for a big festival. But I am going to recount them to you now. Get excited.

1) 2005: The south end of Grant Park was packed on Sunday night as we prepared for the weekend to end. Weezer and The Pixies were headlining that night on neighboring stages. I’ve never really been into The Pixies, but as I stood there in a crowd of strangers, I heard familiar chords waft my way. This whole park full of people sang “Where Is My Mind” together before Weezer took the stage to close out the night. It was Neat.

2) 2007: I was living in Chicago, so it was extra fun this year. But the best part was when Pearl Jam played—again, the last set of the weekend, on Sunday night, at the south stage, and I was perfectly drunk and I Met A Boy. We never found out each other’s names, but we sang the theme song to Growing Pains to each other (“Show me that smile again”) and he made sure I didn’t get crushed by crowd(surfer)s. Also I met Pete Yorn, and Sherwood and MrNorth played.

3) 2009: By 25 I decided I was too old for throngs and shoving, so I watched the Killers from about as far back as I could be, at the top of the hill facing the south stages. I had kind of lost track of The Killers after their first album, but I enjoyed the unknown songs so much that I stayed till the end, and all of us scattered on the hill sang along quietly, alone together, “I’ve got soul but I’m not a soldier.”

4) 2009: By this point Band of Horses was my favorite band, and they were closing out Sunday’s night before whatever incarnation of Perry Farrell’s band was playing. Jane’s, I guess. Lou Reed had bled into BOH’s set time with a mumbling, sprawling, boring song, but you don’t cut off Lou Reed, you know? So we were all worried that they’d play fewer songs, and when their hour was up we all cheered to the point that they played right over Jane’s Addiction. I was down close for this, and the energy as they closed out their set with “The General Specific”—I still get chills thinking about those few minutes. That was just perfect.

I know these things are normally top 5, but I can’t put another story in there. Just four moments of bliss that I can still recall with perfect clarity.

Yesterday marked the halfway point of my vacation. Instead of boarding a train out of San Francisco early in the morning, I lounged in my hotel bed before catching a flight to Milwaukee via Dallas. Amtrak was running so behind on my next route that they canceled all the trains for two days, and there were no seats available/other routes that could get me to Chicago by Thursday. They also said they will not refund my money since I’m on a pass, despite the fact that this little glitch has cost me an extra $450 in flight and hotel costs. I will be talking to customer service tomorrow, and likely doing a chargeback on my credit card when I get home. It was really realllly frustrating, but my flights were good and I’m currently sitting in an aiport hotel eating cheese curds so it could be worse. I am super bummed about not getting to ride through the Rockies, though.

Other than that, my trip has been great. I saw a lot of pretty scenery on the way out. I could have done without the Portland-San Jose leg of my trip, or at least taken a break, because I was getting charley horses from being cooped up for four days. It was so fantastic hanging out with Toni again. We hung around San Jose on Saturday, went to the beach at Santa Cruz on Sunday, and did San Francisco Monday before the Giants game. I’d splurged on a four-star hotel, the Clift, which was prettttty fancy and chic, but I’m in a Best Western now that is roomier & has free internet so I think I need to just admit I’m not a sophisticate and book 3 stars from now on. I took a swim and a turn in the hot tub this morning and I only plan on leaving my room for the pool & bar for the rest of the day. Sorry Milwaukee, I’m sure you’ve got a lot to offer, but I’m staying cooped up.

Tomorrow I head to Chicago, Dawn and I are going to the Yankees-White Sox game (which should be great because the Yanks have won 5 in a row now), then it’s Lolla time! I think two weeks might be a little too long of a vacation for me, I keep losing track of the days and where I am, and I miss Sassy something fierce. But I’m sure this time next week I’ll be wishing I was still away from work. The grass is always greener, etc. Anyway.

Tomorrow I embark on my long-awaited vacation. I’m taking two weeks off work to ride trains around the country. Honestly, when I started planning this trip I don’t think I intended to go through with it, but the stars seemed to align and here I am—bags nearly packed, last-minute shopping list at my side. I took Sassy to my parents’ house yesterday. We’ll be apart for three weeks, doubling our previous separation of ten days when she was just a puppy. 

I plan on reading a lot—Jane Austen, Willa Cather, some “now a major motion picture” (or soon to be, anyway) novels and series. I have a bunch of TV shows downloaded—Doctor Who series 5 and 6 thus far, Sherlock, FNL prime among them. I bought a simple blank journal to write in, and need to toss a deck of cards in my bag tonight.

I’m gonna listen to a lot of Ray Lamontagne and Limbeck and Good Old War and Hotel Lights on the way out. Probably switch to Lolla radio on the way back to get pumped.

I somehow packed mostly dresses, which makes life easier and will surely be cooler in the Lollapalooza heat, but who knew I even had that many dresses? I managed to fit everything into a rolling suitcase, a backpack, and an overnight bag/giant purse. 

My itinerary looks something like this:

Tuesday 26th: depart Richmond 11 am; depart DC at 4 pm; overnight on train
Wednesday 27th: arrive Chicago 10 am; depart Chicago 2:15 pm; overnight on train
Thursday 28th: train all day/overnight through the northern states
Friday 29th: arrive Portland 10 am; depart Portland 2:30 pm; overnight on train
Saturday 30th: arrive San Jose 10 am; shower!; drink wine and play Skip-bo with Toni all day; cuddle with Roxy dog; sleep in San Jose
Sunday 31st: go up to San Francisco and do some touristy things; sleep in San Jose
Monday 1st: back to SF for more touristing; decking myself out in Flying Squirrels gear for the Giants game; staying in a four star hotel in SF
Tuesday 2nd: depart SF 9 am; overnight on train
Wednesday 3rd: train all day/overnight through the midwest, I guess. Utah/Nevada/Colorado.
Thursday 4th: arrive Chicago 3 pm; check into four star hotel; air out/wash clothes; 7th row at the Yankees/Sox game with Dawn
Friday 5th: Lolla 1; Local Natives aftershow
Saturday 6th: Lolla 2; Pains of Being Pure at Heart aftershow
Sunday 7th: Lolla 3; collapse in heap on luxurious bed after show
Monday 8th: Shedd Aquarium? Depart Chicago 6 pm; overnight on train
Tuesday 9th: arrive DC 11 am?; depart DC 4 pm; arrive Richmond 6:30 pm; pay exorbitant parking fee; shower; sleep in my own bed!

If you have any tips for things I should do in Chicago/Portland/San Jose/San Francisco, please send ‘em my way. Same with music recs for long rides through the west. I’m sure I’ll still be tumbling/tweeting/instagram-ing from my phone but I plan on tuning out a bit during this trip. 

midwesterndirt:

ahahnnh:

thesoundandthefurry:

Lord Huron - “When Will I See You Again”

From the Mighty EP.

(by In the Open)

In general I ignore opportunities to find new music; mainly because I am lazy and that was something I used to put work into, so I know that it involves work to do it right (which I did for awhile. I had taste, damn it.) But work seems like too much work, if-you-catch-my-drift, so I was like “ehhh, uuuhh, nah. I’ll listen to that metro station song and electric feel again, that’s cool. Yes, I would rather listen to disney soundtracks and old cheesy country songs a million times thank-you-very-much, shut up good music.” (exactly like that.) Which is where I am now, or recovering from it, so I know nothing of decency post-2009 when it comes to music. Which is a shame, because post-2009 has been a lot better for me, but I love music, but I don’t like crippling emotional tendencies, so I’m at a loss.

all that to say, this is good, and from my non-music-retarded self buried in here somewhere, I like this. and you should trust me, because Fred Jayne said once that I had the best taste in music out of anyone he knew. (he may’ve been a little high then, but who cares.)

 There are only two people on this entire earth that I will follow blindly and listen wholeheartedly to their opinion when it comes to music. Hannah is one of those people. If she says it’s good, it’s good…and guess what? This is good.

Which reminds me that I just bought their EPs last week and really need to give them a few good listens before I see them at Lollapalooza.

Probably forgoing Bonnaroo for Lollapalooza—I’m definitely doing Lolla, just don’t know know if I’m doing ‘Roo too. Have booked a fancy hotel. Foo Fighters, Colplay, Muse, MMJ, A Perfect Circle, Bright Eyes, EITS, Cold War Kids, Lykke Li, Lissie, Local Natives, Gold Motel, Patrick Stump, Maps & Atlases, Manchester Orchestra, City & Colour, Ryan Bingham, Kid Cudi, Girl Talk, Noah & the Whale, Foster the People, The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, Wye Oak. Plus my triumphant return to my favorite city. Should be a great weekend. And I’ve got plenty of room in my hotel if you’d like to come along. :)

Here’s the thing about Bonnaroo: Arcade Fire, Mumford & Sons, Black Keys, Widespread Panic, Ray LaMontagne, Iron & Wine, Buffalo Springfield, possibly Empires, general hippiedom—free camping & entry as a volunteer—that also sounds awesome. I have the vacation time available to do both trips, so should I just go for it?

Pixies - Where Is My Mind?

Where is my mind?
Way out in the water, see it swimming…

Most vivid Lolla memory is standing in the middle of a massive crowd waiting for Weezer, and The Pixies were wrapping up their set at the next stage over. Thousands of us smushed into the south end of Grant Park, singing along to this song. It was perfect.

(via marissaj)

Remember how I was going to go to Chicago in a few weeks to see a bunch of bands? I don’t think I’m gonna go. I don’t want to go alone. I am going to ACL in October, and paying Jay’s way. I am broke. My dad’s 60th birthday is that week, and we’re probably having a party for him. The Whigs are playing in RVA that Saturday. I’m seeing SoCo (possibly twice) the next week. I’m seeing TAI (and Kiss!) the week after that.

Here are the bands I’d be really bummed not to see (that aren’t playing ACL): Arcade Fire, Phoenix, Mumford & Sons, Frightened Rabbit, Company of Thieves, Rogue Wave. Four of those bands have played within 3 hours of here in the past six months, and I haven’t gone to see them, so how much could they really mean to me?

If I sold my festival pass & my Phoenix aftershow ticket, I’d only be out about $60—two aftershows that are will-call only, so I can’t resell those, and my $9 hostel deposit. I could easily make up that money (and then some) by selling my pass for the going rate, instead of what I paid for it.

But really I just wish I could do it all.

I’m 0 for 3 on Lolla friends this year—Jay will be in England, Allie just started a new job, and Megan is broke. SO I have a 3-day pass for sale for $60, which is insane if you look at the line-up—like, super-crazy good deal. If I can’t sell it to a friend I’ll try to make some money off it but I’d rather go with someone I like!

Let me know if you’re interested, or if you know someone who is, and if you’d also want to share a hotel room (I’ve booked the Travelodge, right across from the main entrance at Buckingham Fountain, for Thursday-Monday at roughly $125/night).