Friday Marling Surprise

This past Friday I was incredibly lucky to see Laura Marling perform in the very intimate setting of 93XRT's new studio stage.  It was a bit of a surprise and everything happened quite quickly.  I was closer to her than I've ever been, so close that I could clear up lyrical questions by watching her lips.

I saw Laura Marling for the fourth time back in May of this year.  I didn't expect to see her for some time; possibly not until after she released another album.  She's been touring almost non-stop, mostly solo, for months around the US and the UK.  I was envious my friend Hannah who has been able to see Laura at several very very cool “Secret Cinema” shows in London, where she’s spent the last year.  I knew Laura was going to stop in Milwaukee, but lacking transportation and extra money to see her (on a weeknight, no less), I didn't even consider going.

Last Thursday, however, the day she'd perform in Milwaukee, I happened to go to 93XRT's website, looking to see if there were any ticket giveaways to enter.  On the home page, gazing back at me, was a picture of the woman herself, with text underneath that read "Win tickets to see Laura Marling on the XRT Blue Cross Blue Shield Stage on August 16."  August 16 being that coming Friday, i.e. TOMORROW.  I immediately entered, just once – the limit (and I swear they know if you use multiple emails to enter), and began fervently hoping to get an email telling me I won.

The next day I obsessively checked my email, jumping when I saw my unread had jumped up 1.  But that email never came.  I hadn't quite give up yet; each winner gets 2 passes, and I knew from personal experience that you can't always find a friend to attend a show in the middle of the afternoon.  I began posting anywhere I could, tweeting to XRT and Laura Marling's twitter pages asking if anyone needed a +1.  I posted on XRT's and Laura Marling's Facebook pages as well.  I didn't seem to be getting any responses but I kept checking my social media compulsively.  

I was disappointed to see that a notification was just a friend request from someone I didn't know who seemed to be from England.  I deleted the request (I get random requests from sketchy strangers all the time) but then she requested me again.  I messaged her asking why she requested me and her reply was better than I could have expected.

She had won two tickets, but had no way of getting downtown.  I would have been devastated in her situation.  This woman I’d never met offered to change her name on the list to mine.  I couldn’t quite believe it; I had at that point accepted I wouldn’t be seeing Laura that day.  I thanked my new friend profusely and in all caps.  I was touched that she would do that for me, though I know I’d do the same if I had unusable free tickets.  The doors were at 5 pm, so I asked my boss if it would be alright if I left a bit early.  He told me yes and to enjoy the show. 

I should mention at this point that I have a cold and that yesterday was the beginning of it; my heart rate was elevated and I was a bit out of it.  So this, coupled with my Laura Marling-induced emotions (nervous, anxious, disappointed, elated, and excited, in quick succession), made my head a bit of a mess for the rest of the day.  But I persevered and made it through the rest of the day with (hopefully) no serious errors in my work, and practically skipped out of the office at 4:20.

I met with XRT staff at the Prudential Building’s reception desk, where I received a lanyard with a VIP pass with “LAURA MARLING” printed on it.  I was led to the 9^th floor and into a room with a few rows of chairs facing a small stage.  I chose a seat in the front row, about six feet from the stool and microphone stand set up on the stage.  After what seemed hours (it was about 30 minutes), XRT DJ Marty Lennartz walked on the stage to introduce the woman we were all there to see, who had evidently made a last-minute decision to stop by XRT during her day off in between Milwaukee and Ann Arbor.  He announced her name, and the demure 23-year-old/musical goddess took the stage.

The room was silent except for the sound of her guitar strumming the opening notes of “Hope In The Air.”  Through my awe I laughed to myself; at her last Chicago show Laura played this song but forgot some of the lyrics, so maybe she was trying to redeem herself.  And that she did; it was flawless and lovely.  She followed it with “Rambling Man,” one of my favorite songs of hers, of anyone, really.  Maybe it’s because I was so close to her, but I had never heard nor seen that song performed with so much emotion.  I can’t say for sure but she looked like she nearly teared up at one point.  Beautiful.

I watched the fingers that wrote these brilliant songs deftly pick the strings and press the frets as if it were the most natural thing in the world to her.  Considering she’s been playing since she was 5 years old, maybe it is.  Her last three songs were from Once I Was An Eagle: “Once”, “Where Can I Go?”, and to finish up the set as perfectly as it does the album, “Saved These Words.”  When she had played the last note she thanked the crowd, got up, and left the stage.  Not one to linger for small talk, Ms. Marling.

It was absolutely surreal to see her in such an intimate setting.  I feel incredibly lucky to have had the opportunity to experience my favorite (I think I’ve decided she’s my favorite) artist so close, to live in a city where these things are possible, and to have had a complete stranger make my day.  Thank you, Lucy!

Chicago is... Lollapalooza (Day 3, which pretty much blew the previous two out of the water)

It was Day 3 of Lollapalooza.  I had some sunburn to show for the last two days, a few blisters, and I hadn’t seen a vegetable in days.  But was I tired?  Was I ready to give up? NO! Lollapalooza had saved the best day for last.  I was about to see Palma Violets, Two Door Cinema Club, Vampire Weekend, and my favorite French pop stars, Phoenix, in rapid succession.  And after that, the Alt-J aftershow at Lincoln Hall. The forecast was sunny and 75 degrees, weather completely unheard of for the weekend that was usually, as my roommate Megan put it, I’m-gonna-kill-you hot.  I slipped on a bold sundress and my shiny leopard-print converse and covered myself in sunscreen, ready to finish off the weekend in style.

Lizzy and I made straight for the north main “Bud Light” stage for Palma Violets.  I’d never seen them before or even really listened to them much, but everyone I know with good music taste raves about them so I was down.  We scored a primo spot on the right side of the barrier that runs through the crowd to the sound booth.  

PRO TIP:  This is the best place you can be, even if you’re farther back.  It’s a clear line right to the stage with no one standing directly in front of you (I’m relatively short so this is always a problem for me).  Plus, you have something to lean on during the wait between shows and some personal space.  Also the artists often run down the pathway next to the barrier so you might get to see them up close.  To sum up: the middle barrier is your best friend.  If you secure a spot there you’re set for the day.

Anyway, back to the music.  Palma Violets put on an outstanding old-fashioned punk rock show.  They opened with a cover of “California Sun” which got the 1:00 p.m. crowd dancing immediately and the dancing pretty much continued to the end of the set.  At one point the band abandoned all instruments besides drums and a guitar, leaving the rest of the members free to jump and dance about the stage with wild abandon.  Though lately I’ve been more into folky or electronic music, I’ve marked them down as the next band to listen to obsessively.

Palma Violets at Glastonbury earlier this year (they're better at streaming than Lolla)

But here's what I saw!

Aaaand into the crowd!

Aware that I’d be on my feet until at least 2 am, I left the main stage right after Palma Violets to find somewhere to save my strength.  I quickly checked my Lollapalooza mobile app to see who was playing on the smaller stages and found Nightmare & the Cat playing at BMI (BMI wins again!).  I sat on the stairs near the stage and watched the young LA band perform.  I liked them.  Here’s a song:

Nightmare & the Cat at the BMI stage

Once they finished I went to grab some sustenance for myself and Lizzy.  She asked me to get her a lobster corndog from Grahamwich (I tasted it – amazing!) and I bought myself some truffle parmesan fries from Edzo’s.  I tried to save them to eat throughout the day but I ate most of them while I watched the end of Alex Clare’s set.  He’s the guy who sings “Too Close,” that song you’ve probably heard everywhere.  Knowing nothing about him besides that song, I was surprised to see that he was a stocky ginger bearded man in a denim shirt.  I’d expect to see him in a quiet folk band, not belting out mighty soulful electronica.  Appearances can be deceiving I guess!  I’m not sure I’ll become his biggest fan but he has a fantastic voice and the crowd was enthusiastically singing along to all his songs, not just the single. 

I managed to get back to Lizzy at our barrier spot, and we sat and ate while we waited for Two Door Cinema Club.  I’ve been listening to Two Door pretty steadily for the last two years.  Their music is irresistibly fun, with bouncy and bright guitar riffs and quick beats you can’t help but dance crazily to.  Oh, and they’re all just 23 years old, same as me.  The last time Lizzy was here for Lolla we got into their after-show despite not previously having purchased tickets, spent the show alternately watching the band and chatting with Hannah Hooper of Grouplove, who had opened.  After that show we met the band outside and spent about 15 minutes just talking to Sam Halliday, Two Door’s guitarist.   

But back to Sunday’s show.  Alex Trimble, lead singer, walked onto the stage as easily the most dapper performer I’d seen all weekend, in a pressed black suit and crisp tie.  They opened with “Sleep Alone,” the bouncy first single from Beacon. The band’s fast, beat-driven songs kept the crowd dancing and singing for the full hour they played.  Alex Trimble’s voice sounded as pure as ever (it’s just sooo nice on the ears) and Sam and Kevin were in top form.  I wouldn’t be surprised if they were moved up a slot by their next Lolla.

See what I mean about the middle barrier? GREAT VIEW.

How debonair!

When Two Door ended Lizzy made a bee line to the autograph tent to meet them.  I stayed at our primo spot for Vampire Weekend, who I hadn’t seen since my first Lollapalooza in 2009.  I chatted to the guy next to me who had driven up from Florida for the festival.  We talked about bands (the main subject of Lollapalooza conversations with strangers), and though our taste definitely differed, we were both crazy excited for Vampire Weekend.  We watched as the crew set up the stage with an immense floral-print background, giant mirror, and floating Corinthian columns which somehow managed to reflect the band's cheeky style of music.

When Ezra, Rostam, Chris, and Chris took the stage and launched into "Cousins", the frenzy began and only escalated to madness when they played "Diane Young" as their fourth song of the day.  Ezra Koenig, simultaneously silly and deadpan, is a fantastic frontman and the rest of the band was just as into it.  They surprised the crowd with their early, not-on-an-album "Ladies Of Cambridge" and it seemed like over half the crowd knew every word.  It was just really a great show and I'm having trouble describing it as I was bouncing and singing and deliriously happy the whole time.

GRR WE ARE VAMPIRES

My choice for Best Moment of Lollapalooza came during their set.  It wasn't even the band's doing.  During "Giving Up The Gun" (elated they played it as it's one of my favorites) a shirtless guy ran onstage behind the band.  For a moment I thought maybe it was another Lolla artist come to collaborate on the song.  This thought was immediately dismissed once I saw a security guard RUN AND TACKLE HIM TO THE GROUND, SUPER BOWL-STYLE.  I really have never seen anything like it.  It was like a movie or an SNL sketch.  The band didn't realize what had happened til he was down and continued to play the song with wide-eyed, bewildered faces.  Thank god someone got it on video:

EPIC.

The sun was beginning to set on the last day of Lollapalooza, but the best was yet to come.  Phoenix.  My favorite French pop maestros finally put out their fifth album this year, Bankrupt!, and I hadn't seen them live for three long years.  Phoenix is one of those bands that are just incredibly good at what they do.  They're creative and fresh and ever-evolving, leaving the best artists of the moment in their wake.  Phoenix has something for everyone: shimmering guitars, catchy hooks, earth-shaking bass, clever and mysterious lyrics, you name it.  Their latest album especially hints at their friendship with Daft Punk.  Having seen them before (so close I could see up Thomas Mars' nose, actually) I knew I was in for a great show, but I had no idea.

The show began with the big screens live broadcasting the band arriving at the stage piled onto a golf cart, ascending the stairs and walking onto the stage.  Everyone went wild.  They knew exactly what the crowd wanted, starting the set with "Entertainment" from the new album and then wasting no time playing "Listomania" from the huge 2009 Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix.  You would have never guessed that the audience had spent the past three days jumping about in the sun nonstop, such was the energy.  Each song flowed perfectly into the next, as if they were all written together.  Phoenix even did two live mashups on stage.  It was impossible to tell when "Trying To Be Cool" seamlessly transitioned to "Drakkar Noir" which in turn became "Chloroform"; I was dazzled by the bass and the lights and Thomas Mars's lilting vocals.  The band kept this up as they began "Love Like A Sunset", the instrumental number from WAF.  I was thinking that it was odd they'd choose that one instead of the instrumental from their latest album, when all of the sudden they were playing "Bankrupt!"  It was such a perfect segue... and then they did it AGAIN, back into "Love Like A Sunset", ending with brothers Christian and Branco performing their signature guitar duet.  Pros.  Absolute pros.

The palace at Versailles, their home town

"Love Like A Sunset": Super talented siblings

Thomas Mars descended from the stage to get up close and personal with the crowd for "1901", something I'm pretty sure he does at every show.  But I became fully convinced of his insanity and brilliance when he ran past me down the middle barrier, into the thick of the crowd and CROWDSURFED THE WHOLE CROWD during "Rome".  I'm not sure if it was lunacy or bravery or both that led him to do this, to trust thousands of hands to lift him up, to safely transport him back to the stage in the midst of their music-induced fervor.  But he did it.  As he neared the edge of the crowd, the riff from "Entertainment" brought the show full circle.  It was over.  My head buzzed from the mind-blowing sound, drunk on the dazzling performance I'd just witnessed.

Getting cozy with the crowd in "1901"

ROME ROME ROME ROME ROME ROME ROME ROME ROME
(a.k.a. THOMAS MARS YOU CRAZY MAN YOU)

Watch Phoenix's full Lollapalooza set here.

Unbelievably, the night was not yet over.  Lizzy, my cousin Lindsey, Anna, and I had tickets for the Alt-J after show.  I was still processing Phoenix when we arrived at Lincoln Hall, my favorite venue for its intimate size and excellent shows.  Guards, the opening band, was in the middle of their set and I really enjoyed the few songs I saw.  Around midnight Alt-J began.  I have yet to find a comparison to Alt-J.... their blend of poetic lyrics with a mix of electronic and acoustic instrumentation, and smattering of folk influences (they quote Johnny Flynn in "Matilda") makes them hard to pin down.  I always feel incredibly cool listening to them.  The mellow music soothed my mind while the beats drowned out the aching of my feet and everyone danced.  They closed their set with my favorite song of theirs, "Taro," written for Gerda Taro, the female photographer on the front lines of the Spanish Civil War.

"Tessellate" -- Triangles are my favorite shape too.

Alt-J was the perfect cool-down from the marathon of the weekend.  I fell into bed that night, ears ringing and music in my head.  Until next year, Lollapalooza... maybe I'll add Bonnaroo in 2014??

**My Lolla 2013 playlist:

Lollapalooza 2013 from kc_dilla on 8tracks Radio.

Chicago is... Lollapalooza (Day 2)

Wine sold by the water bottle.  Stay classy, Lolla.

Day 2 began with the brilliant Little Green Cars.  I went to this young Dublin band’s show on Easter Sunday this year on a whim (it was only $5 and I liked their song “The John Wayne”) and I got hooked.  It’s easy to fall in love with them.  Their harmonies are tight, their lyrics clever, and their songs range from dance-party to heartwrenching.  The band informed the crowd that Faye O’Rourke had lost her voice but they were determined to play for us.  And listening to her sing, you wouldn’t have guessed she was under the weather; she belted “My Love Took Me Down To The River To Silence Me” with as much power as ever and the crowd cheered her on.  What a trooper!  After their set Lizzy and I met them at the FYE Autograph Tent, where the band signed our vinyl copies of their debut album, Absolute Zero.  It will go nicely with my signed CD and poster of theirs. ;)

Faye being awesome. What lost voice?

We crossed back to the south side of the park to settle at the main stage there for the next three bands (and the rest of the day).  Mumford & Sons was headlining that night and I wanted to be close.  Local Natives and The National preceded them, which worked out quite nicely.  Admittedly I don't listen to Local Natives on a regular basis, but I do think they're fantastic -- what can I say, I'm a sucker for great harmonies and Taylor Rice's Freddy Mercury mustache.  The National put on a great performance too; their music was gorgeous (love the horns) and Matt Berninger, their lead singer, moved all over the stage and even into the crowd.  Also, and I'm not sure if this is just how he usually acts when performing, but he seemed somewhat wasted -- though musically on-point.  Rock on, Matt.

Local Natives

The National

What's wrong, Matt Berninger? It'll be ok, I promise.

See? The crowd loves you.

The second The National played their last note, the push towards the stage began.  We up front had to yell behind us to stop pushing because there was No. Room. Left.  Lizzy and I were squished next to three VERY ANNOYING GIRLS.  I'm tempted to whine about how much I wanted to duct tape their mouths but I don't want to subject you to that.  Rather than deal with them, and the crazy crowd, and the heat, Lizzy opted out of the crowd.  I remained, as I wanted to have a great view, especially in case they pulled off a Glastonbury-style encore (they didn't, sadly and somewhat surprisingly).  Near show time I befriended a girl named Caitlin who was really excited to see them for the first time (if you're reading this, hello!).  The band opened with Babel, as I predicted (it's loud, it's exciting, it's new) and the dancing began.  They were at their best, I think, with Dustbowl Dance and Thistle & Weeds (I love their angry songs) and I was elated when they played Lover of the Light the RIGHT way, with loads of drums - not the toned-down album version.  It's been one of my favorite songs since I saw them for the first time at Lollapalooza 2010.  The band actually did get the crowd to be quiet for their stripped down, very acoustic version of Bruce Springsteen's "I'm On Fire".  They closed out with The Cave, naturally.  All in all, it was a good show... however, they didn't live up to their own standards this one.  Maybe it was rough connecting to such a huge crowd (over half the festival came to watch) or maybe they were having an off day.  Mostly it made me excited to see them at their September stopover in St. Augustine, because I know it will be much better.  But on the bright side: Ted seemed to be fully recovered from his brain surgery just last June and I think he saw the "WE ❤  TED" sign I made him.

Now, I must conclude this post with Mumford & Sons most recent music video, for "Hopeless Wanderer."  Because if you haven't seen it already, you're about to watch it for the first of many, many times.  It's pretty much perfect:

**My Lolla 2013 playlist:

Lollapalooza 2013 from kc_dilla on 8tracks Radio.

Chicago is... Lollapalooza (Day 1)

I would have posted this earlier but Lollapalooza hangovers are a very real thing and they can happen without a drop of alcohol.  I've recovered enough now to tell of my adventures in Grant Park.

It had been months since I sat, stressed, waiting to click the "Buy" button before the tickets for Lollapalooza 2013 sold out in minutes.  MINUTES.  By some miracle I scored 3-day passes for my fifth consecutive year at the massive and ever-growing festival (300,000 people this year, absolutely insane).  Finally the day had come.  My friend Lizzy, who came into the city for the weekend, and I covered ourselves in sunscreen and ventured out of my apartment to Grant Park.

Lizzy and I started at The Neighbourhood, but it wasn't really my thing so I headed in the direction of the BMI stage. One of my favorite things about Lollapalooza is walking around listening for something that sounds good, and the shady and intimate BMI stage is usually good for this.  There I found American Authors; their banjo-tinted pop was much more my speed.  You may have heard "Best Day Of My Life" in a Lowes commercial.

My cousin put Father John Misty in her top three Bonnaroo shows, so I thought I'd check him out after San Cisco.  It ended up being my favorite show of the day.  J. Tillman had the crowd in the palm of his hand like an Evangelical preacher as he schmoozed and seductively swayed his hips.  I stayed for the whole set.  Here's a video I didn't take:

And here's a picture I did:

My headliner of choice on Friday was The Killers.  Sorry Nine Inch Nails, but I didn't spend the majority of 2008-2010 with you serenading my eardrums or risking frostbite (twice) for an autograph.  This time, however, my friend Lizzy and I opted to watch from the hill near the main south stage instead of fighting through the crowd.  The boys from Sin City ("We'll try not to corrupt you" promised Flowers) got the crowd dancing from the get-go, opening with Mr. Brightside and keeping the dancing going with Spaceman.  As usual, they played their cover of Joy Division's "Shadowplay," but this time Bernard Sumner, who was on the stage just a couple hours earlier with New Order, joined Brandon Flowers on vocals.  The Killers sweet-talked Chicago, with Dave Keuning donning a Bulls jersey for the occasion and the band covering (and making up additional lyrics to) "My Kind Of Town."  It was unabashedly cheesy; they showed pictures of the Bean and Al Capone and even Barack Obama.  But then, Las Vegas is known for corny showmanship so it was completely fitting.  You can watch the whole live stream of the show here.

Lizzy and I, a couple of Victims staking out our spot on the hill.

Shadowplay with Bernard Sumner

Mr. Flowers with the bass (unf) during For Reasons Unknown

The Bean. I cannot.

And with that, Day 1 of Lollapalooza 2013 was over.  To save your attention span, I'm breaking my account of the weekend into three posts.  You can read the next one here.


**I made a playlist of everyone I saw at Lolla 2013.  You can listen here:

Lollapalooza 2013 from kc_dilla on 8tracks Radio.