Category Archives: IL

The end is the beginning…

Figured I’d start with a pic from the end of my trip back to the Midwest last week, a journey that was capped off with a full day of live music in Chicago’s Grant Park.  ie. Lollapalooza.

It was my third time attending the fest, the first coming 16 years ago when it was still a traveling show, which I caught at the then World Music Theatre in Tinley Park.  God, just writing out 16 years sends a shiver down my spine.  It’s crazy to contemplate that I was half as old as I am now, just a naive high school kid moshing on the grassy hillside to the Beastie Boys and Smashing Pumpkins. Growing older is a strange thing indeed…

But I was all too happy to play the old dude in the crowd as Sunday’s lineup was seemingly programmed just for me and my musical tastes.  By literally just turning around in the grassy lawn of the two kitty-corner, North-end stages, I was able to see four of my current favorite bands, and none failed to disappoint.  Be it the San Franciso rockers, The Dodos, who were joined for a couple tracks by friend of the band Neko Case; The National, a group I’ve wanted to see ever since stumbling onto their incredible album “Boxer”; Arcade Fire, need I say more, though it was great to hear some of the new tracks off their just released album.

But the highlight of the day was definitely reserved for Mumford & Sons (seen above…kind of).  I was most excited of all to see this band from West London, having heard from more than a few people how incredible these dudes are in concert.  And man, are they incredible.  I’m already counting down the days till they come back through LA in October to see them again, and fortunately, this time I won’t have to sweat my ass off in the brutal Chicago heat and humidity!