First Listen: Woman of Intention by Deap Vally

Deap Vally is at it again, with their new album, Sistrionix, finally dropping in the US last month I cannot stop listening. Lindsey Troy and Julie Edwards create a duo full of female power, stories about guys, and doing what they please. Women of Intention allows female fans to connect with empowering lyrics and without having to ditch the fierce distortion and a smutty drum beat that defines rock and roll. Deap Vally encompasses the sounds of classic rock, like their main inspiration, Led Zeppelin, while capturing a female perspective through their personal experiences. Troy and Edwards' message will not be denied and should give every woman the confidence to be strong and independent.

FIDLAR and The Orwells @ Rock and Roll Hotel October 26, 2013

Walking into the Rock and Roll Hotel on Saturday night I don’t know if I was quite sure what I was getting myself into. The show was sold out which meant it was going to be crowded and as The Orwells took the stage everyone was already fighting for a spot in the front. I worked my way up front and center for one of the best spots of the show. Starting the set with their classic tune "Mall Rats (La La La)" had fans screaming and belting out the lyrics along with Mario Cuomo (yes, that’s really his name). As always Cuomo captivates the audience with the looks of Robert Plant and a fabulous "F*** you, I'll do what I want" attitude, perfect for getting the young fans riled up. When people were getting kicked out for stage diving and surfing back through the crowd he was upset and made sure to use a few gestures to prove it. After that, going up on stage was encouraged and got everyone going up for their chance to be on stage. Continuing through the set The Orwells played many great songs from their first LP, like "Halloween All Year" and teenage war cry, "Suspended." They also ripped through newer singles like "Who Needs You" and one of my absolute favorites, The Stooges' cover of "I Wanna Be Your Dog."

Covered in sweat, people's carelessly spilled beer and mixed drinks, and with my ears already ringing it was hard to realize The Orwells were not the main band and there was still more to come from FIDLAR. Continuing with the new wave punk attitude, lead singer Zac continued to encourage stage diving and participated in the crowd surfing himself, while still plugging away on the guitar. What better way to start their set than with the FIDLAR anthem, "Cheap Beer." The gritty bass-filled intro got the crowd jumping around and Zac's screaming encouraged everyone to sing along. Throughout the set favorites like "Max Can't Surf" and "No Waves" continued to draw the crowd up to the stage and get a little crazy. One fan even tried to drink from the band's bottle of Jameson. During FIDLAR's last song the Orwells even got back up on stage to join the band showing the camaraderie between them. It was pretty cool to see Mario out in the crowd during FIDLAR's set showing that he is still a true fan of music and isn't better than anyone else, although his band is gaining significant popularity. It is great to see bands who are still about music and not just about the money and the fame. 

Bass Drum of Death and Hanni El Khatib @ Rock and Roll Hotel October 13, 2013

I apologize for how overdue this post is, but midterms got the best of me last week! Last Sunday night I was in serious need of a study break and decided to see an amazing concert at the Rock and Roll Hotel. Bass Drum of Death and Hanni El Khatib made for the perfect blend of rock and roll grit, killer guitar solos, the blues and a lot of noise. My ears were ringing well into Monday.

Bass Drum of Death started the night off right and played two of my favorite songs, "Velvet Itch" and "Get Found." John Barrett sure can play the guitar and belt out the lyrics. The fast paced hooks and fuzzy distortion satisfy any garage rock fan. From the punk anthems like "Such a Bore," to choppy and psychedelic favorites like "Heart Attack Kid" Bass Drum knew how to get the crowd going. By the time the band was almost done with their opening set people were not only paying attention but they were dancing along having a great time. 

After a killer opener, Hanni El Khatib followed up and started his set on the right note with "Head in the Dirt," one of my favorite songs. Towards the end of the set fans went wild when he played the blues-infused song "You Rascal You;" which especially appeals to me because I hear a lot of pre-Brothers and El Camino The Black Keys (when they still stuck to their roots and did not just sound like every other pop-rock band on the radio) sound in this song. Hanni El Khatib's album was actually produced by Dan Auerbach himself which explains a lot of the great sound quality. The final song of the set was "Family," which was perfect to dance to. has great lyrics to sing along with and has some awesome distortion filled guitar riffs.

Overall, this tour was amazing and I highly recommend anyone who has the opportunity to check out their remaining shows (http://hannielkhatib.com/shows/) for an incredible chance to see two bands that provide a gritty and raw musical experience.

Tame Impala and The Flaming Lips @ Merriweather Post Pavilion October 4, 2013

Last Friday night I braved DC rush hour traffic to travel out to Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, MD for one of the most fascinating and visual concerts I have been to. Tame Impala started the night off right playing many of my favorite songs and Kevin Parker enjoyed chatting with the crowd in his great Australian accent. A surge of energy pulsed through the crowd when the psychadelic rockers played "Elephant" and then kept going with my favorite songs by playing "Half Full Glass of Wine." Feet were tapping, heads were bobbing and the crowd was loving it. In addition to the great music Tame Impala's visuals added to the experience because their background screen was full of vibrant colors transcending into different shapes and objects. It was fabulously rehearsed and fit in perfectly to the rhythm of the music making the concert even better than expected!

The Flaming Lips have toured for what seems like forever, but they still create quite a show, creating an artist experience that is uncommon. The crazy lights blasting with color throughout the songs and Wayne Coyne's animated movements makes a Lips' show much more than your average concert. Finally, the band closed with "Do You Realize?" such a meaningful and beautiful song that I couldn't help but sing along with everyone else.
Both bands created so much more than just a concert, but a true musical experience. They are two bands that paired nicely together. I personally do not listen to the Flaming Lips often, but their live show sets them apart from most other bands because they truly create a musical experience that even people who aren't true and dedicated fans can enjoy the show and have a great time. Say what you will, maybe it was bizarre, dark, and a little crazy, but it was also amazing and goes down as one of the best band pairings I have seen together in a long time. Sorry for the lack of pictures, but because of the awesome visuals and the fact that it was an outdoor concert I wasn't able to get any good pictures because they were washed out with light!

Rock and Restaurants Returns to Boston: Dinner Review at Blue Inc.

Last weekend I took a trip home and had the chance to try a new restaurant in Boston, Blue Inc. Jason Santos is the Executive Chef and uses a unique twist of liquid nitrogen for food and drinks to add to his Asian, French and traditional American menu choices. To start I ordered the Purple Potato Gnocchi with stewed turkey, mushroom reduction and black truffle. I love gnocchi and it passed the test because the potato pasta melted right in my mouth. The turkey and stewed sauce was a nice edition and paired well with the pasta and the appetizer portion was just enough before my entree.

For the main course I chose the chef's signature dish, the Honey & Hoisin Glazed Duck Confit with sweet sticky rice, mango, cashews and coconut milk. When I picked the signature dish I knew it had to be good, but WOW! I was thoroughly impressed! Not only was the duck cooked perfectly, but the glaze was just enough to flavor the duck with a sweet taste. Between an appetizer and main course I couldn't bring myself to save enough room for dessert, although I was tempted to try a liquid nitrogen milkshake. Luckily, the Honey & Hoisin Glazed Duck Confit had enough sweetness from the honey and sweet rice to give my sweet tooth the fix it needed. Although next time I may skip the appetizer and choose from the many milkshake flavors (s'mores, the Boston cream Herald, pumpkin pie and almond joy.... need I say more to convince you to try these?) Blue Inc. is located at 131 Broad Street, a convenient location to South Station, Rowes Wharf and the Financial District.

Bayou Brunch Review

I live just blocks from Bayou (located at 2519 Pennsylvania Avenue NW) and have somehow never stopped in. This weekend for brunch I decided that I wanted to test it out. I left Bayou feeling pleasantly full, with a small doggie bag in tow for the next day's breakfast, and without a major dent to my wallet. 

Bayou has a great dining area, in addition to some outdoor seating. My friend and I decided to sit outside since it was a beautiful fall day. Although their brunch menu is on the short side most brunch-fanatics will be pleased with the options. I was torn between the Bananas Foster French Toast and the Breakfast Po' Boy. But ultimately my sweet tooth won and I decided on the french toast at a very reasonable $9.95. I was served four large pieces of toast with plenty of bananas mixed with dark rum and maple syrup. Boy, was it delicious. Luckily my friend ordered the City Park Scramble so I got to try the scrambled eggs and  well-seasoned home fries. 

I will definitely be returning soon to this great New Orleans-themed restaurant for brunch so I can make sure to try that Breakfast Po' Boy. It was so convenient to the Foggy Bottom, West End and Georgetown neighborhoods and charges a very reasonable rate for a delicious brunch!

DC Food Truck Review: Captain Cookie and the Milkman

Last week the Captain Cookie and the Milkman food truck made its return to GW's campus right outside of Gelman Library on H Street. If you are a GW student or spend time in DC I would check out one of their two food trucks because their dessert is not one to miss!

I was adventurous and decided to choose a different cookie sandwich and stray from choosing a classic sandwich of two chocolate chip cookies and chocolate ice cream in the middle. I chose two Snickerdoodle cookies and paired it with the ice cream special Dutch Apple. I am a sucker for anything apple flavored, especially at the start of the fall season. This unique sandwich did not disappoint. I would also like to point out the food truck driver is extremely friendly and ensures a positive customer experience. The great choices of ice cream, cookies and milk is sure to brighten up your day. Also, the cookies always fresh out of the of the oven and sometimes they are still warm.

Check out Captain Cookie and the Milkman at their other location including: L'Enfant Plaza, 13th and K NW, 20th and Virginia NW, and their Wednesday Wildcard locations. In order to see where they are baking follow them on Twitter @captaincookiedc.

First Listen: She Keeps Bees

She Keeps Bees is a fantastic duo that consists of Jessica Larrabee on vocals and guitar and Andy LaPlant on drums. Although the band is bass-less they can't easily be compared to famous duos such as the White Stripes or the Black Keys. Larrabee's brilliant voice is atypical compared to most female singers and has the perfect tone to match the blues-infused indie rock sound of the instruments. 

"Gimmie" is the first song I heard of theirs a few years back and I fell in love with the relaxing tempo, something that comes across throughout my other favorites such as "Vulture" and "See Me." While setting the songs at a slower pace, don't let that fool you because they still bring the power and the noise. Since Larrabee is a Washington, D.C. native I hope that they will play again live sometime soon, because unfortunately I just missed their show at The Pinch in Columbia Heights last weekend. But for now playing their seven songs on their  MySpace page will have to suffice.

Rock and Restaurants Does Boston: Stephanie's on Newbury

Stephanie's on Newbury is a wonderful restaurant to dine at, especially on a summer evening. With great outdoor seating right on the corner of Newbury and Exeter Streets it's a prime spot for people watching. I love to go to Stephanie's for any meal, their Sunday brunch is also delicious!

I decided to start out with a bowl of their New England Clam Chowder. It was creamy and delicious, filled with a few extras that gives a classic dish a unique spin. The clam chowder was filled with clams and a few extras - prosciutto, bacon and potatoes - that gives a classic dish a unique spin. Fresh herbs added extra flavor to this tasty starter.

For my main course I opted for another seafood option because it's too hard to pass up fish during the summertime in New England. The Pan Roasted Native Cod was served in a bowl with corn chowder, potatoes and topped with buttermilk onion strings. The light taste of the delicious cod paired with a creamy chowder was great. I enjoy Stephanie's menu because they take something as simple as a white fish like cod and turn it into a unique comfort food dish with toppings like the onion strings and swimming in a tasty chowder. 

I highly recommend Stephanie's to any local Bostonians to stop by after a long day of shopping on Newbury St. or to any tourists visiting the city. Stephanie's takes comfort food to the next level (another menu option I've had in the past is homemade macaroni and cheese with prosciutto and truffle oil), in addition to having a great staff of hosts and waitstaff. I would advise that you make a reservation because there can be a wait, especially during peak weekend meal times, but that isn't hard to do because Stephanie's reservations can be found on OpenTable or by calling the restaurant. In the summer (and if the weather is nice in the fall or spring) the outdoor seating helps assuage longer wait times making it even easier to get a table!

First Listen: Cherry Glazerr

Cherry Glazerr is an LA-based band made up of Clementine, Hannah, Sophia and Sean. While initially they appear to have a relatively basic sound Clementine Creevy's voice is unique and moving, in ways reminding me of Courtney Love (Hole) or Allison Mosshart (The Kills/The Dead Weather). Creevy brings power to the words she sings just like her predecessors. Her lyrics also explain life events that anyone can relate to: singing about friends, pets, sunglasses, and comfort foods like grilled cheese.  My favorite song is "Teenage Girl," so be sure to check it out on their Bandcamp page.

The band's instruments create a lo-fi and indie sound that is a pleasure to listen to on a day where you just need something to quiet your mind and that can relate to your daily life.

I am so glad to have discovered this band because they bring a new sound that isn't common on today's indie scene and no one has a voice quite like Creevy's. Also, I totally wish that they would go on tour and hopefully play a DC venue with another LA band that I love, The Entrance Band. Well, a girl can dream right? 

First Listen: The Boxers

I was stumbling around on Facebook band pages looking for some new music to listen to. I saw that the Illinois-based band The Orwells endorsed a fellow Chicago band called The Boxers. Since I have been recently obsessed with The Orwells I knew that I would have to give The Boxers'  album a listen.

Take a look at their album, Manorisms, and listen to my favorite songs, "Swamp Drank" and "Dirty's Girls." 

"Swamp Drank" offers a pop-rock sound that I found pretty catchy from my first listen. Vocalist Duncan Lee offers a sound similar to Julian Casablancas' from The Strokes and the guitars sound like The Beach Boys. I think it is really awesome when a band pulls from influences from many time periods and turns it into their own exclusive sound.

"Dirty's Girls" clearly exhibits some of their influences such as classic bands such as The Beatles to contemporaries like Deerhunter (also one of my favorites!) This song is a slow indie song with a cool guitar solo and great bass line sure to capture the hearts of any alt-rock fan.

It is great to listen to a band in their early days and hear such a creative meld of instruments and lyrics. The Boxers have a wide range of influences which gives depth to their album. Manorisms can be downloaded for only $5 at the link above.

Rock and Restaurants Does Boston: The Friendly Toast Restaurant Review

After a fabulous summer in DC I am back to Massachusetts (home) for a few weeks before the school year starts. To start off my vacation my parents and I went to The Friendly Toast in Cambridge, MA's Kendall Square. The Friendly Toast is an interesting restaurant with decor from the 1950s and a lot to look at while you are waiting. My wait was about 35 minutes which wasn't too bad and speaks to how popular the restaurant is on a Saturday morning. 

The Friendly Toast's menu is as unique as the restaurant's decor, making for some difficult decisions. Luckily, when I dine with my parents we always get three different dishes and so we can try as many items as possible. I decided to order the "Drunkard's French Toast" with a creamy Grand Marnier & raspberry sauce. They also offer your choice of breads, so I opted for their oatmeal bread. My Mom ordered the "King Cakes," which came with this description "two mini pancakes with bananas and chocolate chips inside and peanut butter in between; encircled by a side of bacon or vegetarian bacon, but Elvis will roll in his grave." I loved their witty humor, especially their definition of mini pancakes. My Dad decided on the "Pumpkin Pancakes" with Raisinettes.

All of these dishes sounded great on the menu and they were amazing! I love when a restaurant can take something as typical as french toast or pancakes and turn it into a unique dish you can't get anywhere else. To say we were stuffed was an understatement. I really enjoyed my french toast because I love raspberries and paired with the orange-flavored liqueur was such a good combination. The "King Cakes" were so rich and the peanut butter melted in between the cakes; which gave it a frosting-like consistency. 

Also, once seated the service was pretty quick and our server was very friendly. I would definitely return to The Friendly Toast when I come home again. I will just make sure that I do not have any plans for lunch and make sure to have a light dinner.

SKATERS and The Orwells @ Schuba's Tavern August 3rd 2013

Each year that I go to Lollapalooza I make sure that I go to one after show because I get to check out a Chicago club that I haven't been to before as well as get to see a few more bands in a more intimate setting, compared to the larger stages in Grant Park. The SKATERS and The Orwells concert jumped out as the best combination of bands and I definitely do not regret my aftershow decision.

Schuba's was cool, it was small and the show had sold out. SKATERS started off the show with a lot of good songs to get the crowd ready for The Orwells. "I Want to Dance (But I Don't Know How" got the crowd tapping their feet and many were even singing along. I also enjoyed their outfits, a mix of ripped jeans, Hawaiian shirts, and punk band t-shirts. 

The Orwells graciously made their way to the stage by pushing right through the crowd. If it wasn't already hot enough in the small tavern, the audience got a little bit closer, to each other and the stage. One of the greatest things about seeing The Orwells in Chicago is that they are playing their home city. From the suburbs of Chicago, Elmhurst to be exact, and the guys have a lot of experience playing at local clubs. They also have quite the fan base which is always great to see because it always makes the concerts more fun when everyone is singing along. Right from the start the crowd loved it because the band started off with the favorite, "Mallrats (La la la)." The pit formed and Schuba's became a sweaty mess of twenty-year olds and spilled beer, but would you expect anything less for a punk show?

Some of my favorite songs of the night include the pop-punk song "In My Bed" and "Other Voices," which remind me a lot of the Strokes. The Orwells (in various interviews) explain that their influences include the early years of Jack White when he was involved with the White Stripes, The Strokes, and The Stooges. When the Orwells played their Lollapalooza set the next day they closed with the Stooges cover, "I Wanna Be Your Dog," which was electrifying. I've heard many words to describe an Orwells concert: astonishing, energizing and enticing. If that doesn't sum it up I don't know what would. I can't wait to catch them on their fall tour with FIDLAR. I hardly find tours where I like both bands and I think that the Orwells and FIDLAR is an unbeatable combination. 

Classic Rock Magazine Awards: Who am I voting for?

I am excited to say that two of my favorite bands from 2013 are nominated for Classic Rock Magazine's Awards!

This year, The Virginmarys released their amazing album "King of Conflict." The three friends, Ally Dickaty, Danny Dolan and Matt Rose, are from Macclesfield, England. Their sound combines elements of grunge, blues and 1970s classic rock, whilst providing meaningful lyrics that encompass a lot of their experiences and opinions. Their album is up for Classic Rock Magazine's "Album of the Year."

Secondly, Deap Vally is up for "Best New Band." Boy, do they deserve it. They are playing the festival circuit this summer and have been to Glastonbury, T in the Park, Lollapalooza and Osheaga to name a few. They also landed spots on tour with Queen of the Stone Age and Black Rebel Motor Cycle Club for later this year. They sing about lying and cheating boyfriends, standing up for yourself as a woman (and making your own money), and a lot of other relatable topics. 

I have been lucky enough to meet the members of The Virginmarys and Deap Vally. They are truly dedicated and interested in their fans so give them a little something back by helping them win these awesome awards.

You can vote here:  Classic Rock Magazine Awards

Lollapalooza 2013: An Overview

After a 2 hour flight delay I rushed from O' Hare to my downtown hotel room and straight to the gates of Grant Park to make sure I didn't miss any of the bands I was ready to see. Needless to say, I may have been a little eager. 2012 was my first year at Lollapalooza and to say I had a good time is a bit of an understatement. From the second that Jack White's Sunday night set at Lollapalooza 2012 was over I knew I had to make this into an annual trip. Spending time in the beautiful Chicago summer weather with 100,000 of your newest friends, eating signature Chicago food such as deep-dish pizza and Rainbow Cones, and discovering new artists as well as hearing from your favorites is a pretty awesome way to spend 72 hours.

Lauren's Lollapalooza 2013 Schedule

Friday
Deap Vally
Jessie Ware
Band of Horses
Queens of the Stone Age
Frightened Rabbit
The Killers

Saturday
Planet Hemp
Reignwolf
Matt and Kim
Ellie Goulding
Heartless Bastards
The Lumineers 
Mumford & Sons

AFTERSHOW @ Schuba's Tavern with Pujol, SKATERS and the Orwells

Sunday **My favorite day of the festival**
Rivals of the Peacemaker
The Orwells
SKATERS
Alex Clare
Wavves
The Vaccines
Vampire Weekend
Phoenix

Best Up and Coming Band(s): Deap Vally and The Orwells

I just could not choose. I started listening to Deap Vally about a month ago and they are two rockers from LA who have a great set of songs. My favorite being "Bad for My Body" which now has an awesome video. They got the first day off to the best start and got me into the festival mood. They are touring with Queens of the Stone Age and Black Rebel Motorcycle Club later this year so I am hoping to catch them at some point on the east coast. 

Also, the Orwells kicked ass on stage. They are made up of 18 and 19 year-olds from Elmhurst, Illinois which made the show even more fun because they have plenty of local fans. Even though the band was at the 1:00pm time slot everyone was into the band, fronted by Mario Cuomo who has a fascinating presence on stage and clearly captured the audience. Here is on of my favorites: "In My Bed".They even closed their set with a cover by The Stooges. **See more on their after show concert review later this week**

Best Headliner: Phoenix

I really like listening to Phoenix so I knew they would put on a great show, but they went above and beyond. The show was amazing! They are the perfect mix of indie rock meets pop meets dance music. The crowd was loving it and unfortunately the end of their set meant the end of Lolla, but it was okay because it was a high note to end on.


All in all I had an amazing weekend at my second trip to Lollapalooza. This is slowly turning into an annual tradition and I hope that I can make it again next year. The dates have already been announced, August 1-3, 2014, so mark your calendar and now you only have 359 days to countdown to one of the best weekends of the year.

Dolcezza Gelato Review

I have passed Dolcezza Gelato's Dupont Circle location many times and it has been on my dessert bucket list for months now. However, I finally decided I had to go when I found out that they are open in the morning and serve coffee and pastries.

They open at 8am Saturday morning and have speedy WiFi. I am not the typical college student and have become an early bird because I am the most productive from 8am-1pm. So this Saturday I decided to make the short trip to Dupont Circle with my laptop and a book in hand to catch up on some blog posts, indulge in a new book and see what Dolcezza has to offer.

I decided to try the almond croissant and a cappuccino. Prices were a little higher compared to Starbucks, but the croissant could easily serve two (I saved my second half for dessert that night)! The coffee was strong and I always love when shops have designs in the foam.

I will definitely return in the school year because I am always looking for a new coffee shop to study in! They also have Argentine cookies called Alfajores, two biscuits with a dulce de leche spread which I am looking forward to trying. Not only was the coffee amazing, but I got to try their yummy almond croissant. I love the coffee shop vibe for studying because it has just enough background noise, but is cozy and inviting, allowing me to be comfortable and productive. The fact that Dolcezza is open on Sundays, basically the perfect day of the week to study, is just another plus because DC has a bad habit of many shops being closed on Sundays. Now, I also need to take a trip back for their gelato.

Lauren's 10 Tips to Surviving Your First Time at Lollapalooza

Hey everybody! I am getting so excited for my trip to Chicago with just 7 days left until 3 days of nonstop music and spending time outside in beautiful (or sometimes super hot) weather. 2012 was my first year at Lollapalooza (it just happened to be so perfect that I couldn't help but make it an annual tradition!) and this post is dedicated to helping out any newbies with a few helpful hints on how to prepare and fully enjoy your 3 days of music.

1. Spend a little time doing your homework
I know that homework is a terrible word but this is the best homework anyone could ever assign to you. Do a little research on the bands who will be playing at the festival. Last year I didn't fully invest in this and missed out on some great, smaller bands. For example, I had not heard of Tame Impala last year and I missed out on their set for no good reason!

2. Get there early.
Okay 12 noon is not that early and you just paid $235 for a 3-day pass or $95 for a 1-day pass. Don't waste your time sleeping. You never know what band you might hear. Also, if you get there early on Friday you can take a little time to see where all the stages are, locate Chow Town, as well as restroom locations. Getting the lay of the land will help, especially for that time when you are desperately hungry or only have a few minutes between shows at different stages.

3. Be prepared for mud.
Last year it rained on Saturday and we had to evacuate Grant Park. Yeah, that wasn't the best to force 100,000 inebriated festivalgoers who just wanted to listen to some music out of the park and back to their hotel rooms or evacuation locations for 3 hours. When we returned later that evening it really had poured, meaning that grass and dirt areas turned into mud pits, which people gladly made into their own personal Slip and Slide. So don't wear anything you don't mind getting dirty.

4. Be ready for some conflicts.
With so many bands and 8 stages you can't see them all. My biggest conflict last year was when Black Sabbath and The Black Keys played at opposite sides of the park at the same time. I chose Black Sabbath because I had seen The Black Keys a few months prior, but I heard the Keys played an amazing show. You might miss out on a few things, but don't be disappointed I ended up seeing about 30 bands last year.

5. Talk to strangers.
I met some of the most fascinating and friendly people at Lollapalooza last year. I talked to many people who had a similar taste in music to me. I had some funny and odd conversations and also got a lot of music recommendations, as well as compliments on my Band of Skulls and Dead Weather t-shirts. It's amazing how nice people can be when you are all on vacation, listening to music, spending time outside, and having a great time.

6. Drink water.
It will be hot and it will be humid, or at least it was last year. Also, they have free refill stations so you should bring a reusable water bottle to fill up. It is really nice that they don't force you to buy $5 bottles of water.

7. If you want merch buy it the first day.
Don't expect to have unlimited sizes available on Sunday. People who wanted their t-shirts, stickers, water bottles, CDs, etc. have already bought them and there might not be a lot left. If you want it that badly buy it ASAP!

8. Cell phone service might not be perfect.
100,000 fans in one park updating their Twitter and Instagram accounts or texting their friends makes even a city with great cell service not always reliable. 4G and service might be slow so it can make it hard to meet up with people.

9. Check out an Aftershow (or two or three)
Last year I went to the FIDLAR and JEFF the Brotherhood's show at Subterranean. It was great to check out a club I had never been to, as well as get a chance to see the bands twice in one weekend. Also, Lollapalooza is over at 10pm due to noise curfews so any aftershow fills up your free time. If you are in the under 18 crowd be sure to check for age restrictions as many shows are 17, 18 or 21+.

10. Enjoy yourself.
You are listening to music for ten hours a day, three days in a row. If you like music and you are spending time with friends and/or family just appreciate it. Don't think about projects you have at work on Monday, don't think about anything that stressed you out last week, just think about the music. Last year was amazing and the second that Jack White's set ended at 10pm on that Sunday evening I knew I had to go back, so savor every minute of it because it goes by way too fast.

Kurt Vile & The Violators @ 9:30 Club July 20 2013

Kurt Vile, a very talented alternative artist is originally from Philadelphia, PA. He played in the indie rock group The War on Drugs prior to releasing his solo albums with the Violators. I am not one of Kurt Vile's oldest fans, but I easily got hooked on his newest album, Waking On a Pretty Daze, which was released this spring. I was eager to purchase my ticket once I knew that Kurt was playing at the 9:30 Club because they never fail to have perfect sound quality, which is can be lacking at smaller venues.

Kurt has this awkward and quirky personality when he speaks to the audience. He also has a great smile and you can tell he is elated that he is creating music that is making people happy. The crowd was super mellow and fans bobbed their heads, tapped their feet and got into the music in their own way when Kurt opened with "Wakin on a Pretty Day," which was the perfect song to open for this set because it got the audience to sing along. He is a versatile guitarist, constantly switching guitars between songs to construct different sounds. I love how he can play mellow songs and then right after power through a harder rock song. 

"KV Crimes" is also from his new album and is great live because of the powerful chords and  short but quick riffs that he plays throughout the song. I also noticed the drummer got really into the set on this song. He really starts to rock out at "KV Crimes." Later on in the show, he played my favorite song of the night, "Hunchback" (see a clip above) which he plays on his Jazzmaster-- or is it a Jaguar?--guitar. It is psychedelic with a touch of blues and 100% enjoyable. 

Afterwards, they played "Baby's Arms" which is the one song where you can listen and feel like there is no one else in the room. It is so personal and such a beautiful song that listeners clearly got so lost in the song. The whole set mesmerized me and it also helped that I was in the second row. If you even like one Kurt Vile & The Violators song you would love their shows because he has such a wide range of songs that appeal to any rock fan.

This Week's Playlist July 22nd 2013

1. Bad for My Body- Deap Vally (Set time: 1:30-2:15 Friday) **Note "Bad for my Body" is the second song on the link to their full set at Glastonbury 2013

2. Breakers- Local Natives (Set time: 4-5 Saturday)

3. Came a Long Way- Heartless Bastards (Set time: 6-6:45 Saturday)

4. Schemers- SKATERS (Set time: 2:15-3 Sunday)

5. Halloween All Year- The Orwells (Set time: 1-1:45 Sunday)

6. Say It, Just Say It- The Mowgli's (Set time: 3:20-4 Sunday)

7. Sail to the Sun- Wavves (Set time: 4:45-5:30 Sunday)

I am so ready for Lollapalooza! August 2nd cannot come soon enough, but luckily it is now only eleven more days away. Here is my feature on a lot of the smaller bands I am looking forward to to seeing in two weeks. Note that I did not include any headliners because most people already know their songs and already have their evenings planned out. But for those concertgoers who don't know who to see in the early afternoon and evening take a look at songs on this playlist.

Although they are all alt-rock bands this playlist is pretty diverse. You have Deap Vally's raw sound from the LA-duo Lindsey Troy and Julie Edwards to Wavves punk vibes and The Mowgli's sweet and mellow sound, all of which are perfect for listening to live.

I also featured a song from SKATERS and The Orwells because I will be attending their Official Aftershow at Schuba's in Chicago on Saturday night. If you are going to Lollapalooza I highly recommend seeing at least one aftershow because they aren't too expensive and it is great to see a band you love in a typical club setting, as well as on an outdoor stage. They also tend to play slightly different sets so you might get to hear their popular songs twice and a sampling of their older tracks.

Happy listening and get ready for Lollapalooza. If you are not lucky enough to go this year definitely look online for live streams of most of the concerts. They tend to have great quality (sound and picture) so if you can't be there you can still discover some new bands.

xx Lauren

Pop's Ice Cream Review

Address and Neighborhood: 109 King Street Alexandria, VA 22314  in Old Town Alexandria

Price Range: $ (under $10)

Overall rating: 4.5/5 Food Quality and Overall Value

Being from New England means that I love homemade ice cream. I don't care if it is 30 degrees or 90 degrees, I will still eat it for dessert. In the Boston area, I am spoiled by the number of homemade ice cream shops, but these are rare gems in Washington, DC. This was my first trip out to King Street, Alexandria (only takes about 20 minutes on the Metro), but it was a great way to get out of the city and it reminded me a lot of quaint, New England towns on the waterfront.

Walking into Pop's I was overwhelmed by their 63 flavors of ice cream. I could not help but sample two flavors: Baileys and Kahlua Chocolate Chip. Both were delicious so I decided to get one scoop of each in a cake cone. THe Kahlua Chocolate Chip is great because coffee and chocolate are two of my favorite things, so put the two together in the form of ice cream and I will definitely enjoy it! They also have a few flavors I would want to try next time I return to Pop's. One is a flavor aptly named "The Cavity," featuring vanilla ice cream with M&Ms, Snicks, Heath Bar and Butterfinger pieces and Coconut Cinnamon Crackers, which has cinnamon Teddy Grahams and coconut flakes. 63 flavors is way too many to try in one visit so I will definitely be stopping by King St on a beautiful weekend day when I have the time for shopping, as well as eating some more ice cream!

This Week's Playlist July 15th 2013

1. Aqualung- Jethro Tull

2. Sunshine of Your Love- Jimi Hendrix (originally by Cream)

3. War Pigs- Black Sabbath

4. Rock and Roll Ain't Noise Pollution- AC/DC

5. Little Wing- Jimi Hendrix

6. I Want You (She's So Heavy)- The Beatles

7. Dancing Days- Led Zeppelin

I absolutely love rock music from any time period and any sub-genre, from indie to grunge and I can't forget classic rock. The 1970s is, arguably, one of the best decades of rock music. I still remember when I "discovered" these bands for the first time in middle school and was amazed by their talent, raw sound, and classic lyrics.

Out of the bands that made it into my playlist this week I would say that I listen to Jimi Hendrix, Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin the most.

"Sunshine of Your Love" by Cream is a classic, and Jimi Hendrix does a great cover, bringing his feedback-filled guitar riffs and making someone else's song into his own. He turns the four minute song into a eight minutes of face-melting guitar solo time.

I know, I know "War Pigs" is a typical and one of the most famous Black Sabbath songs, but it is still the best in my opinion. Last year, when Black Sabbath played at Lollapalooza this song was absolutely amazing live. Tony Iommi can still play the guitar as well as he did years ago and Ozzy was still belting out the lyrics.

Although, this one Beatles song, "I Want You (She's so Heavy)" always struck me and took away from their typically pop sound. This song is approximately eight minutes long, but only has fourteen different words and a few ominous guitar riffs. Although it is dark and technically very repetitive it has a beautiful and unique twist, especially the way that the chords go from a beginning blues sound into a jazz-infused guitar sound later in the song. It also has an abrupt ending, making the whole song even more mysterious.


Thanks for listening to my classic rock playlist this week and look out for a Lollapalooza 2013 Lineup-inspired playlist next week
xx Lauren

Lia's Restaurant Review

Address and Neighborhood: 4435 Willard Avenue Chevy Chase, MD 20815 in the Friendship Heights/Chevy Chase neighborhood

Price Range: $$$ (Typical entrees range from $15 to $25)

Overall rating: 4/5 for Service

4.5/5 Food Quality and Overall Value

A first look at Lia's menu and you might think it is a little pricey, however, if you are dining on a budget be sure to place your dinner order between 4 and 6:30 to partake in Lia's Twilight Delight special. For $19.95 you get an appetizer, main course, and dessert. It is almost too good to be true and they definitely do not skimp on the portion sizes.

Tomato-Watermelon Gazpacho

There are still plenty of choices to choose from on the Twilight Delight menu. Since it was a typical hot and humid DC day I decided to start with the tomato-watermelon gazpacho. I loved the watermelon taste and it came with an almond lace tuile cookie on the side that paired well with the gazpacho. 

Spaghetti and Meatballs

For the main course I decided on getting a classic dish, spaghetti and meatballs. The red sauce was the perfect consistency (I am very picky about tomato sauce, but this was up to my standards!) and the meatballs had a great flavor. I also loved that it was topped with ricotta cheese. Since I knew I had to save room for my dessert the leftovers also served as great lunch the next day.

Tiramisu with Raspberry Sorbet

Finally, the best part, for dessert I ordered the classic tiramisu which came with a scoop of raspberry sorbet. The cake was perfect, with just enough espresso taste and creamy mascarpone. Also, the sorbet was the perfect accompaniment, raspberry is one of my favorite flavors because it is just the right combination of sweet and tart. It was surrounded by a sprinkling of graham cracker crumbs which added a nice crunch to the sorbet.

Overall, I highly recommend Lia's especially because the Twilight Delight is too good to pass up. Where else can you find a high quality 3-course meal for any less than $19.95? Next time, I want to try their brunch because they have Brie Stuffed French Toast and a Cinnamon Scented Waffle with mascarpone and apples.

This Week's Playlist July 8th 2013

1. Thickfreakness- The Black Keys

2. Hello Operator- The White Stripes

3. Molly's Chambers- Kings of Leon

4. Readymade- The Red Hot Chili Peppers

5. Satellite- The Kills

6. Free Love- Cage the Elephant

7. Little Black Submarines- The Black Keys

This week I decided to dig deep through my iTunes account and find some of my favorite and most memorable songs over the past ten years. Many of these happen to be in my Top 25 Most Played songs playlist.

"Thickfreakness" was the first Black Keys' song that I ever heard because it happened to be on a compilation CD I bought before I even knew who The Black Keys were. It starts off with a roaring guitar lick, bringing listeners right into the duo's blues and distortion-heavy sound. "Little Black Submarines" is also on This Week's Playlist because it was one of the most moving songs I have ever heard live. There is a clear resemblance that the song has to Led Zeppelin's "Stairway to Heaven" because of its intense crescendo. It transitions from a slow-ballad to the pure rock and roll sound that The Black Keys have mastered.

I remember hearing Cage the Elephant on WBRU (95.5) a great alternative-rock radio station in Providence, RI and stopping at Newbury Comics a few days later to buy their first album. "Free Love" struck me because it was loud on the album and even louder in concert. Their self-titled album brought a mix of funk and rock with a hint of Beck and a little Rage Against the Machine-like singing.

The Kills' album Blood Pressures is their most recent and my favorite. Alison Mosshart, lead singer in The Kills was also a member of Jack White's band The Dead Weather (another one of my favorite bands) and has the perfect smokey voice you want to hear on a rock album. This song deviates from their typical sound, but brings a slow reggae beat that sounds great with the guitar. Also, the song is pretty great live.

Thanks for reading and note I've thrown in a few links to some of my favorites from This Week's Playlist, so have a listen!
xx Lauren

Last Weekend's Restaurant Review: Bistrot Du Coin

Bistrot Du Coin

Address and Neighborhood: 1738 Connecticut Ave NW Washington, DC 20009 in Dupont Circle

Price Range: $$$ (Typical entrees range from $15-$25)

Overall rating: 4.5/5 for Service

5/5 Food Quality and Overall Value

Fondant au Chocolat Semi Amer

Make no mistake, I did rate Bistrot Du Coin 5/5 for food quality and overall value. This was my first time at Bistrot Du Coin and nothing was disappointing. The meal starts with a bread basket, which is already a good start. Although extra carbs aren’t the healthiest the Italian side of me cannot help but indulge in two pieces. They have an impressive menu to appeal to even the pickiest diners, with an array of mussels, ravioli, pasta, chicken and steak choices as well as many appetizers and desserts. It would be hard for someone not to find something to enjoy.

I decided to skip the appetizer and ordered the Tournedos Poele, Sauce Roquefort, or for those of us who don’t know too much French, pan seared steak with Roquefort sauce. The included side dish was french fries, although I asked for mashed potatoes instead, my favorite comfort food. The steak was delicious and the creamy Roquefort sauce paired nicely with the meat. The mashed potatoes were buttery with the perfect consistency. Even though the meal was plenty filling I could not help but look at their dessert menu, which had over ten choices. 


As a table we decided to order the Fondant au Chocolat Semi Amer, a bittersweet chocolate fondant served warm with vanilla ice cream. Our waiter also went above and beyond, and since we had a hard time deciding which dessert to pick also brought the Creme Caramel a l’ancienne, a classic cream caramel. Dark chocolate is one of my favorite sweets and the warm fondant cake was rich to say the least. Also, the vanilla ice cream was topped with chocolate sauce and was the perfect accompaniment for the cake. Creme caramel is similar to flan, a baked custard with caramel. In this dish the caramel was at the bottom and the custard was topped off with whipped cream. Bistrot Du Coin is on the more expensive end of my typical price range, but the food was so good that it was worth the money. I cannot wait to return and try one of their mussel dishes or the ravioli.