Friday, August 9, 2013
Tuesday, August 6, 2013
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.
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
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.
Tuesday, July 30, 2013
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.
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.
Friday, July 26, 2013
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.
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.
Tuesday, July 23, 2013
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.
Monday, July 22, 2013
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.
Saturday, July 20, 2013
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!
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!
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