7.28.06

I was surprised when i got an email from work saying that i was gonna get to go to lollapalooza. wow, that's pretty cool. of all the festivals going on this summer, that was the one i was excited about. then i was told i could bring a guest. even better - BUT i needed to give a name immediately. well, since the only people i would want to spend that much time with is ***** or ******. ***** is being all crafty with his band on the westcoast and ******, well he can't exactly just pick up and go anywhere. so alone to the windy city is my destiny. i'm not all that worried though, i'll be surrounded by skinny tattooed boys with guitars...something tells me i won't be too lonely.

7.31.06

the carnie emailed me to tell me he would be there. we will be hanging out one night.

8.2.06

doh. so it has come to my attention that some people around the station are upset that i'm to lollapalooza. i know the tone of his voice was sarcastic, but i knew he was serious. that made me feel really bad. i would gladly give it up to someone more deserving. i was under the assumption that i was going because some other people couldnt. well, i do intend to take a lot of photos to post and get some things signed for our auction. so i may not be deserving but i will put forth an effort.

8.4.06

being alone at a festival sucks. being alone with people that know you sucks worse. i kept thinking i wish ****** was here. Even so I mananged to meet a bunch of random people. Watching as many bands as possible, I noticed that they all seemed to end with "Remember to hydrate." I didn't think it was that hot.

Walk outside the hotel and take a stroll down Michigan Avenue.	Entering the festival grounds, the security was run by 14-year old volunteers.
Everything Alternative - Chicago style.	My ticket to band heaven.
A grand entrance.	Buckingham Fountian!
Hey look it's Blue October singing "Hate Me."
Someone was so excited to see this band so i went to check it out. I wasn't impressed, they blew trumpets into old frying pans. Just not my style.	I think i was standing behind the Hanson brothers...Mmm Bop.
	Walking from one show to the next, I stopped to listen to this band Mute Math. They were kinda funky.
These balloons kind of scared me.	Jennifer cools off.
Panic! at the Disco did covers of Radiohead's "Karma Police" as well as Smashing Pumpkins "Tonight." Which reminds us, isn't Billy Corgan supposed to be here?	The Editors amaze in all their British glory.
Look I'm even working, getting stuff signed for the auction.	The Racontuers fill up quickly. The big hit? Their own cover of Gnarls Barkley's "Crazy."

8.5.06

I'm naturally a morning person and i've worked on the morning show for about 3.5 years now. So i'm physically incapable of sleeping late. Not to mention, sleeping on the floor isn't comfortable. I got up early and did some touristy stuff that no one would want to do.

In case you forgot the festival name...	The top line security.
The Digital Oasis was equipped with plasma screens with each performance in case it was just too hot for you. You could also charge your cell phone and kick back on recliners.
The Go Team.	Trying to get a photo of the Flaming Lips.
Info was everywhere you wanted it. She filled me in on the local bar scene.	A festival wouldn't complete without miscellaneous t-shirts to buy.
In all my life I never thought I'd be this close to Mick Jagger. Oh wait, thats The Living Things.	I forgot my tie dye shirt but thanks for the artist market i got that as well as a grain of rice with my name on it and a hemp purse.
Oh My Oh No!	Peeping Tom - the loundest show so far.
Coheed & Cambria.	Wolfmother.
Perry Ferrell did the stage announcement for the headling acts.	The Living Things were selling hats like the one in the photo.
Gnarls Barkley came out wearing tennis outfits to the tune of Queen's "We Are The Champions".	Rocking to Gnarls Barkley's covers of The Greenhorns, Violent Femmes & The Doors.

I mangaed to hang out with Ira & Daniel of Nada Surf for part of the day. We went down to Rush St. for drinks. I'd rather hang out with strangers than people i know, they are less judgemental and often more fun.

8.6.06

Another night of sleeping on the floor led to another early morning.

Sunday started with church at Holy Name Cathedral.	The entrance to our hotel. Panic! at the Disco and Kanye West were some of the guests staying there.
Our hotel. It makes sense because I was destined to live a rock n roll lifestyle.	This whole pirate thing is out of hand. There were even ships in Chicago River.

Things I've learned from Lollapalooza so far:
•Guys like to wear capris, but the call them long shorts
•Parents give your kids instruments and they will grow up better looking
•Everyone has a tattoo and if you don't something is wrong with you
•Hippies really do smell
•You'd think being alone all the time would be something you get used to - nope it gets worse everyday
•I may not be hot, beautiful, pretty or even remotely cute, but i can talk my way into hanging out with bands almost everytime.

The masses waiting to get in.	Perry Ferrell jokes on the kids stage.
The Redwalls - the band I wanted to see most.	Hot Chip - the band I was most impressed with.
She Wants Revenge.	Taking a load off.
Queens of the Stone Age.	Josh wails on that guitar.
Perry Ferrell introduces Red Hot Chili Peppers.	I worked my way up to about the 15th row.
Flea (in a pink unitard) & John	Anthony wears arm warmers like me.
They played mostly new stuff.	Look at us in he pit. I left after a crowd surfer fell on my head.

8.7.06

The plane didn't leave until 5pm, so i had some down time in Chi-town. I went around telling people i was Abe Froheman the sausage king Chicago. I ate pancreas and saw beautiful works of art. No Ferrari involved.

View from the Sears Tower.	Another view, over looking Grant Park.
I ate breakfast with my Carnie ex boyfriend at Millenium Park.

My feet are blistered, i think i gave myself shin splints, i didn't really eat anything for three days, and i have odd tan lines. It really made me miss Music Midtown... and rockstars.