Red Hot

SF Outside Lands 2011

Another great festival weekend in chilly San Francisco.

Stand-outs: Sia, John Fogerty, The Black Keys

Amazing headliners as usual: Phish, Muse, Arcade Fire

Sad I missed: Foster The People, Major Laser, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Tune-Yards

Disappointments: Arctic Monkeys, The Decemberists

Wine & Chocolate, enough said.

What a better festival getaway than a Choco Lands in the middle of a shaded forest?

Muse & Arcade Fire rocked the house!  Check out Matt Bellamy's sweet american flag tee & sequined blazer ensemble.

And a little festival love...

3 Favorite Outside Lands Looks

Killer, ladies

Bouncin' Round The Room

After a weekend at The Gorge, Phish made history and played at the Hollywood Bowl for the first time on Monday night.  And what an amazing venue!  Behind the pit, there are several "boxes," which are gated 4-seater sections--genius, intimate and plenty of room to noodle dance.

Another first--their cover of Paul Simon's "50 Ways To Leave Your Lover."
Phish spent the last two nights in Tahoe, covering Elton John's "Rocket Man" and Zeppelin's "Good Times, Bad Times."  I will happily be at their next show in San Fran this Friday for the Outside Lands Festival.  The Summer Tour continues in Chicago & ends in Colorado over Labor Day weekend.

I thought it would be impossible to find some fashionable ladies amidst the Cali hippies, but Phish fans aren't so dirty anymore...we're all grown up.

How was Lollapalooza?

I want to hear your highlights!  Favorite moments?  Do you have any great pictures?

 Coldplay by Cambria Harkey ~ lollapalooza.com

 My Morning Jacket by Jack Edinger ~ lollapalooza.com

 Deadmau5 by Matt Ellis ~ lollapalooza.com

 Cage The Elephant by Matt Ellis ~ lollapalooza.com

Foster The People by Matt Ellis ~ lollapalooza.com

Best Kept Secret

I don't get why people haven't been making a bigger deal out of Middle Brother. The band consists of some of the most unique voices in music right now: John McCauley from Deer Tick, Taylor Goldsmith from Dawes, and Matthew Vasquez from Delta Spirit.

Here's a little ditty to remember them by.

I'm Amazed

Who said there aren't regrets in life?

 My Morning Jacket ~ Red Rocks ~ August 4th, 2011

My Morning Jacket ~ Lollapalooza ~ August 6, 2011

Weekend Bliss

We have ourselves a pretty epic music weekend.

Check out the live Lolla webcast here.

At the moment I'm listening to Delta Spirit, and I'm looking forward to Foster The People, Two Door Cinema Club, Grace Potter & The Nocturnals, and The Kills.  Tomorrow we have Fitz & The Tantrums, Local Natives, and of course My Morning Jacket.  And my favorites for Sunday are Cage The Elephant and Explosions In The Sky.

The Flaming Lips played Red Rocks in Colorado on Wed, followed by My Morning Jacket last night.  I'm extremely jealous of anyone that made it...and I need to hear all about it...so spill people!

And finally, what is this beautiful place you ask?  It's The Gorge in Washington State, where Phish will be playing 4 sets today and tomorrow.

And yes, I've shed numerous amounts of tears because of all this epic-ness I'm missing.  At least I'll be drowning away my sorrows on the beach tomorrow at the US Open - Surf competition and a free Surfer Blood & MGMT concert!

So what did you choose to do?

GIVERS

I got to see these guys a few weeks back when they played Bowery Ballroom, and I haven't stopped listening to them since. If you haven't heard GIVERS' debut album (In Light) yet, you should totally check it out. It sounds like what Vampire Weekend would sound like if Ezra Koenig took as many mushrooms as the boys from Animal Collective.

Their whole aesthetic translates well live, with the band jumping around the stage like they're just messing around in their basement. I had the luxury of meeting the lead singer, Tiffany Lamson, after the show and I could see that the music was a complete reflection of her personality. She's sweet but doesn't take herself too seriously. In fact, when I complimented her voice she was like "What are you talking about? I sound like nails on a chalkboard!"

And I Hope You Like Jammin' Too

This weekend was heaven.  But then again, it's hard not to have one of those in Cali.

Thursday started with a day playing frisbee at Manhattan Beach and ended with live music by the Santa Monica Pier.  Every Thursday night throughout the Summer, the pier presents the 27th Annual Twilight Dance Series, which is free to the public and showcases a different genre of music every week while the sun sets.  And how can you not take a ride on the roller coaster after?

Friday night I attended the X-Games followed by a stop at the infamous Dresden (you know that movie called Swingers), where Marty & Elayne have been playing since 1982.  Squeeze your butt into one of the red leather booths and enjoy great drinks with good company & entertaining music (guest singers from the audience welcome)!

If you ever find yourself in Santa Barbara (preferably kidnapped, as I was) after a weekend of wine tasting, do not hesitate to stop by Cold Springs Tavern.  Trust me on this one.  This cozy, rustic cabin establishment nestled deep in the woods with a creek runnin' through it, has live music and mouth watering Tri-Tip steak sandwiches every Summer Sunday.  Tom & Kenny, "America's Good Time Blues Ambassadors," are often found playing amidst the picnic tables, bloody marys, and the smell of bbq'ed steak.  Tip: They like whiskey.

After a simple day in the woods, myself & present company drove straight to the Hollywood Bowl to hear Rita & Ziggy Marley.  This was my first Bowl experience and it was beautiful!!!  Listening to Bob Marley's iconic reggae jams by his family, under the stars, was a perfect way to end the weekend.

Guest Blogger: Micah

I'm excited to announce my first guest blogger, Micah!

Micah is currently a Journalism major at Binghamton University.  In the past he has contributed to his school newspaper and friends’ blogs.  Micah is an avid concert goer and music enthusiast, who listens to a wide range of styles and reads numerous music publications.  On the side, he fronts the alternative-rock group Nation Army (shout-out to the White Stripes!), and writes. He spends a lot of his time in NYC, where he has learned about the music scene. 

I'm stoked to hear what Micah has to say (as a young, enthusiastic, up & coming journalist), and of course to have someone report from NYC for me!

Hot Fun In The Summer Time

Coachella '11


Even though Coachella, Glastonbury, SXSW, Summerfest & Bonnaroo have all passed, there are still some major summer festivals in our future...so dance the days away.

Lollapalooza 20th Anniversary ~ August 5-7

Outside Lands ~ August 12-14

The Sunset Strip ~ August 18-20

Leeds/Reading ~ August 26-28
ACL ~ September 16-18
Telluride Blues ~ September 16-18
Pygmalion ~ September 21-25

Here's some inspiration:

Sasquatch '10

Coachella '11

 Kate C of Shopbop