No Doubt You Braided Your Own Hair, So You're All Grown Up.

39 days.

39 days stands between me and Chicago's premier music festival, Lollapalooza.

In my eager anticipation I've been pouring over the numerous acts playing on the day that I'll be attending--Saturday, August 7--and contemplating what would be the absolute perfect set schedule. For almost 11 hours, I have unlimited access to over 30 different shows--a music journalist's wet dream and virginity-losing moment all rolled into one.

So far, here's what I'm thinking (however, this could be subject to change):

11:30-12:15: Mimicking Birds
-Assuming I'm coherent and at Grant Park by this point, I'll be catching this up-and-coming group out of Portland, Oregon. Much in the same surf-folk vein as Jack Johnson, Matt Costa and Timmy Curran, it'll be a chill-rock barrage of guitar and spacey effects to pop my music festival cherry.
Song to Sample: "Burning Stars"

12:15-1:00: Rebelution
-Might be sparking up for this show: Santa Barbara, California's, Rebelution combines dub, reggae and jazz elements for the perfect mid-day jam session. Also the perfect group to wet one's pallet for the Slightly Stoopid set later in the day.
Song to Sample: "Lazy Afternoon"

1:00-1:45: Rogue Wave
-Everyone's favorite non-Jack Johnson Brushfire Records act, Rogue wave is indie-pop at its finest.
Song to Sample: "Lake Michigan"

1:45-2:45: Blues Traveler
-My only 90s nostalgia trip for the weekend. And the best harmonica solos this side of the South.
Song to Sample: "Hook"

3:15-4:15: The XX
-I think a customer's iTunes review describes England's The XX best: "it's essentially make-out music for the cool kids; steely quiet soundscapes that redefine R&B for a generation that loves Aaliyah and post-everything from Timbaland as much as freshly pressed Hot Chip singles and Cure LPs."
Song to Sample: "Islands"

6:45-7:45: Slightly Stoopid
-The closest-sounding act you'll find to a Bradley Nowell-led Sublime.
Song to Sample: "Ocean"

8:30-10:00: Phoenix
-With Green Day being the other headliner of the night, attending Phoenix's set is a no-brainer: French-pop maestros create catchy, bubbly harmonies and badass soundtracks for Cadillac commercials.
Song to Sample: "1901"


God Is Love,

Rev Rub.