It's a bit much.

Eric and Hugh await the train.


And here it comes.


It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was a cloudy day.



Went to Magnificent Mile. As indicated by Hancock tower.


Then I made my first visit to H&M, and bought a plethora of clothes.



It was at that point that I met up with my very very good friend, Anna(dothefrug), and my newfound friend Amy, who I'm convinced is just about one of the prettiest people I've ever met, but that's beside the point. We started heading downtown.


The clouds started to clear.


And then we made it to Millenium Park, where Anna decided to strut her stuff. And by that, I mean that Amy convinced Anna to take a sexy pose picture.


Then we came across the gigantic mirror ball. This thing is so freaking cool. You can see the skyline in the backdrop.


The three dudes with Amy looking on.


Amy and Anner.


I'll shut up now.








I really like this one.





The park had this huge field where Jazz music was kind of sort of going on.


Why do people feel an urge to throw money wherever there's water?


some plants nearby.



Oh Eric. That beard. It's great, man.



We got to this weird fountain. It had LCD screens underneath it.


It was apparently called the Crown Fountain.


See how it changed?


Anna is secretly japanese.


As is Amycakes.


the lips of an old lady being projected on the gigantic wall.


Lady in the water. Actually, it's just Hugh.


I'm not sure how I felt about this fountain.


my shoes.


SPIT.


And then the face disappeared.



There's this kid in black swim trunks. He would go around and splash people he didn't know. Just kicking water. He started splashing water all over Eric, and I kind of had to lay down the law.


This sign needs to be a piano, and I should be playing it.


Buckingham fountain. They're setting up for Loller.


It was hot. Hugh's on the right thinking track.


On our way to the field museum.




Almost there...


Totem pole.



So we got to the museum, and just our luck, the last admission was given out at 4:00 pm, and we got there at 4:05 pm.

But that's okay, because we took pictures from the overlook which was gorgeous. Here's a huge panorama, that's apparently small. Maybe, I'll remember to link it to the big version, when I actually post this.





We somehow walked by Chicago's ABC station.


Second H&M visited that day. It was more successful than the first.




Back to the midway station, we waited for our hotel shuttle to pick us up. Boredom ensued.


Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!






In Chicago, they have REAL copies of the Onion for distribution. It's pretty cool, actually.


We ate at Pizzeria Uno. It was very very good. Nothing quite like Barbecue Chicken pizza, and a Goose Island Honker's Ale.


The pizza takes so long that you order it before you sit down, but it's still sit down service?




Group pictures as we waited for the pizza.



And Ellen brought it out to us. She was a good server.


I sure have taken alot of pictures of Eric eating on this trip.


There's some place covered in newspaper wallpaper.



Then Eric and I hopped a train to see Mates of State. Unfortunately, we were late, and the place was hotter than holy hell.



There was a German restaurant I wanted to eat at.





Waiting for the train.


Back at Midway, we had to wait for the shuttle. Eric looks like he needs some help here.





Sooooooooooooooooooooooo the next day is here.

We move to the new hotel.


Eric's in the 'vator.


And finally finally finally, we make it to Lolla 2006.




The first band we saw was Midlake. They were actually really good. But I was excited for the next band.













I think I prefer seeing Anathallo at a venue as opposed to a festival, but you know what, they were still awesome awesome awesome.



Of course, I would take a picture of Aqualung's guitarist, and not of Matt Hales. Oops.


Ruh roh, it's Evan Cranley time.


Ruh roh, it's Amy Millan time.






And you know that Amy + Evan = Stars







Gah Evan, why are you so angry?


Oh wait no, everything seems to be just fine.

Mates

of

State

were

AWESOME.






Then random dude came out and sang with them, but you know what, it's cool. It's totally cool.


So just because it's Lollapalooza doesn't mean that every band that plays is good. My brother and I watched My morning Jacket to get a good spot for Death cab. Z didn't sound that bad, but when played loudly, with a bunch of budweiser-drinking, phish-listening, fudgepacking middle-aged stoners surrounding me, it wasn't really all that enjoyable.




But you know, the DCFC crowd was insane, and we got a good spot, so you know what, I suppose in a way, it was worth it. Can you spot Hugh? By the way, I have to thank Amy for getting us all the way towards close to the front. I can't believe it worked.

Ben time.



Trees or something.




I loved you, Benevere, I loved you Benevere. Which btw, I'm really upset because they didn't play We Laugh Indoors.





Wait a minute, who are those extra people on stage? Could it be....nah, couldn't be.....but it is! It's...





Stars!


And then I'm pretty sure that a billion girls were jealous of Amy Millan here.


And I'm pretty sure that this is one of my favorite pictures I took at Lolla. But just you wait until you get to the Flaming Lips pictures. And how could we forget Feist.


Alright, so uh next day or something.


Hugh's rocking the hair.


And the cutoff shorts.


Us three dudes are rocking the breakfast sandwiches courtesy of Dunkin Donuts.

So we didn't make it to the field museum, but we tried again,




And we were successful!


Birdie.

Tiger.



This is Sue, btw.







Eric and I are explorers of another kind.




Man, we saw some Wild Ass in that there Chicago.



Girafffffffffffffffffffffe!


These animals look cute, but probably deadly.










Cheer up, Emo Hugh.



There were some really rockin cassettes in the back of this bicycle.


See what I mean??!!












Baaaaaaaaaack to the festival now.














So you know that Feist is like one of my favorite favorite favorite singers ever. So be prepared for like 1,000,000,000,000,000,000 pictures of Feist. Okay, maybe more like 40. Tops.





Bryden rocking the tribal drum.










Ha, in this song, Feist can be seen "fighting away the tears." Oh Feist, you silly, yet incredibly sexy woman, you.





Well, can't forget Julian now.


Nor can we forget Effie? I don't know how to spell his name, I just imagine that's how it's spelled.


I noticed he's got the teen wolf thing going on, but it seems to work for him.






Feist is looking at her feet. That can only mean one thing.


Sampler time!







Feist and Julian guitar battle. I bet Feist can take on Julian because she's actually been in Broken Social Scene, and those guys are just really rockin'. Like Jet.


So I stood in line to wait to meet Feist. And I was the very first person! (Surprise, surprise.) Okay, so there was actually another line, for people with priority wristbands. you had to buy a cd to get a priority wristband, and well, I didn't. But that's okay, or so I thought. Feist only had half an hour to do a signing, and after the line was done, she had to goooooo. Her agent was like, "Hey, we have to go, the interview you have to make is in like three minutes." And I was like, "Hey! I came from Mississippi, please may I take a photograph with you?" And well yeah...


There she is. I basically got to see her for five seconds tops, and that was it.

Sonic Youth.







Using the drumstick as a slide.



Sonic youth was great. But really, I only went to get a good spot.







But for whom, you may ask?






And I'd like to take a moment to explain that I was really upset that Feist pulled out of ACL. Sure that means I get to see Wolf Parade, Ted Leo, and Phoenix, but honestly, I was really looking forward to seeing Feist for the fourth time. Anyhow. This band is going to play at ACL and if you weren't going to go, you should honestly change your mind because nobody should go through life without seeing this band. It honestly will change your life. It just gives you this good feeling after you see them.



So who is it?


Who is this band that Julian praises so highly?


Who is the band that would throw out a gigantic balloon for the crowd to throw around?


Who? Who has that signature look and suit?


Who would cause dozens among dozens of fans to cram into a field, and fill up a park just to see this band?


Who's so good that they'd get a Beatle Bob introduction?


Who's so good they're on the jumbotron?


Who's so good that they have dancing alien ladies, and people in superhero costumes on the stage. And also have the lead singer crawl into a gigantic plastic bubble?





And then crawl out and walk across the crowd.







If you don't know who this band is, maybe you shouldn't go see them then.





























Wayne's using the infamous She don't use Jelly hands. Which they played, btw.




The Build-up lasted for a good while.


And then exploded into a gigantic mass of confetti and what not.

Geeeeeez what an amazing show. Amy and Anna agree too. As does Eric and Hugh.

So here's the crowd getting ready for Kanye.


But we hooked up the New pornos first for a little bit. AC Newman was a bit more open this time. He trash talked Coheed, it was great. He said that they have more fucked up time signatures than they did. Oh the hilarity.






Then it was time for some Kanye.




As you can tell, Amy got her dance on. She was getting way into it, and she even said Kanye was her favorite Lolla performer.



So we met up with Sarah and Stephanie. Sarah somehow got cut out of this picture.


Then we went to Cafe Iberico to try tapas for the first time. Most of them were so so soooo good. Some of them, were, well, you know worth experiencing once in your life.



We had sangria. Hugh and Eric went back to the hotel early, but Amy, Anna, and I totally tanked the pitcher, and had a blast and a half. Made it back to the hotel somehow, even though we ran into things like pretty banks, and what not. And then of course, fun was had on the piano. Terrible drunken renditions of my least favorite song ever, Brick, were done. The rest of the night was just a blur, but hey, this is what memories are made of.

Next morning, well rested.

Our hotel was Chestnut, right off of Michigan Ave.

We went to the Hancock tower, which was like 80 yards from our hotel.




"Homicide: Our day starts when yours ends."






View from the top.




Barometer.


Our hotel is right in the middle of this picture, with the whiteish roof. The brick building.



Re-enacting a scene from Ferris Bueller's day off.


I'm telling you. Explorers, we are.


Hugh and Eric decided to wash windows.


And then have a window washing battle.



Eric was rocking the Hancock Tower Bingo game with "Big John".

Back in the city again.


Had some wicked Chinese for lunch.

Manishevitz. They were alright. I had heard them when I was in high school, and loved their music. This guy is hilarious, and to Hugh and Eric, he looks like Beaker from Muppet Babies.


Adam Busch, pulling off the teen wolf look also.


The drummer looked like an irish Ted Leo.


Cowbellllll.


Jazz flute!

Okay, Ben Kweller totally looks like a girl here.





But the set was good. I left right as he started playing falling. Which I wish I didn't leave for, but I had to get a good spot for Andrew Bird.


So this guy introduced alot of the bands. I wonder who he is.

Ohhhhhhhhh heavens Andrew Bird was amazing. Though I think Eric's right on this one, someone better seen in a club/venue than at a festival. Nonetheless, Andrew played new and old stuff. It was amazing to see him do it.







And then Of Montreal never, ever dissapoints.















Kevin's foot pedal was going out, so while he was trying to figure things out/fix it, there was an impromptu dancy jam number. Everyone who "Felt the love" put their hands in the air.



But alas, Kevin is back, and in new costume too!






And then what was quite possibly the best/worst decision I've made the entire weekend. My brother and I left the set early. (Yikes!!)

For another band. Broken Social Scene!!!!





But....there's a catch. We had to sit through 40 minutes of another band's set. So that's not so bad, because it's Lolla, that means there's great bands right?


And you know, I admitted to thinking this band wasn't so bad, and almost went to see them in New Orleans with Whitney.


But gah, after sitting through those 40 minutes of hell, which seemed like eternity, I told myself never again. Never ever ever will I ever see She Wants Revenge play.



But you know what, right after their set finished, people bumrushed the front, and luckily, we were one of the fortunates. So here are the people behind us waiting to see BSS.


And uhoh, here comes Kevin Drew!




They were amaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaazing. Horns and Brass, and crazy Peroff-rhythms, and aggressive guitar, and insane Canning-basslines. Gah.




Ha, you guys probably think I like ska by looking at this band.


Justin Peroff


Brandon Canning


K.Drew! Laying down some synth.






















The pictures get worse and worse as the lighting starts to darken. But these guys were a great end to the festival.

But of course, it doesn't end just yet.


Leslie Feist!!!! Which means that they played 7/4.








All the cool dudes play while drinking wine out of the bottle.

Uh oh, looks like Amy Millan's bum-rushing the stage. I suppose it's time for Anthems. But it gets better.


Because who is that other very very sexy girl?


The girl who looks similar to Feist, but obviously is not.


The girl who sings in a canadian band (or two).


The girl who sings with passion.


Anyways, it was Emily Haines from Metric!


And I still don't know this girl's name, but I think she and Jesse from Feist's backing band are dating.



So yeah, Anthems for a seventeen year old girl is going on here.







I like this one.





There's as guy holding up his Canadian residency card to show his canadian pride.



I left early, because I don't really care much for RHCP. I heard a little bit, but I knew I didn't want to stay.


We tried going here, with limited success.


Definitely a metal moose. (Ha, Amy calls 'em like she sees 'em. I thought it was an Elk.)


Some very very big cocktails. At fridays.


Anner's being applelicious.


Water tower at night.


Then Amy bought us all dessert at the cheesecake factory, which was just about the nicest thing ever. It was a good memory to make of Amy and Anna, and I'm really glad I got to spend the weekend with them. Looks like I'll be saving up for SXSW so we can meet up yet again.

But yeah, so the next morning, we all parted ways. So sad!

Eric and I were on the subway headed for Union Station.


After dropping off our bags, we hit up the public library for some free wifi.


Got back on the subway, where there was a girl singing on a microphone. It was great to hear it. She really had some soul.


iPod ads on the train


And then Eric and I ate at a Swedish Restaurant called Ann Sather. It made me wish that Hanner and Brother Karl were there with us. But alas, there's ACL.




Swedish Cinnamon rolls are the bombdiggityomb.



I had the swedish pancakes and swedish meatballs. What a combination!



This place was alright. We would've played The Simpsons arcade game, if it weren't for the fact we were trying to make a movie.



So back on the El.



I bet you can't guess what movie we saw.






Yeah, so Little Miss Sunshine was a pretty good movie. Heard some suchfan stevens, and Stephen Correll was hilarious.


Back to the city again.


Told you I saw some wild ass running around.

Then this building had relics of famous buildings/places built into it.






So this basically sums up Chicago.


Now I'm back home. Hanging out with Ryuuhei. Tomorrow, wisdom teeth come out. Next week, Hattiesbarf.