i was there || arcade fire

Show: Arcade Fire

Location: United Center

Date: 8.27.14

Favorite Song: In terms of new songs I was surprisingly happy to hear "Intervention". Historically it hasn't been one of my favorite songs but it translated surprisingly well live. Blame it on the Catholic school girl in me but it felt good "going to church" that night.  

Memorable Moment: I kind of wandered around the floor this night but I started off ridiculously close to the stage. Like when Win tossed his water bottle on the crowd I got wet. Read into that what you will...

Biggest Letdown: After the show on Tuesday I was in total awe + wanted more. Arcade Fire have so many more great songs that I still needed to hear so I grabbed floor tickets for the next night impulsively. I can only blame myself for this because I should have peeped their previous setlists but they ended up playing almost all of the same songs. It was mixed up a little but I didn't hear some of my favorites ("Porno") that I was hoping to hear.

This Show: Was very much similar to night one but also very different. For starters, I went to this show solo which is always a different experience. I was less aware of what was going on around me + more aware of the instruments which is always pretty inspiring (I secretly love eyeing the bass players + listening for their contributions). I think at the most there were 13 or 14 people on stage so there was plenty to see + plenty that had to work together. For example (I wish I could remember the song but I can't) the violinist was just going nuts at one point + you would never have known it was a violin making that noise from just the album alone. That's exactly why live shows get to me.

i was there || arcade fire

Show: Arcade Fire

Location: United Center

Date: 8.26.14

Favorite Song: There wasn't one song in particular, just bits from a few that I love so much. "Here Comes the Night Time" at the 1:44 + 3:04 marks. "The Suburbs" at 2:44. "Afterlife" at 3:03. "Haiti" at 0:50 (also, was this song really released 10 years ago?). "Sprawl II" at 1:55. I also wasn't sure I was going to get to hear "It's Never Over (Hey Orpheus)" but it's one of my favorites from Reflektor + translated pretty well live.

Memorable Moment: As much as I love music I'm not the fan girl that has to be front + center at shows. I arrived at the United Center about five minutes prior to show time + still got a ridiculously close spot. The floor was actually very spacious + I only saw one almost fight. The environment contributed to a very fun experience. I don't think I've ever been so unconscious of my dance moves either. I'm talking spirit fingers, air drums, you name it. Overall it was pretty euphoric.

Biggest Letdown: I took it personally that they did not play "Porno" for me. I was probably looking forward to that song the most. Otherwise not many other complaints. There were minor technical issues at the beginning + I could have done without "Joan of Art" but otherwise it was perfect.

This Show: Kind of reminded me of of the 10.25.10 LCD Soundsystem show at Aragon. I went. I had a great time. I wanted more. Amazingly enough night two of LCD Soundsystem's final run at The Riviera was not sold out yet so I snagged myself a ticket for that show as well. Well kids, that same impulse hit me this morning + I bought myself a ticket for Arcade Fire tonight too. This first show was so good but there are still several other songs I am hoping to hear. Floor tickets (the only way to go) are still available for night two of Arcade Fire + totally worth the money.

It's just the after life...

i was there || daniel avery

Show: Daniel Avery

Location: Smart Bar

Date: 8.22.14

Memorable Moment: It's always special when you get to see someone make their Smart Bar debut. Daniel Avery was well-deserving of that honor.

Biggest Letdown: This was just one of those nights where I wasn't going to be in the mood to go out no matter how excited I was for Daniel Avery. I am proud of getting myself out of bed + to Smart Bar but it just ended up being a weird night + I kinda wish I had just stayed in.

This Show: Was one of my more anticipated shows of the year. I spent the last several months going on some serious Daniel Avery binges so being able to see him live + at Smart Bar was a treat. Daniel Avery was my own discovery + in turn I think I've introduced him to quite a few people as well. That's always a good feeling.

modern day gypsy

I seemed to have developed a tradition of posting one outfit selfie per year. The outfit from last year was actually pretty similar as well (just swapped) but here I want to highlight this super amazing skirt I ordered from Novella Royale's Fall collection. This isn't my first love affair with Novella Royale. I bought a pair of their Janis Bells last year + got loads of compliments when I wore them to Pitchfork + Phish this Summer.

Their Fall collection is unreal though. There are so many things I wanted to order but unfortunately these items are a little pricey. I thought I would get the most wear out of this skirt but here are some other pieces I am totally eyeing.

 These items have gone fast so most of the good ones are already sold out. They are a little bit on the expensive side but they are totally unique + extremely comfortable to wear so it's worth checking back to the site frequently.

Ps. I'm not totally sold on the top in my photo above. I like the thought of a crop top but it appears as though my chest has gotten a little bigger recently. Whoops! I am so awkward with selfies...

i was there || robyn + royksopp

Show: Robyn + Royksopp

Location: Jay Pritzker Pavilion

Date: 8.24.14

Favorite Song: Aside from the obvious "What Else Is There," "Call Your Girlfriend," + "Dancing On My Own" Robyn also played this new song presumably called "Love Is Free" that had a pretty funky beat to it. It is definitely a song that I wouldn't mind dancing to in a dark club.

Memorable Moment: "We've got two drummers + a sax player. Fuck your band!" - Royksopp

Biggest Letdown: I have a love/hate relationship with Jay Pritzker Pavilion. It is lovely + the sound is great but it really didn't work for a show like this. Everyone should be up + dancing to Robyn + Royksopp (I wasn't either). I also know they they were all absolutely killing it on stage but I saw none of it. Another kinda letdown was that I went to this show knowing exactly what the setlist was going to be. It helped me know when I should get there, but generally I don't recommend ever losing that element of surprise if you don't need to.

This Show: Was more emotional than I expected. I'm not going through a breakup (that would have been bad) but I am going through life. Robyn has a way of hitting those sensitive spots. Specifically, she addresses the isolation that everyone feels at one point or another in their life. It makes her shows both wonderful + also kind of awful at the same time.

lol boys || changes (todd edwards remix)

i was there || flume

Show: Flume

Location: Concord Music Hall

Date: 8.2.14

Favorite Song: Opening the show with "Drop the Game" (Chet Faker) followed by "Tennis Courts" (Lorde) was more than I could have hoped for.

Memorable Moment: A year ago I said that he needed to mature + I definitely saw some progress at this show. I felt proud of him. I still think he's got some more progress to make + I would still love to see him with some kind of live instrument component.

Biggest Letdown: I caught most of his set but ended up leaving early as Lollapalooza got the best of me. I left his show early last time too so not that big of a letdown.

This Show: was a good Lollapalooza after party option. Finally I got to see him in a good venue on a reasonable night of the week. It wasn't the most mind blowing show I have ever seen but definitely overall good.

pional || it's all over

If you missed it last week I shared this pretty great Rince FM mix from Bicep. About 13 minutes into the mix I thought to myself, "wait a minute this sounds familiar," + then accurately identified it as Pional's "It's All Over". I first heard that song as a James Talabot remix but I think the original is perfect as is too.

I had only heard the song once or twice before so I was pretty proud of myself for being able to identify the song before Bicep announced the track listing. As a total music nerd it's super exciting to see the progress I have made with my listening abilities. Songs with lyrics are easy but when it's mostly instrumental (not to mentioned remixed to sound completely different) it can be a bit more tricky.

i was there || orchard lounge + friends

Show: Orchard Lounge + Friends

Location: Smart Bar

Date: 8.2.14

Memorable Moment: One week before this I was at one of the better house parties I have ever been to. I heard all of these "friends" + more play all night long. I just remember thinking "do people really have house parties like this with people this talented spinning? Why are they not playing in a club?" Then I got to talk with them + they were all pretty cool to boot. Sure enough, they got their opportunity + I'm glad I got to see part of it. You could tell that they were so ecstatic. I was ecstatic for them + I don't even know them that well! Very very cool moment that they will likely remember forever. (They didn't over shadow Bethany though. She commands those decks).

Biggest Letdown: I had a good time but I had a ticket for Flume that I wasn't going to miss out on.

This Show: was like the appetizer before the main course. Friday I learned my lesson when I passed out between Lollapalooza + the DFA Residency at Smart bar that I never was able to make it to. I had a few hours to kill before Flume went on at Concord Music Hall so Smart Bar was a perfect option. I got my energy right back up + heard some good tunes in the process.

i was there || lollapalooza

Show: Lollapalooza

Iggy Azalea

Blood Orange

Above + Beyond

Broke Bells

Lykke Li

Eminem

Phantogram

Martin Garrix

Chase + Status

Jenny Lewis

Outkast

Cut Copy

Location: Grant Park

Date: 8.1.14-8.2.14

Favorite Song: "Howling At the Moon" by Phantogram. Hands down.

Memorable Moment: Blood Orange put on another great show. Phantogram was my favorite set of the festival. Outkast was great + super fun. I also got applauded twice (twice!) after leaving the port-a-potty for peeing so quickly. It was a proud moment.

Biggest Letdown: I spent way more time at Perry's than I should have. I had to meet some friends + tried to make the most of it but that stage is everything I hate with society. There were literally medical crews waiting in the crowds with stretchers. Awful. Icing on the cake was that Perry's was the only place I had cellphone reception. Also, blisters on the bottom of my feet, elbow to the boob, + someone knocking over the blueberry bratwurst I never got a chance to eat.

This Show: I had no intention of going to Lollapalooza. Last year I did five nights of after shows only + it was perfect. That was exactly what I intended to do this year too but I got offered a free pass this year + couldn't say no. Lollapalooza is one of those anomalies. You want to be there because everyone goes + you don't want to miss out. But the lineup isn't that exciting + everything + everyone is awful once you get there. I've come to the conclusion that pretty much everyone worth seeing either does an after show or comes back to tour in the Fall so there aren't really any reasons to go if you are a music fan. Leave Lollapalooza for the people with horrible taste that think they're cool because they spend one weekend of their year submersed in music.

topless

The nudist in me has totally gravitated towards themagdalenaexperience's Instagram account. Essentially, it's a hot chick who travels the world + takes her clothes off. I feel like we could be best friends.

Major props for visiting my hometown. I feel like if I was to ever recreate one of these this would be the photo.

She is also my ass inspiration. She has just about the most perfect booty ever + I want that to be mine.

future islands || tomorrow

i was there || blood orange

Show: Blood Orange

Location: Empty Bottle

Date: 7.31.14

Favorite Song: "Uncle Ace" was definitely the funkiest so that is good enough for me.

Memorable Moment: We walked in probably 30 minutes before Blood Orange was supposed to start (so not super early) + my friend makes a comment along the lines of "Look at these fucking hipsters. No one wants to stand in the front." So we did. We snagged a pretty decent spot towards the front + had a great view of the stellar performance.

Biggest Letdown: This show was HOT. Which isn't the worst thing in the world. I did feel bad for the cute little Erykah Badu type babe on stage sweating through her shirt though.

This Show: Was possibly the best show I've seen of 2014 (it's a close tie with Chet Faker + The Knife). If it wasn't the best show then I can definitely say that Dev Hynes is the best modern day guitarist I have ever seen. One thing you get from the live shows that isn't necessarily represented well enough in the album is how good his guitar solos are. Hynes + his seven person entourage were super impressive + I am thrilled that I got to seem them in such an intimate setting.

the lost art of printing photos

I've wrote about Artifact Uprising a couple of times but it is a company that makes it really easy to print out Instagrams + other photos in either print, book, or box form. I've tried all three. My favorite are the prints though. There is something to be said for physical prints when everything these days is so digitalized. 

I actually have quite a few more photos that I need to get printed but I'm feeling really inspired to do so after coming across these super charming geo stands from Yield Design. They are currently on backorder but for $60 you can get all three.