So I wasn’t feeling like heading to Lolla in the harsh sun, so I waited until around 5 so I could catch Best Coast. When I got there, the clouds started rolling in and by the time Best Coast hit the stage, it was full on monsoon time. So no umbrella or anywhere to take cover, so I just rolled with it and got soaked. In spite of that, it was still a pretty good time. I guess someone said something to her about how they hated her cat (which is ridiculous because Snacks the cat is like the coolest) and so she told him off and kept going. The rain and the taunting seemed to get her all fired up because she was in great form and when I wasn’t wiping the rain from eyes, could tell she was having fun up there too. Obvs I didn’t keep a set list because I needed my phone to stay dry, but of course she played “When I’m With You”, “Boyfriend”, the totally appropriate “When The Sun Don’t Shine” and, probably my favorite from the full length, “Our Deal”.

Once the set was over, the initial plan was to stay at that stage for Manchester Orchestra and then head to the main stage for Foo Fighters. But that stage was just too muddy and thrashed for me. Instead I headed towards the main stage where I found this clusterfuck while the Artic Monkeys finished up. Um, yeah. I’m a fan of the Foo Fighters and all, but that situation was not for me.

So I bailed. Thankfully the show was being live streamed on YouTube and seriously, it was pretty much like being there. Except I was dry (it started raining again during their set) and was sitting on the couch.

I thought it was cool that Dave Grohl made it a point to thank Perry Farrell and also to relate the story of going to the first Lolla in L.A. when Nirvana were in the midst of recording Nevermind. Lolla definitely has made its impact over the years and it will continue to do so.

And with that, another Lolla in the books. I’m headed to Seattle next via the Amtrak. Hopefully I will have some internet on the train for posting. If not, see you guys in Seattle.

While the majority of the Lolla crowd was on the other side of the park listening to Eminem, the rest of us were worshiping at the church of MMJ. I wasn’t really intending on live tweeting the whole set, but I pretty much did, which makes for an easy recap. Set list first:

Victory Dance
Circuital
Off The Record
I’m Amazed
Gideon
Lay Low
Outta My System
Golden
The Way That He Sings
Mahgeeta
First Light
Slow Slow Tune
Dondante
Smokin from Shooting
Touch Me I’m Going to Scream
Wordless Chorus
The Day is Coming
Holding on to Black Metal
One Big Holiday

Two very solid hours of MMJ. I’m never surprised at how much I love MMJ shows, seems like every time I see them, there’s a different song that speaks to me. This was my first time hearing material from their new record and I have to say that I loved all the new songs live, especially the set opening “Victory Dance”. I was happy to get old faves like “Off The Record” and “Gideon” early. But I was really in heaven during the always epic “Dondante” and then “Smokin’ from Shooting”. And ending with “One Big Holiday” was just perfect.

My favorite Jim James moment of the night was him telling the crowd how amazing it was to be at Lolla. He told us one of his first concerts as a sophomore in high school in ‘94 was the Lolla in Cleveland. Some day some band will be up at Lolla and their lead singer will say that his first concert was Lolla in 11 and MMJ was an inspiration.

Can’t wait for more good music tomorrow.

I had a really amazing day at Lolla. I already posted about Fitz and the Tantrums and My Morning Jacket will get their own post too, but had to jot some down thoughts about the other two great sets I saw today.

First up was Phantogram. They were early (1pm) and I didn’t really think I was gonna make it before they started, but sometimes things just all fall into place. I was pretty surprised at the large crowd at the stage (especially so early) and at first I thought the crowd was just full of casual observers, but that was not the case. I didn’t even attempt to keep a set list because it started to rain pretty hard during their set so obvs, no electronic devices were coming out. Sarah was mesmerizing to watch - she’s your classic alterna girl with the hip bob, great makeup and clad in black from head to toe. The girl has some skills on the moog too. The band played the majority of their debut album - “When I’m Small”, “Mouthful of Diamonds” and “All Died Up” especially stood out for me. They also played some new songs from their forthcoming EP, which I can’t wait to hear.

And then there was Mayer Hawthorne. I love his record - his white boy soul just speaks to me. He and his band The County really put on a good show. His keyboard player was on fire, he was a lot of fun to watch. Some set highlights - the set opening “Maybe So, Maybe No”, “Green Eyed Love”, “I Wish It Would Rain” (where we did audience participation and put our hands up and then made like raindrops…..so fun), and “Just Ain’t Gonna Work Out”. Oh and I can’t forget, they covered Hall and Oates’ “You Make My Dreams Come True.” Mayer was super talkative from start to finish, giving cute intros, making us dance and just generally having a good time. And they played a couple of new songs that I can’t wait to hear when the EP comes out.

There were a couple of bands I wanted to see that I missed because I just wasn’t really feeling it, so I bailed for a couple of hours and came back to see My Morning Jacket….(to be continued….)

So worth getting here early for Fitz and the Tantrums. Set list for posterity.

Breaking the Chains of Love
Winds of Change
Don’t Gotta Work It Out
Wake Up
Picking Up the Pieces
Rich Girls
Steady As Goes (Raconteurs cover)
Dear Mr. President
L.O.V.
News for You
Sweet Dreams (Eurythmics cover)
Moneygrabber

Fun set…crowd loving it. And that cover of “Steady As She Goes” was just awesome.

I was not really feeling being at Lolla today but one performance really made it worth my while, and that was The Cults on the Google+ stage. I loved this stage last year - it’s one of the side stages but it is blessed with lots of shade and great acoustics.

I didn’t keep a set list like I normally would because my cell phone battery was pretty dead. But I definitely have enough notes to give a sense of their performance. Of course, all eyes were on Madeline during their set and why wouldn’t they be? She’s totally cute in that not-quite-a-hipster way. But Brian offered a lot of banter between songs (“I can’t believe you are here watching us instead of the Kills”) and I did like watching him - he’s very goth-y. The crowd was effusive in their adoration (especially for “Go Outside”). I was happily watching the show with a gaggle of guys who were totally into it, clapping their hands, singing and dancing along.

Highlights of the set - opening with “Abducted” (after entering the stage to the Theme to Twin Peaks), the one-two punch of “Bad Things” and “You Know What I Mean”, and later in the set, “Rave On” and “Bumper”.

I’ve been digging this band for awhile now, so I am glad I finally got to see them live. More missives from the Lolla trenches tomorrow.