Hey Chicagoans! How about a Staycation? (2012)

So I have to admit, and this is no secret, but my day-to-day life can be pretty fun. This summer has really been the epitome of me enjoying La Dolce Vita…and I haven’t even left Chicago yet! I do hear from people all the time, “Hey Kelly, do you work??” The answer of course is, “Yea, kinda!” I have managed to make the most of my summer here in Chi while still attending to life’s lame responsibilities. Since I have made my last 2 months feel like freakin’ Yacht Week, I figured I’d help my fellow Chicagoans turn the next 2 months into a memorable vacay…right here at home. And I WILL NOT discuss boring tourist activities such as Navy Pier or Architecture Tours. These recs are legit and are what the real locals do.

There are a couple different themes I want to dive into (no pun intended), as my awesome activities are quite varied.

For those of you who like a cosmopolitan type of vacation, let’s say to New York, here is a fun way to spend your day: When I’m in chic chick mode I usually begin my day with some shopping. I will ALWAYS hit up Oak Street, which is renowned for its world-class boutiques. If you really want the New York vibe, you can always pop into Barney’s New York, but I usually opt for smaller non-corporate shops. My FAVORITE boutique in all of Chicago is Sofia. They’re moving to Walton Street (1 block over) this summer, so don’t be alarmed if it looks like they’ve closed. But they have the best collection of the season’s best trends and looks. Plus you actually feel you’re in a walk up in The Village. After I’ve put my credit card into panic mode, I’ll head to Rush Street for brunch or lunch at Tavern on Rush. Now, this place is no secret…but if you haven’t had a table on the sidewalk in the summer… you do NOT know what people watching is. This is probably one of the scene-iest places in the city and I always feel like I'm on vacation when I’m relaxing and gossiping outside at this hot spot. A crisp glass of Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc and their Bellevue Salad with rock shrimp will definitely make you feel like you’re lunching on Madison Ave.

If that’s a bit too fancy-schmancy for you, and you’re more the active beachy type, well fear not, I’ve got you covered. If you have not yet heard of Stand Up Paddle Surfing (or Boarding) or SUP, where have you been?! This is the sport that has captivated cool people everywhere. Celebs and athletes go nuts for SUP and it’s the most popular activity on the West Coast and Hawaii. Fortunately for us, some bad-ass folks called Great Lakes Board Company, decided to bring this trend to our gorgeous lake front. It is one hell of a workout. It stabilizes your core, can burn up to 500 calories in an hour, and is somehow still relaxing. The view of the city you get while floating around on your board ain’t bad either. I paddle at least twice a week and it’s definitely become my favorite new sport. Don’t take our lake front for granted people!!! Head to North Ave. Beach, spend $25 for an hour rental (package deals are avail) and magically transport yourself to the Pacific. To finish off a good beach/paddle day, you can always head to Castaways on the Beach for a delicious frozen cocktail but I’m usually in the mood for some fresh seafood. To really feel like you are on a vacation head to El Barco Mariscos. It’s in East Ukranian Village on Ashland and it reminds me of so many places I’ve eaten at all over Mexico. You feel as if you’re in an old wooden boat- sounds strange but the seafood is awesome. They specialize in whole Huachinango (red snapper) and ginormous seafood platters that could feed a village. Everything is delicious and their margaritas are amazing. It’s super affordable too, so it’s a great way to end your beach staycation!

Finally, if you’re a fan of Jamaica and reggae music (I’m obsessed) here is an awesome way to spend a Thursday or Sunday evening. Check out Ja’Grill in Lincoln Park on Armitage. The chef hails from Ocho Rios in Jamaica, and makes a mean Red Snapper Escoveitch (sweet, spicy, and tangy, sautéed with peppers and onions) and Spicy Curried Goat. Their coconut cabbage side dish is addictive, and they have an impressive collection of Jamaican Rum cocktails to cool you down. The reggae is always booming and the huge Bob Marley mural on the wall will transport you right back to the Caribbean. After dinner and drinks head to Underground Wonder Bar in River North on Clark Street. Every Thursday and Sunday from 1am to 4 am they have live reggae. The bands are always incredible and can literally put you into a musical “One Love Mon” kind of trance. Order a Red Stripe beer from the bartender brothers, Jordan and Elliott, who have dreadlocks down to their knees, and just jam in front of the stage with the crowd. ALWAYS a blast, Wagwan!!

So that’s a typical staycation week in the life of EatTravelRockOut. Chicago has so many wonderful and exciting things to do that so many natives are even unaware of. If you can’t get away this summer you can make the very most of your time at home and still feel like you just traveled to NYC, Mexico, Jamaica, or a ton of other places. I have dozens of more fun things to do as well, so if you want some ideas, just shoot me an email or comment below. Enjoy, ChiTown!!!

Three New Restaurants- Trencherman, Untitled, Pelago (2012)

I've had the pleasure of dining at three new restaurants over the last 10 days. I'm excited I get to combine these three experiences into one review because each establishment was completely unique and stands out so vividly.

Trencherman in Wicker Park (2039 W. North Ave) just opened its doors in the space that used to be Spring... and formerly a Turkish bath house. The decor is striking. For those of you who remember Spring, prepare to be shocked at the complete 180. The large open room is reminiscent of an upscale saloon with rich browns and woods and buttery leather booths. I got to meet both exec chefs... The Sheerin brothers. Michael and Patrick (of Blackbird and The Signature Room prestige, respectively) were delightful, funny, and incredibly helpful while walking us through their creations. The beverage and food menus are not extensive yet very potent and aggressive. My first selection was a drink appropriately called "El Viaje" (The Trip) as it was a delicious blend of Mezcal, pineapple, and Absinthe (my fave).

We moved right down the menu and selected some of the most interesting looking dishes. First, the Scallops- with avgolemono (egg lemon) sauce and asparagus seeds. Enticing indeed. The scallops were cooked perfectly and the Greek touch of the avgolemono was a pleasant surprise. I've never had an asparagus seed before. They look like peas but are bit more hardy with a very bitter taste. Overall a great dish. Next, the Bacon Cured Sweetbreads. Fantastic. Another first for me as I've tried to put off trying sweetbreads as I didn't think cow glands were my thing...but apparently, they are! The sweetbreads were tender and incredibly smokey and the XO sauce gave it a sweet kick that finished it off nicely. One entree which I thought to be too ambitious was the Black Olive and Sesame Crusted Sea Trout served with hummus and roasted beets. I was really hoping for a heavy Mediterranean flavor but the olive crust didn't really deliver what I was hoping. The hummus was great but the trout was a tad fishy. This dish could use some tweaking. The Braised Pork Belly did not disappoint, however. Drizzled with coconut, vanilla, plums, and sorghum- the perfectly crusted pork belly seemed to adopt the flavor of bubble gum which we found out from the chefs was intentional. Sounds weird... tastes amazing. Overall, incredible drinks and a delicious meal.

Untitled is cool as hell. Look closely for a black double door at 111 W. Kinzie, because it's hard to find. This massive 18,000 sf underground venue on one level tries to bring us back to the speakeasy/prohibition era. Decor and lighting are rustic yet beautiful. They boast several themed rooms such as "The Whiskey Room" which has the country's largest collection of American Whiskey, a martini room, and a live entertainment room with a supper club and a huge stage. The menu was supposed to be a modern take on some throw-back prohibition era dishes. I don't quite see that as I can't quite picture flappers in the roaring 20's dining on Pork Belly Confit with Rhubarb Mostarda...but hey, it's a cool shtick. Regardless, the menu is unique and varied. Some of my favorite items which killed it are the Grilled Peach and Arugula Salad with cured Virginia ham and Goat cheese, the Grit Cakes with tomato jam, the Pork Belly Confit, and the Short Rib and Scallop with herb bread pudding.

The absolute standout is the Crispy Squash Blossoms with truffle honey, farmer's cheese, piperade puree. They're lightly breaded and fried and the cheese and corn mixture oozes when you cut into it, and when mixed with the truffle honey... it's like heaven on a plate. Overall it's a small plate menu with a few main courses. The Bison burger with house-made giardinara, tomato marmalade, arugula, and goat cheese was incredibly complex and literally melts in your mouth. This is a great place for a night out with the girls (or boys) or a great place to take a date. They have live music nightly and the amped up energy will make you want to come back again and again.

Pelago is not a brand new restaurant (just over 2 years old) but it's getting a resurgence from all of the heightened activity at the now hot-spot Raffaello Hotel (Drum Bar). It's a small space with only 60 seats inside, but it's gorgeous. The proprietors are a husband-wife duo, Mauro Mafrici (executive chef) and Kimberly Mafrici (interior designer). The service was friendly and attentive, and after some crisp rose champagne, the menu was upon us. Mauro has Northern and Southern Italian roots and his menu reflects as such. He has a very inventive approach to some of the traditional classics. The Polipo alla Griglia con Capponata alla Siciliana (grilled octopus) had a delicious flavor but was slightly undercooked (I had to try it though because it's Sicilian...gotta represent). The restaurant redeemed itself by presenting the most tantalizing array of pastas I've had...maybe ever. The Ravioli di Vitello in Salsa al Pistacchio(veal stuffed ravioli with pistachio cream sauce) was the most exciting dish i've had in a while. The pistachio was understated and the pasta was cooked perfectly 'al dente' and the veal mixture was light and perfectly seasoned. All topped off with a very high quality nutty parmesan. Complimenting it perfectly was the Fettucini with a truffle cream sauce (a special) , and the Maccheroncini al Ragu`D`Agnello (tube shaped pasta with hearty lamb ragu).

For the main course we tried the Coniglio al Forno Con Patate, Tomato e Salvia (roasted rabbit with vegetables and sage). I was ridiculously excited for this dish, yet unfortunately, it didn't quite live up to my expectations. The rabbit was cooked nicely as were the veggies, however the heavy use of sage and rosemary overwhelmed the dish. A warning: This restaurant is VERY pricey. Overall, it was an engaging dining experience that takes you on a delectable tour of Italy...and if you're in the mood for a very expensive tour of Italy...then this restaurant is for you.

I hope my next 10 days prove to be as much of a culinary adventure as my last 10 days... if so, you know I won't be able to shut up about it. Stay tuned!

Smashing Pumpkins at The Metro (2012)

This past Thursday I had the privilege of seeing my 2nd all-time favorite band in concert (we all know who numero uno is).  This was such a cool experience and please pardon me for bragging a bit as to the extreme level of coolness this show achieved.  First off, let me compare how drastically different the 2 times were that I have seen the Pumpkins live.

1st time.  1996 at Rosemont Horizon (there's a flashback for ya).  I had about 20th row center in the midst of about 8 billion rowdy teens (like myself) and it was about 200 degrees in the arena.  Without getting into too much detail-on the off chance I might have a younger reader- let's just say there was an incident with a type of mushroom then an ambulance ride followed by an awesome hospital visit for me.  I saw a total of ONE song.  Definitely a night to remember....for the wrong reasons.

2nd time- June 14th, 2012- The Metro.  Our friend, Theo Epstein (President of the Chicago Cubs) invited several of us to his charity event he was hosting at The Metro.  Billy Corgan and the Pumpkins agreed to play his show pro-bono (definitely not the norm for many artists).  The place was packed and we had front row seats in Theo's balcony.  Great view, great crowd, and plenty of drinks.  This was gonna be a good night.  So we're all a few drinks deep and the lights went down and it hit me that I was going to get to see another idol of mine/epic band just a few yards away from me any second.  I started to freak out (in a non-mushroom way) and jump up and down like a little school girl with the biggest smile ever plastered across my face. They take the stage and Billy, as usual, looks quite intimidating because of his imposing height and scowl... I actually had the opportunity to chat with Billy the week before at the Roger Waters show, and I told him how pumped I was to see him at the Metro. I mentioned that our close mutual friend was bringing me, and he said he was really looking forward to this show as they were debuting a few of their new tunes.  It was pretty sweet to get the inside scoop...

They opened with Zero.  Bottom line...it f-ing rocked.  Billy still sounds the same and his signature anguished vocals and heart piercing and transcendental lead guitar brought me right back to why I fell so hard for them in 1993 when they released their sophomore album, Siamese Dream.  The nice thing about this being a charity show, was Billy played mainly hits, with a couple new tunes.  Zero was followed by "Bullet with Butterfly Wings" and the crowd pleasing "Today".  I pretty much lost it when they played "Cherub Rock" -definitely my favorite track from Siamese Dream.  They also played "1979" and "Tonight Tonight" from 1995's critically acclaimed, Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness.  "Ava Adore" almost brought me to tears as it is such an angry yet hopeful song with a massively heavy guitar riff and a hardcore beat that can put you in a trance.  The 2 new songs were great as well and were fortunately very "Pumpkin" like.  We all know I hate when bands change their intrinsic sound after they garner a billion fans... (sorry Eddie, you know I love ya...literally).  I really wish that they would've played "Here is No Why" and "Mayonnaise" but I guess they didn't have time to please us all.  My favorite of theirs is a tune called "Ugly" it was released in 1995 and was a B-side to the "1979" single.  It's haunting and very punctuated.  Unlike many of their lyrics- this one is clear and straight to the point.  "I Don't look in the mirror, I don't like what I see staring back at me.  Everything is clearer...I'll never see what you see.  It's not me...so beautiful and free." If you have not heard this song... PLEASE download it. You will not regret it.

I've heard this lame-ass comment more than a few times..."But it's not even the Pumpkins! It's just Billy, it's none of the original members!". If you know the band you know that Billy IS the Pumpkins.  He wrote over 90% of every note and lyric and was the sole instrumentalist on all the studio recordings as he only trusted himself to get it perfect.  And perfect it was... and still is.  Even though James Iha, Jimmy Chamberlain, and D'Arcy are gone... the heart and soul of the Pumpkins is still thriving.

TODAY, June 19th, is actually the release date of their 9th studio album, Oceania (how 'bout my impeccable blog timing?).  Billy calls it an "album within an album" as it's part of a 44 song compilation that began being released in 2009.  The bassist, Nicole Fiorentino (yup, another girl), says "it has that familiar old-school Pumpkins feel to it, with a modern twist".  I did just listen to the album and it is a bit reminiscent of their older material... not as up-tempo, however.  It's unmistakably Pumpkins.  I'm glad they're back and in full effect.  It surely looks like Billy has his feet dug in the ground and ain't goin' anywhere anytime soon.  Viva 90's alternative rock!!!

RPM Italian...It's What's For Dinner...If You Can Get In...(2012)

I admit, I myself am shocked that it took me this long to write about what has become my favorite new restaurant of the last several years. RPM Italian, in River North, has already made a big mark on our fair city in the few months since its opening and has proven it deserves a long stay at the top of the Chicago culinary and nightlife scene.

For those of you who don't know, RPM stands for the coalition of the partners who created the venue. Bill and Giuliana Rancic (everyone's favorite TV personalities), Chef Doug Psaltis, and the Melman siblings (RJ, Jerrod, and Molly of the Lettuce Entertain You empire).  It seemed to me that this was a perfect storm for RPM to achieve restaurant royalty: You have 2 well loved celebrities, a Michelin star chef, and undoubtably the best and most prolific restauranteurs in the country.  There was no question that when I first went to RPM on friends and family night that I would love it...I just didn't necessarily think that I would end up spending more time there than at my Sicilian grandmothers house.

So here's why this place kills it... the food, the drinks, the vibe, and the ambiance- oh, that's pretty much everything, isn't it? Let's start with the food.  They went the "small plates" route for a large portion of the menu.  This is actually refreshing for an Italian restaurant because not only are the dishes affordable, but they're perfect for sharing, and the portions are not the typical mountain of pasta served in a trough (that no one has any business eating) that we see so often at typical Italian locations.  Their menu has several different groupings of their small plates: Hot and Cold antipasti, pizzette, crudo, salumi and cheeses, items from the wood oven, small bites (mini arancini, olives), and pastas. Some of my favorite dishes (pretty much of all time, not just at RPM) are from these small plates.  The Polenta, Poached Egg is one of the most decadent items I've ever had.  It is the most creamy polenta possible with the distinct flavor of black truffle laced throughout with thick shavings of aged parmesan as garnish. When the poached egg is broken and strewn throughout it will literally blow you away.  I've recommended this dish to about 20 people and everyone goes nuts for it.  The Prime Beef Meatballs. This is a controversial one as everyone knows my Sicilian grandmother, Rosalia Rizzo, makes the most delicious and tender meatballs on Earth.  NEVER had I eaten at a restaurant that has even remotely come close to replicating her recipe...not until RPM. Psaltis is the first guy that I can actually say, "Wow, this guy knows how to make a freakin' meatball!"  I feel like no one has gotten it...'til now.  Needless to say, "I'm sorry Nanna" but you've met your match.  The Shredded Brussels Sprouts Salad can turn ANYONE into a fan of the notorious green vegetable.  It is laced with mashed avocado and has been my go-to for when I want a delicious but light & healthy meal.  Finally, Mama DePandi's Bucatini Pomodoro (named for it's inventor, Giuliana's mom).  ALL of the pasta at RPM is cooked perfectly al dente.  The bucatini is a wide spaghetti that does the delicious sauce (sweet with a spicy kick and plenty of fresh basil) major justice.

The drinks are simply sublime.  I have discovered my new staple cocktail...the Negroni Sbagliato.  I don't know if people truly understand my obsession with this drink, except maybe my friend, RJ Melman, who has seen me polish off quite a few. It is a combo of prosecco and Campari with a bit of sweet vermouth served over ice with an orange peel twist. It's a bitter libation, but even those who aren't a fan of Campari really do enjoy it...I have turned MANY people into fans simply by trying this drink. They have a great wine list that is true to the Italian varietals and several great choices of Prosecco and Italian beers as well.

The "scene" and ambiance are first class.  It is sexy and swanky but NOT gaudy or trendy.  Almost every person I bring there says they feel like they're in LA or in Miami and immediately comments on how beautiful it is.  It is ALWAYS packed... and I mean always.  Even on a Monday at 8pm, expect to wait at least an hour for a table.  If you're making reservations for anytime within 30 days, expect to be seated at either 5pm or 9pm or later.  It is tough and it's crowded.  But fortunately, there is a huge rectangular bar that has a ton of seating as well as a large bar area that's "first come first serve".  So if you can get a spot, you can enjoy the full menu. Chances are you will be surrounded by beautiful people and the "who's who" of Chicago.  You'll also like see some of the Melman crew who are always bustling about, and quite frequently you can catch a glimpse of Bill and/or Giuliana who love to have dinner in their favorite booth by the bar.  Even though it's a restaurant, it's open late (even until 3am on Sat) and serves food until close.  They have a DJ that spins cool tracks and keeps the vibe fun and upbeat.

Unfortunately, RPM has gotten some flack for not being "authentic" enough.  Anyone that has thrown out this criticism has no idea where the partners were clearly going with their concept.  This is a modern take on Italian food.  They have a very contemporary approach to several traditional dishes, as well as being innovative with new Italian inspired concepts.  Some of the dishes ARE completely authentic, however.  As I stated before, the meatballs, rival my Sicilian nanna's old family recipe. They even do a "Cacio e pepe" pasta (cheese and pepper) which is a very simple and traditional dish. My family used to make this when they didn't have time to make sauce.  You take high quality al dente pasta, with imported aged "formaggio" and voila!...an amazing dinner.  Also, they take an authentic dish, such as Insalata Caprese, and add chunks of lobster tail to give it a sexy contemporary flair.  Basically, the haters need to stop hating because it's clear that RPM is it's own unique entity and they're not trying to be the neighborhood authentic hole-in-the-wall restaurant, and needs to be appreciated as such.

Clearly it's easy to see why I love this place.  Surely some of the staff may already be getting sick of me, as I'm there for dinner or drinks at least a couple times a week :-)  But now it's time for those of you who have NOT checked it out yet, to go.  Trust me, you will NOT be disappointed.  All the servers are top notch and are great at giving recommendations, however, if you want some more from me, let me know, as I've certainly tried nearly everything on the menu!

Did Lollapalooza Change Over the Year...Or Did I? (2012)

I know I tend to joke a lot about my age (a ripe old 32 (in 2012), wax poetic about the heyday of alternative rock, and refer to the 90's as my favorite decade (my friends would dispute I've never even mentally left the 90's). This doesn't mean I'm not entitled to have a legitimate observation without having it deemed "a longing for the past" or "you're just old, Kelly, get with the times!!" The observation to which I refer, is that the Holy Grail of all music festivals, Lollapalooza, has changed. Some would argue for the better, and some for the worse... I, however, DO miss the nostalgia of the 90's line-ups and how true they were to the Alternative Rock music scene.

Last year, Lollapalooza celebrated 20 years since Perry Farrell dreamed it up as a farewell festival for his group, Jane's Addiction (one of my absolute favorite bands). Of course, it's natural and understandable for things to evolve over time. I also can appreciate "changing with the times" and keeping up to date with current trends. Lolla has definitely done this; they are always on the cutting edge of combining some of the hottest mega artists with the "up and comers". My concern is that Lolla is losing touch with its original audience. The teenagers, who were the main attendees of the 90's Lollanpalloozas, are now in their 30's. We still exist, we didn't just disappear, and we can still make up a HUGE demographic of the concert goers. However, now, Lolla is geared more toward early 20-somethings. Almost forgotten are the more mature Alternative Rock aficionados, such as myself.

I agree and understand, you can't have the same bands play every year, nor can many of the bands from the original line-ups play today. Except for a very slim number (Red Hot Chili Peppers and Pearl Jam for instance) most bands either are no longer together (Nine Inch Nails) , do not tour (Violent Femmes) , or suffered a member's death (Alice in Chains). Even though the "grunge" Seattle sound (which is like crack to me) is no longer manufactured, and its place in time is now the past... I feel Lolla should still go out of their way to pay homage to the sound that helped make the festival what it was at its inception. There is not one "grunge" band in the lineup this year, which is the first time in the history of Lollapalooza that this is the case.

Let's explore that word for a bit..."grunge". Most bands who were deemed "grunge" hated and shunned the title. However, we cannot deny, that the bands who came out of the gloomy underground Seattle music scene in the early 90's all shared a common and unique sound. Pearl Jam, Nirvana, Soundgarden, Alice in Chains, Candlebox, etc put a stamp on a major sector of the Alternative Rock scene. Along with that stamp, they all made regular appearances at Lollapalooza. I get that "alternative" is wide ranging and can encompass acts from rock to grunge, hip-hop to punk, and dance to electro. But many people regard the alternative scene as being strongly influenced by 80's punk and hard rock. I feel that Lolla has made a MAJOR shift to the DJ's and electronic music and has shied away from the actual rock "bands".

Let's take a look at the line up shift from 1990's Lollapalooza to 2012 Lollapalooza. Here are a few of my favorite years... The very first was a pretty incredible creation:

1991- Jane's Addiction, Nine Inch Nails, Living Color, Ice-T, Violent Femmes, and Rage Against The Machine.

1992- This might have been the most epic conglomeration of bands EVER. It was a PERFECT mixture of grunge, alternative, hard rock, and rap.- Red Hot Chili Peppers, Ice Cube, Soundgarden, Pearl Jam, Porno for Pyros, Cypress Hill, House of Pain, Rage Against the Machine, AND Stone Temple Pilots. Who could possibly deny this might have been the best music line-up in history??

1994-Another perfect mixture... Smashing Pumpkins, Beastie Boys, A Tribe Called Quest, Green Day, Cypress Hill, The Black Crowes, Flaming Lips, Lucious Jackson...

Even after the 6 year festival hiatus, the resurgence produced great line-ups:

2005- Liz Phair, Weezer, Widespread Panic, Billy Idol, Digable Planets, along with the introduction of "new" alternative rock bands such as: Arcade Fire, The Killers, The Black Keys.

2007- Even this recent year still had "grunge" bands with Pearl Jam and Silverchair. Punk legend, Iggy Pop, made an appearance along with alternative bands, Kings of Leon, and The Black Keys.

2012- Now moving on to this years line-up. There is not ONE "grunge" band. The only hard rock band that is reminiscent of the 90's is The Red Hot Chili Peppers (coincidentally this is also the year they are being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame...right on). Black Sabbath is also slated to perform...if Ozzy can actually make it on stage, but it's not the same. Nor are the vast majority of other artists who are scheduled. Avicci, Kaskade, Bassnectar, Passion Pit are all DJ's or electropop artists, and they are the main headliners. I know that this is what is popular with the younger crowds, but it still feels a far cry from what Lollapalooza was meant to be.

I also feel that so many of the other bands, whether they are the "up and comers" or sub-headliners, are incredibly obscure. I used to be a big radio listener and being a Chicagoan, Q101 was my staple station. Now Chicago has NO alternative music radio station (since Q101 was discontinued in 2011 after 19 years on air), so many of the bands that are lesser known, wouldn't have the ability to be introduced to people of "my generation". I know that a lot of people are discovering new music through iTunes, Sound Cloud, Spotify etc, but I still like the radio dammit. I'm not totally out of touch as I download just as much music as the next person, as well as use all of the new apps, but there is something to be said for discovering music the old fashioned way.

To conclude, Lollapalooza, regardless of the line-up is still an awesome, sweaty, dirty, bad-ass fun time. I know most 25 year olds would say the line-up for 2012 is better than ever and that I'm out of touch and nuts for not knowing who Kaskade is and instead desperately wanting to see a hologram performance of Alice In Chains. But that is fine. Everyone changes and gets older, and I can only expect that a living breathing music festival will change as well. I guess to answer my original question: Lollapalooza has changed and I have pretty much stayed the same. The problem is, I still WANT to enjoy Lolla. I want to be happy to attend all 3 days, and not complain about how the Chili Peppers are the only band I want to see. I guess I do need to get with the times... I'm going to buy some $400 Beats by Dre headphones and start downloading all the music I claim to loathe... maybe in time it will grow on me. I hope it does. But if you're listening, Perry, if I could put in a request for some, Hole, Femmes, Pumpkins, Metallica, and Jane's for next year...pretty please.... Thanks :-)