I can now say I’ve been to two-and-a-half Outside Lands Music Festivals, and this is definitely the best one so far.

Here’s a recap of how it all went down:

Day 1

• My friend and former roommate came from Colorado to see the show, and my friend and current roommate scored a free VIP ticket at the last second, like an asshole. I stood amongst the muggles as he cast his disapproving gaze from the VIP section.
• First band: Run the Jewels. As I was walk in, a few people are saying, “I can hear Killer Mike,” so I’m wondering if this booking wasn’t a bit early in the day. I met my buddy next to the VIP fence and thought about what it means to be mediocre.
• The first conflict of a truly conflict-ridden schedule: Holy Ghost! vs. Warpaint. I’ve never Warpaint, and although I thought that album was pretty solid, I don’t think I could forgive myself for missing Holy Ghost!. Both of their full-lengths are at the top of my top 10′s from their respective years. Do you disco? I do.
• Goddamnit I wish this festival wasn’t 90% during the day. Fuckin’ whiny neighbors. You should be thanking your lucky stars that you can hear this for free instead of giving your city council member an earful, people.
• Fuck, I forgot to go to Nicki Bluhm. I coulda’ gone for that…
• Without question, this is one of the most well dressed festivals I’ve ever attended. It rivals Coachella Week 1 — fashion, not festival fashion. I see bloggers, designers, the carefully chosen wardrobes of clothing conscious connoisseurs. The costumes are few and far between.
• Chromeo vs. Grouplove. Well, I saw Chromeo on Tuesday at Red Rocks in Colorado, so the choice is simple. I love a good Grouplove show. “This is a homecoming show for me,” says singer Hannah Hooper. “I grew up in the Upper Haight, and I used to hang out in this park and smoke weed at a place called hippy hill,” she tells us before they play the eponymous “Hippy Hill.” The crowd woos their approval.
• Disclosure is this generation’s Daft Punk. This is without question the biggest crowd of the festival. I wasn’t there, but I suspect Tegan and Sara’s crowd consisted of six lesbians and a group of high school kids too young to drink, and too cool for dance music. It’s about time they get some new songs, though. I’ve seen them probably 5 times, and it’s practically always the same set. Someone tells me this is their last big stop before returning to the studio. It’s about time.
• You’re rolling at 6PM? Sure, you can touch my shiny jacket. You know what’s gonna be weird? When you’re rolling at Kanye.
• I laid on the hill and stared at the sky during Tedeschi Trucks Band. Her voice is cool.
• Oh is that Kanye? I’ll be at Arctic Monkeys not giving a fuck.
• The crowd is reassuringly large — maybe rock and roll isn’t dead (ha). The stage looks amazing, Alex Turner has a serious greaser thing going on — at one point he pulls a comb from his back pocket to slick his black hair back. They play some pretty serious rock and roll songs. It’s amazing how much more awesome these stages look at night. Damn shame there couldn’t be more of it. They played a little bit of everything, going back to my favorite album, Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not. I’ve heard tell of his stage presence. The rumors are true.

Day 2

• Dum Dum Girls at 12:30. It’s an ambitious plan: one that proves a bit too big. We do, however, manage to hear the set along our walk through the park. Waterfall, road beer, and “Rembrandt Eyes” — sad songs to serenade the overcast sky.
• Well fuck, now we’re here. We meet some more friends from Colorado just as The Kooks get cranking. You know what’s awesome about this band? Everything. This is what good contemporary rock is all about. I’ve seen them countless times, and every time, I’m jumping. “Do you want to see the world? Do you want to see the world a different way?” Yes I do, Luke Pritchard. Yes I do. They’ve aged, they’ve matured, they play new songs and announce a new record this fall.
• We had to miss Jagwar Ma. Conflicts, conflicts, conflicts.
• Fuck, I forgot about Cristopher Owens, which sucks because I’ve been listening to those Girls records a bunch lately. Fuckin’ Sutro.
• “They’re like LA’s answer to Grizzly Bear,” my friend says about Local Natives. She spends the rest of the time pining for the not-so-accidentally disheveled singer Andy Hamm. I have acquired some free beer from the uber-VIP though. Bottoms up.
• Beer lands. Beer lands is pretty cool. You know what else is cool? Being a goddamned adult and carrying a beer around the festival. Take note Coachella. Take fuckin’ note.
• Deer Tick? Nope. Tycho? Nope. Haim? Uh uh. So what did we go to next? The Duck Sauce soiree on the GastroMagic stage. A-Trak played a turntabalism set while friend and chef Brandon Jew cooked Duck Sauce. This is perhaps the most special thing that happened at Outside Lands. You can see any of these bands play at other festivals. You can get great beer and food and listen to cool music. You can’t see A-Trak throw out duck nuggets to the crowd anywhere else. Mind = Blown. Well done, Another Planet.
• Capital Cities. I met up with a chick from the internet (don’t ask) and almost immediately she poured a clear liquid she claimed was moonshine into my beer. These are the kinds of bad decisions I make regularly, these wreckless foolhardy choices. Worked out splendidly.
• On to Death Cab. Yep. There they are. Oh yeah, I remember this song. Someone hand me a beer. Aaaand we’re done here.
• Back across the lengthy festival grounds and on to Barbra Streisand Ooooooooooooooooo. Duck Sauce brings the party. No matter how many times I’ve see them, it’s always a good time. My friend informs me that’s Armin Van Helden and not Armin Van Buren. I’m Armin Van Drunk, so I don’t really give a damn. Thanks, clear liquid girl.
• Are we peeing here now? Beside the fence, in full view of the 10,000 people at the bottom of the hill? Yep. Yes we are.
• You know what’s awesome? Anyone you meet at Tom Petty is sure to be cool when Macklemore is playing on the other stage. For those of you who went to Twin Peaks instead of seeing a legend, I want you to step back and take a long hard look at what you’re doing with your life.
• Fuck, Petty looks terrible. Sounds great, looks like death.
• Fuuck, the heartbreakers look even worse. Someone remind these guys to take the Xanax after the show.
• I feel like they just cart this guy out, hand him a guitar, and he runs through the paces like an animatronic parrot in the Tiki Room at Disneyland. I’m not sure he has a single memory of the last 25 years. It’s just a blur of airplanes, busses, crowds, and drugs. I’m glad I caught him before he forgets how to be alive.
• People tell me he played a Grateful Dead cover. Some of them are excited about that. I’m more excited for the free tall boy that ended up in my hand.
• After the show we walk to a bar nearby and the people at our community table sing loudly (and maybe a little obnoxiously) to the classics playing overhead. I’m not too proud to sing along. Sadly, I’m the only one that knows the words to “Human Nature.”

Day 3

• Chvrches cancelled. Looks like we have another hour to nurse this hangover before cruising into Jenny Lewis, my must-see of the day.
• We scramble, we hustle, we hear Flume from across the park, and it all pays off as we walk in exactly as the the most beautiful woman in music takes the stage. Ms. Jenny Lewis, you are truly a vision in your pretty silk suit.
• I’m disappointed in the size of the crowd. What could be more important than this? Still, we walk right up to the front. I’m close enough to hear her actual voice going into the mic.
• She plays three Rilo Kiley songs from Under the Blacklights. One of them is “Silver Lining,” a song I once heard her introduce by saying, “This one goes out to my band,” shortly after the breakup of RK. Rekt.
• A security guard lights through the crowd and tackles a kid in a hoodie during one of the songs. When the track ends, Lewis says, “You got busted bro! I’m there with you,” as they basically drag the kid out by his earlobes. My well-connected friend said she sees him backstage and he’s missing a shoe.
• Jenny brings out the members of Lucius to sing backup on “Acid Tongue.” For a moment after the track, the band becomes confused about when their set ends, leaving the stage. They still have 10 minutes left, and I’ll be damned if she’s going to get off this stage without playing, “She’s Not Me.”
• She’s playing “She’s Not Me.” I call this festival a success.
• I love Spoon, but we opt for Lykke Li. I’ve never seen a full set from the swedish princess, and now seems like as good time as any. They’re all in all black. It’s hot, and the sun is directly in their face. I admire their fortitude as they press through their set. One commentary: Less talky, more music.
• Is that girl peeing there, right next to the ambulance. With the ambulance drivers still in the ambulance? In front of the mob of people walking by? Why yes, it is.
• “We should probably go to the Flaming Lips.” “I know but it’ll probably be boring.” My hunch proved true. Oh weird costumes? Great. Funny characters? Thrilling. 8 minute songs that drone on about nothing? Fuck it, let’s go to Cut Copy.
• This is probably the biggest crowd I’ve seen on the Twin Peaks stage. It’s a typical Cut Copy set. “We’re going to make this the best moment of the whole fucking festival,” singer Dan Whitford says with lofty ambition.
• This might be the best moment of the whole goddamned festival. Just kidding, there aren’t even any duck nuggets.
• The crowd definitely stretches back well beyond Wine Lands (of course they have wine lands. It’s next to Cheese Lands), definitely to  the panhandle stage.
• We walk past the GastroMagic stage again, and lo-and-behold, another awesome thing. The guy from Hot Tub Time Machine is playing drinking jeopardy with two teams of four. One team is considerably drunker than the other team. They answer with the acumen of a stoned 15-year-old. It’s a slaughter, both in the comedy and the points. Again, GastroMagic stage for the win.
• We catch the end of Ray LaMontagne. I really do love this guy, but at this point in the evening, his rich, soulful songs contrast with my research into the effects of alcohol (conclusion: “When taken in sufficient quantities, [it] produces all the effects of intoxication”).
•  We mosey over to the Killers and move in deep on the left side. I’m from Las Vegas, I go to countless shows and festivals, and this is the first time I’ve ever seen one of the biggest rock bands in the nation.
• There’s been a lot of questions about Brandon Flowers’ sexuality. Let’s put it this way, if he was trying to escape detection by blending into a crowd, his best chance for anonymity would be inside Badlands in the Castro.
• Ronnie Vannucci Jr. is wearing a shirt that says “fuck cancer.” I used to see this guy in his former ska band, Attaboy Skip when I was in middle school, and it looks like he’s only gotten cooler.
• I gotta say, they do know how to crush. Everyone knows all the words and sings along.
• They play two covers: “Sitting on the Dock of the Bay” and “Bad Moon Rising” — the latter in tribute to the full moon that hung above the packed polo field.
• I can see the lights from Tiesto flashing in the distance. I know he’s a big deal, but the number of fucks I give about his career aligns pretty closely with Brandon Flowers’ interest in vaginal intercourse.
• And with that the festival draws to a close. We mosey out to the street and crowd on to a packed shuttle bus that drops us downtown. The people on it sing songs about a guy named Dan.

See you next year, Outside Lands.

From the weird…

To the wild…

White people just wanna get their groove on with a bunch of other white people.

Some like to take it slow…

Some like to get a little freaky…

Some are just a bit confused.

And let’s not forget this guy.

They definitely want to dance when they’re drunk…

Or at least, they’ll try to dance.

But if there’s one festival…

where you’ll find…

more white people dancing…

than any other…

it’s at Coachella.

But Arya Stark, you’re cool.

Lollapalooza is once again descending on Grant Park in Chicago, and for those of us that can’t be there, at least we can be there in spirit.

Watch the webcast here

Lollapalooza Drinking Game Rules:
Drink if:

• They show the fountain in Grant Park. Finish your drink if someone is swimming in it
• Lorde talks about how lucky she is to be here
• Anytime someone says this is the best show they’ve ever played
• They show Perry Farrell
• Someone says “exclusive,” “facebook,” or “twitter”
• Arctic Monkeys says something no one can understand
• You see an obvious corporate sponsorship (I’m looking at you, Red Bull)
• They show a girl in a bikini top
• Any time a DJ speaks
• Chromeo has a robot voice solo
• Someone promotes their new album
• Someone you’re with is surprised by how deep Mark Foster’s voice is when he speaks
• Jenny Lewis. Just all of Jenny Lewis.
• They show anyone drunkenly dancing. Drink until you want to dance with them.
• They show the big metal jelly bean
• Someone you’re with thinks Jungle is TV on the Radio
• If you willingly watch Krewella, just do us all a favor drink yourself to death
• Childish Gambino says the phrase “Asian girls“
• Cut Copy’s instruments come unplugged, but the music doesn’t stop playing
• Caleb Followill from Kings of Leon drinks on stage
• Skrillex jumps on top of his DJ booth

Summer’s here and festival season is in full swing. Bonnaroo, Lollapalooza, EDC – some créme de la cremé of music festivals come about during the long days and blistering temperatures of the summer months.

But some of the country’s best festivals are held each fall and have even more to offer. Here’s four of the best festivals held after summer ends.

6. TBD Fest
Sacramento, Oct. 3-5 2014

These guys are new to the party, but goddamn what a lineup.

Blondie. They have Blondie. And Justice. And Empire of the Sun. And at $160, you can’t beat the price for a three day festival.

It might not have the je ne sais quoi of some of the other more established festivals, but they’re going all out for this one.

With headliners like this, and an undercard that even Coachella could take some notes from, TBD Fest not only has my attention, I’m a lock for attendance.

More Information

5. Treasure Island
San Francisco, Oct. 18-19 2014

Courtesy of Another Planet

This is a smaller, two-day festival held on the tiny island that sits between San Francisco and Oakland. It’s great because they only have two stages, and they alternate which stage is in use. That means no hard decisions, and you can literally see every band on the bill if you so choose. And what a bill it is; This year’s headliners include festival regulars Outkast and Massive Attack, as well as Skrillex … The grounds are great, too, with a beautiful view of San Francisco, great food, art, and an awesome crowd.

The festival does have one major drawback: the weather. I’ve never been to a festival that goes from so beautiful to so. goddamn. cold. in such a short span of time. Bring layers, gloves, hats, socks — way more than you think you’ll need. When the sun drops and the wind whips across the bay, you’ll be glad you did.

More Information

4. Voodoo Festival
New Orleans, Oct. 31 – Nov. 2 2014

Photo courtesy of Blog4Dat

I’ve never been to this festival, but halloween + New Orleans + a great lineup is sure to equal a great time. All of the rich cultural heritage of New Orleans mixed with a swarm of slutty [fill-in-the-blank] costumes and Bud Light drunk southerners, and you’ve got a recipe for success.

In all seriousness, the food, the accommodations, and the weather are all going beat the pants off of any BFE summer festival you can get your hands on.

Remember, it only takes one drunken hobo to start a revolution.

More Information

3. Riot Fest
Chicago, Sept. 12-14 2014

Chicago isn’t exactly known for their punk rock scene, but the lineup at this festival makes my inner 15 year old want to ball fists and punch my way all the way to the windy city. It’s not all punk rock either, with bands like The Offspring and Slayer on the bill. And this year, eight of the biggest names on the undercard will be playing one of their most famous albums straight through. Weezer intends to play the Blue album cover to cover, and that alone is enough to catch my attention.

But maybe the biggest, and least publicized draw about this Warp Tour for grown ups is Russian rock goddesses and former political prisoners, Pussy Riot. This could be (but hopefully won’t be) the only show they play in the U.S., and it’s the only one they have booked at the moment. These three women are single handedly trying to move their racist, homophobic country of millions into the 21st century, and that, I think, is a big fucking deal.

More Information

2. Life is Beautiful
Las Vegas, Oct. 24-26 2014

This marks the second year of Downtown Las Vegas’ new music festival. In the last few years, the Downtown Project has revitalized the decaying area around Fremont street, in the oldest part of Las Vegas, and to celebrate, they shut down fifteen square blocks to hold a massive block party. Moreover, they draw some massive acts like Kanye West and Foo Fighters without the massive price tag of other festivals.

Another major draw is that even though it’s downtown, it’s still in Las Vegas. You can party all night, into the next morning and into the next night again, if that’s what you’re into. You can get a hotel room with a jacuzzi in it, an endless buffet, and three-foot-long margarita. As if you needed an excuse to go to Vegas, Life Is Beautiful has you covered.

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1. Austin City Limits
Austin, Oct. 3-5 and Oct. 10-12

ACL belongs on the short-list of premiere American festivals, and the fact that it’s now two weekends (like Ultra and Coachella), speaks to this festival’s legendary status. Not only does it draw top-tier talent, but it’s located in one of the greatest live-music cities in the world. The after shows are matched only by Lollapalooza in Chicago. Whatever hard decisions you have to make due to scheduling conflicts can be rectified with smart after show scheduling.

Still, ACL is an expensive luxury. Accommodations are few and expensive, and you’re hard pressed to find a reservation if don’t already have one. And those after shows? You can quickly end up doubling your already pricey festival pass, depending on what you’re trying to see. But as I always tell people about Coachella: You get what you pay for.

More Information

Jack White gave the attendees of Forecastle Music Festival an unexpected surprise last weekend when he covered “99 Problems” during the white stripes song, “Icky Thump.”

Considering we’re still in the post-divorce phase of Jack White’s career and his recent words about not speaking to Meg White, I have to wonder if that choice isn’t a bit loaded.

Source: Pitchfork

Is this lineup solid enough to entice you to attend something sponsored by the Chive? Vote Below!

Chive Fest Denver, a new music festival sponsored by the eponymous website, that has previously made stops in Seattle, Dallas, and Chicago, announced their lineup today.

Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros and Cold War Kids are set to headline the festival, slated for August 16th, 2014.

The festival grounds will include a “Nostalgia tent” with a “life-size game of Operation” as well as all the Chive related merchandise and organizations. These things, I’ve been told, are supposed to be positive reasons for attending.

See the complete lineup below:

Chive Fest Denver Lineup
Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros
Cold War Kids
Steel Panther
Talib Kweli
Delta Spirit
White Denim
Moon Taxi
Spanish Gold

What do you think of the lineup? Vote below!

Life Is Beautiful Festival announced their 2014 lineup up today, and Kanye, Foo Fighters, Outkast are set to headline. Kanye will be following headline performances at Bonnaroo and Outside Lands, while Outkast has recently headlined pretty much every festival in America, and will also be making an appearance at Treasure Island Festival in San Francisco. It’s a pretty spectacular lineup, though, with Skrillex, The Flaming Lips, and Arctic Monkeys on the second line, anyone of whom could be a headliner. Lionel Richie is a nice touch too. With their block party format, it’s looking like it’s gonna be a great time. Good chance I’ll be there.

Kanye West
Foo Fighters
Outkast
Arctic Monkeys
Skrillex
Lionel Richie
The Flaming Lips
The Weeknd
Girl Talk
Alt-J
The Roots
Broken Bells
TV on the Radio
A-Trak
Kacey Musgraves
Fitz & the Tantrums
Phantogram
The Head and The Heart
Panic! at the Disco
Matt & Kim
Neon Trees
Jenny Lewis
G-Eazy
Ok Go
Tycho
Mayer Hawthorne
Switchfoot
tUnE-yArDs
MS MR
RAC
Holy Ghost!
Dizzy Wright
St. Lucia
Trampled By Turtles
Galantis
St. Paul & The Broken Bones
Ryan Hemsworth
MØ
DJ Mustard
Vintage Trouble
J. Roddy Walston & the Business
The Orwells
Ásgeir
M4SONIC
Sleeper Agent
The Preatures
DJ Cassidy
Misterwives
ASTR
Holychild
Night Terrors of 1927
Nostalghia
Paper Route
Catfish and the Bottlemen
Rusty Maples
Moksha
Ekoh
Sabriel
American Cream
Rabbit!
Albi Loves Chicken Tenders
Giada De Laurentiis
Scott Conant
Bruce Bromberg
José Andrés
Hubert Keller
Jonathan Waxman
Cat Cora
Marc Forgione
Nancy Silverton
Spike Mendelsohn
Duff Goldman
Rick Moonen
Mary Sue Milliken
Susan Feniger
Jet Tila
Donald Link
Kim Canteenwalla
Shawn McClain
Sam Marvin
Mike Minor
MTO Cafe
Madison Cowan
Hearthstone Kitchen & Cellar
The Twisted Lemon
Stripchezze
Spud Shots and More
Tornado Potato
Tbone Chophouse and Hank’s Fine Steaks
Carlos Buscaglia
Artisanal Foods
Fleur by Hubert Keller
Truffles n Bacon
Kuma Snow Cream
Culinary Dropout
Las Vegas Philharmonic
Peter Bastien

See more at: http://lifeisbeautiful.com/

What do you think of the lineup? Take the poll below!

Noise Pop and Another Planet entertainment announced the lineup for the 2014 Treasure Island Music festival today. Tickets go on sale Thursday at 10am! Visit www.treasureislandfestival.com

Treasure Island 2014 Lineup:
Outkast
Massive Attack
Zedd
Alt-J
TV On The Radio
Janelle Monáe
The New Pornographers
Washed Out
St. Lucia
BANKS
Jungle
White Denim
MØ
Polica
the GROWLERS
CLASSIXX
Chet Faker
Ryan Hemsworth
Ana Tijoux
Ásgeir
XXYYXX
Ratking
TOBACCO
Bleached
Painted Palms
Waters
— with Olivia Doll, Claudia Blanco-Peña and Christina Gatterman.

The festival will be held Oct. 18-19 on Treasure Island in between San Francisco and Oakland.

It’s here: Sasquatch 2014. Time to pile your friends into a car full of camping supplies, drugs, and alcohol and set off toward the Gorge to once again do battle with the hill.

But for the rest of us, this weekend means checking the webcast between beers and BBQ as we memorialize our nations commitment to drunkenness.

To better facilitate these ends, and without further ado, I give you:

THE (UN)OFFICIAL 2014 SASQUATCH WEBCAST DRINKING GAME

Drink if:

• You see someone that looks like a Sasquatch (long hair and a beard)
• You see a pot leaf (hats, shirts, flags, etc.)
• They show a view of the river
• A band mentions another band, i.e. “Are you guys excited to see The National later? Cause I am.”
• You see someone slip on the hill
• Outkast talks shit about Coachella
• You see a Canadian flag
• Any band asks how the crowd is feeling or if they’re with them
• Ninja from Die Antwoord pumps his pelvis
• Someone says the word “selfie” or you see someone taking one
• Tyler the Creator says the word “Riot“
• Any of your group sings along with any part of a Violent Femmes song
• Any comedian does an impression
• You see nudity
• M.I.A. mentions her baby or being a mother
• A Panda Bear song actually ends
• You see anyone wearing neon at Cut Copy
• Someone tries to convince you that they actually like Elbow
• Anyone mentions Michael Jackson
• Demetri Martin makes a joke about being awkward
• You see any celebrities backstage
• There’s a cameo
•  All drinks are doubled if it’s raining, hailing, or snowing

Have a better rule? Add it in the comments below!