id was set in the arguments array for the "Sidebar 1" sidebar. Defaulting to "sidebar-1". Manually set the id to "sidebar-1" to silence this notice and keep existing sidebar content. Please see Debugging in WordPress for more information. (This message was added in version 4.2.0.) in /home/haydenan/public_html/wp-includes/functions.php on line 6170One of the reasons Apryl was late getting to Pitchfork on Sunday was because she was out purchasing this surprise for when I got home:
You’re kidding, right? Nope. Here is the first message you get when you finally get all the cables hooked into the right spots and the console up and running:
Hmm? Let’s see. A! A! A! A! A! A! A!
(Filed under new category – Wii Fun)
First off, let me just say we had a great time hanging out this past week in Greer’s Ferry (photos here), Memphis, and Nashville. And even though we saw a fair share of friends and family, our time was so short that we still missed out on a lot of ya. We didn’t even get a chance to see all our friends down at WEVL, which was a real shame. I was even hoping to do a live show, but it was impossible with our tight schedule. I wonder if I would have been still able to work the board?
Anyway, when we got home Friday night, we had our tickets (bought months ago) for this past weekend’s Pitchfork Music Festival. And as Apryl reminded me, we have been there since the beginning in `05.
Even though we might have been veterans, it was a hard adjustment being at the festival after a week of being on the road. In fact, we had planned on getting back last Thursday and resting the day before the festival. But when we got the chance to see friends and family in Nashville, we lost our day of rest.
On Saturday, I ventured out to the festival’s grounds at Union Park to catch the very last number from Memphis’ own Jay Reatard. In fact, I would have missed it completely if Apryl hadn’t gotten in the car and dropped me off. She was determined to get a little rest and didn’t come out until early evening. So basically, I got Jay creating a lot of noise to end of his set, followed with a middle finger to the crowd. Okay. The best part was that he was wearing an Oblivians tee shirt. Represent!
Saturday’s highlights definitely belonged to Caribou, !!!, Jarvis Cocker, and an amazing ending set from Animal Collective.
Unlike the first day which was uncharacteristically cool, Sunday was a hot one. I made sure that I got there in time to catch a favorite of mine, The Dirty Projectors. And I’m pleased to say that they didn’t disappoint. For some reason or another, I was surprised to find them so down to earth and just appreciative to be at the festival. During one of their last numbers when their microphones went out for the majority of the song, they continued on without a single complaint. When their microphones were finally brought back up towards the end of the song, the crowd gave out a loud cheer. They ended their set with their cover of Black Flag’s “Rise Up”.
After catching four more acts, I feel asleep for about an hour in the shade as Les Savy Fav rocked out in the background. Highlights on Sunday belonged to The Dirty Projectors, King Khan & the Shrines, M. Ward, and Bon Iver.
And now, a few photos (I stopped taking a lot of photos after year one when I found it impossible to get a high-quality shot from any distance other than the photographers’ pit. If you want to see better quality photos, search “Pitchfork Music Festival” on Flickr.)
Not much to see here, but on that stage with the Flying V is Jay Reatard. Do Memphis proud! Or just flip off the thousands of folks who woke up to come see you. Either one.
England’s Dizzee Rascal just before he started giving the sound engineer a hard time because his monitors weren’t loud enough. It certainly was loud enough for us out in the crowd. The highlight was when he performed his first single (from when he was 19), “Fix Up, Look Sharp”. Still his best song.
Pitchfork or Woodstock `94?
Apryl was very disappointed she missed !!! for the sole reason it meant missing the always enjoyable dance offerings of Nic Offer. Offer, who also fronted the always entertaining electronic, dance group Out Hud, has dance moves that just make you feel better about your own busta moves. But yet, he does them with so much enthusiasm that you can’t help being swept up in the fun.
The very charming and funny Jarvis Cocker.
The Dirty Projectors. I have missed several of their shows in Chicago, so I was really excited to see them. One of the few acts I stood in the hot sun for all weekend.
Another act I stood in the heat for, during at least part of the set, was King Khan & His Shrines. What a nut, but a lot of fun!
M. Ward never ceases to amaze me. Apryl got to the park just around his third song but still managed to catch the large majority of the set. One of the few acts that came on for an encore, which he used to perform his “favorite Daniel Johnston song,” which happens to be “The Story of an Artist”.
Apryl resting her head to the sweet sounds of Bon Iver.
Apryl took this one of me. Proof I was there, I think.
Acts that I listened to at least a few songs from: Jay Reatard (well, one song), Caribou, Fleet Foxes, Dizzee Rascal, The Ruby Suns, Vampire Weekend, !!!, The Hold Steady, Jarvis Cocker, Animal Collective, The Dirty Projectors, Boris, HEALTH, Apples In Stereo, King Khan & the Shrines, Les Savy Fav, The Dodo’s, M. Ward, Spiritualized, Bon Iver, Dinosaur Jr, and Spoon.
As much fun as Pitchfork was, our thoughts certainly were with everyone at Blues on the Bluff. It would have been nice if our schedules had worked out so we could have attended. Despite the sadness, I’m sure it was also a great time for all those overlooking the Mighty Mississip!
I just got a message from Judy and Brian from WEVL that longtime WEVL programmer Cap’n Pete died (apparently due to foul play) on Wednesday. Host of Capn’ Pete’s Blues Cruise every Friday night, his on air stories were even more enjoyable than his song selections. I feel very privileged to have known him personally. He was such a generous, kind person that it’s hard to imagine that anyone would want to hurt him. I don’t think I have heard a more infectious laugh than his, and it saddens me that I will never get the chance to hear it again. His loss will certainly be felt by all that knew him on and off air. Please keep his family in your thoughts.
Click here to check out a few photos I took of our late friend.
Apryl wouldn’t let me post this photo until she had officially graduated. Well, it’s official!
(Notice the grads on the right and the Sears Tower in the background.)
Check out this short, low quality video of Apryl doing the graduation walk!
(Warning: Video takes awhile to load.)
For whatever reason, Memphis’ Viva L’American Death Ray Music had to cancel their free show at the Empty Bottle. Luckily, Headache City always put on a good show:
Crescent City Connection Bridge
Jackson Square
Jazz group performing at The Market Cafe.
Cafe du Monde at night.
Outside service at Cafe du Monde.
An order of three beignets and iced cafe’ au lait. Worth the trip alone!
You will see many strange things in New Orleans. This is one of them.
Well, it’s been another long absence here at the Mild Uproar. Hopefully, we will get back on track with the posts but until then here is a brief update:
A few weeks ago, I checked out Shotgun Stories, which was being screened downtown at the Gene Siskel Film Center. For those of you unaware, Shotgun Stories was a feature film I did audio for all the way back in 2004. Since then it’s been screened at such festivals at the Berlin International Film Festival, Seattle International Film Festival, and the Austin Film Festival as well as winning multiple awards including two Grand Jury Prizes. And yet, I still hadn’t seen the film! So, it was a bit of a thrill to finally see what we had accomplished all those years ago back in Arkansas.
Perhaps you can decipher my credit on the bottom of the screen for Production Sound?
As for the movie, I was impressed.
Last week, the Chicago Park’s series Movies in the Park arrived at our Holstein Park. Below, folks watching The Golden Compass:
Last Monday, I attended the first free Monday lunch concert series, Music Without Borders, at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion at Millennium Park.
The first guest was once forgotten folkie Gary Higgins.
Drag City’s reissue of Higgin’s Red Hash album.
(Upcoming artists in the series include Tortoise and Bill Callahan of Smog.)
The very next music act I saw after the mellow Higgins was Vanilla Ice. Yes, you read that correctly. Apryl and I went to see Mr. Ice Ice Baby at a bar near our apartment. The show was more of a mini street festival. Well, without going into details, the show got strange very quickly, and we left. Of course, not before hearing such Ice classics like “Ninja Rap,” “Play That Funky Music,” and “Ice Ice Baby”.
Last thing, the Sox swept the Cubs! After being swept at Wrigley the week before, the Sox took care of business at home at The Cell. And it’s a good thing, because the Minnesota Twins have been on fire lately and are giving the Sox are real threat at #1 in the AL Central Division. The best part of the the Crosstown Classic was seeing #1 Draft Pick Derrick Rose throw out the first pitch and being interviewed during Game 1. I am sure to be catching some Bulls games next season!
Of course, Rose is a White Sox fan!
Thanks Anna for bringing it to my attention that it was, in fact, Friday the 13th.
Have a creepy day!
Perhaps, you remember the Sox game that me and Apryl attended on my birthday. The one that went into extra innings and was finally suspended due to excessive rain. Well, since the game couldn’t be made up or completed in Chicago, ticket holders were given the opportunity to exchange their ticket stubs for $10 off lower deck seats or free upper deck tickets for the Sox/Royals series. So, earlier in the week, I went to the box office at U.S. Cellular and picked up tickets for myself for the 2nd and 3rd game of the series.
Some photos from the Sox-35th stop on the CTA Red Line.
Even though I was in the upper decks, I had decent seats with a good view of the action. During the Thursday game, I got to see my Sox favorite Joe Crede hit a home run and a double as well as a Jim Thome homer. In the 9th, the Sox had a 4–2 lead until closer Big Bobby Jenks gave up two runs to push the game into extra innings. Since I had an early shoot the next morning, I told myself I would give it 14 innings before going home. Well, when the 14th came and went (including a 14th inning stretch that gave the crowd their second chance to sing “Take Me Out to the Ballgame”), I started to leave. But, instead of leaving, I walked around the upper decks, stalling until the Sox got back up to bat. Something told me the 15th was going to be the game-winning inning. When the Sox did come up to bat, I had walked around from my seats by the 1st base line all the way over to the far left field. I stepped inside to watch the game unfold. Unlikely hero Paul Konerko hit a blast right over the left field! At the end, the game had lasted over 5 hours! And even though I was tired during my shoot the next day, I’m glad I stayed. It was a lot of fun leaving The Cell to the chants, “Paulie, Paulie, Paulie!”
The view of the action from my seats. At the time of this photo, it was around the 4th. Notice the crowd.
Multiple extra innings left many heading for the exit gates.
My 15th inning view of the game. It was a prime spot to watch Paul Konerko’s home run in the 15th!
Back on the Red Line.
After my shoot the next day, which went into two hours of overtime, I headed back to U.S. Cellular for the last game of the Sox/Royals series. I should have brought my inhaler because it was Dog Day at the park. Apparently there were 600 dogs in attendance for the game. Odd, I know. Luckily, there were no dogs in my section so I didn’t have an asthma attack. Coming off of the previous night’s game, this one was pretty undramatic. Plus, I was very tired. But it was still a lot of fun, and the Good Guys won 6-2.
My view for Thursday’s night game. Another great view!
Sox manager Ozzie Guillén’s after game press conference broadcasting on the Jumbotron. For those who haven’t attended a Sox game, the lighted pinwheels on top of the scoreboard spin and shoot off fireworks whenever the Sox hit a home run.
A somewhat blurry shot of the 35th street with downtown Chicago in the background.
Go Sox!
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