Jermaine’s Sweet Beats and Eats!
By Danny on Jul 29 Filed In Chicago, Clayton Christopher, Food & Beverage, Live Music, Lollapalooza Add a Comment
It’s now 9 days away and I am already starting to recall the sights and sounds of one of my favorite music festivals taking place in one of my favorite cities.
Sweet Beats
Phoenix is a band that I was introduced to by my past boss, Clayton Christopher. Scrambling one day to get him tickets for an Austin show, I decided to take a minute to listen to one their songs. Ever since then I’ve been hooked. Now it’s finally my turn to see them live! Soundgarden is one of those bands that immediately takes me back to early 90s MTV (when they still showed music videos). This should be a great time to see these guys back together and rocking it out under the Chicago skyline. As she returns to a land that once in 2007 no one really knew who she was, Lady Gaga is back at Lollapalooza! I am looking forward to the music, art and the crazy fashion sense she brings to the stage.
Sweet Eats
When we arrived in Chicago for last year’s Lollapalooza, co-workers and I stumbled upon a pizza and pasta joint in the heart of the city called Giordano’s. After the plane ride we needed to eat something to carb us up for the weekend ahead. I have a strong feeling that I will need to do the same this year. Friends Sushi – is just that. Great Sushi with friends on a street side patio was awesome. Let’s see if we will get a chance to do it again. Chow town is the food court at Lollapalooza that offers a wide variety of the local eateries in Chicago. I have always been huge fan of vendor food. That being said, the most food I will eat during the entire trip comes from the festival.
Sweet Leaf Sweet Spot Winner Al Is Excited for Lolla!
By Marketing Intern on Jul 27 Filed In Chicago, Events, Guest Blogger, Live Music, Lollapalooza, Sweet Consumers, Sweet Contests, Uncategorized Add a Comment
This Thursday, we at Sweet Leaf gave Al from Tampa, Florida some very good news. Because he received the most votes for his picture he posted on our Sweet Leaf Sweet Spot Contest page, he received a VIP trip for two to Lollapalooza in Chicago on August 6-8, including airfare and accommodations. We had some fun telling him that he won. Check it out here.
Al's Winning Picture
Just like all of us here, Al is really looking forward to Lolla this year and wanted to share with everyone who he was most excited about seeing.
Foxy Shazam
Here’s Al:
The Lolla lineup is INSANE this year!
Charla’s Sweet Beats and Eats
By Charla on Jul 26 Filed In Chicago, Food & Beverage, Live Music, Lollapalooza, Uncategorized, teasnacky 2 Comments
This will be my second trip to Lollapalooza with Sweet Leaf Tea and I’m even more excited about it this year than I was last year. The line-up is the best of any of the music festivals taking place this summer and my list of must-see beats, many of which have been covered on this here blog, will keep me moving quickly from stage to stage to catch it all. Without further ado…
Sweet Beats
Honestly, I love The Black Keys. Before Brothers hit the scene, Rubber Factory probably got the most play time in my car and iPod than any other album (well, other than maybe one.) I’m also a huge fan of Dan Auerbach. There’s something about his howling voice, that gets me. It seems so heartfelt, like he truly gives it all on each track. A strong lead voice gets this girl crooning. Whatever he touches turns into notes of gold in my book. I like the playfulness of their new album and I think they really took their sound and writing to the next level without losing a recognizable Black Keys sound. I can’t WAIT to see them at Lolla.
Sweet Eats
While in Chicago for Lollapalooza, I didn’t have much time to eat outside of the festival grounds. Good thing there’s great food on site and word is this year there’s even going to be a Farmer’s market area so that festival go’ers can load up on tasty local fruit to munch on with their Sweet Leaf Tea (#teasnacky). But, I’m heading out a little early this year so I asked a friend where she would go in Chicago for brunch and without hesitation she said Bongo Room. After reading some of the reviews on Yelp, this place is likely to put me into a deep food coma. But, the sound of red velvet pancakes, pretzel pancakes with caramel, chocolate tower french toast, banana bacon flapjacks or BLT eggs benedict might be too good to resist. They also source ingredients locally which is always an added bonus. I’m thinking, it’s a must this year. Maybe I’ll see ya there.
Let me know if you have a suggestion for our trip to Chicago @SweetLeafCharla. And if you’re headed to Lolla, be sure to look for us onsite. We’ve got some sweet surprises… #sweetleafsweetspot #lolla
Going to Lolla? Send those vibes my way!
By Marketing Intern on Jul 23 Filed In ACL, Chicago, Intern, Live Music, Lollapalooza, Uncategorized 2 Comments
Before I start this blog, let me make this clear: I love Austin and I love Austin City Limits Music Festival. If I get to live in this city for the rest of my life and go to ACL every year, I will be beyond happy. Having said that, God help me, I want to be in Chicago right now.
I bought my 3-day pass to ACL way back in November, long before the lineup was announced. When the list was finally posted in May, I got really excited. How could I not? The National? Grace Potter and the Nocturnals? Broken Bells? Awesome, awesome and awesome. Then I made the mistake of checking out Lollapalooza’s lineup. ACL, I love you and can’t wait for you to come, but Lolla puts you to shame. I don’t really have the means or the time to attend Lolla this year; I’m too busy visiting snowball stands and writing blogs here at Sweet Leaf. Therefore I’m going to have to be a little sad this coming August 6th, 7th and 8th.
However there is something you, the reader and Lolla attendee, can do to help. While at Lolla, go to the shows that I’m most sad about missing, and while you’re there, focus really hard. Maybe all the fun and awesomeness you’re experiencing will somehow travel to me all the way in Austin, Texas. Vicarious experiences are better than no experiences at all.
So if you’re nice enough and valiant enough to help me out in this endeavor, here are the bands you need to see:
Deer Tick, photo courtesy of www.lollapalooza.com
Deer Tick- I’m not usually a big country fan, but these guys are amazing. Try listening to “Smith Hill” without getting chills down your spine when the chorus starts. Lead singer John McCauley is an incredible songwriter and a really engaging personality. Definitely a must-see.
Erykah Badu-I saw Erykah at ACL two years ago and she blew the roof off. She was really pregnant and opted out of the costume theme that her band had, wearing instead a smiley face t-shirt and sweat pants, but she still had more energy than almost anyone at that entire festival. She is the essence of cool, and if you’re not familiar with her music, go for her hair alone. She can pull of some ‘dos that no one else would even try.
Mumford & Sons- Sigh No More, Mumford & Sons’ debut album is probably my favorite album of the year so far. They take folk rock to the extreme and create gorgeous soaring melodies. I dare you to find someone who can pack as much emotion into a song as Marcus Mumford does in “I Gave You All.” The pain I feel for not being able to see them is almost equal to the pain the band puts in their lyrics (“Weep for yourself, my man, you’ll never be what is in your heart.” Ouch).
Arcade Fire, photo courtesy of last.fm
Lady Gaga- Why? I think the better question is why not? I can’t say I’m the biggest fan of her songs. “Alejandro” is pretty catchy, but I’m not that big on any of her others. Nonetheless, it’s impossible for that show to be anything but crazy. She’s such a strange person and she comes up with the weirdest stuff (did you see her Kermit the Frog dress?). You will definitely walk away from that concert with some stories to tell.
Arcade Fire- This band is at the top of my list. I wasn’t able to make it to ACL three years ago when they performed, and still regret it. I have never heard from anyone—friend, acquaintance or critic—that did not recognize Arcade Fire’s live performance as amazing. I’ve heard the words “religious experience” more than once. They put so much into every song and their sound is always unique. This is certainly a performance that you can’t miss.
So those are the highlights. When you’re at Lollapalooza early next month, make sure you go to those shows and while you’re there, send those psychic vibes my way. I’ll do the same for you when ACL comes around.
Elizabeth’s Sweet Beats and Eats!
By Elizabeth on Jul 20 Filed In Chicago, Food & Beverage, Live Music, Lollapalooza 1 Comment
Ahhhh, how I love the month of August so. No, not because I love the sweltering Texas heat, no not because school is back in session and traffic begins to suck again….no, it’s because I get to enjoy some of the best shows of the year at LOLLAPALOOZA and explore the amazing city of Chicago. You will see me fighting to the front of the stage for Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros, Arcade Fire, Phoenix, The Black Keys, The National, Yeasayer, Metric, and the list goes on and on. In between the shows I will be grubbing down on Chicago dogs from Superdawg, The Uno’s Deep Dish Sundae, and plates of sushi at Friends. But as hard as it was, I needed to single out my one top eat and top beat for all you readers out there. So here you go…
Sweet Eats
Wow Bao. Bow chica bow wowww. I found this little restaurant on my first trip to Chicago. My fellow immature coworkers and I loved the sign outside advertising “hot asian buns”. I absolutely fell in love with these small steamed creations and look forward to them all year long. The teriyaki chicken bao is to die for as well as the bbq pork. However, my favorite is the coconut custard bao. Sooo yummm. As much as I miss this place year round, I don’t even want to know how many pounds I would put on if there were one in Austin.
Sweet Beats
The xx.
I bought this cd at the beginning of the year and I have yet to tire of it. Every single track is amazing. Whether I am cleaning the house, laying out at the pool, or running my dog I can jam out to this cd. The lyrics capture your attention and the sound leaves you begging for more. So do yourself a solid and don’t miss this show!
Oh yeah, follow me on twitter to get the scoop about some cool events and my dog Bently! – @SweetLeafBarber
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