BottleRock Napa Valley 2023 Festival Journal, Day 3

(You’re reading Day 3. Be sure to catch up on Day 1 and Day 2!)

Day 3 of BottleRock Napa Valley is always bittersweet because it’s the last day, and I want to see more phenomenal artists, but my feet hurt, and I’m ready to get back to my real life, too. While I’ve been off to the races the past two days, seeing bands right away in the first hour of the day, today I opted for a slower, easier start. I stopped to catch a bit of Half Alive, where I enjoyed the trio’s energy and especially “Still Feel.”

Continue reading “BottleRock Napa Valley 2023 Festival Journal, Day 3”

BottleRock Napa Valley 2023 Festival Journal, Day 2

You’re reading Day 2 – be sure to check out what you missed on Day 1!

Day 2 of this year’s BottleRock started with similar weather to the previous day. By the time I was done watching Paris Jackson‘s set (my first of the day), I was already warm enough to take my jacket off. Despite having heard at least a few of her songs here and there, I wasn’t sure what to expect from Jackson. She has a solid sound with her band, and her set was enjoyable pop-rock. I enjoyed her enough that I’ll be curious to see where her music career will take her. Continue reading “BottleRock Napa Valley 2023 Festival Journal, Day 2”

BottleRock Napa Valley 2023 Festival Journal, Day 1

You might not be able to tell by the weather, at least in Napa today, but it’s almost summer! Memorial Day Weekend marks the unofficial start of summer and the arrival of BottleRock Napa Valley’s 10th festival! The day started out pretty chilly, which had me worried that the weekend might be colder than I’d hoped for a festival weekend, but thankfully it eventually warmed up to a nice breezy, sunny day. 

Continue reading “BottleRock Napa Valley 2023 Festival Journal, Day 1”

BottleRock Napa Valley 2022 Festival Journal, Day 3

How come this always happens? I hate that it’s already Sunday, and Day 1 and Day 2 have already come and gone. Fortunately, the blow is softened significantly by some stellar artists on Sunday’s lineup. As soon as I got to the festival, I made my way over to the JaM Cellars stage for Blu DeTiger. While I was familiar with her music, I hadn’t even seen a photo of DeTiger, so I was wholly unprepared for how gorgeous she was. And that’s to say nothing of her talent. I enjoyed her set, especially “Hot Crush Lover” and her brief little cover of Gorillaz “Feel Good, Inc.” She puts on an entertaining show, and I’d be happy to catch her again sometime.

Next I hit the Verizon stage for Grandson. As with many of the acts I’m always excited to see at BottleRock, Grandson is one I know from Alt Nation, one of my favorite stations on SiriusXM. Grandson, whose real name is Jordan Edward Benjamin, took the stage in a black t-shirt that read “protect trans kids” and said, “Hello, my name is Pitbull…” I liked him immediately.

Before “Dark Side,” Benjamin requested that the crowd sing along: “so loud the bigots across the street hear it!” The frontman turned out to be quite vocal about the band’s political views, explaining that they were “unapologetically progressive baddies,” but that even Trump supporters were welcome to turn up with them. In a 50-minute set, he made mention of supporting those with addiction (and those who love them), the recent shooting of an elementary school in Uvalde, TX, thoughts on guns and the “talking heads” who send their thoughts and prayers but are in a position to make changes to prevent this kind of thing, and that he believed that “women should be able to do whatever they want with their bodies, you should be able to love whoever you love, fuck whoever you want to fuck…”

Suffice to say I agree pretty wholeheartedly with everything this man is so vocal about. Add to that that they’re a fantastic band with lyrics that say something to me (I teared up not once but twice while photographing the band from the pit, which has never happened to me before). I stayed until I was certain that the band had left the stage before leaving the area, just in case I might miss a single second. The songs I most enjoyed included “Rain,” “Dirty,” and “Overdose.”

(One more thing that’s worth noting: Benjamin addressed a small group of young people directly in front of the stage and asked them if it had been their first mosh pit. He gave them a few tips and added that he might join them later if they did it again. Better still, he not only kept his word, he even instigated the mosh pit at the end of the band’s set and then hopped down off the stage to join as promised.)

Bouncing from the high of such a fun set, I stopped at the Go Bananas food truck for a chocolate and rainbow sprinkles covered frozen banana that was perfect for a warm weekend day. Next up was Eliza & the Delusionals on the Truly stage!

This is another band I know from Alt Nation. They’re a young band out of Australia, and during the course of their 45-minute set, I wondered who the band’s influences were. Early on in their set, I kept thinking they reminded me a bit of Hole (Celebrity Skin era), but I also got a little bit of an early No Doubt vibe. At any rate, they’re a solid little band that I quite enjoyed – they seem to be sweet kids who love to play music, and I liked their sound.

“When I became a musician I didn’t know dancing was gonna be a part of it,” singer Eliza Klatt admitted. “When you’re all dancing with me, it’s better.” This statement quickly became evident as Klatt continued to encourage the crowd to move along with the music throughout their set. I particularly enjoyed their songs “Halloween,” “Save Me,” “Give You Everything,” and of course the brilliant “Just Exist.”

(Photo credit: BottleRock Napa Valley / Latitude 38 Entertainment)
(Photo credit: BottleRock Napa Valley / Latitude 38 Entertainment)

After a break for dinner, I set out for the Allianz stage for the first time this year for Amos Lee. I didn’t have the time to catch his entire set, but wanted to check him out for as long as I could anyway. Once all seven band members had taken the stage, Lee announced the first song, the title track from his most recent album, “Dreamland.” Before he began to sing, I heard a woman standing just behind me in the front row whisper dreamily, “oh my god, you’re beautiful.” I smiled, but couldn’t really disagree.

I only had time to stay for half of Lee’s set, but I really enjoyed his energy and music equally. He seemed to be a lovely man, and had an easy, established relationship with the audience. I was really hoping I’d somehow catch “Sweet Pea,” a Lee song I adore, but he must have played it after I had to leave. Still, I really enjoyed what I did get to hear, and I hope to see a full set in the future.

I dedicate this photo to the woman who whispered her admiration for Lee’s beauty.

Finally, it was time for what I considered to be my personal main event for this year’s festival: Pink at the JaM Cellars stage. I adore this woman, and it’s been far longer than I’d like since I’ve seen her live, so I had been looking forward to this performance for quite some time.

When it was finally time, Pink took the stage to “Get the Party Started,” of course. After a string of hits new and old, she paused after “Try,” saying that it was “weird not being thrown around while singing that song!” and added, “I really like being thrown around!”

Before starting her first phenomenal cover song of the evening, Pink admitted that “there are songs out there in the world that I wish I had written,” and admitted “I’m just gonna say I wrote” the cover she was setting up to perform: Bishop Briggs’ “River.” Pink’s version was every bit as delicious as Briggs’ original, and I’m going to hope for a day I can see them play it together, because I truly love both artists.

Later on in the set, Pink’s beautiful 10-year-old daughter Willow Sage Hart joined her mama on-stage for their duet, “Cover Me in Sunshine.” As a Pink fan of more than 20 years, this was a really special moment to witness: I’ve seen this brilliant artist evolve from a popstar with an R&B edge back in 2000 to the massive star that brought us “Stupid Girls,” “Raise Your Glass,” “So What,” “Walk Me Home,” and so many more. To now see Pink as a happy, content, mature woman with children (who also grace the stage with her) is truly a lovely phenomenon.

When Pink covered 4 Non-Blondes‘ “What’s Up,” I found myself not just singing along but singing at the top of my lungs right along with everyone else in the crowd. It was completely unexpected, but in this moment I rediscovered a joy I didn’t know I’d been missing: the full live music experience. It felt so good to be fully immersed in the live set of an artist I love so much. “I Am Here” was next, and she took it to church! The emotion I felt from the previous song carried over so that the lyrics brought me to tears. Seeing Pink live after several years (and a global pandemic that kept us music lovers starved for far too long) made me happy on a level I can’t really describe. Suffice to say it made my weekend.

I wouldn’t have missed Pink for anything: I really needed the cathartic feeling her music gives me, especially when it’s live and she keeps gushing to the crowd about how much she loves her fans. I’ve always gotten the sense that that’s a very honest sentiment from her, and it means a lot. Truth be told, I wrote “I feel healed” in my notes, and I really did.

It wouldn’t be right not to mention that while Pink is the clear star of her show, she’s great about taking time to put the spotlight on her “babies,” including her dancers, backup singers, and members of her band. In particular, she gives plenty of credit to longtime guitarist Justin D’Errico, who was absolutely fantastic, as usual.

And if you’re thinking that an outdoor festival isn’t somewhere Pink could do the aerial acrobatics we’ve know come to expect from her concerts, well… you’d be wrong. (Don’t worry, I was wrong too.) It’s really amazing that they were able to set it up so she could still do some of her “flying,” which must be absolutely exhilarating for her (and is still pretty exciting just to watch from the ground). Unfortunately, the show had to end sometime, due to Napa’s strict 10pm curfew, but while I would have stayed there for four more hours to hear anything she would be willing to sing for me, I also left feeling lighter than I had in a long time. If you’re interested, you can find the entire setlist from Pink’s BottleRock set here.

And just like that, it was all over, again. Thankfully, BottleRock is pretty good about softening the blow of the festival’s end each year by announcing the following year’s dates. So I’ll be ready to do it all over again next Memorial Day weekend!

BottleRock Napa Valley 2022 Festival Journal, Day 2

You’re reading Day 2 – be sure to check out what you missed on Day 1!

The start of my BottleRock Napa Valley Saturday found me at the Truly stage for OTTTO, a young band with “roots in thrash, funk, and metal.” Bassist Tye Trujillo always draws a big crowd, and while this year I only just learned he had moved on from his former band and joined a new one, I knew better than to miss whatever band he’s currently playing with. I enjoyed OTTTO’s set and even stopped to take a short video of the kids moshing in front of the stage, which was fun just to witness. I’ll be keeping an eye (and both ears) out for more from this band – they were awesome!

OTTTO bassist Tye Trujillo
OTTTO singer/guitarist Bryan Noah Ferretti
OTTTO drummer Triko Chavez

Before any more music, I needed to stop for a snack. I picked up a blueberry “smashed lemonade” from the Izzy’s Cheesesteaks truck and then opted for an order of classic poutine from Poutine Brothers. The two together were *chef’s kiss* perfect!

Later, I headed back to the Truly stage for The Happy Fits, a band I know from their 2020 song “Hold Me Down.” They’re an indie pop-rock band with a cello, and I was so excited to check them out. Not only did their energy and sound not disappoint, it was also fun to see them relish a crowd of the “most people we’ve ever played for!” This is a band I’m excited to hear (and see) more from – they were solid, energetic, and over-the-top entertaining.

The Happy Fits’ cellist frontman Calvin Langman
The Happy Fits’ guitarist Ross Monteith
The Happy Fits’ drummer Luke Davis

Next up was Silversun Pickups at the Verizon stage. I’ll be the first to admit that I don’t know nearly as much about this band or their music as I probably “should,” so I was excited to finally experience them live. They have a great “vibe” on-stage, and the crowd was eating them up right off the bat. I particularly enjoyed “Doesn’t Matter Why,” which may or may not be about the interesting dynamic of a relationship between fan and band. At any rate, I had a hard time taking my eyes off the fabulous lady bassist Nikki Monninger, who is equal parts fun, badass bass, and firecracker: I took so many pictures of her jumping up and down while jamming! Frontman Brian Aubert’s vocals upped the ante, and I thoroughly enjoyed their set. I often say that a band that’s better live is the cream of the crop, and that absolutely proved true with Silversun Pickups!

Silversun Pickups’ bad ass lady bassist Nikki Monninger was such an entertaining musician to watch!
Silversun Pickups frontman Brian Aubert

Silversun Pickups drummer Christopher Guanlao

Not long after, I was over at the JaM Cellars stage for the first time all day getting ready to enjoy The Black Crowes. As soon as they took the stage, I noted the impeccable style of the band members – they were sharply dressed and clearly had brought their A game! Like many bands that play BRNV, the Black Crowes are no spring chickens, but rock like they’re still teenagers, somehow. Highlights from their set included “Twice as Hard” and especially “Hard to Handle.” I was really hoping to hear “She Talks to Angels,” but either they didn’t play it, or they did but it was while we were being escorted from the photo pit back to the media lounge and I missed it. Either way, their set was so much fun, I almost didn’t notice not hearing it anyway.

The Black Crowes frontman Chris Robinson
The Black Crowes guitarist Isaiah Mitchell
The Black Crowes guitarist Rich Robinson
The Black Crowes bassist Sven Pipien

As the day wore on and the sun sunk closer to the horizon, I was anxiously looking forward to tonight’s headliner: twenty-one pilots. Before this weekend, I’d only ever seen this band once, almost a decade ago. I mention this because I happened to arrive late to that particular show, and neither I nor my editor (who happened to be my +1 that night) knew who was playing before PANIC! but when we got in, we were both instantly impressed with their sound right away. Their set was so fantastic that I knew we’d hear more from them in the future. I’ve never forgotten how sure I was about that.

Twenty-One Pilots Drummer Josh Dun

Fast forward to now – they’ve had tons of success and absolutely exploded, just as predicted. I couldn’t believe that I knew song after song, and most of them were those I’d enjoyed over the years. Some favorites from their set included their breakout hit “Stressed Out,” as well as “Heathens,” “Jumpsuit,” and “heavydirtysoul.”

twenty-one pilots frontman Tyler Joseph

This band may be only two dudes, but what they “lack” in manpower they more than make up for in both energy and talent, and I left the day nearly as impressed as I’d been the first time I saw them long ago. I think I saw both drummer Josh Dun and frontman/pianist Tyler Joseph do flips on-stage at least once in the almost two hours they performed. Also, they did a little medley of some great covers that I have to mention, including “Benny & the Jets,” “I Can See Clearly Now” (with an accordion), and “Kiss from a Rose.” They were so much fun!

I’m so happy to see how successful this band has become, and I think they really deserve all of it and their Grammy award, too. Best of all, they ended right on time and I was able to quickly dart out among the crowd to where I had a ride waiting. I made it home with dinner by 10pm and was so happy to be in bed at a decent hour, since I still have one more day to do it all over again…

Stay tuned for Day 3!

BottleRock Napa Valley 2022 Festival Journal, Day 1

My favorite season (festival) has officially begun! BottleRock Napa Valley 2022 kicked off this past Friday (May 27) with a flurry of great artists. I look forward to this event every year since it brings such great bands right to my hometown, but this year, it’s different. I say that because I can’t believe it’s been three years since I was last here! 2020’s BottleRock was canceled due to COVID, and 2021 was pushed to September. Unfortunately, I had to miss last year due to concerns over the Delta variant, so suffice to say I had been anxiously awaiting a three-day music festival with gorgeous weather for days, at least. Continue reading “BottleRock Napa Valley 2022 Festival Journal, Day 1”

Podcast Review: City in Exile

Podcast fiends, here’s your new addiction.

Brendan O’Loughlin recently launched the inaugural episode of his podcast titled, City in Exile. It’s a document of the ever-evolving cultural capital of California, San Francisco, and more specifically, it’s  O’Loughlin’s love letter to the city he grew up with. San Francisco is also my favorite city in the country and watching it evolve, and seemingly devolve, from the place I used to escape to in my youth has been both mystifying and depressing, but those of us who pay close attention recognize that all things change and we find ways to recapture those ephemeral bits that made us fall in love with the city as it continues to change.

Continue reading “Podcast Review: City in Exile”

BottleRock Napa Valley 2017 Festival Journal, Day 3

The Foo Fighters intended to play until they could play no more (Photo credit: BottleRock Napa Valley / Latitude 38 Entertainment)

Where had the time gone? Somehow it was already Sunday, and Day 1 and Day 2 were already behind us!

Sunday promised to have the best weather of all, as well as some acts I’d been really looking forward to. Because I’d missed The Helmets last year – but heard them from my house and was impressed enough to text a friend who was already there, asking who they were I knew in advance that I had to make it there early this year to see them in action. Continue reading “BottleRock Napa Valley 2017 Festival Journal, Day 3”

BottleRock Napa Valley 2017 Festival Journal, Day 2

Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers headline Saturday at BottleRock Napa Valley 2017 (Photo credit: BottleRock Napa Valley / Latitude 38 Entertainment)

This year’s Saturday at BottleRock Napa Valley promised to be a beautiful warm and breezy 75 degrees, the perfect weather for a festival full of good music, great food and all the beer, wine, and cocktails you can handle! Once again, there were more acts scheduled than was possible to see all at once, so I had to pick and choose pieces of sets from the bands I most wanted to see to make it all work. (For example, who wants to decide between House of Pain and Bishop Briggs? I wanted to “jump around” and jam out with Ms. Briggs… Continue reading “BottleRock Napa Valley 2017 Festival Journal, Day 2”

BottleRock Napa Valley 2017 Festival Journal, Day 1

Maroon 5 headlines Friday night at BottleRock Napa Valley 2017 (Photo credit: BottleRock Napa Valley / Latitude 38 Entertainment)

Last weekend marked the return of my hometown’s beloved music, food and drink festival, BottleRock Napa Valley, which turned five this Memorial Day weekend. In addition to boasting phenomenal music lineups year after year, BRNV offers a wine garden, a “beer bend,” a silent disco, a beer and bourbon garden, displays of art throughout the festival grounds, and of course, the culinary delights that have come to be associated with this valley that is so much more than wine. Continue reading “BottleRock Napa Valley 2017 Festival Journal, Day 1”