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.
Not long after, I was back to the main stage for Danielle Ponder, who absolutely floored me with her huge voice. She dedicated “Some of Us Are Brave” (my favorite of her set today) to black women everywhere, and I loved her. As a side note, can we talk about her amazing wardrobe? She came out rocking a simple black bra underneath a short kimono-style leather jacket and jeans, and it’s not an exaggeration to say she slayed her set. She also had me cracking up when she announced a song that was for “the single people,” adding that it’s especially tricky to be single and over 40, calling it “bargain bin” single-dom. Between the humor, the style, and her unbelievable pipes, I’m excited to hear more from her in the future!
Knowing I’d be running between stages with much time to stop for anything before long, I decided I’d better get a bite while I had the chance. Instead of just venturing out and wasting time wandering around looking at the abundant and delicious options, I peeked at my BottleRock app instead. Happily, I discovered that The Original Burgerdog was a choice, and thus my search had concluded. For those not in the know, it’s simple and pretty much what it sounds like (a hamburger shaped like a hot dog, served on a hot dog bun with all the usual toppings). I discovered this local delicacy at the very first BottleRock many moons ago, and while I haven’t gotten my hands on one since, there have been many times over the past decade that I’ve thought about those lovely cheeseburger dogs longingly.
With a full belly, I headed over to the Verizon stage to check out Keanu Reeves’ recently-reunited band, Dogstar. I enjoyed their sound and set, and despite people going bananas for Reeves on stage, I thought he did a great job of being respectful and not pulling focus from the band overall or the lead singer. I enjoyed “Sunrise,” “Glimmer,” “Sleep,” and “Upside.”
Up next, I was back at the (main) JaM Cellars stage in time for Carly Rae Jepsen. I’ll be honest, I really only know Jepsen from her first hit, “Call Me Maybe,” but my editor buddy Dakin has made mention of his fondness for her on several occasions. Since I trust his judgment entirely when it comes to music, I was excited to see the girl in action. The first thing I noticed was how lovely she is, and I heard some other photographers talking about her on their way back to the media room after watching her. They debated her age, and I heard someone say they thought she was probably “22.” Jepsen, in fact, is 32, but could easily still pass for about 19. Anyway, she was full of energy, vocal power, and fun pop tunes, and she was a fun way to spend part of the afternoon on this lovely Saturday at BottleRock. I especially enjoyed “Run Away With Me” in particular.
I then caught a bit of Dayglow’s set and was pleasantly surprised. Though I’ve heard several of his hits on one of my favorite SiriusXM channels over the years, I haven’t caught him live yet. In addition to the man who calls himself Dayglow (Sloan Struble) there was a great poppy-rock touring band to back him, and they were rather fun! The songs I most enjoyed of their set were “Run the World!!!” and “Can I Call You Tonight?”
Up next, Leon Bridges’ band was rockin’ and funky before Bridges himself ever even took the stage. I’ve been enjoying Bridges’ tunes for a few years now, so I was really excited to see him live. I really enjoyed the overall vibe of his set, which blended funk, R&B, and a little rock. The man can sing, there’s no doubt about that, and he’s got an amazing band backing him up. Don’t miss him when he comes to your area!
Finally, it was time for the main event(s). I chose to see Queen Lizzo first because how could I not? Before she appeared onstage, Lizzo made a little speech about the importance of love: “self-love, love for your friends, love for your family…” And then, bam! There she was in all her shiny, latex neon green and black laced up jumpsuit with fringe, looking fabulous like only Lizzo can. I’d never seen her live before, so I was over the moon at finally having my chance. She was all I hoped for and more, dancing all over the stage with her “big girl” dancers and twerking when the opportunity arose. Highlights from Lizzo’s set included her cover of Lauryn Hill’s “Doo Wop (That Thing),” “You’re Special,” and, of course, “Truth Hurts” and “Good as Hell.” Yes, bitch! That’s all I can say. She was perfection.
As much as I wanted to watch every second of Lizzo’s amazingness, I wanted to grab my chance to catch Duran Duran across the grounds on the other main stage. An iconic band on their 40th anniversary tour, I was very much looking forward to catching as many of their hits as possible. I was able to enjoy “Hungry Like the Wolf,” “Girls on Film,” “The Reflex,” and “Rio.” I also got to hear not one but both of my two Duran Duran faves from the 90s, “Come Undone” and “Ordinary World” (which was dedicated to the people of Ukraine, and wonderful). They were so much fun to see live after all these years of enjoying these tunes, and I’m glad I was able to make it work so I could see parts of both sets. Wow, what a day! Still one more day to enjoy all the fun all over again. Stay tuned for Day 3!
