(You’re reading Day Two. Be sure to catch up on Day One’s fun!)
Saturday dawned sunny and cool in Napa Valley. I woke up feeling refreshed and ready to get back to the Expo for another fun day of music.
First up, I caught some of Joan Jett & the Blackhearts’ set at the Prudential stage. This isn’t the first time this act has played BottleRock, but I didn’t catch them last time, so I had to make sure not to make the same mistake this time. I enjoyed hits like “Cherry Bomb,” “I Love Rock & Roll,” and “Bad Reputation.”
I also caught a little of Saxsquatch, mostly out of sheer curiosity/intrigue. As it turned out, it was (mostly) just as I suspected based on the stage name: a DJ with a saxophone, dressed in a sasquatch costume. Still, it was worth a look and a listen.
Later, I hit the T-Mobile stage for Bush, who ended up being one of my favorite sets of the day. I absolutely loved this band in high school, and while I haven’t kept up with all their albums (or caught a show), I awaited this chance to finally see them eagerly, and they were all I wanted and more. “Machinehead” opened the set, and it was brilliant. “Everything Zen” and “Swallowed” came later, and at one point, there was a bit of a musical break as only the drums and bass continued to play. Eventually, Gavin Rossdale emerged in the VIP section, where he popped up to say hello to lucky VIP fans. They finished with the brilliant “Glycerine,” followed by “Comedown,” and I’m still wanting more.
Over at the Pru stage, I was looking forward to AJR. I enjoy this band, so I knew in advance that they were likely to be playing without eldest brother Adam, who misses shows to continue the important work he does outside of the band: work that focuses on global climate advocacy. Jack and Ryan Met, however, bring so much energy to the set that I was quite impressed to discover I didn’t really notice he was gone… and then he wasn’t. (I’m getting ahead of myself!) They began their set with a high energy performance of “Bummerland,” followed by “Sober Up” and “Way Less Sad.” Adam did indeed show up to play a few songs with his brothers, which was both a surprise and a real treat. “Bang!” is one of my favorite of the band’s songs, and was the perfect penultimate song of their set.
Later, fast-rapping hip-hop legend Busta Rhymes graced the T-Mobile stage. When he arrived, clad in a brightly-colored jacket and turquoise pants, he literally and figuratively “brought the fire.” I enjoyed “Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Could See” and “Woo Hah! Got You All in Check” the most because they were the songs I know best, but the overall vibe of Busta’s set was just so much fun. I’m glad I got to see him.
Up next was LCD Soundsystem back at the Pru stage. It was clear that members of the band were out of their comfort zone playing in the daylight, as I heard both frontman James Murphy and fans of the band remarking that it was strange for them to do a show before the sun went down. At any rate, I thought they were great, and I enjoyed their set. “All My Friends” was a standout song and closed their excellent set.
Across the festival grounds, I caught Rilo Kiley at the T-Mobile stage. Let me just say right now that like my hero Cameron Crowe, I am comfortable with my decidedly uncool status, so while I know of this band, I hadn’t seen them before. I caught Jenny Lewis a few years back as a solo artist, but I’ve been waiting for a chance to see RK live, and finally it was here. I enjoyed their sound as much as their overall vibe, with adorable Lewis keeping my eyes glued to her for most of their set (though I was, of course, simultaneously enjoying their sound, too).
As the evening was winding down, I headed over to the HelloFresh stage to catch Arrested Development. I think I know three of their songs, but I remember them fondly from the 90s. They were everything I want in a hip-hop group: diverse, energetic, talented, fun, and they have something important to say (often racial justice, environmental issues, or spirituality). Even better, I got a trio of the three songs I wanted to catch: “Mr. Wendal,” “Tennessee,” and “People Everyday.”
Last but not least, it was time to get a good spot to check out headliners Foo Fighters’ triumphant return to BottleRock. This is a band I’ve enjoyed for many years, and I marveled with my husband at what a legendary rocker Dave Grohl has become. As we enjoyed this set, we marveled about what might have come of Nirvana had we not tragically lost Kurt Cobain in the 90s. Anyway, Foo Fighters put on another excellent rock show. Highlights included “All My Life,” “My Hero,” “Learn to Fly,” current single “Your Favorite Toy” (which I’ve been digging on the radio but of course was better live), “Big Me,” and closing the set, the ever-wonderful “Everlong.”
That’s it for Day Two! See you tomorrow to close out this year with Day Three!
