(You’re reading Day 2. Be sure to check outDay 1!)
Saturday in Napa dawned bright and sunny for another day of festival fun! My first stop was the Verizon stage, where I caught Holly Humberstone. The girl’s voice is absolutely angelic, and while I only know a few of her songs so far, I enjoyed her performance. She was a treat to start a lovely day, and I was happy to hear both “The Walls Are Way Too Thin” and “Falling Asleep at the Wheel.” You can find the entire setlist here (Verizon; BRNV photos)Continue reading “BottleRock Napa Valley 2024 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 watchingParis 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”
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!
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 LangmanThe Happy Fits’ guitarist Ross MonteithThe 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 RobinsonThe Black Crowes guitarist Isaiah MitchellThe Black Crowes guitarist Rich RobinsonThe 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…
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”
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”
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”
Need a break from the amazing wine? No problem: grab a cocktail instead! (Photo credit: BottleRock Napa Valley / Latitude 38 Entertainment)
You’re reading Day 3. Have you checked out Day 1 and Day 2 as well?
Tye Trujillo follows in dad Robert’s (of Metallica) footsteps. (Photo credit: BottleRock Napa Valley / Latitude 38 Entertainment)
I don’t know why, but Day 3 always seems to be the day all my friends attend BottleRock. This year was no exception. Two friends came up from the South Bay, not wanting to miss a moment. While I waited for my bestie and her boyfriend to arrive, I heard the festival begin through my bedroom window. Before we left the house, I realized that the band on the main stage (the one I can hear) was killing a cover of Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” so I texted one of my friends to find out who they were. She didn’t know, except to say that they were kids, and they were crushing it. I made a mental note to find out who they were and check them out. It turned out they were The Helmets, a band that includes Metallica bassist Robert Trujillo’s son Tye and three other kids, all currently aged 12 or under. I’m disappointed to have missed them, because from what I heard (literally from afar, as well as from those who were already present), they are an excellent band, kids or not! Continue reading “BottleRock Napa Valley 2016 Festival Journal, Day 3”
BottleRock Napa Valley 2016: a not-to-be-missed love-fest! (Photo credit: BottleRock Napa Valley / Latitude 38 Entertainment)
You’re reading this year’s Day 2. Don’t forget to check out Day 1 too!
Wine isn’t the only thing we enjoy drinking here! (Photo credit: BottleRock Napa Valley / Latitude 38 Entertainment)
Day 2 got a bit of a late start, but once inside, I wasted no time at all stopping by Lagunitas for a cold Aunt Sally, which is easily my favorite beer they make, since it’s the least hop-driven! I went directly to the JaM Cellars stage to catch Walk the Moon who were due to begin momentarily. I admit, I only know the band from a friend who loves them and their gigantic smash “Shut Up and Dance” that’s so popular even my two-year-old niece asks for it by name. As I expected, they put on a fun, energetic set, particularly with “Different Colors” (which frontman Nicholas Petricca said was about the “beauty of being different), “Tiger Teeth,” “I Can Lift a Car,” and past single “Anna Sun.” As many had taken to doing over the festival, Petricca reminded the crowd to take time to vote: “Figure it out, and then go vote. Go fucking vote! It’s up to us to figure out the future!” He went on to say that the performance marked the very last one of the band’s tour in support of their Talking is Hard record. As expected, “Shut Up and Dance” was a fun, wild ride with the entire crowd dancing and singing along. Continue reading “BottleRock Napa Valley 2016 Festival Journal, Day 2”
The first taste of summer: BottleRock Napa Valley, the 2016 edition. (Photo credit: BottleRock Napa Valley / Latitude 38 Entertainment)
Before I get into all the details of the gloriousness that was this year’s BottleRock Napa Valley, please allow me a moment, not just to digress but to explain why this festival is so important to me. I was born in Napa. As many Napa kids do, I moved away in my early 20s seeking something more exciting (hard to imagine now, but at the time Napa was still a relatively small town without a lot to do). I had some oats to sow, and was gone for 5-6 years, but returned about a decade ago to go back to school. Since then, I often say that “this town and I grew up together,” as we’ve both evolved into something more worth enjoying. While once I was a kid from a small town most had never heard of (and because of which I often claimed SF or the Bay Area to those unfamiliar), I have since become a “townie,” and that’s okay with me. This place is something special, and I can’t imagine ever leaving. True, it was once far quieter (and okay, far more dull), but these days it’s really something to behold, and has earned its reputation as a world-famous, world-class destination on bucket lists the world over. So, add to that a phenomenal music festival that showcases not just the mind-blowing wines and taste-bud-tantalizing food for which we’re known, but consistently impressive musical lineups that offer something for everyone, year after year? How could I not love BottleRock? I’m happy to say that I’ve been BottleRocking since the very beginning, and I can’t imagine what it might take to keep me away. As you can imagine, I’m already looking forward to next year’s festival!
Okay, onward…this year, BottleRock was scheduled to fall on Memorial Day weekend. While I personally heard the frustration of local business owners (for many of whom the beloved festival pulls away business all weekend long), I didn’t have any reason to lament spending a long, beautiful-weathered weekend wandering the Napa Valley Expo grounds last weekend more or less than any other.
I think Shakespeare might have been seeing into the future of BottleRock when he said “parting is such sweet sorrow.” True story: on the last day of the inaugural festival in 2013, I remember thinking that I was like a kid at summer camp; I wanted to just keep coming back, but I knew that if I showed up the next day, all my friends would be gone and it would just be a big, sad mess that would leave me emotionally scarred. Thankfully, though, after an amazing Day One and a lovely Day Two, I still had a whole final day to see, and this time, my bestie had come to join the fun. Continue reading “BottleRock Napa Valley 2015 Festival Journal, Day 3”
