The Ladies’ Guide to Festival-Going

The internet offers no shortage of festival survival guides, but I happened to notice that the majority of them are pretty dude-centric. While there’s a lot of usable advice out there, I just felt that the ladies of the festival world could use a little love. With Coachella just around the corner and the Lollapalooza lineup freshly in mind, I’ve compiled a packing list just for my festival sisters from other misters.

1. I cannot stress this enough- WEAR THE RIGHT SHOES. You are going to be hauling ass all over farms, fields, gravel, and other rough grounds. Flip flops are not going to cut it. Suck it up and get yourself a decent pair of shoes. Around your 12th hour of standing, you’ll be glad you did. That said, bring more than one pair. I bring my trusty Birkenstocks and a pair of tennis shoes or TOMS. Having a change of shoes is not only helpful in case you lose a sandal in a mud pit, but also as a short term refreshment for your feet. Pro tip- Check sites like Rue La La for sales on better quality sandals that are still stylin’.
2. This may be the most valuable advice I have to offer. For every fest, I create what I like to call “The Potty Pack”. It’s especially helpful for ladies, but every year I find myself handing it off to girls and boys on their frightening journey into the Port-A-John. Take a Ziploc bag and stuff it with the following items: travel size spray sanitizer, hand sanitizer, and all of the toilet paper it can hold. Keep this in your purse at all times. You are welcome. Pro tip- Keep a spare tampon handy, too. You may not need it, but you may meet someone in the bathroom line who does.
3. On to hygiene! If you’re not someone who cares to sweat it out all weekend long (assuming you are camping out), here’s a way to get washed up without shelling out any more money. Load up your cooler every morning with ice. The next day, you’ll have icy water that provides an amazing shock to the system. Just fill up a cup or bottle and have a friend dump it over your head. I bring a mini shampoo and conditioner, and opt for an entire full-sized bottle of Suave body wash, because, well… You’ll need it. It costs about $1, so you don’t mind tossing what you don’t use at the end of the weekend. If you’re paranoid about shaving, I recommend the Schick Intuition. You don’t need to lather up for it and it is good for quick maneuvering. Pro tip- Bring baby wipes and face wipes for refreshers between baths.
4. Here comes the obligatory sun protection rant. Buy a big bottle of a high SPF and slather it all over any exposed skin before you head out for the day. Every few hours, reapply it. No one wants to hear you whine about a sunburn one day into the festival. Last year, I discovered Banana Boat Body & Scalp Sunscreen and it changed my life. Spritz it on your head to save yourself from the unholy plague known as hair-part sunburn. A hat and/or bandana is also highly recommended. If you can get a vendor to fill that bandana with ice, you’ll be sittin’ pretty. Pro tip- Get a travel sized bottle that you can fill with sunblock and carry with you for the rest of the day. Also, bring a bottle of aloe and keep it in your cooler to take care of that inevitable shoulder burn.
5. Finally, there is the clothing situation. Keep it as comfortable as you can. Avoid dark colors that will attract more warmth and pack lots of breathable fabrics like linen. Bikinis are a must! Whether you wear them for a quick shower outside your tent or under your clothes for a quick hop in the Bonnaroo fountain, you’ll definitely put it to use. If there is any possibility of a chilly night, pack a zip-up hoodie for quick layering. Pro tip- Don’t over-pack, but do bring one or two extra things (tank tops, dresses) in case a midday change is needed.

So there you have it! I don’t consider this list high maintenance, but a little extra prep time to make yourself more comfortable will ensure that your capacity for awesomeness stays at maximum levels all weekend.

Happy festival season!

Please feel free to comment with more ideas and tips!

P.S. For another great packing guide, check out this list from fellow festival fanatic Bonnaroo Chris.

In case you missed it…

Alright, so maybe I did abandon this page just a smidge.  In case you missed it, Bonnaroo was fantastic.  You can check out my coverage of it here:

Days 1 & 2

Days 3 & 4

With Pitchfork come and gone, Lolla rapidly approaching and all the other major fests already getting to work on their 2011 lineups, here is one other festival you should consider- Pygmalion in Champaign, Il.  Out of the way you say?  Perhaps, but the lineup is just as fantastic as any other indie festival and it’s set in a really sweet college town.  Best of all, it’s not an outdoor festival- it’s set in various small venues through town and you can come and go as you please!  Also, the price can’t be beat.  This year’s headlines include of Montreal, Built to Spill, Cap’n Jazz and Janelle Monae.

More from Venus Zine!

I’ve only slightly abandoned this page, I swear! Here is another new piece I’ve written for Venus.

Also, I’m still just as excited for Bonnaroo, but I can’t really write about it here any more due to my contract, because I’m the official Bonnaroo correspondent for Venus this year!  Some of my thoughts on the upcoming festivals will be published in the Summer issue, as well a festival survival guide online.

There is lots more to come, kiddies! Keep an eye out on the Venus site for my Bonnaroo coverage!

Record Store Day

Check me out!

Hey friends, I’m doing a little bit of writing for the great independent women’s magazine, Venus Zine.  My first review is up on their site now, so check it out!

The Runaways Soundtrack review

Updates on all things awesome

My favorite holiday of the year is rapidly approaching: Record Store Day- the day in which we all celebrate our favorite independent record stores as they bribe us to come in with amazing exclusive releases.  Last year, I dropped a hefty amount of cash buying myself presents (which is 100% acceptable, as it is kind Christmas for the pop culturally obsessed).  By the looks of it, I’d better start saving my pennies already.

Here is the official list, thus far. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the tastiness of these releases, I don’t blame you, but here is my own personal list of must-haves:

• Bon Iver/Peter Gabriel 7″ – I never really thought about it, but I bet their voices compliment each other extraordinarily well and I’m really looking forward to hearing this one.
• Coconut Records 7″- Yeah, I’m a sucker for all things Jason Schwartzman and I really love his recordings as Coconut Records.  I’ve never seen “Bored to Death”, but like I said… I’m a sucker.
• The Flaming Lips w/ Stardeath, Dark Side of the Moon – If you’ve read this blog before, you already know how much I love this cover album and owning it on vinyl?  Well, that kind of just completes this whole thing for me.  Definitely my #1 most coveted RSD item.
• Japandroids, Posting Nothing – Kind of surprised to see that Polyvinyl hadn’t released this on vinyl earlier, but I think I’m going to be needing it now as it rapidly becomes one of my favorite listens.
• John Lennon 7″ box set – Generally, I skip over older artists for RSD, as most of their recordings are just being re-released or recycled yet again, but this one has captured my interest with the inclusion of several other goodies such as a poster, postcards and a “custom 45 adapter hub”.  I’m not even sure what that means, but I want it.  SOLD!
• Monsters of Folk double LP – I’m not usually too into “super groups”, but MoF have really found themselves a great sound and only features people from bands I already dig, unlike, say… Chickenfoot.
• Of Montreal 7″ – Let’s be honest, this one is going to be hit or miss.  I love Of Montreal, but I feel like they record so much that I can’t keep up with them anyway.  This one will depend on how much of my savings account I still have left.
• Them Crooked Vultures 10″ – Yet another super group that doesn’t blow.  I was one of the few that got to see them at their very first show ever at the Metro in Chicago.  Nothing beats being about 15 feet away from John Paul Jones and just a few more from Dave Grohl on drums.  I’m still totally hung up on how cool it is that they play together.  If there were gossip magazines speculating on what they eat during their practice sessions together, I would buy it.
• Weezer “Raditude Happy Record Store Day” – I’m still waiting on more info about this, but if it’s on vinyl, I’m in.  If it’s on CD… well… it’ll surface again later I’m sure, so I’ll pass.  I need to hear this collaboration with Kenny G one way or another, though.

With luck, I’ll be able to catch ‘em all, Pokemon style, but one never knows where the wind will take you on Record Store Day.  What will your big purchases be?

In Bonnaroo news, the comedy lineup has finally been announced, and frankly, it might be even sweeter than the music lineup.  Two of my wishes came true with the return of Aziz Ansari and Margaret Cho, but the big news, of course, is that Conan O’Brien will be there and MCing the main stage for two nights.  I’m dying to know how his routine will go, but I’m imagining a setup similar to how Michael Ian Black and Michael Showalter did theirs last year- some monologue-type jokes and an array of guests.  Either way, I’m sure he’ll be a big hit and I’m already preparing myself to miss a lot of musical acts in order to wait to get into his show.

Lollapalooza still hasn’t officially announced anything yet, but people are already getting their panties in a twist over Lady Gaga potentially performing.  While some are whining about it being a rock festival, they all seem to forget that she’s played in the past on a smaller stage and Kanye West (not a rock musician) has headlined twice and the world has yet to fall off it’s axis.  Personally, I think the diversity of the festival is what makes it fun, so I’m all about it.  Green Day, who are also rumored to headline, on the other hand I can really live without.

Kleenex, chicken soup and the Brat Pack

As previously mentioned, I’m currently battling a pretty unattractive cold.  My throat is killing me and I’ve already demolished a few Kleenex boxes.  If there is one thing in the world I hate more than anything it’s being sick.  I could say hatred and intolerance and preach peace on Earth, but honestly, I challenge you to think about anything outside of feeling sorry for yourself when you’re stuck on your couch watching daytime TV.

There is one minor perk of being ill: All day movie marathons.  Before my tonsils were given the ol’ heave ho, I spent my youth being unbelievably susceptible to strep throat and bronchitis.  This lead to a very large number of these movie marathons.

There are a few rules to choosing a sick day movie.  First of all, it needs to be short and uncomplicated, because you will probably be dozing in and out of it most of the time.  Second of all, it can’t be obnoxiously sad or a total downer.  Either one of these things will lead to you looking even more disgusting (ie: ugly crying while tears and snot roll down your face) and no one wants to feel sad when they already feel like shit.  I tend to take the middle road for these reasons.  While I don’t typically reach for the big blockbusters, sick days are the best days to enjoy a popular classic or a screwball comedy.  Lastly, and maybe this is just me, I tend to choose movies I’ve seen a hundred times before.  Not only are they good for the soul, but you don’t risk missing much due to your stuffed up brain.

That said, I’ve compiled a short list of my top 5 favorite sick day movies for those of you still laying in bed cuddled up to cough syrup in your Star Wars jammies in the middle of the day.  All of these films have been tested thoroughly by me over the past 23 years.

• Sixteen Candles- Ferris Bueller’s Day Off is the obvious choice here, as far as 80s teen films go, but I have to admit that I get really frustrated with Ferris when he makes Cameron go all over town while he’s feeling horrible, especially during times in which I can relate (and, seriously, how awkward is that part towards the end where Cameron goes ballistic on his dad’s car?).  So I choose Sixteen Candles.  It’s still adventurous and instead of seeing a young Charlie Sheen, we see a young John Cusack hanging out with a band of nerds, the leader of which, Anthony Michael Hall, is famously billed only as “The Geek”.  Panty borrowing, drunken haircuts and Paul Dooley’s eye rolling all makes for one excellent sick day movie.
• Robin Hood: Men in Tights- Now really, just about any Mel Brooks movie can work on a sick day, but this one has always and will always be my favorite.  An odd choice, yes, but Cary Elwes basically reprises his role from The Princess Bride and does it while singing about wearing pantyhose.   A very young Dave Chappelle plays Ahchoo, son of Asneeze (played by the late Isaac Hayes), along with a long list of great character actors (including Tracey Ullman as Latrine, formerly Shithouse, and Patrick Stewart as King Richard).  Like all Mel Brooks movies, this film is terrible, but in the best way possible.  Plus, it’s more relevant than ever with yet another freakin’ Robin Hood movie in the works.  As the villagers point out in the beginning of the movie, “Every time they make a Robin Hood movie they burn our village down!”  Please, Russell Crowe, think of the villagers.

• So I Married an Axe Murderer- Hands down, the most underrated Mike Myers movie (bonus: it was made looong before the downfall of his career!) and my all time favorite sick day movie.  I still have yet to buy it on DVD, because I treasure my VHS of it so much and I’m scared there are going to be scenes missing or something ridiculous like that. Every time I watch it I find something else that cracks me up.  Case and point, Phil Hartman as the Alcatraz tour guide introducing himself as, “John Johnson, but everyone here calls me Vicky”.  One of the most quotable movies ever.  Put away your prejudice against Mike Myers and just watch it.  Here’s one of my favorite scenes:

• The Princess Bride- An aforementioned movie, with good reason.  Pre-Wonder Years Kevin Arnold is sick in bed (automatic qualification) and Grandpa Columbo comes to tell him an amazing fairy tale that involves Cary Elwes rescuing Je-nay from Forrest Gump.  Also, Andre the Giant is in it.  Need I say more?
• Back to the Future- And if you’re home sick for multiple days, the entire trilogy… well, no one will judge you if you decide to take a nap during the third one.  May you have Nyquil dreams of hoverboards dancing through your head.

I’ve been home sick for several days now, but my mom recently mentioned to me that “just because you’re sick, that doesn’t mean that you have to lay in bed.”

Doesn’t it, mom?  Doesn’t it?

Songs for Spring

Sitting at my cubicle today with the sun glaring in through the windows, I came to realize that I just was not in the mood for my usual melancholy playlist.  Nope, it is finally time for the transition to springtime songs.

There are just certain albums that do not work during spring and summer.  For instance, “Plans” by Death Cab for Cutie had been in heavy rotation during most of January and February, but watching the snow melt before my very eyes today meant the time had come for something much more upbeat.

I have a few go-to albums for spring (well, I had a few amazing go-to playlists on my iPod before it died, but that’s neither here nor there).  Some might be considered a bit dated, but once you have your car windows down and are driving home while the sun is still up, you’ll see the pure perfection in each song.

Here for you, is my official spring 2010 playlist, thus far.

• Let Me Introduce My Friends – I’m From Barcelona: I dare you to find a happier band that is still intended for adults.  Finding out that they made an appearance on “Yo Gabba Gabba” was probably the most appropriate thing I had ever heard.  I saw them a few years back at Lollapalooza and was just amazed.  They’re one of those bands with about a million people in it and they just seem so joyful all the time.  They’re like Raffi for your post college years.

• Night Falls Over Kortedala – Jens Lekman: Yes, another foreigner with a charming accent.  This album always reminds me of riding my bike around during summer.  It’s kind of perfect for that (you know, if you’re not dodging traffic or anything).  “A Postcard to Nina” is the most perfect song ever written about unknowingly being the beard to your lesbian friend while she introduces you to her father.  You know… that old story.

• The Execution of All Things – Rilo Kiley: This album is great for days when I’m pretending that Rilo Kiley never made “Under the Blacklight”… So, basically, always.  Outside of that little blunder, Rilo Kiley will always be one of my favorite bands.  I really love it when bands are able to actually sound like the place that they’re from.  Rilo Kiley does that and so many of their songs sound like pure California sun.  “With Arms Outstretched” is a song that makes me want to really do something- open all the windows in the house and clean like a mad woman or take a long road trip or anything to make me feel like I’ve accomplished something.
• Team Boo – Mates of State: Okay, this might be a band to rival the joyfulness of I’m From Barcelona and they, along with one of their kids have also been on “Yo Gabba Gabba”, which means immediate brownie points in my book.

• Born to Run – Bruce Springsteen: “Thunder Road”?  “Born to Run”?  I don’t think this one requires any justification.
• Ben Kweller – Ben Kweller: Basically, all of Ben’s albums could go on this list.  He’s yet another artist who seems to motivate me to get things done.  His Bubbie, featured in this video, clearly has similar powers.

Aaaand, my new addition for this year:

• Post-Nothing – Japandroids: Maybe I didn’t pay close enough attention to this band at first, but I’ve come to really like this album.  I look forward to many more listens to it with the sun beating down on me, particularly at Bonnaroo, where they’ll be playing a set this summer.

I know this list is pretty short, but it’s only just the beginning, friends.  As the weather heats up, my mind will be flooded with potential playlists… Plus, I’ve got a cold and I don’t feel like writing any more until I locate a Kleenex box.

Please, feel free to comment with your favorite springtime albums!