August 7, 2006, 7:02 pm : New favourite bands, corndogs, drag queens and Magritte

I really love live music and I really love festival shows and I really love that being back in the USA means that I can indulge myself, splurge on the old airpoints and go to Chicago for the weekend to see Lollapalooza. Although not quite the alternative hot spot of years past (what the fuck is Blues Traveler doing there?), I did see Mute Math, Editors and my new FAVOURITE BAND© Be Your Own Pet. I know that they have already been ruined when they were written up in Rolling Stone, but they were so much fun and had such great energy and I’m always a sucker for a mouthy girl saying ‘FUCK’ every other word.

I saw the Flaming Lips for the third time and it was just as amazing as the others, which made up for the pouty Sonic Youth and the mumbly Ryan Adams. Geez, you’d think that the nice weather and crowds completely fired up to see them would have brought out a couple of smiles, but no – Ryan Adams, fuck off and go make another average album and take Sonic Youth with ya. The next day brought a trip to the Art Institute, with all of the superstar Dj painters on display for the tourists. All my old pals were there – De Chirico, Seurat, Twombly and my personal pal, Magritte. In fact, I saw a Magritte that must have been down in the basement on my other visits. Check it out below – if anyone knows the name of this work, pls post it – can’t find it on the ‘tute site! Help!!

I almost forgot about the corndogs and drag queens, lots of both at the Northalsted Market Days. It was like a normal main street, aside from the cute girls making out with each other and the bears with dog leashes attached to their nipples. I was disappointed that the corn dogs weren’t more, shall we say, thematically shaped…I did a double take at the drag stage! Remember Felly, the chick from Technotronic that sang, er mouthed, ‘Pump up the Jam’ in the 80s, the one with the blue lipstick? This guy pays homage with his rendition of ‘Get Up (before the night is over)’. Check the uncanny resemblance. Where’s Spy Magazine when I need it?