Completely dead on our feet, we decide to make it all the way through Day 3 we needed a break from the scorching afternoon sessions as there was no one we wanted to see until 4 anyway. We headed to Revolution Brewing for lunch which I can't recommend enough.
Our main goal for Sunday was staking out a good position for Foo Fighters. Unfortunately this meant we had to cut Cage The Elephant out of the schedule whom we all really wanted to see, but was the only band on our revised schedule not playing at Music Unlimited. Also Flogging Molly would have been great, but I've seen them twice before and they were on directly opposite of the Cars.
We got to the stage right as the Cars launched into their first song and pushed as far as we could up into the crowd. It's always nice to have a few nostalgia acts around. The Cars are a classic rock staple, but a little past their prime. Nothing special, but it was still nice to say I've seen them. The heat was bearing down intensely though as I chugged through my Gatorade as well as a bottle of water I brought within about 10 minutes of arriving. The girlfriend went out for reinforcements during the show and searched for a camelbak to keep us hydrated as we anticipated moving closer for the Arctic Monkeys show in blazing heat. She found no camelbak and instead came back armed with 3 ponchos.
This would prove very wise as the oppressive heat gave way to a very dark and swirling clouds a few minutes before the Arctic Monkeys were to begin their set. The already mud packed field was getting much worse as buckets of rains or a Box of Rain for deadheads out there poured down. All around mud people were forming as it was impossible to stay clean and dry in this environment. Finally the rain subsided and the Monkeys came out. A band I support, but find overproduced at times delivered exactly that live. Some of the drumming was a little heavy handed, but as they settled in for the stretch drive of their weather shortened set they got the crowd dancing and singing along to their big hits. The good thing about the rain delay: Foo Fighters were now only 35 minutes away.
Now the moment we've been waiting for all weekend and really the impetus of the trip. We were exhausted, wet and muddy, sore backs, hip flexors and feet that were on fire. The second Dave Grohl set foot on the stage it was all worth it. After releasing a string of just ok albums, earlier this year the Foo released Wasting Light a hard rocking masterpiece better than anything they've put out this side of The Colour and Shape. They immediately launched into the album opener Bridges Burning. Oh you can now add a sore neck to my list of maladies. Headbanging to this is natural instinct.
After playing Rope and launching into The Pretender the skies let loose again. This does faze Dave Grohl. He is superman. They ripped through a fantastic performance as I am now getting a little hoarse as well screaming the chorus of this song. Mother nature is not going to put a damper on this show. They play through the whole storm. There was one moment that was picture worthy when during Learn To Fly a close up on Dave Grohl appeared on the monitor with rain flying all over the place while he was chugging along on the guitar. Epic.
The rain settled back down and at this point really no one cared if they were wet or muddy. We knew we had no chance of leaving the grounds clean. My shoes are still recovering from the mud bath we went through while walking out. Maybe another washer cycle? Doing everything Cee Lo didn't Grohl keeps the crowd engaged during the whole show and they play an excellent mix of songs both old and new. I don't get my far fetched wish of "Hey Johnny Park", but it doesn't matter. This is great.
As the time is nearing closer to 10 p.m. they anounce there is no encore. They aren't leaving the stage, just playing until the time is up. This is what rock and roll is supposed to be. Finally after heaping praise on Lolla founder and Jane's Addiction lead singer Perry Ferrel they launch into the last song of the night and one of my personal all time favorites. I don't think anything could top singing "Everlong" in the rainy muddy field. It's the highlight of the whole weekend. I doubt I'll ever do the whole 3 day Lolla thing again and I don't know if everything will ever feel this real forever or if everything could ever be this good again. All I know is right now this is the pinnacle of a rock and roll show and I loved every minute of it.
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