Back at it for the third and final day!
We took our time this afternoon getting into the park, and once we were, to stroll around. And of course we had to get one more “thrilling” photo from the Adidas shoebox lounge.
By late afternoon we made our way over to see The Cars, a real throwback moment. Though I’m not a huge fan, it was cool to see them play their hits (and be reminded of how many they had). “She Moves in Stereo” was particularly nostalgic as it brought back fond memories of Fast Times. They may have looked awfully aged on stage, but Ric and his band really sounded great.
After their set we made our way to the other end of the park to get a good spot for Cage the Elephant. The first time we saw Cage a couple years early remains one of the best Lolla surprises we’ve had, and we’ve been fans ever since. In the minutes before their set, the wind picked up a bit and the temperature cooled bringing some much welcome relief. And then we noticed the sky.
As the dark clouds quickly approached, Cage took the stage and roared off with their raw energy. It was only a couple songs in when the rain began. The drizzle continued for a couple more songs. The crowd was wet and annoyed with thoughts of soggy shoes for the rest of the day, but they were determined that rocking out was more important than seeking shelter.
And then the sky ripped open and sheets of rain began to pelt us. I don’t know if I’ve ever stood in a rain that hard, and if so, certainly I wasn’t in it long. Now soaked to the bone, everyone’s annoyance with the rain actually melted away. Something crappy had actually turned magical. Cage launched into “Shake Me Down”. Rain slashed onto the stage. Rain exploded off the drum heads and cymbals. Crews scrambled to get tarps over the stage monitors. And then came the bridge. Faces turned up to the downpour. Every hand pointed to the sky and we sang: “Even on a cloudy day, …, I’ll keep my eyes fixed on the sun”.
After Cage closed their set, the rain had moved on, and we waded away from stage. Ruined shoes, cameras, and cell phones were strewn about in the ankle deep water. All across the park there were muddy shenanigans – from dancing, to slides and making mud angels.
The closer on the main stage was the Foo Fighters, but by the time we got over there, the crowd was already filling in. Instead of standing packed in with the masses in the muddy midfield, we grabbed a roomier and less messy spot on a grassy hill a little further back. As dark fell, and the set began, the crowd was gigantic. I’m usually close to the stage for these acts, so this new perspective was remarkable.
Dave Grohl is an amazing talent, and their hits were good, but there were times the Foos sank into a jammy 70s vibe with extended instrumental sections that I found a little boring. But there were also great moments. The rain returned every bit as fierce as earlier in the day, but colder, while they ripped through “Hero”. And it poured. An eye blurring, umbrella bending (for the few that had one) deluge. The crowd shouted the chorus as if to drive back the rain. Like during the Cage set, there was a crazy feeling of community as every drenched person made this downpour something we wouldn’t forget.
Although the rain let up, a couple songs later Justin and I were shivering and questioning whether to stay or move to another spot. Then without warning, Mike said “I’m going in” and ran down our hill (how he didn’t wipe out on the mud I have no idea) and disappeared into the muddy humanity. We just laughed and gradually worked our way up while looking for D who we hadn’t seen since heading back to the hotel to change after Cage. Eventually we got separated, too. It was every man for themselves tonight.
After rocking out to Monkey Wrench, and now being separated from everyone in our party, I decided to sprint down to the other end of the park to see the last of Deadmau5’s set. I should have been exhausted, but I weaved through the muddy grounds with ease. The sounds of the Foos faded and the EDM thumping grew louder. As I crossed the middle of the park, the combination sounded like a crazy house remix of “Best of You”. I made it down to the other main stage in time to catch the massive rave during a mashup of “Professional Griefers” and “Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger”. Then Deadmau5 switched from wearing his trademark mouse helmet to a thin sheet and launched into a crazy finale of “Ghosts N Stuff”. Words can’t describe the soul shaking wall of sound as those synth chords blasted across the field.
Walking away after the set, I somehow ran into D in that sea of thousands of people. Justin met up with us back at the hotel along, with a very, very muddy Mike grinning ear to ear. It was the perfect end to the festival.
