i won't leave intentionally

Long time, no post. But in my defense, my life has been a busy, albeit glorious whirlwind of late. I'm doing so much I never though I would do, seeing places I've always wanted to see, and spending a lot of quality time with my music collection.

I was going to dedicate this post to bragging all about my wonderful time at Hangout Fest, but if you follow me on any social media, I have sufficiently, (and obnoxiously), done that. And I really wish that I was sorry about it. Instead, I am going to try to dedicate one post a week to a band/artist I will be seeing at Lollapalooza in August. 

So, for post number one, let's talk about Manchester Orchestra, and more specifically, their newest musical venture: Cope. 

First of all, I loved it instantly. By the time I got to The Ocean, I knew that this was going to be my favorite album of theirs, and every time I listen to it, I am even more convinced of this. 

Choose You: 

The invention of the ship was the invention of the shipwreck. I tried to find out who I was by jumping off the deck. 

With all things that are created, in turn, comes the ability of said things to be destroyed or harmed. With all "good" things comes the equally "bad" counterpart. The emotional capacity that allows us to love, also allows us to hate. It's a choice that we make every day.

So, with your choices, are you choosing to create something or destroy it? 

And I don't, I won't, I don't choose you...

Or can you do both at the same time? 

Girl Harbor: 

There is a name for men like you inside the dark, and I know your faults. I know the way you write them off. I don't want anything to do with it no more.

Think of a time when you've cared for someone with a flaw or two. That should be everyone you care about. Often those people return that affection despite your own flaws. The people that we can't quite get to are those that pretend they have none, or at least can't admit them to someone intimately, (out of a fear of weakness, no less). I know I have been guilty of this in the past, and it cost me. 

The Ocean

I hope you don't choke on that last passive word that you keep in your throat.

Sticks and stones, love.

All That I Really Wanted

Nobody thinks you're actually right. It feels like a battle; it's more like a fight. You always bark, you never bite. I don't believe it. 

Indentions

I think this may be my favorite song from Cope. It's very simple, but the lyrics hit me in the gut. 

What a nightmare it seemed, to honestly think anything. I won't leave indentions of me. 

I sometimes do this thing, where I slowly back away from people when I feel there is a chance I may get hurt. I remove myself slowly, so when I'm actually gone, I'll barely be remembered anyway. It's what I feel myself doing now. I travel constantly, and come fall, I have no idea where my future is headed, and I'm very aware that I'm, (possibly subconsciously), trying to distance myself from people that I care about. It's stupid. 

It doesn't matter to me, I tell myself repeatedly.

Cope

Ahh, the raucous title track. I was talking with someone I met recently, and we were discussing how we fall in love with music. He is more concerned with the actual music, lyrics come later, but I tend to fall for lyrics first, then appreciate the actual music almost as an afterthought. But this song was different. I don't think the lyrics even registered with me the first two or three times I listened. 

But finally, I heard: 

If I do echo, I hope you never see, there is no one there that's waiting after me.

And I felt love again.  

have love. will travel.

As you know, music festival season is already in full swing, and I have somehow landed the coolest job ever, and I am able to go to almost any of them. So here's my current first world problem: how do I pick the best festivals with the least amount of overlap? And also, who is going with me?

Beale Street Music Festival (May 2-4)

So, a mediocre line up at best, but it's at home, and I have tons of people I can (and will) go with. It's also inexpensive as far as three-day festivals go. It's a for sure for me, though I will skip out on any day in a heartbeat if there's a home playoff game for the Grizz. 

Artist Highlights: Alabama Shakes, Foster the People, Pretty Lights, Snoop Dogg (Lion?), Juicy J (it's a Memphis thing), Grouplove, Third Eye Blind, Blues Traveler, Fitz and the Tantrums, Wolfmother

Hangout (May 16-18)

This is also a for sure for me. Of all the festival lineups, it's my favorite, because it has the most acts I want to see in one place. Downside to that is that I have many scheduling conflicts, (which can be remedied by going to multiple festivals with overlapping acts). Also, my brother and some of his friends are going, and they're a fun group to hang with, and we all have similar music tastes.

Artist Highlights: The Black Keys, MODEST FREAKING MOUSE, Outkast, Jack Johnson (It IS a beach afterall), Childish Gambino, Avett Brothers, Portugal. The Man, Bastille, Amos Lee, pretty much every other act on the list

NYC Governor's Ball (June 6-8)

This is where I'm trying to find a reason NOT to go. I can get there easily. I know of at least one person going, and potentially a few others. I know the layout and I really like it. My previous worry was that there would be too much overlap, but upon further dissection of the line up, I think I'm good. 

Artist Highlights: Outkast (again), JACK WHITE (!!!), Vampire Weekend, Broken Bells, Sleigh Bells, Childish Gambino (again, but I really don't care; I'll always go see him), Tyler the Creator, Skrillex, The Head and the Heart

Firefly (June 19-22)

So, really I'd rather skip Gov Ball and Lolla to go to this one. It combines the biggest acts I want to see from both, but it's in Dover, DE. So, um, if anyone wants to go to Delaware with me, please let me know, because as easily as I can make friends, I really don't want to go to a music festival solo. Also, this festival is four days, and it could cause a bit of a scheduling conflict. 

Artist Highlights: Foo Fighters, Outkast (good grief), Weezer, Arctic Monkeys, Childish, Cage the Elephant, RAC, Band of Horses, Young the Giant, Beck, Local Natives

Lollapalooza (August 1-3)

I love Chicago, and I've always wanted to go during Lollapalooza. It's also a pretty decent line-up, and I wouldn't be going alone. So, actually I've just decided to go while typing out the acts coming. I apparently only half read the list before. 

Artist Highlights: Kings of Leon, Outkast (FOR REAL), Calvin Harris, Arctic Monkeys, Lorde, Avett Brothers, Spoon, Childsh, Lykke Li, Chvrches, MANCHESTER ORCHESTRA, Iggy Azalea, Glen Hansard 

Okay, to recap, I just need help deciding between Gov Ball and Firefly, but really I think Gov Ball is the clear winner. What do you guys think? And where are you headed this summer? 

Red, white, blues in the skies. Summer's in the air, and baby heaven's in your eyes.