04 July 2006

Damn Yankees...

There's two things people always say they hate that bother me. One is the Taste of Chicago and the other is country music. So imagine my delight when the Country Music Festival coincided with the Taste over the holiday weekend! A lovely Sunday complete with jerk chicken, pierogis, and italian ice to the strains of Phil Vassar, SHeDAISY (silly name, catchy tunes), and Jo Dee Messina. And a few tickets left over for lunch next week.

So first, let's discuss the Taste. Yes, it's crowded. Considerably less so between 11 and 1 than later in the afternoon. Also, you know there will be a lot of people, so stop complaining and jump in and fight for that meatball. And actually, the people watching is really the best part. Yuppies from River North meet yokels from Wisconsin meet gay couple from Boystown meet that woman behind me trying to order a pierogi in Korean. Good times. It happens once a year, there's free live music from great bands (Liz Phair and Fountains of Wayne are facing off against the World Cup championship next Sunday...tough choice), shut up and go!

Now, country music. Is it just that people who say they don't like country have only heard 'Achy Breaky Heart'? If so, don't worry, that is objectively bad music. Today's country actually edges toward pop and is really just feel-good, down-home, easy 4-4 rhythym for a sunny summer day. I know you think you're all indie-rock naming bands we've all never heard of and that's fine, but if you don't like Phil Vassar's 'Joe and Rosalita', you don't like music. Period. (see post title)

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