As you may know by now, SWEETLIFE festival is just around the corner aka THIS SUNDAY (did you get your tickets yet? word is they’re going FAST) and since half of you instantly wrote a comment saying “HOW THE HELL AM I GETTING TO MERRIWEATHER?” popchips and BYT are coming to the rescue. FOR FREE.
Yeah-every week up until May 1st we’ll be giving away 30 spots a week in a couple of popchips & good times laden buses which will take you from DC to Merriweather and back (healthy, delicious snacks and opportunities to mack on fellow festival goers while feeling REALLY GOOD about your carbon imprint and NOT drunk driving included).
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BYT
= MAGIC
Anyway, so now you obviously want to know how you can get your sweet, little ass on that BUS #1? Well, to enter to win on of the 20 pairs of bus rides we’re giving away this week (we’ve already given 15 pairs each in the past three weeks), leave us a comment telling us WHAT YOUR GREATEST Concert going experience in the last year was and why. We’ll notify the winners by COB WEDNESDAY. Cool? COOL.
(all the twitter update handles you may need: @popchips, @sweetgreen, @byt, @merriweatherpp — hashtag #sweetlife)
Dayglow was by far the coolest ‘concert’ I’ve been to. Raged from 10pm to 5am without skipping a beat. By the time I got home my clothes were paint covered and in rags..
rage
sleigh bells and rock and roll hotel, hands down. amazing crowd, amazing show. beer stained and sweaty at the end, as one should be at the end of a proper show.
I checked out the Love Language at the Black Cat last July, after discovering them at last year’s Sweetlife Festival! Even though I went solo and I was a sweaty fucking mess by the end of the show, I had the best time just being there, standing on the bench in the Red Room (my 5’1 frame and decent concert views don’t have a great track record). When I wasn’t screaming my lungs out to songs like “Manteo”, I would absorb every lyric reverberating from Stuart McLamb’s lungs and just fucking enjoy it. Being there brought me back to my high school indie fangirl days when my musical tastes were more eclectic and my time far less corporate. Not a bad way to spend a Wednesday night.
I think my best concert experience was the Bacardi Five tour with Major Lazer, Diplo, and Man and Kim.
THey seriously put on a good show and I danced all night w/o stopping..
Must of been the Barcardi I had that night but everyone looked damn good to me.
ahaha.
Most most definitely Diplo at the MixMash Pool Party in Miami. Everything about that sounds so overly electro and kind of douchey (esp because I kind of hated Miami before I went) but it was amazing. I somehow managed to be right on the stage looking up into my future husband’s eyes. I noticed his diplodocus (his favorite childhood dinosaur) tattooed on his arm, so I had my friend Jojo draw one on mine. After many attempts, I finally got him to look at it. He took his two fingers kissed them and pressed them to my arm. I freaked out and screamed like the little school girl I am and his entourage and the people around me laughed.
After his set, I asked to take a picture with him and then asked for a hug. Upon doing so, he kissed me on the cheek. Ah. Never forget.
Oh and I saw him again that night at Grand Central at a Mad Decent concert. So, I stalk him.
seeing warpaint at dc9 last summer was fantastic. perhaps only 20 or so people there. nice and intimate. a total jam out.
Crystal Castles at the 9:30 Club! They came on so insanely late we had time to catch the opener, get wings and beer at Nellie’s, and then head back over to the club to hear their set. Ahmazing show – high energy and great people-watching.
Andrew Bird at 6th and I Synagogue!
Super intimate, great music, decent bar. Appropriately, it was probably the closest thing i’ve had to religious experience.
Robyn played at Ramshead in Baltimore this year and it was AMAZING. Packed house, great crowd and incredible music, she played for almost 3 hours straight. Left the show completely drenched in sweat and alcohol from dancing the night away and ended up spending time after the show running around in the pouring rain. Best experience this year.
cut copy at lollapalooza! after an amazing semester and summer in australia/fiji/new zealand, i got to go to lolla in chicago. amazing city, amazing park. we were so close to those sexy melbournians and i def repped my melbourne pride. and dan whitford is the man. so much energy, so sweaty, SO AWESOMELY RAGE-TASTIC
ROBYN AT RAMS HEAD. girlfriend can tear shit up. Sweden <3
Best concert I have been to in the last year –
GirlTalk Rams Head Baltimore. Reasons: Soaked in sweat from dancing (my own and those around me, but didn’t care cause the music is just too damn good to care)
Made friends with everyone in a three feet radius cause the mosh pit was sooo intense
And a sentimental reason – my brother took me as my Christmas gift – brother/sister bonding
I went to the Red bull Soundclash of the Foreign Exchange v. The Love Language. It’s an amazing experience to truly have half the audience rooting for one band and the other half rooting for another. To hear never before performed versions of songs was awesome. It was great to hear another band with a completely different sound interpretation of the Foreign Exchange music. Both bands did a phenomenal job of performing each other’s music, and the energy in the room was something I have rarely experienced.
Menomena at 9:30 Club last fall. I don’t get why this band isn’t as popular as it should be….months later, I’m still addicted to their albums no matter how many times I listen. Listening to them live was just the most incredible experience ever.
Jonsi at 9.30
..that shit is my church.
VirginFEST was my fav – Sleigh Bells, Matt & Kim, Yeasayer, with a big funky finish by LCD Soundsystem rocked my world! Hot sun. Sweaty dancing. Cheap beers. SO ready to head back to Merriweather for SWEETLIFE!!!!!!
VirginFest was most awesome, especially Sleigh Bell’s perfdormance. Forestwide mosh pit!
The best concert that I saw in the past year was Pavement at Uptown Theater in Kansas City, MO on September 11, 2010. #1 that’s a shitty day, #2 its a shittier day to be born on.. but that was by far the best birthday i’ve had, and not to mention I got to squeeze all the fun out of it and threw up all over someone else’s car.
reasons it was great: was with good friends, pavement is awesome, and the whole place was jumping…. i had also been waiting 4 years to see them, so the build up was great.
it was ~*~TRES BIEN~*~
Tiesto @ DC Armory
I would say…my entire life I’ve been searching for something, and on April 9, 2011 I found it. Tiesto’s blessings had me maximal crazy in a motherfuckin moonsuit. All night sharing sweat and screams with ten thousand fellow wobblelegs all brightly lit and ready/able/willing to schnell. So glad I brought my cosmogoggles for that one. Dude knows how to rock. Those of you who were there know what I’m talking about. Right?
!!! (CHK CHK CHK) this past September at the Black Cat.
Take their albums, multiply them by 1000, add crazy dancing, energy, and a whole lot of sweat, and that’s close to what the show was like. I expected a decent concert, but they blew me away. At one point, the frontman Nic Offer went into the crowd and danced with about 20 different people, including me! As it there wasn’t enough craziness, they ended up the show by accepting a girl’s challenge to a dance-off with Offer. That dude can dance, but she kicked his ass on stage. UNDERRATED BAND & AMAZING SHOW!
HOT CHIP at Central Park last summer! – The trio of Hot Chip + Hercules & Love Affair + Holy Ghost = amazing. Hercules and Love Affair had awesome energy and some damn hot outfits! When Hot Chip came on, the insanely large crowd was already pumped up. They kept up the energy, playing all of their best songs. with such a bang. It was a huge dance party in the middle of Central Park on an insanely hot day in NYC – perfect summer concert.
The National at DAR this past June! During Mr. November, Matt Berninger climbed into the tiers right where I was sitting, danced with the crowd and let us all sing the chorus into the mic. I still pee my pants a bit just thinking about it.
Phoenix at DAR, sitting next to the sound guy who gave me his setlist after the show. Amazing music, amazing set, amazing experience.
My first concert ever, Hootie and the Blowfish with my parents. Everyone got up on their seats and danced through the whole concert!
There was an intimate gathering at the 9:30 club– just me, Grace Potter, the Nocturnals, and a few other friends. It was my first “real” concert and I felt like an enormous badass, even though I was, in reality, an awkward little 15-year-old who was under the impression that dancing consisted of either grinding or standing completely still and nodding your head to the beat.
Coachella. Hands down the best fest.
DJ Tiesto
DC Armory
April 9th, 2011
I had only seen Tiesto one time before – for free in a main square of downtown Bucharest, Romania while backpacking from Prague to Istanbul (I dare you to get more euro-hip/chic than that).
Well, Tiesto at the DC Armory with 10,000 of my closest friends blew that previous Tiesto experience out of the water (in every sense of the word).
Immeadiately upon arriving at the Armory, I lose track of everyone I came with. Ended up three people back from the front of the crowd, and jumped/stood in the same spot for the entirety of the show. Am pretty sure I made eye contact w/ Tiesto (well i thought so at the time, upon second thought, thats ridiculous). Tiesto had the audience wrapped around his finger – we did what ever he told us be it “Dance for me washington” or “Sweat for me” or “Make noise for me”. When he commanded the crowd to go “Maximum Crazy”, we did.
I went into the concert merely a girl wearing crazy clothes, but I came out “Maximum Crazy” about Tiesto and concerts and dense crowds rolling on techno, love, and other things.
My best music experience was definitely seeing Muse at Wembley last september. It was properly epic. My friend and I queued for about 16h just to make sure we get a good spot at the barrier. By the time Muse came on stage, we were dead tired, but as soon as the music started, it was like we were on a crazy high, literally. Never jumped and screamed that much in my entire life. Words can’t really translate the feeling of your favorite band playing on stage while you’re jumping along with 80 000 people, getting squashed and hit and stomped and yet not giving a flying eff, or the feeling you get when you know every single lyrics of the songs and you sing along with an entire crowd. It was really magical and totally surrealistic, a bit like we were literally high, I guess. I cried and laughed and sung along and fell and got on the shoulders of a perfect stranger- whom I made best friends with by the end of the show, music connecting people, ha.-, all in about 1h30. By the end of the gig, our feet were literally bleeding and we had lost most of our stuff in the mosh pit, but I had the biggest and most retarded smile on my face all night long. Totally worth it.
Wow, just realized how lucky i am to have seen a bunch of what people have commented on… gonna have to agree with Robyn at Ram’s Head Live tore.it.up., Freefest Dance Forest was INCREDIBLE last year, The National and Phoenix rocked D.A.R., the Hot Chip show in Central Park last year was fantastic, COACHELLA 2K10 and 2K11 were life-changing (sweetlife sweethearts – crystal castles! the strokes!). But LCD Soundsystem farewell show at Madison Square Garden takes the cake… 20,000 people all dancing their hearts out and then immediately brought to tears for the final song. Nothing can top it.
Wow, just realized how lucky i am to have seen a bunch of what people have commented on… gonna have to agree with Robyn at Ram’s Head Live tore.it.up., Freefest Dance Forest was INCREDIBLE last year, The National and Phoenix rocked D.A.R., the Hot Chip show in Central Park last year was fantastic, COACHELLA 2K10 and 2K11 were life-changing (sweetlife sweethearts – crystal castles! the strokes!). But LCD Soundsystem farewell show at Madison Square Garden takes the cake… 20,000 people all dancing their hearts out and then immediately brought to tears for the final song. Nothing can top it.
Sweetlife 2011 – if, you know, I can get there.
Cut Copy, Girl Talk and the guy in the subway station who plays a beautiful horn.
Best concert was being front row center at Matt and Kim at Virgin Mobile Free Fest. Kim ran into my arms at the end of the concert. Best day of my LIFE
Carsick Cars at the Strawberry Festival in Beijing!
Imagine a gaggle of Chinese hipsters and hippies, moshing to the forefathers of Chinese indie rock and singing along to every song at the top of their lungs, just as the sun is setting behind the stage. Best sensory overload I’ll ever experience.
My favorite part though was watching the dubious expressions on the faces of the policemen guarding the stage. Haven’t these guys ever seen kids crowdsurf before?!
Sadly, the original band members have since broken up, which makes the memories from that performance all the more sentimental.
Best concert last year was seeing John Butler Trio perform at Ram’s Head Live. I waited in line for 2 hours to be front and center and made amazing friends in line who hadn’t seen him perform. I told them he is one of the most energetic and passionate performers. He put on such an amazing show and the audience was incredible. My new friends gave me hugs after the concert agreeing it was the best they’ve been to.
Seeing the Dashboard Confessionals Swiss Army Romance reunion tour in Baltimore was unbelievable. My friends and I had a bet that his first song was going to be “Screaming Infiedlities. Sure enough he started the concert with the first chord dun dun dun dunnnn “I’m missing your bed, I never sleep….” #awesome
The chance to relive my emo disgruntled teenage years? YES PLEASE!!
Also, Good Old War opened up and I had never heard of them. Feel in LOVE with their harmony and feel-good vibe. Best concert of the year by far!
No concert will ever beat the insane, cult-ritual-esque experience that is the band YACHT. Just two people, one in black, one in white, one computer, one keyboard, and the biggest dance moshpit you could possibly crunch into a tiny, dingy music pub. Imagine the boat scene from Willy Wonka – well that was a Toys R Us compared to this concert. YACHT’s crazy electro pop beats would have been sufficient – but what sent this show over the edge was that it was in Shanghai, China. Sharing cheap Chinese beers and boppin with a group of Mongolians to YACHT – goes to show that music is an experience that transcends language and culture. Unforgettable.
The best concert I have ever been to was definitely MUSE when I saw them in the DC area in August 2007. Someone before me has had the blessing of seeing MUSE at Wembley Stadium, I have not been so lucky to see them there (but it’s pretty awesome on DVD too!) I was able to see them after I had discovered their awesomeness and developed a love for their music. I was able to get to the front of the pit and watch Matt Bellamy be the rock star that he is. The concert was a bit scary at times (I am a short female and that’s not the best situation amongst moshing) but the whole experience was definitely worth those few moments of terror when I lost my friends in the crowd. They are seriously the best live act in the world and I have become addicted to seeing them live. I still remember being so nervous before the show because I couldn’t believe i was ACTUALLY seeing them live. Every song was flawless from Knights to New born…..gahh i wanna go back!
(Love this “Talk some s#*% “button btbubs!)
Best concert of the year so far… Hmmm that’s a tough one, but I’m going with Two Door Cinema Club at the Black Cat last November. It was my first Black Cat experience and I’ve been a regular ever since.
As for the concert, Two Door showed up around an hour late and the crowed was getting a bit rowdy. Though they seemed a tad shaken when they got up on the stage, the lead singer went straight for a bottle of wine, and eased his tension. You could just tell how excited they were to be playing for the DC crowd. The set lasted for about an hour and a half and no one wanted it to end, even the drunken fool next to me who could barely utter the word “door.” They played a few songs they had just written on the road, which were amazing.
I got the chance to see Two Door again at the 930 club a few months back, and it just wasn’t the same. They seemed rushed and unenthusiastic to be playing here again. I guess there’s something about the gritty charm of the Black Cat that doesn’t quite carry over to the 930 club
Also, honorable mention to Gold Panda who played at Red Palace a few weeks back. That guys got some serious talent.
Tiesto @ the Armory
Because that is where I learned what happens to your mind when someone walks up behind you and closes off your eardrums…alternating…off beat. oh. my. god.
also because i had never previously said YES so utterly shamelessly before.
Rodrigo y Gabriela.
crazy soulful latin guitar hand slapping in DC with a great crowd. loved it.
did I try to pick up a guitar and slap the shit out of it? maybe. did it sound the same? definitely not.
The Very Best in Bologna, Italy.
Apparently italians had never heard of them given the crowd of about ten high schoolers. At least that did not stop the very best from putting on a great show and inviting the entire crowd onstage to get down with the Malawian dancers and the palm tree set that came along with stage.
Whigs rocked too a couple weeks ago! I mean come on Canadian Tuxedo and leg kicks galore?! Can’t beat that shit!
crystal fighters – I saw them in london in march and havent been to a show like it in sooo long; everyone was really into the music and was dancing like crazy
Red Hot Chili Peppers at the RBC center in Raleigh, NC for the Stadium Arcadium tour. Great cover of “Havana Affair” by the Ramones and an encore of Under the Bridge and Give it Away with some awesome solos thrown in there. I’ve been a huge fan my whole life and finally got to see them live. They’re unbelievable musicians and put on an fantastic performance.
I saw Lady Gaga at the Verizon center last fall. We smuggled in a flask, and snuck far closer to the stage than we should have gotten – we had terrible seats, in the last tier or something. My memories of the night are blurry, but I remember vividly how fantastic it was to be there, with shitty sparkly makeup on my face singing along as Gaga diva-ed out. I don’t care how (bad-)crazy she gets now, because that night she was epic.
The best concert I’ve been to in the past year has to be The Frames at the 9:30 club in November. I went in a casual fan of The Frames, more a fan of The Swell Season, to be honest. But every single song had the audience in rapt attention, and Glen Hansard’s voice was absolutely phenomenal – better than the studio recordings. He came across as a genuine, nice guy, thanking us all for coming sincerely, and telling us funny stories between songs – he even said that he loves the 9:30 club specifically because they give out cupcakes, and go out of their way to make sure the artists are comfortable.
Plus, I’d say I saw a solid 10 girls sitting in the fetal position crying during the concert – it was half-funny, but also a testament to just how beautiful and tragic The Frames’ lyrics can be. I went in mostly hoping to a Swell Season song or two, but left absolutely stunned.
Def was DISPATCH in NY at Madison Sq. Garden 6 years ago! It was the most incredible experience! You not only listened to awesome chill music with a huge sold out audience but they gathered a bunch of Zimbabwe kids who got to preform on stage!
Girl Talk at 9:30 Club! Dance party on steroids.
The Tallest Man on Earth at 9:30 Club on October 3. It was a rainy Sunday night and my friend and I had each had terrible weeks. We forgot it all as soon as the music started. The crowd was remarkably quiet, everyone focused on his fantastic music. I’ve never seen a single performer captivate an audience like he did. Perfect, mellow end to a stressful week. Simply sublime.
The Head and the Heart, opening for Dr. Dog at 930. Went for Dr. Dog, but the best performance was from the opener. The Head and the Heart were absolutely fantastic. So energetic that the whole audience was dancing and singing along to songs they had never heard before. Guy in front of me had never seen them, but you would have guessed from his enthusiasm that he was their biggest fan. Perfect way to discover a new band.
Girl Talk at Pomona College (near LA) for Halloween! Harwood Halloween is the event that kids look forward to every year, and its always sick. This year was special though. The party became so popular that it was moved to a huge underground parking lot. Daedelus opened, which was dope, so by the time Girl Talk showed up it was really bumpin. The parking lot was also kinda sloped downwards, and the whole night I could feel the ground shaking because of all the crazy raving going on. I was dressed as a pigeon and managed to get on stage at one point when I fought to the front cause he was letting people climb on and dance on there. Best night ever
BONE THUGS N HARMONY. 9:30 club in dc earlier this year.
Im a skinny asian guy but bone thugs have been my favorite for awhile no doubt. I went with my sister who was in town. The crowd was pretty strange but that didn’t matter. As soon as it started we just went crazy. It helped that we were a little out of it. Literally couldn’t talk for the next couple days
Winners have been selected! Details will come post-noon!