lolla music lounge day one

Photography by Seth Browarnik, Greg Minasian on August 7th, 2010 in Festivals & Conferences, Musicians, Nightlife

Ke$ha

Chicago, IL – August 6, 2010 – I guess it’s a good thing that I can’t remember if its been three or four years that Ive been shooting Lollapalooza and all of the amazing events that surround the festival. Before, during, but especially after the festival, the music – minded descend on the Hard Rock Hotel where BMF Media hosts the hottest party in town year after year.

The daytime events take place on two floors. One floor has an experiential lounge like no other gifting suite Ive photographed. The energy is young and fun. There is drinking and music, tattoos, Rock the Vote, Garnier and Pop Chips. The Express Rocks! café is on the fourth floor where musicians, writers, producers, and “industry” guests from all over the country eat lunch, drink beers, and watch hot young bands perform live. It’s the polar opposite of a supper club but embodies the same in concept. Just way more like a lunchroom at an all hipster high school.

At night, the Belvedere Lounge opens at 10 pm, and Lollapalooza leftovers pour into the hotel-its fun just to watch. Check the blog later when the recap is posted when I get home later tonight. Even just after the first afternoon, I’ve captured Ke$ha and her boyfriend getting their gifting on. When I left the lounge this afternoon, there was rumor of her drinking too much and possibly getting a tattoo. Never happened. Mike Posner’s assistant carried up his swag and delivered it into the room next to mine where Mike is currently resting before he hosts tonight’s main event. Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes, the Constellations, Cut Copy, Rogue Wave, J. Cole, and Kill Hannah all stopped by. The only thing missing today was Madison, my favorite ALT Nation DJ.

As if the music vibe wasn’t seeping deep enough into everyone’s pours, Rock & Roll Royalty Dahni Harrison and his band thenewno2 spent the afternoon chilling as well. I couldn’t help but tell him about the cool photo of his dad that was a part of the Hard Rock Hotel décor that adorned my room. He told me he might come check it out later.