This past weekend we were lucky enough to join our friends Kym and Glenn at a music festival, KAABOO, in Del Mar, California. Every once in a while they travel from Calgary and we from Toronto to meet somewhere fun to spend time together. A couple of years ago we joined them at a different music festival in Napa Valley (BottleRock). This was a similar experience with just as much good food, music and fun, but in a different setting. It’s so easy to fall in love with Southern California’s beaches, weather, food and good vibes. Add a swanky hotel on the beach (L’Auberge Del Mar) and days of great live music to the experience and it’s all the joy and fun you could ask for. We’re feeling very grateful for this experience.
On our first day Matt & I enjoyed a quiet breakfast on our patio, took a stroll around town, then met up with Kym and Glenn for lunch on a patio right on the beach. Drinking delicious cocktails and eating ceviche and fish tacos, we knew this trip was off to a great start.
We made our way over to the Del Mar Racetrack & Fairgrounds (built in 1936 by the Thoroughbred Club & founding member Bing Crosby) to see REO Speedwagon where we peaked early! With such a great performance, and a trip down memory lane to the eighties, afterwards Matt said “I could go home happy now”.
At the end, Lead singer Kevin Cronin said that Eddie Money had passed away that morning, one of his closest friends, and he promised Eddie’s wife he would play one of his songs. As Glenn quickly predicted with hope, we then found ourselves at a live tribute performance of Two Tickets to Paradise.
We explored all the music festival had to offer, which went way beyond live performances of music. We visited the Aperol Spritz booth, and yes, of course we indulged in a round of this sweet and bitter spritzy cocktail that brings me back to Italy. We indulged in lobster rolls from Wicked Maine Lobster (just when Matt thought he couldn’t be happier) and Pad Thai from Oodles of Noodles.
If you know our love for Hendrick’s Gin, you can imagine our appreciation for the cooky, witty, absolutely absurd (and meticulously on brand) Hendrick’s booth that offered 4 delicious varieties of gin cocktails.
Somewhere in the midst of our culinary and libation indulgences we visited the performance by The Cult, another journey to the past. They played their old hits and they sounded just as good as I remember them. We also listened to a bit of Snoop Dog from a distance before we made our way to the Kings of Leon performance. There were three main stages at this festival, which means there’s always a variety of options to choose from, and you walk a lot from one stage to another (with plenty of temptations along the way). All this to say Kym and I were tired and opted out of entering the designated audience area where everyone stands, and went looking for a place to watch the concert while sitting down. Imagine our delight when, as we were ordering Bourbon Mules from the Buillet Bourbon booth, we noticed a beautiful Bulliet Bourbon branded camper right next to us, and it was empty! I noticed a few passers by eyeing it, but they didn’t stand a chance once Kym and I had set our eyes on it. What a way to end our first day at the festival, laying down on a bed of cushions together with bourbons in hand giggling with joy while watching Kings of Leon.
The next day we walked into town for breakfast on a quaint secluded patio, then indulged in an afternoon by the pool at our hotel since the first performance we had our eye on wasn’t until 4:30. The weather was glorious, the pool was just cool enough to be refreshing, the Rose was cold and dry, the conversation was uplifting and endless, and you can’t beat the people watching in Southern California (those plastic surgeons must make a killing!).
Our first show would be Bryan Adams, which I felt lukewarm enthusiasm about, but big mistake! As Matt said, “he killed it playing hit after hit!”.
The highlight for me was OneRepublic. I was familiar with them and liked their songs, but have never seen them live and never took the time to appreciate their talent. I loved every minute of every song, including the songs you don’t realize were written by lead singer Ryan Tedder unless you’re paying attention (which I wasn’t). Sucker by Jonas Brothers? He wrote that and sang it like he owned it. Halo by Beyonce? Yes, that one too! He has also written (or co-written) hit songs for Leona Lewis, Ed Sheeran, Maroon 5 and Adele just to name a few (meanwhile writing and recording hit songs for OneRepublic). Geez, just when you think you’re doing alright in life you come across this guy! They’re releasing a new album in 2020 and touring, and you can bet we’ll be there!
If you’ve seen the memorial video for my friend James who passed away tragically 4.5 years ago, you can appreciate our emotions ran deep with their live performance of I Lived. I felt sadness and pain yes, but also love, gratitude and joy for something I can’t put into words. It’s simply a deep guttural feeling that comes with acceptance and appreciation for all that is beautiful and tragic and real in life. He will remain in a special place in my heart forever and I always appreciate experiences that take me to that place.
As the crowd cleared out after OneRepublic, Matt and I stayed behind and moved even closer to the stage to claim a spot for the upcoming performance by the Dave Matthews Band. For as long as I have known Matt he has wanted to see this band live. Isn’t it funny how you never know what you’re gonna get – you pick what you think is the best chocolate in the box but sometimes it ends up having a sour taste. The crowd became denser, more aggressive about staking out their territory, and many of them looked like they had been recreating heavily in anticipation of this concert. After about two songs, sadly I left Matt behind and went in search of peace and space. I think Matt would say he’s glad he was able to check the Dave Matthews Band box, but he didn’t enjoy it as much as the wholesome old bands who delivered more than we anticipated.
Day 3 will be difficult to summarize, because, what an enormous day! In summary, these are a few of my favourite things…
Yoga. Sunshine. Beach.
Our day started with a private yoga session overlooking the beach. We lucked out with a teacher who was a ray of sunshine herself and ended the session with neck massages and a small and lovely chant about bringing peace into our lives. #imahippyatheart
Champagne. Crab. Meeting new friends. Henna tattoos.
We had lunch at our hotel with Kym and Glenn and their friends who live locally. I had a glass of Moet Rose Champagne with my cobb salad with Dungeness crab that was as good as it gets (this doesn’t exist in Eastern Canada, or most anywhere).
After lunch us girls took advantage of some of the stations the hotel had set up for their festival guests (in other words all 110 rooms). This included henna tattoos and we even went for the body glitter on our shoulders. Why not! You only get old when you let yourself.
And beer and hard kombucha on tap at the “Boozy Bee”.
Soulful Music. Good Times with my Husband. Sunsets.
Matt and I dashed off to the festival to watch Xavier Rudd. Because he was scheduled early in the day before most festival goers have arrived, we were able to get very close to the stage without being crowded. What a rare and cherished gift this was. His performances are genuine and reach deeply into your heart while your hands and feet can’t stay still (if you can embrace the didgeridoo and his extreme bare foot hipster looks). In his chatter he said, “we all showed up here with peace in our hearts and I feel change is coming”. I hope he’s right. Anyone who isn’t familiar with him and finds themselves even slightly intrigued should listen to Follow the Sun.
Breathe, breathe in the air,
Cherish this moment,
Cherish this breath
Tomorrow is a new day for everyone,
Brand new moon, brand new sun
The day unfolded with many more performances including The Bangles, The Bacon Brothers (yes, Kevin Bacon has a band now!), Cheryl Crow (All I Wanna Do 🎵), And Colby Callait under a brilliant sunset.
In between performances we met up in various combinations (me, Matt, Kym & Glenn and their friends). We revisited the Hendricks station and toured the extensive art exhibit. We met some interesting characters along the way.
Ice Cream.
And I indulged in a salted caramel ice cream sandwich made with fresh chocolate chip cookies.
It was indeed an enormous day. One that eventually led to Matt’s “festival crucifixion” as Glenn called it.
After the sun went down we really took a trip down memory lane and saw Duran Duran perform live. It was a first for both of us to be listening to them on anything but a cassette tape! They’ve still got it, like no time has passed.
The festival, on its third and final day, had so much to offer we couldn’t do it all. In spite of our perseverance and determination we could not convince ourselves to leave Duran Duran to walk across the park again to join Kym and Glenn at Mumford and Sons. It seems crazy now, and probably to everyone else, but it was time to get on the shuttle and go back to the cocoon of our hotel. Our hearts were full but our gas tanks were empty. We sat in the cozy hotel lobby bar listening to a no-name musician with his guitar playing covers of great songs from Led Zepplin and Pink Floyd. And then we crashed.
Today we enjoyed simple pleasures before saying goodbye to our friends and checking out of our hotel to go home. We grabbed smoothies in town and wandered along the beach reminiscing about the weekend and appreciating the lifestyle of all the locals who were enjoying their morning surfing, running on the beach and playing with their children in the sand and surf.
All our experiences and adventures teach us lessons if we allow them to. Flying above the Grand Canyon I’m reflecting on what this short but packed adventure taught/reminded me:
If you allow yourself to miss out on something because you think “it’s not your thing” (for me in this case my hesitation was music festivals) you rob yourself of opportunities to expand your boundaries and discover the freedom of loving things you didn’t know were waiting to enrich your life;
Live music can connect people (friends and strangers) with a sense of joy and appreciation, and a deep sense of presence;
Love and friendships are the root of joy.
With love & friendship,
Laura & Matt 🎸❤
Commentaires