by Jared Piccone of innerpartysystem on Saturday, August 2nd

When you become a full fledged touring band, the things that used to move and excite you early on, like actually playing for a crowd, can unfortunately sometimes become a lower priority on the self-satisfaction scale. For instance, we’ve been on tour for quite some time now. Don’t get me wrong, playing in front of a crowd that gives a s–t about your music is the ultimate rush, but when you start to do it day in and day out, you get numb to it sometimes. You need a refreshing experience. Something to remind you why you started doing this in the first place. That was Lollapalooza.

I started the day with the mindset that any touring band member would have — How’s the catering? Where are the chicks? Is there free beer? Are there golf carts so I don’t have to walk everywhere? Where are they giving out all the free stuff? And I went on with my day in search of these things, and found most of them. I got some free jeans, a sweet new pair of kicks, some free beer, and ripped up the catering booth on 3 seperate occasions.

Then it was show time…

As we started to set up, the crowd grew consistently. By the time we went on, I couldn’t see the back of this never-ending crowd of faces that actually seemed eager to see a band they have never heard of play so early on in the day. We played, people rocked out, it was amazing — an experience no free clothes or case of s–tty beer could ever top. Being a new band, playing your music that most people have never heard, and having people you don’t even know connect on a level you cant imagine. That’s what this is all about. Lollapolooza brought back the true reason I put myself through all of this. I simply love playing music.

Ironically enough, it turns out I ate too much and pounded one to many Sparks and puked all over my new shoes later that night anyway. Thankfully the experience I had today is unable to be soiled by my lack of self discipline for free food or booze. Thank you, Lollapolooza. Weather I am back as an artist or a fan, you will definitely be seeing me next year.

(For more of what went down on Saturday, check out our recap.)