Lollapalooza changed my life.

I went to Chicago for the first time, saw tons of bands, and almost died.

Raging in Chicago’s 319-acre Grant Park, “Lolla” as my friends and I started to refer to it, had a set list that was too good to pass up.

My friend and I bought our tickets online during our statistics lab, and $190 poorer, we were only a few months away from the time of our lives.

Day one was overwhelming.

B.o.B. was up first, and the rest of the day was my friends and I making our way to our 10th row spots and waiting for four hours for Lady Gaga.

Like her or not, Lady Gaga’s performance was something I don’t think any of us will ever forget: the blood fountain, conversations with Jesus, everything.

I can only imagine the end of day one was similar to death; blisters and bloody feet, dehydration and a hungry stomach lead us to Subway and a seven block walk to our hotel.

Day two was more carefree. I knew I had to see Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros.

Hippies were climbing the trees for a better look, and the band had everyone sit down for a sing-along — my favorite Lolla moment.

In between bands we took a lot of water breaks, laid in the grass or a hammock in the hammock park, painted our bodies and danced until the next band’s music played from the nearest stage.

We split the night up between Phoenix, Empire of the Sun and Green Day.

I should have stayed at Phoenix, but I relived middle school — the good parts — with “Good Riddance” playing in the background as we left Grant Park for the end of Day two.

The final day was unforgettable.

We got to the front for Yeasayer and could hear Mumford & Sons while waiting.

As soon as MGMT came on the stage after Yeasayer, “Electric Feel” quickly turned into the song of our funeral. The crowd pushed us against the front gates and crowd surfing turned into a disastrous feat that no one could pull off.

People were getting punched in the face, sternums were getting crushed and people were passing out. The guards were pulling people out and my girlfriend and best friends became lost in the 120-degree chaos.