Next Stop, Barcelona! How Chairlift’s Caroline Polachek Transforms Her Tour Style Inline
Photo: Courtesy of Caroline Polachek1/17We arrived in Barcelona on the red-eye, but instead of napping, got a coffee and made our way across the city on foot.
Photo: Courtesy of Caroline Polachek2/17An exterior detail of Gaudí’s masterpiece, the Sagrada Familia cathedral.
Photo: Courtesy of Caroline Polachek3/179 a.m., battling jet lag at soundcheck on the Primavera festival stage! Espresso in hand.
Photo: Courtesy of Caroline Polachek4/17After a much-needed nap, I am ready for the stage. The dressing rooms look like bathrooms here because they’re the Barcelona sailing team’s locker rooms! My smock dress is by New York designers Vaquera.
Photo: Courtesy of Caroline Polachek5/17After soundcheck at the Trabendo the following day, I met up with an old friend at the canal by the Quai de Valmy. We were very close to where the Paris attacks happened last November, and yet the neighborhood had recovered and was back to its old self. Just behind me was a group freestyle-rapping to each other—I wish I had recorded them, it sounded so good.
Photo: Courtesy of Caroline Polachek6/17Backstage in Paris at the Trabendo, wearing a velvet dress by Vaquera.
Photo: Courtesy of Caroline Polachek7/17Despite the wine hangover from the previous night’s after-party, Danny (Chairlift saxophone player) and I made our way to Versailles to take advantage of the day off. We skipped the palace (and lines) in favor of spending the afternoon in the gardens, which we heard takes two days to fully explore. We took turns rowing a rental boat all the way out to the far point of the crucifix-shaped lake. We knew Versailles was going to be beautiful, but had no idea we’d end up spending the day on the water!
Photo: Courtesy of Caroline Polachek8/17After returning to the boat, we had salade niçoise and French onion soup at La Flottille.
Photo: Courtesy of Caroline Polachek9/17With our lighting designer, Sam De Soto, hauling our gear through the Gare du Nord to the Eurostar train.
Photo: Courtesy of Caroline Polachek10/17Street art and Indian food on Brick Lane, London
Photo: Courtesy of Caroline Polachek11/17After our London show that night, a drink with fellow New Yorker, Alan Palomo of Neon Indian.
Photo: Courtesy of Caroline Polachek12/17Day of our second Primavera show. Our dressing rooms (a massive tent) opened up on this sprawling field. If only every show had a backstage like this!
Photo: Courtesy of Caroline Polachek13/17Dressing room in Porto.
Photo: Courtesy of Caroline Polachek14/17Hair sewn with stiff gold fringe, instead of my usual silk cord.
Photo: Courtesy of Caroline Polachek15/17Getting dressed: The smock is by Vaquera, with custom “moth” jacket and silver pants by Andrea Toscano.
Photo: Courtesy of Caroline Polachek16/17Now onstage for the Primavera Porto, looking over hills instead of the ocean this time. The sight of the crowd in the sunset was so beautiful, I had to stop myself from crying.
Photo: Courtesy of Caroline Polachek17/17Despite being exhausted from the week of constant travel, we were lucky to have our half-day in Lisbon fall on the Feast of St. Anthony: a day when everyone takes to the street to grill sardines and drink in honor of Lisbon’s saint. Restaurants and businesses close, and families (including kids) open street stalls with €1 sangria and €2 fish. We were in heaven. From here on it descends into madness and sweaty dancing in the street, so I leave the rest to your imagination. But here, full of fish at dusk, I promise myself I’ll be back to Portugal soon.
