What a great time Lollapalooza was. Chicago is a really fun city that is definitely worth checking out if you get out there. Below are some highlights and let downs from the weekend.
enjoY!
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Friday
Highlights:
Foster The People. They were really fricking good, I didn’t know what to expect from their live show considering how crazy popular they are, but they did not let down at all, from beginning to end…dance party.
A Perfect Circle. It was nice to see Tool frontman re unite with his other band to perform some tunes that I haven’t listened to in years. What was really cool was the cover they did of John Lennon’s “Imagine” to open their set
Muse: OMFG. This is the first time I have actually checked out a Muse show from beginning to end and man was I blown away, I should have done this a while ago. Their set was fucking unbelievable with the crazy lighted panels and lasers. And boy oh boy does frontman Matthew Bellamy know how to wail on that guitar/piano–he is a really good musician. We were rocking till the end.
Let Downs:
Cults. Ehh
Crystal Castles. Was not impressed at all. I thought they actually sucked live and was shocked they had such a prime time slot. I feel like their music isn’t really main stage Lollapalooza material. They definitely should have performed in Perry’s Tent (electronic stage).
Saturaday
Highlights:
Friendly Fires. They guys rocked out, especially frontman Ed Macfarlane, he is a dancing machine that had all the ladies talking.Their show was very energetic. It even included frontman Macfarlane jumping into the crowd and singing out right next to the people who got them there
Lykke Li. Delicate Sweet, beautiful voice, everything you would expect from someone like her.
Eminem. It was great to see this guy perform again. The last time I saw him I was 16 years old, he was doing the Anger Management tour with Limp Bizkit and Papa Roch. He played a whole bunch of his old stuff, which was nice and weird considering that these were the songs on our Discamans’ 13 years ago. One thing I did notice , especially when he played his new stuff, was that his sound and production work has changed so dramatically from where he started. In the beginning Slim Shady and Marshall Mathers were innovative LPs’ that were pushing the boundaries of hip hop, now it seems like he is pumping out generic pop-rap music with some other artist for the hook, the same stuff we hear every day. He is a performer though, and a performance is what he did.
Let Downs:
DFA 1979. They should stick to MSTRKRFT.
Deftones: I thought that they would be a great watch, but I was disappointed. It just wasn’t 2000 anymore
Cee-Lo Green. The biggest let down by far. He came out with an all-girl band engrossed in a crazy outfit that reminded me of tupac in “California Love.” His performance was so bad that he left the stage with 15 minutes left in his set. His DJ sucked, she was way off in her mixing, and he seemed to perform a medley of covers that were just not vibing with the crowd. Of course people loved “Fuck you.”
Sunday
Highlights:
Gold Motel. These Chicago natives were so happy to finally play Lollapalooza in their home town. I have seen them a few times now and their cutesy indie-pop gets better each time.
Imlada May. This Irish aritst, currently signed to Deca records, rocked the afternoon listeners with her blend of rockabilly. She ended the set with a very interactive version of “Tainted Love” that had the whole crowd singing.
Cage the Elephant. This group is a personal favorite of mine and their whole set had so much energy. The only crappy thing was that is started to pour half way through their set drenching the whole park and its inhabitants. Can you say holy mud?
Deadmau5. What a show. Lasers, big, lighted mouse heads and a sea of people lit up with neon graced the north stage for the last show of the festival. His music is so hypnotic when you hear it in an open aired environment.
Let Downs:
None