With over 5,000 music festivals around, it must be hard for the promoters to try and create a memorable lineup, location and fan experience. Lollapalooza, famously started by Perry Farrell, is probably the most well-known and it has become the flag-bearer in the music festival circuit. I eagerly anticipated the release of the list of bands performing this year. Wilco! Nine Inch Nails! Raconteurs! RADIOHEAD!!!! I was pumped to say the least… And as I kept reading about the under card in this heavyweight fight called Lollapalooza, I was impressed by the promoters’ ability to counter program. One stage would have Kanye West, while the other had NIN or one stage would have Duffy and somewhere on the other side of Grant Park, The Kills would be doing what they do… killing it.
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Lollapalooza 2008
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 Entertainment
 Art
Grant Park
Chicago, Ill.
August 1-3, 2008
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Grant Park is a gigantic venue and a beautiful place. It takes about twenty minutes to get between the two main stages and that doesn’t take in to account the crowds of human traffic that can get in your way and slow you down. It what was supposedly an unusually hot and humid August weekend, tens of thousands packed in daily to enjoy the tunes and to feel part of the music-loving community.
Day 1:
I entered the sweaty grounds as The Go Team was finishing their set. What I heard was action packed and served as great background music to me getting my bearings. I quickly figured out that it was going to be incredibly difficult for me to run around Lollapalooza like I have at other fests catching parts and pieces of sets that started at the same time. I made a decision that was selfishly focused around the idea that I wasn’t going to miss the Raconteurs for anything; I was going to stay on that side of Grant Park and wasn’t moving until Radiohead at the end of the night. With that preface, here is what I saw:
Duffy – Man can that chick sing. But there’s something lacking about her stage presence and band. There is no question that she has pipes and she’s good to look at but she doesn’t have the charisma of Amy Winehouse or Lily Allen. I did some research (Google) and learned that she was discovered on a reality television talent competition in England and it made a bit more sense. She’s playing to cameras that aren’t there and her band is boring and doesn’t give her anything to work off or build on. With all that being said, “Rockferry” is a great track and the crowd was like putty in her hands when she sang it. Hopefully she was able to gain some new fans that will buy her record and hear what she really can do.
The Black Keys – They’re fucking loud. Really good but really loud and the mix made it incredibly difficult to hear him vocally. A few songs in, I disappeared for a lemonade. My life depended on it… it was hot as hell.
Cat Power – She’s great and Mick Jagger might lose his job in the Stones if he doesn’t watch his back. Her haunting voice and flashdance-inspired outfit was well received even with the sound problems that she fought through. The jazz band that accompanied her was perfectly in-sync with her and made for some enjoyable numbers. With a set full of mostly covers, she made every single one her own. It is also important to note that the couple that drove to Chicago from Ft. Collins, CO simply for this set and stood next to me during the show enjoyed it very much. The set inspired me to go back to my hotel and listen to her crooning until way past my bedtime.
Raconteurs – This was probably my second favorite band from the weekend. Jack White had an intensity and fire in him that inspired the performances of Brendan and his fellow band mates as well as assisted in Jack breaking a string on his guitar during almost every song. Granted, The Raconteurs have only released two albums, but I don’t think they’ve had any misses and the songs translate perfectly live. “Rich Kid Blues” and “Level” were two personal favorites. I stayed for almost the entire set and then realized it was time to quickly grab my lemonade and traverse the entirety of Grant Park so that I could catch a glimpse of arguably the best rock n roll band in the world.
Radiohead – Everyone knows they’re great so I don’t need to waste your time with further explanation. My only complaint is that it was difficult to see but what can you expect when you see a concert with 75,000 of your closest friends. Halfway through the set, the sweat, humidity, exhaustion and foot soreness caught up with me. I was beat and I headed out while “Exit Music” played in the background. How fitting.
Day 2:
I was not at all impressed with the lineup for Saturday and frankly I was exhausted from the day before and the night before partying it up at The Underground with the background music provided by of all people - Mark Ronson. My plan for the day was to decide if I was going to see both Wilco and Rage Against The Machine. To be perfectly honest, Rage fans intimidate the hell out of me. So, Wilco and Wilco alone it was. I headed over around 6pm so I could hear the end of DJ AM’s set at Perry’s dance stage.
DJ AM is the best DJ in the business. Dressed in a classic Lollapalooza t-shirt and looking like he was having a better time than anyone else there, he moved the audience with his creativity and obvious love of music. He brilliantly mashed up songs by Lollapalooza artists from past and present and even included Dolly Parton. The man is a genius and I hope he decides to tour so the masses can not only know him as the celebrity DJ he is but also as the performer he is. As he finished his set with the Rage Against The Machine classic “Bulls On Parade,” the crowd went nutso. I headed over to Wilco.
The rumor going around was the Barack Obama himself was going to introduce them and it felt like everyone had a theory. This one guy tried to convince me that he saw a helicopter with the Obama seal on it land behind the stage. He didn’t introduce them. It didn’t matter. Wilco, led out by front man Jeff Tweedy and perfectly dressed in bedazzled southern tuxedos walked onto the stage while the sun went down and the pristine skyline of Chicago clearly came into view. My personal favorite tuxedo was Tweedy’s Pikachu encrusted red suit. Simply said, this was the highlight of Lollapalooza. They are truly the best American rock n roll band and have been for ten years. Through a set list that highlighted the band’s different sounds, Wilco made Chicago proud. From “Misunderstood” all the way until “Outtasite,” the band was perfect and I couldn’t have been happier that I didn’t see Rage especially after I heard that the band nearly left the stage if the crowd didn’t calm down. I felt victorious. Not only did I see Wilco, but I didn’t die in a crazy Tom Morello induced riot.
Day 3:
I was relieved that this was almost over. In many ways, I knew that the concert that I witnessed the previous night would not be surpassed. I was right. Sunday at Lollapalooza was about me seeing as many different acts as possible so that I could make up for the previous day’s effort or lack thereof. Here is the abridged version:
Mark Ronson – He’s a really great performer but I’ve seen this shtick five times now. I’m not saying it’s not worth seeing, I’m just excited for new material.
Gnarls Barkley – They did a cover of Radiohead’s “Reckoner” and that was pretty cool. The rest of the set was decent. I miss when they used to dress up in costumes.
Girl Talk – This dude’s crazy and loves to bring young girls on-stage. I think that’s great but I also think that his shows might be crowd-control disasters waiting to happen.
Blues Traveler – They started with a new song. It wasn’t good. But they followed with a cover of “The Devil Went Down To Georgia.” That was cool but I really wanted to hear the song “Hook.” I decided to get lemonade instead.
Chromeo – A personal favorite. They have a great sound and the heavy dude that doesn’t wear a shirt is awesomely hairy and awesomely talented.
Saul Williams – I have no idea what he was saying but I want it.
Perry Farrell and Slash – Did I mention that they were playing Kidsapalooza. It was great and I’m glad I was there to see them play “Jane Says.”
Nine Inch Nails – The sounded great but then had some sound problems. Trent fought through it and I enjoyed what I saw.
Kanye West – Boring
Whew…. There were others but I figured that was enough. So in closing, what did I think? I had a great time, enjoyed most of what I saw and loved the people, the venue, the food, drink and city. The one thing I hope is that these festivals try to book the different bands that are playing other festivals. Most of what I saw at Lollapalooza, I also saw at Coachella and will see at All Points West or Outside Lands. I miss the days when a music festival would include an once-in-a-lifetime experience. If only Barack Obama had introduced Wilco. That would have gone well with my lemonade.
* Rage Against the Machine photo by SCOTT LEGATO
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