Lollapalooza 2009: Neko Case, Lou Reed

Neko Case (Photo by Frank Krolicki)

Without doubt, Neko Case was one of the highlights of this year's Lollapalooza. Prior to her Sunday set I wasn't really sure how she'd come across in the music festival setting. So much of her material is thoughtful and intimate and suited for venues that allow it to shine, not a huge grassy field filled with hot, sweaty drunk people.

Somehow, though, Case managed to make it work wonderfully.

As soon as she started playing the Budweiser Stage at 4:30, it was clear the sound was 100 percent on target and that the set would be a welcome change of pace from most of the fest's other acts. She played a variety of songs from her latest record, Middle Cyclone - including "This Tornado Loves You," "I'm an Animal," The Pharaohs" and the marvelous, jangly single "People Got a Lotta Nerve" - in addition to back catalog favorites such as "Maybe Sparrow" and "Deep Red Bells." Case's clear, pure voice couldn't have sounded better, and she was charming and down-to-earth throughout - no doubt one of the classiest acts on this year's bill.

Neko Case (Photo by Frank Krolicki)

Neko Case (Photo by Frank Krolicki)

This year's "legend" act, Lou Reed, took the same stage later in the evening at 6:30. The performance was oddly surreal for a number of reasons:

1 - Despite playing a full hour, Reed only made it through eight songs, thanks to the fact that "Paranoia Key of E" went on for no less than 18 minutes, with an extremely extended outro that included lots of squealing and screeching noise effects.
2. Reed said absolutely nothing to the audience save for introducing his band members at the very end of the set.
3. The performance started 15 minutes late and ended 15 minutes late, forcing a tardy start for Band of Horses on the nearby Playstation Stage. It seems the unnecessarily long endings of many of the songs could have been shortened to take care of this problem.
4. Most of the crowd didn't seem to know what to make of Reed.

Even though the performance was a bit strange, the power of classics such as "Sweet Jane," "Walk on the Wild Side" and "Waiting for the Man" couldn't be denied.

Lou Reed plays the Budweiser Stage (Photo by Frank Krolicki)

Lou Reed setlist:
1. Sweet Jane
2. Senselessly Cruel
3. Dirty Blvd
4. Waves of Fear
5. Mad
6. Paranoia Key of E
7. Waiting for the Man
8. Walk on the Wild Side

Lollapalooza: Lou Reed, Neko Case, Andrew Bird

If the recent news about Beastie Boys, Depeche Mode, Kings of Leon and Jane's Addiction likely headlining Lollapalooza didn't excite you, you might like to hear that New York rock legend Lou Reed and two singer-songwriters with genuine indie cred, Neko Case and Andrew Bird, are also expected to appear in the lineup.

Jim DeRogatis of the Sun-Times reported the news this morning, citing "industry sources cornered at SXSW" as sources.

Reed would be an excellent addition to the lineup, as genuine, tried and true rock legends are often in short supply at the festival.

Case and Bird, both with Chicago ties and recently-released, critically-acclaimed albums, would also be welcome players. Former Chicagoan Case has scored legions of fans through her work with Canadian pop band The New Pornographers as well as her solo efforts, including this month's release, "Middle Cyclone." Bird has also achieved worldwide acclaim and overwhelmingly positive reviews with his recent release, "Noble Beast."

What do you think of these likely additions?

New releases: U2, Neko Case and more

U2 - "No Line on the Horizon" - The band's twelfth album, featuring lead single, "Get on Your Boots." The record is U2's first since their 2004 release, "How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb." It is released in a variety of formats, including a standard CD, 2-disc vinyl LP, digipak and a box set that includes a DVD, poster and 64-page book.

Neko Case - "Middle Cyclone" - The one-time Chicago resident and Hideout bartender has gone on to worldwide success both as a solo artist and with The New Pornographers. "Middle Cyclone" is her newest effort, featuring 15 tracks and guest performances from M. Ward, members of the New Pornographers and more. She's set to play the Chicago Theatre on April 24 as part of her Spring tour promoting the record.

The Prodigy - "Invaders Must Die" - The fifth studio album from the British electronic trio, following-up 2004's "Always Outnumbered, Never Outgunned."

Bell X1 - "Blue Lights on the Runway" - The fourth studio album from the Irish indie rockers. The band garnered international popularity from their last album, "Flock," with tracks such as "Rocky Took a Lover" and "Flame."

Fountains of Wayne - "No Better Place: Live in Chicago" (DVD) - The band's first ever DVD features a 2005 Chicago performance with hits such as "Stacy's Mom," "Sink to the Bottom" and "Radiation Vibe."

Chicago artists:

Mazes - Self-Titled LP - Mazes is a side project from Edward Anderson and Caroline Donovan from acclaimed Chicago folk-pop group The 1900s. The two are joined by Charles D’Autremont for a somewhat looser extension of the 1900s sound, with songs recorded "in various studios, bedrooms and basements over the past few years." Available from Parasol.

Hideout Block Party this weekend with Neko Case, New Pornographers

It's only Monday, but it's never too early to start thinking about the weekend. Especially when - just when you thought they were over - your weekend can involve another music festival.

That music festival is the 12th annual Hideout Block Party on September 20 and 21, and it just might be your last hurrah for outdoor music fun in 2008.

The big attractions this year are Neko Case on Saturday and The New Pornographers on Sunday, so technically full-on Neko Case one day and Neko Case to a lesser extent the other day, since she shares vocal duties in The New Pornographers (though both are unique and worth seeing).

From HideoutChicago.com: "One-time Hideout bartender Neko Case will headline both nights of our festival with two very different bands. On Saturday, September 20, Ms. Case will lead her own band, performing her critically acclaimed material spanning her career. She will also break out some new unreleased material from her upcoming album scheduled for spring 2009. This will be the only performance that Neko and her band will play in Chicago this year. On Sunday night, Ms. Case will make an increasingly rare live performance with her increasingly popular 'other' band The New Pornographers. This will also be the only time this year that she has performed with them in Chicago. This is the first and only time that Neko Case has performed with both of her bands, back-to-back in the United States."

Click here to buy two-day passes or single day tickets, and check out the full lineup below.

Hideout Block Party 2008 Performance Schedule

Saturday, September 20

11:30 a.m.
Plastic Crimewave Vision Celestial Guitarkestra:

12:30 p.m.
Wee Hairy Beasties

1:15 p.m.
KatJon Band

1:45 p.m.
Giant Sand

2:45 p.m.
Little Cow

3:45 p.m.
Dan le Sac vs. Scroobius Pip

4:30 p.m.
Plastic People of the Universe

5:30 p.m.
Monotonix

6:15 p.m.
Black Mountain

7:15 p.m.
Vieux Farka Toure

8:15 p.m.
Neko Case

Sunday, September 21

1:00 p.m.
Jon Rauhouse Sestet

1:45 p.m.
Honey Boy Edwards & Devil in a Woodpile

2:30 p.m.
The Uglysuit

3:30 p.m.
Tim Fite

4:15 p.m.
Mucca Pazza

4:45 p.m.
Dark Meat

5:45 p.m.
Robbie Fulks

6:45 p.m.
Rhymefest

7:30 p.m.
The New Pornographers

8:45 p.m.
Ratatat

9:45 p.m.
Hercules and Love Affair DJ set