This day anything goes: Halloween show roundup 2010

Posted by Sasha

I dig Halloween a lot. I always feel like dressing up like an idiot and it is the one day I get to without being judged. I wanted to be Danzig this year and then I realized I was five foot two and a hundred pounds and also a girl. And I feel that if I tried it ironically, Glenn himself would rise up from the netherworld and destroy me with disdain. So that won't work out so well for me. Maybe it will for you.

If you feel like bringing your costume-clad self to a show this year, worry not, for there's plenty of opportunity to flaunt your dress-up skillz. Here are some of the Samhain celebrations we're most excited about.

North Coast Music Fest 2010 part three: Lupe Fiasco, Flying Lotus, Mayer Hawthorne

Posted by Frank

Lupe Fiasco (photo: Windy City Rock)

Soul, experimental electro and rap were the sounds that closed out the final night of the inaugural North Coast Music Fest Sunday.

Well-respected hometown rapper Lupe Fiasco took the stage at 7:30 p.m., but before then retro-style soulman Mayer Hawthorne and producer/laptop musician Flying Lotus kept the crowd entertained by the fest's two main stages.

Like Maps and Atlases earlier in the day (see my previous post here), Mayer Hawthorne and his band, The County, had a unique presence at the fest. Instead of drawing on electronic sounds for inspiration, the 31-year-old Hawthorne looked to classic '60s and '70s soul, delivering sweet, smooth sounds to those who decided to take in his set. His style of music is the kind that is completely unashamed to borrow from the past and is all the better because of it. Plus, it didn't hurt that he's an entertaining performer to watch and that the band was notably tight. My only gripe was that some of the songs seemed to go on for a bit longer than was necessary, but all in all the performance was well worth checking out.

As soon as Hawthorne wrapped up, Flying Lotus took the nearby North stage. I know a lot of people were excited to hear the trippy electro from this Californian, and the set certainly sounded well-performed, but this sort of music just isn't my bag. It's the kind of trancey stuff that I might appreciate most while played in the background while doing something else, but that I can't focus on or grasp onto when I attempt to devote my full attention to it. Still, the talent was apparent and I suspect that many people would cite the performance as a highlight of the weekend. 

Lupe Fiasco was fantastic, and that's coming from someone who can very rarely get into rap. I find his style fresh, powerful and exciting, and he is an incredibly entertaining ball of energy on stage. Being typically all about rock, of course I love that he takes a rap-rock approach to much of his material and that he seems to favor expanding beyond the confines of any single genre. For most of the afternoon acts it was relatively easy to get to the front, but Fiasco had a very large and enthusiastic crowd, which was much deserved and cool to see. Even the photo pit was so mobbed that security had to split photographers into two groups, one group going in to snap shots at a time. The rapper performed an hour-long set that closed with his best-known song "Superstar" - unfortunately without collaborator Matthew Santos on hand to sing the chorus as he was at Lollapalooza 2008 (a backing track was used instead), but it still sounded excellent. While Nas and Damian Marley, The Disco Biscuits and Gemini Club kept the fest going until 10 p.m., I chose to end my day with Fiasco, and he certainly delivered a grand finale.

All in all, the first North Coast Fest was a great way to spend Labor Day weekend. If I could have asked for one change, I would have loved to see more straight-ahead rock and roll in the lineup. Assuming it will return next year, I'll be curious to see how it will grow and what will change. What do you think? Did you enjoy the fest? Would you go back next year? 

See more photos after the jump.

North Coast Music Fest 2010 part two: Maps and Atlases, Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Holy Ghost!

Posted by Frank

Dave Davison of Maps & Atlases (photo: Windy City Rock)

After spending the first few hours of North Coast Music Fest Sunday watching The Coop, Loyal Divide and Phantogram (read more about that here), the next few acts I decided to take in proved just how eclectic the fest was.

The first of the second batch of performances I caught was locally-based experimental folk-rock band Maps and Atlases. This is another band I had always heard a lot about but never had the opportunity to see live, and as soon as they came out and began playing it was apparent they represented a rare breed at this festival. As opposed to the majority of the performers comprising the lineup, there did not seem to be an electro, trip-hop, or hip-hop bone in Maps and Atlases' collective musical body. The big, untamed beard of front man Dave Davison suggested that this was going to be an earthy, folky affair, and that it was. However, it wasn't the sleepy, chilled-out sort of folk, but rather a style that was rather upbeat and experimental, made even more unique by Davison's tinny vocals and unorthodox delivery. Their set was a welcome change of pace in the lineup, and made me think of how it would be great to see a few more indie rock acts present at future installments of the fest.

From there, I headed to the "Groupon" stage to check out the Dirty Dozen Brass Band from New Orleans. I didn't know anything about the band going in, but apparently they've been active since the '70s. They turned out to be as lively and fun as their name suggests and were another band that stood out in the fest's lineup with their funky, jazzy take on traditional NOLA-style music. People seemed to really enjoy them, and it was a prime example of the power of the music festival - it wasn't something I ever would have sought out on my own, but something that I ended up being happy to experience.

Closing out the afternoon on the North stage were New York City's Holy Ghost!, which I can best describe as synth-heavy disco dance rock. Their set was incredibly fun and easy to listen to, though past a certain point the songs started to sound a bit too alike to me (admittedly, though, that could be a result of me not having been familiar with any of their music). At one point the vocalist commented that it was strange to be playing in the daylight, but the music fit the atmosphere very well and got people dancing.

As the evening went on, I decided to close out my Sunday with Mayer Hawthorne, Flying Lotus and Lupe Fiasco. Check out my next post to read about those performances.

See photos of Maps and Atlases, Dirty Dozen Brass Band and Holy Ghost! after the jump.

North Coast Music Fest 2010 part one: The Coop, Loyal Divide, Phantogram

Posted by Frank

Phantogram's Sarah Barthel (photo: Windy City Rock)

This weekend, Chicago made a brand new addition to its already substantial list of summer music festivals.

The inaugural North Coast Music Fest, held in the city's Union Park (the same grounds as the annual July Pitchfork Music Fest), kicked off Friday evening and ended Sunday night. The festival's organizers voiced a goal of bringing together a variety of musical styles and held true to their promise, though there was a definite electro and hip-hop lean to the performances.

I headed down to the park early Sunday afternoon to check out what the final day of the fest had to offer. It was the perfect late summer day for an outdoor musical party - warm, but not sweltering like it usually is for, say, Lollapalooza - and I was interested to see how North Coast would compare to the city's other music fests. Read more and see more photos after the jump.

Lollapalooza 2010 day three: The National, Arcade Fire

The National at Lollapalooza (photo: Windy City Rock)

The grand finale of this year's Lollapalooza Sunday night was an indie/alt-rock fan's dream, with The National playing immediately before headliners Arcade Fire on stages that were right across from one another on the North side of the fest's grounds.

The National set the stage for a memorable conclusion to the 2010 installment of the three-day music-filled party with a strong selection of songs that included highlights from their most recent release, High Violet, while also giving quite a bit of attention to their 2007 album, Boxer. One of the new songs, "Runaway," opened the set on a grand, stately note, making way for other moody and gems such as "Fake Empire" and "Anyone's Ghost." The band kept things from becoming to sleepy by mixing in higher-charged rockers such as "Abel" and "Mr. November." By the time they closed the performance with an excellent rendition of "Terrible Love," which sounded a great deal more powerful than it does on its recorded version on High Violet, many people began migrating over to the Budweiser stage to get in position for Arcade Fire. Still, it was a worthy conclusion to one of the weekend's top-tier performances.

Immediately after The National left the stage, Arcade Fire kicked into "Ready to Start," one of the highlights off their new, third LP The Suburbs, and never let up throughout their 90-minute set. Instead of using the performance to put emphasis on the new record, they wisely delivered a setlist obviously designed as a crowd-pleaser, emphasizing their debut, most widely-popular LP, Funeral. They performed seven songs from that record, just as many as they performed from The Suburbs. Not surprisingly, those seven songs got the most enthusiastic reaction, but the crowd also seemed captivated by the new material, such as the rocking "Month of May" and the new wavey, Regine Chassagne-sung "Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains)." Sophomore album Neon Bible got the least attention with only three songs, but the three that are arguably the strongest from that release - "Keep the Car Running," "No Cars Go" and "Intervention." The band left everyone feeling properly uplifted with the epic, sweeping "Wake Up," which worn out Lolla-goers happily sang along to. It was the perfect way to end a weekend full of good music and good times.

Check out setlists from both The National and Arcade Fire after the jump.

Lollapalooza 2010 day three: X Japan, Frightened Rabbit, MGMT

As the final day of Lollapalooza 2010 was heading into its last hours, I was getting ready to see a few major acts one after the other, starting with electro-psych popsters MGMT, then moody indie rockers The National, and finally revered Canadian alt-rock act Arcade Fire. First, though, I caught parts of performances from X Japan and Frightened Rabbits.

It's safe to say there has never been another act quite like X Japan at Lollapalooza. The band is indeed Japanese and perform an over the top combination of power metal and progressive rock. They're known for donning wild, manga-inspired costumes during performances, though Sunday afternoon their visuals leaned toward heavy metal gothic, with black leather, skulls and crosses. Their soaring, epic heavy metal anthems aren't something I'd generally gravitate toward, but there was something endearing about the band and their outrageous show. Maybe it was the fact that, despite existing as a unit since the '80s, it was the first time performing in the States and it was cool to see them getting good energy from the crowd. Or maybe it was the fire blasts that popped up on stage near the end of the set. Who knows, but it was all kind of cool. For photos of the performance, check out Time Out Chicago's gallery and review here.

Next, I decided to catch a portion of Frightened Rabbit's set before staking out a place for MGMT at 6 p.m. Apparently many other Lolla-goers had the same idea, because by the time I arrived at the Sony bloggie stage it wasn't really possible to get anywhere close enough to see them. What I heard from the Scottish indie rockers sounded perfectly fine and I would have been happy to stay to hear more of it, but this was one of those times at Lolla when the atmosphere really inhibited my enjoyment of the music - I couldn't see anything, there was no place to move and the crowd back where I was talked loudly through everything I did hear. Because of this, I stayed for just a few songs and then left for the Budweiser stage to see MGMT.

When MGMT last played Lollapalooza in 2008, I caught some of their set from afar, but it didn't sound like anything too great and I admittedly didn't pay much attention as I was never very impressed with their debut album, Oracular Spectacular. Ever since they upped the ante on their second album, Congratulations, though, I've looked forward to seeing how they would come across live these days. While I had no problem with the band's Sunday evening performance in itself, this was another case where external factors made it suffer. Where I was standing the sound mix seemed way off (I could barely hear Andrew VanWyngarden's vocals) and the incessantly chatty and drunk crowd made it hard to properly take in the music. That said, they played all the songs the majority of the audience wanted to hear - including "Time to Pretend," "Electric Feel" and "Kids," which they've reportedly skipped at other recent appearances - and got people moving.

Check out MGMT's setlist after the jump.

Lollapalooza 2010 day three: Company of Thieves, Freelance Whales

Genevieve Schatz of Company of Thieves at Lolla (photo: Windy City Roc

It can be pretty tough to decide what to see on any given day of Lollapalooza, but I always make it a point to highlight Chicago-based bands when marking up my schedule. This year, I made sure to check out not only Skybox on Saturday (more on that here), but also Company of Thieves on Sunday.

While I was very familiar with the band from their debut album, Ordinary Riches, and even did a Q&A with guitarist Marc Walloch right here on WCR, I had never seen them live before their set at the fest. I was very impressed. Frontwoman Genevieve Schatz was one of the most dynamic, compelling performers I saw all weekend - with one of the best voices - and the band had a bite and an edge that hasn't been as prominent on their recorded material.

Highlights of the set included their most notable song, "Oscar Wilde," as well as material Schatz introduced as being from the band's soon-to-be-released sophomore album. "Queen of Hearts" was an emotionally hard hitting song with an excellent chorus that really showcased Schatz's vocals, while "Gorgeous Grotesque" - an environmentally themed song - engrossed with a dark, slightly menacing vibe. The band had a sizable crowd and did their home city proud.

Freelance Whales at Lollapalooza (photo: Windy City Rock)

Later, I stopped by the BMI stage to check out New York-based experimental folk-pop act Freelance Whales. The band's style was hard to pin down, but overall they had a light, pleasant sound that was great for taking a chill-out break in the shade of the area by the stage. For my tastes, their songs were a bit too sleepy and hard to grasp on to, but they certainly came off as a talented group of musicians who many people seemed to find an enjoyable addition to their Sunday afternoon at the fest.


More photos after the jump

Lollapalooza 2010 day three: Miniature Tigers, Frank Turner

Miniature Tigers at Lollapalooza (photo: Windy City Rock)

The third and final day of Lollapalooza 2010 got off to an early - and rainy - start for me as I arrived at the festival to see one of the first bands on the schedule, Miniature Tigers. I've been digging this band ever since I saw them open for The Morning Benders here in Chicago a few months ago, and keeping their newly-released sophomore LP, Fortress, in heavy rotation.

Many others must feel the same way, because despite the steady rain and the early start time a large and attentive crowd gathered by the PlayStation stage on the North side of the fest to see the band play at 11:30 a.m.

The band pulled through for both existing fans and those gathered just out of curiosity with a set of tight, good-natured indie pop that was consistently accessible yet lyrically and musically interesting enough to sound fresh and different from the droves of other indie pop bands out there. They focused on material from Fortress, such as the brief, bouncy and humorously titled "Japanese Woman Living in My Closet," the dancey single "Gold Skull" and the lush, airy "Tropical Birds," but also pulled out some highlights from their debut - most notably the infectious "Cannibal Queen," which got the audience singing along. In addition to having great tunes, they seem like an all around good group of guys that you can't help but root for - something that came through loud and clear when frontman Charlie Brand recounted how he really wanted to go to Lollapalooza when he was 12 but couldn't because he was too young, and how amazing it was that he was now getting the chance to play the fest with his band.

Although not one of the most talked about bands at this year's fest, Miniature Tigers proved to be one of the most enjoyable.

Miniature Tigers setlist:
1. Mansion of Misery
2. Rock N' Roll Mountain Troll
3. Tell It to the Volcano
4. Bullfighter Jacket
5. Gold Skull
6. Japanese Woman Living in My Closet
7. Tropical Birds
8. Lolita
9. Coyote Enchantment
10. Cannibal Queen
11. Last Night's Fake Blood

Frank Turner at Lollapalooza (photo: Windy City Rock)

After Miniature Tigers ended, I headed over to the smaller Sony bloggie stage to catch a portion of British folk/punk singer-songwriter Frank Turner's set. At that point I was admittedly a bit annoyed by the rain that wouldn't seem to let up, but what I saw of Turner's performance made me forget about it and got me rocking straight away. Like Miniature Tigers, the singer-songwriter seemed extremely thrilled to be playing the fest and was visibly giving it his all to win the crowd over with his impassioned, driving material. In my opinion, it's more often acts like these, not necessarily the heavy hitters, that make Lollapalooza a special experience and a venue for discovering new music.

Stay tuned for additional coverage of Lollapalooza's Sunday performances, including Arcade Fire, The National, MGMT and more.

Lollapalooza 2010 day two: Spoon, Green Day

As day two of Lolla 2010 ticked away, I made my way over to the North end of the fest to catch tried-and-true indie rockers Spoon, and then decided I would trek back to the South end to see what punk-pop mainstays Green Day had to offer.

Spoon's set was very enjoyable, and just what any fan of the band's records would most likely expect from them. If you're not a Spoon fan to begin with, they're probably not the type of band that will win you over live  -  their performances stay pretty true to what you hear in their studio material and front-man Britt Daniel has a rather low-key stage presence. But to those who were already fans, the band delivered with a tight sound and excellent assortment of songs. Personally, I prefer the band's more accessible side, which happily was out in full force in the form of songs such as "You Got Yr. Cherry Bomb," "I Summon You," "I Turn My Camera On" and "The Underdog."

In terms of Green Day's set, three words come to mind: "Over the top." Scratch that, four: "Long, over the top." The band's set was filled with such long-winded theatrics that it was nearly impossible to tell that they ever came across as a punk act marked by two-and-a-half minute songs and an indifferent attitude. Instead, their time on stage played out mostly like one of those cheesy musical productions on a cruise ship, except with a pop-punk slant and a lot of dirty words. There were explosions. Many explosions. There was endless crowd participation (if I had a dime for every time frontman Billie Joe Armstrong shouted "wave your hands in the air" or "let's get crazy" or "yeah, Chicago!", or brought fans on stage...). There were meandering songs and equally meandering song intros.

Starting off with a host of new-era Green Day songs such as "21st Century Breakdown," "Holiday" and "Boulevard of Broken Dreams," the set eventually moved to classics like "Longview," "She" and "When I Come Around," which the band tended to perform in a more straightforward manner, temporarily making the performance more enjoyable. Soon after, though, the meandering and theatrics returned with a vengeance and the performance went on so much longer than necessary.

Overall, one thing could be said for Green Day - their energy knew no bounds and was a thing to marvel. I can't think of many performers who would have the stamina to do what they did. But while their staged mania might have appeared shiny and exciting on the surface, I'd much rather have seen a rock and roll show than a production.

Lollapalooza 2010 day two: JP, Chrissie & the Fairground Boys

Chrissie Hynde and JP Jones at Lollapalooza (photo: Windy City Rock)

Although Lollapalooza's family-oriented stage, "Kidzapalooza," might not seem like it would make for that great of a time for people not toting little ones around, each year it seems to hold one or two gems that would be worth catching no matter what age you are. This year, the Kidzapalooza act that stood out to me as a must-see was Chrissie Hynde's new band, JP, Chrissie and the Fairground Boys.

Hynde, along with Wales-based singer songwriter JP Jones, played a short set at the stage late Saturday afternoon. The story goes that the Pretenders frontwoman began this new project with Jones, around 30 years her junior, after meeting him randomly in a bar and then deciding to collaborate musically after trading a few text messages. Despite - or maybe because of - their pronounced differences and spontaneous partnership, the two have been creating genuinely exciting music together and will release their debut record, Fidelity, later this month.

Their low-key Lolla set proved a refreshing break in a festival that can often be overwhelming. For 20 minutes or so, we simply got to hear the wonderful sweeter side of Hynde's vocals paired with Jones's impressive, gruff delivery on top of some beautiful, heartfelt songs, such as "Australia," "Fairground Luck" and the band's first single, "If You Let Me."

It was a rare opportunity to experience a relaxed, intimate performance from a rock legend and a rising talent.

More photos after the jump

Lollapalooza 2010 day two: Skybox, Against Me!

Skybox at Lollapalooza (photo: Windy City Rock)

With one successful day down and two days of Lollapalooza to go, I set out Saturday morning with a few bands in mind that I knew I wanted to definitely check out. The first was Chicago's own Skybox, who made the cut as one of the few locally-based acts to represent our city this year. Their recently released album, Morning After Cuts (reviewed here) is very impressive, and while I had heard many reports previously that the band gave outstanding live performances, I hadn't had the chance to see them.

The band began at 12:30 p.m. at the BMI stage, and by the time they began a good-sized crowd had already amassed, though it was unclear how many were actually familiar with the band going in and how many had wandered by purely out of curiosity. As soon as their set started, ushered in by the sparkling, exuberant title track from Morning After Cuts, I knew I would leave the performance impressed.

The joyfulness these guys deliver on record is even more prominent live. Lead singer Tim Ellis has distinctive, quirky voice that gives the band's sparkling indie pop even more personality, and he's a true showman to boot. Before closing their set with one of their best songs, the dancey, insanely upbeat "In a Dream," Ellis ran off stage and came back in a sparkly silver bra a la Lady Gaga. Had Gaga not been the buzz of the fest this year, the theatrics might have come off as trying a bit too hard (especially when the singer proceeded to remove his pants), but in light of the situation it was more less a good bit of fun.

Skybox setlist
1. Morning After Cuts
2. Buckets
3. Everyone Falls In
4. Fences
5. Plastic Cups
6. Various Kitchen Utensils
7. Light
8. Trout
9. In a Dream

A bit later in the day I decided to check out punk rock outfit Against Me!. While waiting for the band to come on the adidas MEGA stage I heard part of Blues Traveler's set from the Parkways Foundation stage across the way, which, believe it or not, included a truly bizarre reggae-fied version of Radiohead's "Creep." It was one of those things you would never, ever anticipate happening until it actually happens.

Tom Gabel of Against Me! at Lolla (photo: Windy City Rock)

In any case, Against Me! delivered a rocking set that got the crowd properly riled up. The band's socially and politically-charged punk is the style of punk I appreciate most - hard-edged but not hardcore, with some melody and tunefulness incorporated more often than not. Frontman Tom Gabel wasn't a man of many words, but that was just fine - onlookers were happy to rock out with little interruptions through the duration of the set. Plus, he ended with a bang by doing a bit of crowd surfing during the last song, "Baby I'm An Anarchist."

Against Me! setlist:
1. High Pressure Low
2. Cliche Guevara
3. Pints of Guinness
4. White Crosses
5. Up the Cuts
6. I Still Love You Julie
7. I Was a Teenage Anarchist
8. White People for Peace
9. Suffocation
10. New Wave
11. Rapid Decompression
12. Don't Lose Touch
13. Miami
14. Walking Is Still Honest
15. Baby I'm an Anarchist

More photos after the jump

Lollapalooza 2010 day one: The Strokes

The Strokes from afar (photo:Windy City Rock)

At the end of a great first day at Lolla, it all came down to one important decision: see The Strokes or see Lady Gaga. As a longtime fan of The Stokes I initially gravitated toward them, but was more than a bit tempted to check out what kind of spectacle the pop megastar would put on. Luckily, Gaga's headlining set started 30 minutes earlier than that of The Strokes on the other end of the festival, so curious onlookers like myself could take in a few of her songs before having to hoof it over to Julian Casablancas and company.

Susan goes into more detail on Gaga's performance in her day one Lolla post, but the small portion of the set that I was able to catch was, well, totally lame. I don't know if things got more exciting as the performance went on, but what I saw looked like not much more than a cheesy Madonna tribute show on a cruise ship (the songs weren't actually Madonna's, but they may just as well have been). It made my decision to leave and watch The Strokes at 8:30 pretty damn easy.

The New York City rockers delivered an enjoyable set, as expected. Having seen the band live twice, they didn't really bring anything new to the table and aren't ones for showmanship, but they sounded great and played a strong setlist, which leaned heavily on their revered debut, Is This It?.

Part of the band's charm is that they convey everything that's always stood out about NYC rock and roll bands such as The Velvet Underground, Blondie and the Ramones to a new generation. There's an icy aloofness about them, a nonchalant air of cool that Casablancas, in particular, pulls off perfectly. "This is our first show in the states in like, forever," observed the frontman in the middle of the set. Then, after a few seconds at a loss for anything to follow it up with: "That's all I got." It's the kind of thing that would make it tough not to be on their side, as was their decision not to go through the charade of coming out for an encore - they just played their set all the way through, ending with "Take It or Leave It."

All the songs people wanted to hear were played: "Last Nite," "Someday," "Reptilia," "Hard to Explain," "You Only Live Once" and other favorites. One pleasant surprise was the soulful album track "Under Control" off the band's sophomore record, Room on Fire, near the end of the set. I only wish they would have played some new songs from their supposed upcoming fourth LP, but that's a minor gripe and new material never seems to go over as well as the old stuff when playing to a festival full of casual fans and non-fans, anyway.

The Strokes were a satisfying conclusion to day one. Now on to day two. Keep your eyes right here to get the scoop on Saturday's festivities!

The Strokes setlist
1. New York City Cops
2. The Modern Age
3. Hard to Explain
4. What Ever Happened
5. You Only Live Once
6. Soma
7. Is This It
8. Vision of Division
9. I Can't Win
10. Reptilia
11. Last Nite
12. Juicebox
13. Someday
14. Under Control
15. Heart in a Cage
16. Take It or Leave It

Lollapalooza 2010 day one: The New Pornographers

The New Pornographers at Lolla (photo: Windy City Rock)

While my good friend and WCR colleague Susan opted to check out Devo during Lolla's 4 p.m. slot Friday, I hit up the Budweiser stage to take in The New Pornographers. Even though the well-liked indie rock/power pop troupe has been around for over a decade and previously played Lollapalooza in 2006, I hadn't seen them before, so I figured it was about time - especially considering how fantastic their latest LP, Together, is.

The band didn't disappoint. In fact, they gave my second favorite performance of the day, right behind the magnificent Mavis Staples, who played before them on the same stage. The New Pornos weren't exactly a "showy" band - they basically just got out on stage and nonchalantly played their stuff, occasionally with a bit of slightly awkward (endearingly) banter thrown in between songs - but that was perfectly fine. They played the songs so well, and the material is just so good, that it would have been hard not to thoroughly enjoy the set.

Sometimes certain members of this "supergroup" aren't present at certain shows, so I was happy to note they were all on stage - including alt-country/rock darling Neko Case, who performed an excellent solo set at the festival last year. Case hid underneath a big, black and white floppy hat for the entire time to combat the bright afternoon sun, but delivered her songs - such as the gorgeous, peppy new single "Crash Years" and the bouncy "Mass Romantic" - with gusto. Another of the band's vocalists, Dan Bejar, receded to the back of the stage every time he wasn't singing one of his own songs ("Myriad Harbour" and "Silver Jenny Dollar," for example), and when he did come to the front he looked quite surly (again, endearingly so), grasping a can of beer as he sang. The band's other two vocalists, A.C. "Carl" Newman and Kathryn Calder - were more visible. Calder's "Sweet Talk, Sweet Talk" was a highlight, and Newman delivered spot-on renditions of a handful of his songs, including "Use It" and "All the Old Showstoppers."

The setlist spanned the band's substantial back catalog, paying attention to older fan favorites and hitting on most of the high points from Together. For my first time seeing the band, I don't think I could have asked for a better show.

New Pornographers setlist
1. Sing Me Spanish Techno
2. Myriad Harbour
3. The Laws Have Changed
4. Jackie Dressed in Cobras
5. Moves
6. Crash Years
7. Sweet Talk, Sweet Talk
8. All the Old Showstoppers
9. Testament to Youth in Verse
10. Challengers
11. Your Hands (Together)
12. Mass Romantic
13. Silver Jenny Dollar
14. Use It
15. The Bleeding Heart Show

More photos after the jump

Lollapalooza 2010 day one: Devo, Matt and Kim, The Black Keys, Lady Gaga

Devo at Lollapalooza (photo: Susan Schomburg)

One day down, two to go. The first day of the 2010 Lollapalooza festival in Grant Park went pretty well. It's obviously big, and there are a lot of people not being as nice to each other as they should be, but overall, things went okay.

For me, the first stand-out performance of the day came from new-wave legends Devo, who are still very much alive and kicking. Their live show was intense and exciting, and came with herky-jerky dancing, artsy projections on a screen, and lots of matching uniforms. The energy ran high throughout the set, while fans--including many sporting plastic Devo hats--danced and jumped and sang along to their songs. The band were clearly having a good time, and fed off the audience's energy, making their performance even better.

I caught the start of Matt and Kim's set on my way from Devo, and they were just as I remembered them: energetic and fun, with pulsing rhythms and nice keyboard riffs. Matt gave shout-outs to Lake Michigan and the City of Chicago before going back into the set. I wanted to see more, and so did many others--all sorts of people just stopped in the middle of the walkways to watch the set.

The Black Keys were my top pick for Friday's festival, and I am happy to say they were very good live, indeed. Their sound is so big live, you keep forgetting it's just two guys banging away on guitar and drums, but that just makes them more awesome. They delivered an hour of thick, gritty grooves in the blues-rock tradition, starting out the set with older material. They were joined midway through by bass and keyboard players, and proceeded to play several songs off their latest album (Brothers, which is shaping up to be one of the best albums of the year). When they reached their latest single, "Tighten Up," it seemed like the whole audience sang along. The band closed their set as a duo once more, playing more of their earlier material, including "Your Touch" and fantastic set closer "I Got Mine." In spite of being scheduled until 7:15 (not 7) and the audience's hoots and hollers, the band did not come back on to play a few more, a disappointment to more than one fan in the audience. At least they left us wanting more.

Man, though. Lady Gaga really let me down. The first half-hour of her set (which, given the quality, was all I stayed for) was just not very good. It was slow-paced and pretentious and just...dull. It wasn't very visually appealing, and I was actually somewhat shocked she's got such a reputation as a performer if that's what she brings to her live show. I would suggest you just watch her videos and not bother with her live, except that, from the opposite end of the park, at The Strokes' opposing headliner show, I saw fireworks and laser beams coming from where Gaga was performing. I suspect perhaps she held back during the first part of her set to weed out those people (like me) who were just there to see what all the fuss was about, rather than the faithful many who stayed for the whole set in spite of the stinky beginning. Afterwards, blocks away from the fest, her set was still clearly audible in the streets.

When Lady Gaga failed to live up to her headliner status, I headed over to see The Strokes (who I'd never seen live before). They delivered what Gaga hadn't--an exciting live show to end the evening. Their set got people moving and shaking, even at the back of the park.

Lollapalooza 2010 day one: Mavis Staples

Mavis Staples & Jeff Tweedy perform (Photo: Windy City Rock)

Even with two days of Lollapalooza 2010 left to go, I think it's safe to say that Friday afternoon's performance by Windy City gospel legend Mavis Staples will be lauded by many as the greatest of this year. In fact, in my opinion her performance was one of the best I've seen at any installment of Lollapalooza to date.

The 71-year-old singer's set was nothing short of exquisite. The sheer power of her husky, emotive vocals combined with her heartfelt delivery elevated the material from simply songs to spiritual experiences. Much of the setlist pulled from her forthcoming album You Are Not Alone (produced by another one of Chicago's finest musical talents, Jeff Tweedy of Wilco) and from the sound of it we are in for a special treat September 14 when the record is released. From the heart-wrenching title track to the universally relatable "Only the Lord Knows" to the joyful, upbeat "I Belong to the Band," Staples truly sold the material and had the audience in the palm of her hand.

Much to the crowd's excitement, Tweedy came on stage as a special surprise to play guitar on two tracks. It was beyond cool to see two such respected, talented Chicago artists performing together. It was apparent they genuinely care for one another and the art they have created together. Plus, Staples came across as humble, good-humored and genuinely appreciative of the love she received from the crowd, making the experience even more special.

I'd expect that anyone who decided to stop by the Budweiser stage for this performance won't forget it any time soon.

Mavis Staples setlist:
1. Wonderful Savior
2. Only the Lord Knows
3. Too Close to Heaven/I'm on My Way to Heaven Anyhow
4. You Are Not Alone
5. I Belong to the Band
6. The Weight
7. Wrote a Song for Everyone
8. Creep Along, Moses
9. Freedom Highway
10. I'll Take You There

More photos after the jump

Lollapalooza 2010 day one: The Ettes, Jukebox the Ghost

The Ettes at Lollapalooza (photo: Windy City Rock)

The first day of Lollapalooza's three-day run has come to a close, and I must say Friday's installment proved to be one of the most enjoyable times I've had at the festival since it started in its current incarnation in 2005. Not only was it a beautiful day (albeit quite hot at times, though anyone who's ever been to Lollapalooza has come to expect that), but the performances overall seemed to be of a very high caliber.

I arrived at the fest just as it was opening, and immediately noticed a bigger crowd accumulated than there typically has been in past years this early on in the day. Usually the acts that perform early don't have huge crowds, but that didn't seem to be the case this year. Hip-hopper B.o.B. kicked off the festival with an 11:30 a.m. set at the adidas MEGA stage, and as I passed by I noticed a very sizable audience. The same was the case for Nashville-based quartet The Ettes, who played at 12:30 p.m. on the BMI stage on the North side of the festival.

The band's set was the first I decided to check out after arriving, opting for them over Wavves. Their crunchy, down-and-dirty rock sounded great and was ideal for pumping the crowd up and getting everyone ready for a three-day musical party. What made The Ettes stand out among their contemporaries for me was the band's front woman, Lindsay "Coco" Hames. Rarely do you hear such a girly voice (think Kim Deal or even Jane Wiedlin) paired with this style of music. It made for a really ear-catching juxtaposition. They seemed like really cool people without pretension, too, which is always refreshing at a festival where there's never a shortage of egos.

Jukebox the Ghost at Lollapalooza (photo: Windy City Rock)

Shortly after, I headed back to the BMI stage to catch a portion of Jukebox the Ghost's set at 1:45. I didn't know much about this band going in, and I must say I was very pleasantly surprised. The Washington, D.C.-born trio's jaunty, good-natured indie pop was incredibly well-written and performed with plenty of enthusiasm. I had seen them compared to Ben Folds, but in my opinion a band such as fun. would be a more accurate comparison. I was only able to catch a few songs as I wanted to see Mavis Staples, whose set began at 2 on the Budweiser stage, but all it took was those few songs to win me over as a fan. I will definitely be checking out their new album, Everything Under the Sun, when it comes out next month.

More photos after the jump

Strokesarazzi: For those torn between The Strokes and Gaga at Lolla

One of the biggest dilemmas Lollapalooza 2010 has put forth is having to decide between seeing The Strokes or Lady Gaga Friday night. True, they're really nothing alike, but both promise to be pretty damn entertaining. In light of this, our very own Bobby Minelli has put together a little video called "Strokesarazzi." In the video, Bobby puts his musical prowess - not to mention his ability to do a wicked Julian Casablancas - to work by presenting us with what it might sound like if The Strokes took on Gaga's "Paparazzi."

Bobby got the idea after discussing Lollapalooza scheduling conflicts with his brother and the resulting urge to tackle the question, "The Strokes or Lady Gaga? What's a leather clad disco dancing festival goer to do?" Behold:

Lollapalooza 2010 artist picks, take two: Susan's top festival acts

Posted by Susan Schomburg (WCR Exclusive)

Phoenix

When my dear friend Frank asked me to narrow down my picks for Lollapalooza to five must-see acts for each day, I said "of course"--and then proceeded to not actually get it done in a timely manner. Seeing as I finally got around to narrowing it down to those oh-so-chosen few, this post will be an informal mash-up and at times hyperbolic response to Frank's previous post. If you want to see my long-winded posts detailing my picks-at-large for each day's offerings, feel free to click on each date below.

Friday, August 6:

Wavves (12:15-1, Budweiser stage): If you make it to the fest early on Friday, be sure not to miss lo-fi garage rockers Wavves. What can I say? I saw them at Pitchfork fest last year and was suitably impressed. They're a really good bet if you can get yourself to the fest in time for their set (or maybe just listen in from the street as you wait in that massive line to get in to the fest).

Devo (4-5, Parkways Foundation stage): How many times are Devo going to tour? You'll probably have a lot more chances to see The New Pornographers (and/or their constituent members) than you will to see influential new wave act Devo. Plus, if you're into theme shows (I know I am!) you can enjoy another band from Akron, Ohio later that night (The Black Keys).

Matt & Kim (5-6, Adidas Mega stage): Following Devo, stick around for keys/drums duo Matt & Kim. Another act from last year's Pitchfork fest, all I can say is that they can really bring the best of the house party vibe to a big outdoor festival setting, and are a sure bet if you want to dance and have a good time at the festival. And then run, don't walk (okay, I'm not really advocating anybody to do that--let's say, 'make your way in a brisk but orderly fashion' instead) to the Black Keys' set across the festival grounds.

The Black Keys (6-7:15, Budweiser stage): My #1 pick for Friday's fest is blues-rock duo The Black Keys, whose recent release Brothers is (in my not-so-humble opinion) likely to be one of the best albums released this year. Singer/guitarist Dan Auerbach's solo set at last year's Lollapalooza was one of the best of the fest, and I have every confidence that with drummer Patrick Carney with him once more on stage, these childhood friends will tear it up. I totally agree with Frank on this one. Seriously, don't miss these guys, they're two fun dudes who will definitely rule the school.

Lady Gaga (8-10, Parkways Foundation stage): I agree with Frank that the Friday night headliners are a tossup among festival-goers, but I know I'll be checking out Lady Gaga's set, if only because I probably would never go to a show specifically for her, but I'm going to ride on the assumption that her stage show is going to be pretty spectacular. At the very least, start out at her set, and if she doesn't deliver the goods, you can always make your way over to the Strokes (who are scheduled to start a whole half-hour after her set does).

Saturday, August 7:

Warpaint (2:15-3, Sony Bloggie stage): The good things you've heard about Warpaint are true. They were at this year's Do-Division Festival, and these ladies rock. They have a dark, trippy sound and lay down some excellent beats live. Go ahead and see for yourself.

Gogol Bordello (3:45-4:45, Parkways Foundation stage): This gypsy punk outfit is definitely one of the most unique-sounding bands of recent memory, and if you want to clear your musical palate from all the straightforward indie rock you're liable to get just from haplessly wandering past some stage or another at the fest, these guys are the ones to do it. (Although I have to admit, I might sneak out a bit early to catch Chrissie Hynde playing at the kiddie stage.)

Grizzly Bear (4:15-5:15, Budweiser stage): Experimental folk-rockers Grizzly Bear are a best-bet for the festival. Their music is just a weird and awesome blend of styles, employing electronic and acoustic instruments together with slightly unnerving songwriting and rich sonic textures. Just see em. Do it!

Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros

Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeros (6:30-7:30, Sony Bloggie stage): So here is one place where I totally and fundamentally disagree with Frank. I've seen Spoon live, and they are one of a handful of bands I've seen live whose live show I strongly recommend you to not bother with. In their stead, check out hippy folk-rock collective Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros on one of the more intimate stages at the fest. Their music has catchy hooks and good vibes galore, and for my money, I'd rather take a chance on an act I haven't seen before that might be really good, than waste my time with one I know isn't.

Phoenix (8:30-10, Budweiser stage): Again, I disagree with Frank. Green Day haven't been questionable recently; they've been questionable for quite a long time (I can't remember a time when they weren't). Meanwhile, French indie act Phoenix have been putting out quirky, bubbly indie pop rock that infects your soul with the desire to shake what your momma gave you.

Sunday, August 8:

Company of Thieves (1-1:45, Sony Bloggie stage): I agree with Frank that this Chicago act, one of the few at this year's fest, is a solid bet with lush and lovely sounds galore.

Blitzen Trapper (2-3, Budweiser stage): The act I'm most excited to see on Sunday, Blitzen Trapper blends folk, old school rock, Americana, and the feeling you get when you look at sepia photographs of people you've never met in a cabin in the woods all together into something new but familiar, and undeniably gorgeous. Their albums are some of the strongest releases I've heard in recent years, and they're great live. It is a shame--nay, a crime against music itself--if you miss this band's set at the festival. (Did I mention, they happen to be one of my favorite bands?)

Minus the Bear

Minus the Bear (3-4, Adidas Mega stage): I'll admit, in the past, I've thought Minus the Bear was good, but not great--but their most recent album (Omni) along with the footage of their live shows I've seen courtesy of the internet confirms that they should deliver a great set of electronic-tinged dance rock Sunday afternoon.

MGMT (6-7:15, Budweiser stage): I agree with Frank. MGMT upped the ante with their latest release, and their live show should be full of dancing and rocking and pageantry to boot. Don't miss 'em.

Arcade Fire (8:30-10, Budweiser stage): I admit, it took me a while to warm up to Arcade Fire's music. I remember arguing fiercely in 2005 with the program and music directors at my college radio station when the question of adding "Wake Up" to the station's rotation came up. It hardly needs saying, but my objections were overruled. I'm still not crazy about that nincompoop song of theirs, but I do have to admit, the band's actually pretty damn good, and with a reputation preceding them of an excellent (possibly epic?) live show, I, for one, look forward to putting them to the test Sunday night.

Lollapalooza 2010 artist picks: Some best bets at the fest

Posted by Frank

The Strokes

Lollapalooza 2010 madness is just a couple days away, and that means there's only a little time left to map out a plan of action for your time at the fest. What time should you get there on each day? Should you watch The Strokes or Lady Gaga? Who are the lesser-known gems this time? These are important questions. One who enters into Lolla unprepared might very well wind up having a less-than-stellar experience. I've put together a list of my top picks for each day of the fest below, and for even more recommendations be sure to check out fellow WCR writer Susan's selections on her Examiner.com page.

Friday, August 6

The Ettes (12:30-1:15, BMI stage): The three-piece's revved-up yet pop-minded garage rock should serve as a perfect way to kick off the festivities. It's always a good idea to begin with something lively.

Mavis Staples (2-3, Budweiser stage): I admittedly tend to be a rock purist when at music festivals, but this Chicago gospel legend is undeniably good, and the fact that she recorded her forthcoming record, You Are Not Alone, with Jeff Tweedy makes her even cooler.

The New Pornographers (4-5, Budweiser stage): Even though the band has played the fest before and people might not feel the need to see them again, their fantastic new record, Together, makes this an essential set for me. Plus, their beezy, thoughtful power pop simply makes for a great way to spend an afternoon. 

The Black Keys (6-7:15, Budweiser stage): I'm not typically one for bluesy stuff, but there's no denying that they rock and are among the Lolla artists most well suited to an outdoor festival setting. And because of this, which is just one of the best things ever.

The Strokes and Lady Gaga (8:30-10, Budweiser stage and 8-10, South stage): This one's a draw. The Strokes are always a good time and it will be interesting to see if they play any new material, but Gaga will undoubtedly be a spectacle, and spectacles are sort of what big music fests are all about. It might be worth trying to catch a portion of each.

Saturday, August 7

Skybox

Skybox (12:30-1:15, BMI stage): This was a great choice for one of the few Chicago-based bands to represent our city at the fest this year. If you have a liking for quirky pop songs, like me, you won't want to miss them. Their recently released LP, Morning After Cuts (reviewed here), is full of truly wonderful, joyous indie pop, and they're one hell of an entertaining live act to boot.

Wild Beasts (1:15-2:15, Playstation stage): These Brits have something interesting going on. The music is bizarre-yet-accessible art pop/rock. The vocals are falsetto, and perhaps a bit jarring, but work. The overall vibe is just very captivating, and should be a nice break from the cookie-cutter acts at the fest.

JP, Chrissie and The Fairground Boys (4:15-4:35, Kidz stage): Need I say more for this pick than “Chrissie freakin' Hynde”? Chrissie is a tried-and-true rock legend that could eat most of the fresh-faced, green kiddies playing Lolla for breakfast. If she were to be playing a set of Polka songs, I'd still be there with bells on. The fact that she is performing with her new act JP, Chrissie and The Fairground Boys, whose forthcoming record is promising to be the the most spirited thing she's done since The Pretenders' early '80s records, is just icing. Too bad the set duration is so short.

Spoon (6:15-7:30, Budweiser stage): It's debatable whether Spoon is a riveting live act, but they have such a large back catalog of fantastic material that for my money, they're worth catching either way. Plus, lately their setlists have looked very appealing, featuring a nice mix of the various sides to their overall sound.

Green Day (7:45-10, South stage): Yes, Green Day have become a tad questionable in recent years. Personally, it's not the poppier music that causes concern, but rather the obvious effort to appeal to kiddies with a faux-punk image that seems to get progressively lamer as time goes on. That said, I think it's safe to say this set will be entertaining, and say what you will, they've come up with some damn good tunes over the years. Phoenix, who are headlining the Bud stage at the same time, will surely deliver a perfectly fine set, but I'm not quite sure they will be as exciting to watch or that they've earned a headlining Lolla set quite yet.

Sunday, August 8

Arcade Fire

Miniature Tigers (11:30-12:15, PlayStation stage): You don't get much more fun than this indie pop act, who first gained attention for their breezy debut, Tell It to the Volcano. They've added new layers and textures to their sound on their new sophomore effort, Fortress, showing definite growth while preserving the playfulness. If you're willing to get to the fest this early, be sure to check them out.

Company of Thieves (1-1:45, The Grove stage): Like Skybox, locally-based trio Company of Thieves made it on the lineup to represent the Windy City this year. The band's rich, intelligent pop/rock, highlighted by Genevieve Schatz's alluring vocals, should be a great way to spend 45 minutes. Learn more from our recent Q&A with the band.

MGMT (6-7:15, Budweiser stage): I gained a whole new respect for MGMT after they released their sophomore album, Congratulations, earlier this year. It made me go from not really taking them seriously to being downright impressed by the creativity and song structures they've grown to achieve. If you're in the same camp, they'll be an obvious choice on Sunday evening.

The National (7:15-8:30, PlayStation stage): The band's latest release, High Violet, is stellar, and their moody indie rock should be a perfect lead-in to...

Arcade Fire (8:30-10, Budweiser stage): The arty alt-rock act plays against Soundgarden, and for my tastes they are the clear winner. They were compelling when they played Grant Park's first Lolla installment in 2005, they've been compelling when they've played indoor venues in the city, and with new songs in tow from their third LP, The Suburbs, they'll no doubt be an amazing way to end this year's festival.

Spinner.com offers free downloads from Lollapalooza 2010 artists

Got Lollapalooza fever and looking for a way to get even more pumped up before the festivities kick off Friday? Spinner.com is here to help. The site is offering an extensive collection of free mp3s from various performers at this year's festival, from The New Pornographers and Phoenix to Mavis Staples and Blitzen Trapper. Get the goods here.

If you're still deciding what you want to check out this weekend in Grant Park, downloading all the songs and making a mix could be the perfect way to get acquainted with acts you're not yet familiar with. For even more guidance, keep your eye on Windy City Rock for a list of our picks of must-see bands.

You can also prepare by downloading the official Lollapalooza iPhone app, which is available here. The app allows you to do plenty of cool things, such as creating custom schedules, accessing artist information, keeping up with the latest news surrounding the festival, streaming Lolla radio and posting photos and updates to Facebook and Twitter.