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

This Tuesday: Pretenders, Cat Power & Juliette Lewis at the Vic

What better way to spend your Tuesday night than by rocking out with The Pretenders? The iconic band will play Chicago for the second time this year Tuesday night, August 18, headlining a triple bill with Cat Power and Juliette Lewis.

Last October, Chrissie Hynde and the band released Break Up the Concrete, their first new LP since 2002's Loose Screw. The stripped down, rockabilly-flavored record brought the them some of their best reviews in quite a while and seems to have kicked the band into high gear. They toured the U.S. early this year (which included a Chicago stop at the Riviera, reviewed here), made rounds in Europe through July, and are now back for round two in the States.

Acclaimed singer-songwriter Cat Power released her eighth album, Jukebox, last year, while singer-actress Lewis has just come off a six year stint fronting Juliette and the Licks and is now set to release a new album, Terra Incognita, on September 1st.

Tickets are $44 and are still available here.