When preparing for your Lollapalooza weekend, unless you digest your music by the gallon, chances are you’ll wind up with at least a handful of moments where you’re not sure exactly what artist to go see. That will either result from a conflict where multiple artists you like are on at the same time, or you dislike or are completely unfamiliar with all the artists performing in a particular time slot. In this Lollapalooza preview guide, I aim to help you out with the tough decisions on each day, and hopefully inspire you enough to check out some different acts you might not think about otherwise. Please keep in mind that this is being written with zero regard for stage location, and if you want to walk from one stage to another it could take up to 15 minutes should it be on the other side of the park. So plan accordingly, and try to do yourself a favor and go see some artists you wouldn’t normally catch otherwise. Broaden your horizons a little bit – that’s sort of what a music festival is all about.
This year Lollapalooza is set to be bigger than ever before, with the festival grounds now extending across Columbus Ave. to a new section of the park, where one of the smaller stages along with the electronica stage known as Perry’s will be located. That also allows for tens of thousands of more people to attend the festival each day, which will probably go from bad traffic jams to worse traffic jams as it gets later in the day and people start to pack in for the headliners. But this is a new layout, and in its first year it’s going to be a game of trial-and-error to see what officially works and what doesn’t. On that note, I’ll have a full day-by-day report of this year’s Lollapalooza, so please check back to hear about the good, the bad and the ugly. For now though, let’s get started with this hour-by-hour preview of the must-see acts performing this year.
FRIDAY
11am
Unless you’ve been lined up since before 9am on Friday, chances are you’ll be waiting in a relatively long line to get into Lollapalooza. This happens every year, and those arriving right at 11 will probably miss 30-45 minutes worth of music to start the festival. Everybody needs to get wristbands and have their bags inspected and about a dozen other things, so it’s a hassle you do once and remain thankful Saturday and Sunday are far easier for entry. But here’s what not to miss if you get in bright and early.
Go See:
B.o.B. (11:30-12:15, adidas MEGA)
There aren’t many hip-hop acts at Lollapalooza this year, and somebody made a gigantic scheduling error by putting rapper Bobby Ray Simmons in the early timeslot on Friday. He was booked before he became a star with a chart-topping single, but now that he is one they should have given him a later time. Ah well, he should put on a great show, probably with a hype man or two to get you really pumped up for the start of the festival.
Alternate Pick:
Javelin (11:30-12:15, PlayStation)
High energy synth pop is what Javelin bring to the table. Their album “No Mas” is a fascinating journey through various genres and ethnic influences, all while remaining light and danceable. Their set should be a fun way to start your Friday.
12pm
Go See:
Wavves (12:30-1:15, Budweiser)
Lo-fi surf rock is what Nathan Williams aka Wavves is all about. His music is great for hot summer days outdoors, preferably near a body of water. Guess what? Grant Park is outdoors, it’s going to be hot, and Lake Michigan is right across the street. The new Wavves album “King of the Beach” is excellent as well, though his live show may still leave something to be desired. Hopefully he’s learned a thing or two since the incident at last year’s Primavera Sound Festival in Spain, where he took to many drugs and had an on-stage meltdown. Count on him being (mostly) coherent for Lollapalooza.
Alternate Pick:
The Ettes (12:30-1:15, BMI)
The Ettes are coming from a much more traditional rock angle. They’re a little bit country, a little bit old fashioned rock and roll, and a little bit punk. It all makes for a healthy combo that should sound pretty great in the early afternoon festival heat.
1pm
Go See:
The Walkmen (1:00-2:00, adidas MEGA)
The Walkmen have had an interesting run of records so far. From their incredibly great “Bows + Arrows” to their lackluster “A Hundred Miles Off” and a return to form on “You & Me”, this band has been sort of all over the map. They’ve got a new album coming out next month titled “Lisbon”, from which they’ll probably play a handful of new tunes to go with their whiskey-soaked, jangly barroom rock. Chances are their set won’t be all high impact energy, but they’ll deliver with heartfelt passion anyways.
Alternate Pick:
Los Amigos Invisibles {1:00-2:00, PlayStation)
Yes, this band is from Venezuela, and the music they make sounds like its from Venezuela. That is to say you get a multicultural dance party with significant Latin flavor. It has the potential to be a really fun time, if you don’t mind a bunch of songs in a foreign language.
2pm
Go See:
Mavis Staples (2:00-3:00, Budweiser)
She’s a Chicago blues and soul music legend. Her voice is probably more powerful than any other act of the entire festival. She’s got a new album coming out next month that was largely put together by Wilco’s Jeff Tweedy. Mavis Staples has more than earned the respect of generations worth of music lovers, and now she’s performing at Lollapalooza in the hopes of showing the “kids” a thing or two. Rest assured, she will take no prisoners. This may be one of the coolest and best sets of the entire festival.
Alternate Pick:
American Bang (2:15-3:00, Sony bloggie)
If you had one guess as to what American Bang sounded like, most people would probably guess right. They’ve got an almost-but-not-quite alt-country sound to them, otherwise known as rock and roll with a slight country edge. Fans of Kings of Leon might enjoy these guys.
3pm
Go See:
Drive-By Truckers (3:00-4:00, PlayStation)
Southern rock is alive and well thanks to the Drive-By Truckers. They scored an opening slot for the Tom Petty tour last month and fit in perfectly. Grab a beer or your favorite alcoholic beverage and go see them swelter in the sun. It should be highly enjoyable.
Alternate Pick:
The Big Pink (3:00-4:00, adidas MEGA)
Big, huge, fuzzy stadium rock is what The Big Pink makes, and it’s perfect for a large festival like Lollapalooza. Their debut album “A Brief History of Love” came out last year and is excellent, as is the hit single “Dominos”.
My Dear Disco (3:00-3:45, BMI)
One of the surprises of the festival might be My Dear Disco, whose synth-punk dance tunes and high energy live show are sure to earn new fans almost immediately. This set will be the most fun you can have at 3pm on a Friday, I’ll almost guarantee that.
4pm
Go See:
Devo (4:00-5:00, Parkways)
They released their first album in 20 years just recently, and the tracks on that record were hand-picked thanks to a fan voting system. It’s one of the world’s first focus group albums, and it satisfies pretty well in that regard. Really though, the old school tunes are what you can look forward to most, and though they may be far older now, they’re out to prove they can still cut it up as well as any other band playing this year.
Alternate Pick:
The New Pornographers (4:00-5:00, Budweiser)
The trio of A.C. Newman, Dan Bejar and Neko Case should all be on stage this year, unlike a couple past Lollapalooza performances when that wasn’t the case. Their delightful indie pop is extremely satisfying, and their set should be fun and filled with bouncy tunes to make your heart sing.
5pm
Go See:
Dirty Projectors (5:00-6:00, PlayStation)
This promises to be one of the strangest, most obtuse sets Lollapalooza will have to offer. If you’ve never heard Dirty Projectors before you may want to stay away, mostly because of how odd it will probably strike you. For fans of the band’s latest effort “Bitte Orca” however, this should be an impressive delight with stellar female harmonies and Dave Longstreth’s complicated melodies.
Alternate Pick:
Fuck Buttons (5:00-6:00, Sony bloggie)
This is set to be a weird little dance party, with some melodies that are fun but travel down unconventional pathways. Lots of instrumental stuff, but the energy and creativity make it worth the occasional head scratcher.
Matt & Kim (5:00-6:00, adidas MEGA)
This duo makes a lot of noise and has so much fun on stage. They’ve both got perpetual smiles on their faces and their punky indie pop tunes should have the crowd beaming with delight as well.
6pm
Go See:
The Black Keys (6:00-7:15, Budweiser)
If you like your rock and roll all swampy and blues-influenced, look no further than The Black Keys. They’re mainstays at Lollapalooza now, seeming to perform year after year, but they always do such an incredible job it’s tough to pass them up for anything else. This year they’re bringing a full band with them instead of just their duo, so perhaps their songs will have an added punch to them.
Alternate Pick:
Hot Chip (6:00-7:00, Parkways)
Hopefully Hot Chip knows how to tailor a show to an audience. They could hypothetically treat their Lollapalooza set like they did their last album, avoiding any big dance numbers and focusing more on songcraft and balladry, but that’d be a foolish move. No, they should bring the hits and everyone will dance and have a great time. Just keep that tempo up guys!
7pm
Go See:
Jimmy Cliff (7:15-8:30, PlayStation)
This guy’s a reggae legend. If you’ve never seen the film “The Harder They Come” or heard the soundtrack, get on that right away. Who knows how much longer he’ll be around and performing, so this is something of a rare appearance and a chance to catch a Jamaican hero in action.
Alternate Pick:
Chromeo (7:00-8:00, adidas MEGA)
If you like 80’s music cliches, Chromeo has them all in spades. Synths galore, vocal modulations and all those other corny tricks are markers they wear with pride. Their music is fun and danceable if you can get past their general disregard for all things original.
8pm
Go See:
The Strokes (8:30-10:00, Budweiser)
Two great albums and one mediocre one. That’s what The Strokes have done for us across their career. There was plenty of talk suggesting they might be in a permanent breakup state, given all the various side projects the band members had embarked on, but here they are back in action, with a fourth album somewhere on the horizon. Think they’ll play anything new? It seems unlikely given their most recent shows have all pulled from the old stuff, but you never know.
Alternate Pick:
Lady Gaga (8:00-10:00, Parkways)
She’s a provocateur who loves the unconventional. Funny then how her songs are in fact very conventional pop. Her set will be entertaining for the sheer spectacle of it all, with elaborate staging and costume changes to boot. There will probably also be a bunch of sing-alongs, so if that really sounds like your thing, go for it.
SATURDAY
11am
Go See:
The Kissaway Trail (11:45-12:30, PlayStation)
There’s very little actually worth seeing this early on Saturday, so this psychedelic rock foursome is about the best you’ll get. If you’re around and are looking for an act to see, this would be the one.
12pm
Go See:
The Morning Benders (12:00-12:30, Sony bloggie)
These guys make light indie pop songs that aren’t always great with energy but shine through with general warmth. Crack a smile, pop a squat on a patch of grass and just chill out for this set.
Alternate Pick:
The Soft Pack (12:30-1:15, Budweiser)
If you’re looking for energetic rock and roll to start your Saturday, look no further than The Soft Pack. Their set should be really fun and will keep your toe tapping. That their music can be a little cliched at times, well, call it an unfortunate price to pay for entertainment.
1pm
Go See:
Wild Beasts (1:15-2:15, PlayStation)
They’re not the world’s easiest band to like, mostly due to a lead singer whose voice seems to prefer the upper registers. But no worries, their songs are somewhat standard indie rock fare but still a blast, and they’re getting some serious buzz at the moment. Don’t be surprised if Wild Beasts becomes a household name in the coming year, so maybe get in on the ground floor now.
Alternate Pick:
Harlem (1:00-1:45, Sony bloggie)
If The White Stripes and The Strokes were to get together and make some beautiful music babies, Harlem might be what they’d sound like. This is hard-fought garage rock all the way, and these guys are also pretty damn cool live.
2pm
Go See:
Against Me! (2:45-3:45, adidas MEGA)
These punk rockers start late in the hour, but their high energy, serious rock and roll set should make up for any lost time you might experience. “New Wave” is still their best album, but their new one “White Crosses” still has enough spunk to keep spirits and fists high.
Alternate Pick:
Warpaint (2:15-3:00, Sony bloggie)
This all-girl group can get a little spacey and suck the energy out of a fun festival afternoon, but chances are that won’t happen during their Lollapalooza set. Their earnest atmospherics can turn your mid-day into a transcendent experience if you let it, and it’s better than the also-ran Blues Traveler or the increasingly depressing desperation that Stars will have to offer at the time.
3pm
Go See:
The xx (3:15-4:15, PlayStation)
You will be sweating during this mid-afternoon set. The sun will be beating down pretty hard. Listening to The xx is best experienced in a small room with the least amount of light possible. In other words, the exact opposite of what they’ll be doing at Lollapalooza. That’ll probably hurt them big time, but damn is their album good.
Alternate Pick:
Gogol Bordello (3:45-4:45, Parkways)
Bring your Gypsy cousin, because this is set to be a fun family affair. These Gypsy punks played Lollapalooza a couple years back and had one of the craziest sets of the entire festival. They’ve got the energy and the massive collection of members, so prepare to dance and gawk at the sheer spectacle of it all.
4pm
Go See:
Grizzly Bear (4:15-5:15, Budweiser)
At Lollapalooza 2008, Grizzly Bear was given a small side stage slot late in the day. Now they’re in a somewhat similar slot, but on the big stage. Their latest album “Veckatimest” probably pushed them over the top, and those sublime harmonies are perfect for the sun-baked masses needing to take a quieter break for an hour.
Alternate Pick:
AFI (4:45-5:45, adidas MEGA)
This punk rock band is huge by alternative rock radio standards these days, so it’s a little odd they don’t have a pre-headliner slot. Still, while their songs and albums have become increasingly tame (but also catchier and fun), the biggest thing they’ll be bringing to Lollapalooza is an energy that’s sure to get the crowd riled up. Speaking of which, they’re probably a perfect compliment to Green Day headlining a couple hours later…so why are they this early again?
5pm
Go See:
Metric (5:15-6:15, PlayStation)
Odd that Metric has never played Lollapalooza before. Their first time should be an absolute blast though, with their high energy songs matched on stage by the extremely vibrant Emily Haines. All the live footage I’ve seen from the band has been nothing short of incredible, so you probably won’t want to miss this set.
Alternate Pick:
Social Distortion (5:45-6:45, Parkways)
Dude, it’s 90’s heroes Social D. They’ve got a back catalogue with a bunch of classic songs. Their latest stuff isn’t so great, but still, Social D rocks. Go see them pretty much for that reason alone.
6pm
Go See:
Spoon (6:15-7:30, Budweiser)
Admittedly, Spoon don’t have the best live show. They tend to lack the appropriate energy, or at the very least tension, to pull off a really solid and convincing festival set. Still, their catalogue packed with great songs cannot be denied, and it’ll be nice to hear those songs accurately recreated as the sun begins to set.
Alternate Pick
Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros (6:30-7:30, Sony bloggie)
This should be a fun and entertaining set. In other words, better performance-wise than Spoon. But the music isn’t quite as strong, though the collective’s latest effort does have its fair share of excellence to it. They’ve already loaned a song out to a commercial and they’ve got something of a radio hit on their hands as well, so consider these boys and girls severely buzzing right now. Just try to avoid getting snatched up by their hippie bus, which has been known to “kidnap” people and indoctrinate them into the band ala the Polyphonic Spree.
7pm
Go See:
Green Day (7:45-10:00, Parkways)
All those classic songs. All the spectacle complete with fireballs and fist pumps. All the energy. Green Day should put on a pretty wild set, but let’s hope they avoid playing too much from their latest opus “21st Century Breakdown”, which isn’t exactly great.
Alternate Pick:
Cut Copy (7:30-8:30, PlayStation)
Electronica dance party? You’d better believe it. Cut Copy is so much fun live, and they could possibly put on one of the best sets of the festival. You may want to watch/dance through most of this and then catch Green Day when Cut Copy is done.
8pm
Go See:
Phoenix (8:30-10:00, Budweiser)
If you get bored with Green Day after 45 minutes, or you’re coming from the Cut Copy dance party, this could be a fun and also danceable way to end your Saturday. Phoenix have some amazing synth-pop songs in their catalogue beyond just their latest effort “Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix”. If the political punk of Green Day isn’t your thing, do Phoenix because that should be really fun too.
SUNDAY
11am
Go See:
HEALTH (11:30-12:15, adidas MEGA)
If you’re not too hungover from Saturday night still, HEALTH’s chainsaw electro-noise can work to your dancing advantage. If you’re not up for that insanity so early on a Sunday, maybe you just need to chill out in a grassy area and nap for an hour.
Alternate Pick:
Miniature Tigers (11:30-12:15, PlayStation)
For a less harsh way to start your Sunday, indie pop band Miniature Tigers is a good way to go. They’ve just released a new album “Fortress” that’s decent (i.e. not great), but they’re a light, easy band to see on a morning like this one.
12pm
Go See:
The Antlers (12:15-1:00, Budweiser)
Don’t count on a ton of energy from The Antlers during their set. That’s not really something they do. But their songs are incredibly compelling despite being mostly subdued, and that makes their set the perfect time to just relax and listen.
Alternate Pick:
Nneka (12:15-1:00, Parkways)
Reggae flavor? Check. Hip-hop beats? Double check. Fascinating live show? Triple check. If that sounds up your alley, then by all means do it.
1pm
Go See:
The Dodos (1:00-2:00, PlayStation)
They may wield acoustic guitars most of the time, but what they do with them is absolutely brilliant. The melodies on their last two albums “Visiter” and “Time to Die” are gripping, speedy and rhythmically challenging. Just watching them work will be a treat.
Alternate Pick:
Company of Thieves (1:00-1:45, Sony bloggie)
This Chicago band should have played Lollapalooza last year, but they were too busy getting popular to logically commit to the festival and its relatively strict radius clause. They’re finally getting the festival slot they deserve, and hopefully it’s a great showcase for any out-of-towners who’ve yet to hear about this great local indie rock band.
2pm
Go See:
The Cribs (2:00-3:00, Parkways)
On the surface, this British band isn’t incredibly special with the music they make. It sounds like a lot of other indie rock bands. The difference between them and every other act though has to do with clever songwriting and dynamite hooks that will stay with you for weeks. Having former Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr as one of your utility players isn’t a bad reason to go see them either. Good, fun energy in this set.
Alternate Pick:
Blitzen Trapper (2:00-3:00, Budweiser)
These guys do a whole folk/alt-country sort of thing, and it’s interesting enough on record but just a little sleepy to watch live. If you like the tunes though, go and see them.
3pm
Go See:
Freelance Whales (3:00-3:45, BMI)
Honestly, I’m not the biggest fan of Freelance Whales. What I won’t deny though is that their music is a perfect fit for Lollapalooza. It has the stadium-sized energy, complete with instrumental heft to really leave an impact on a crowd. The songs may be a bit cliched and appear to blatantly rip off the Arcade Fire, but if you’re gearing up to see the indie heroes headline later that night this is a great warm-up.
Alternate Pick:
Minus the Bear (3:00-4:00, adidas MEGA)
These guys have gone through a lot of changes sound-wise in the past few years, moving from high energy math rock into spacey, prog-rock territory abd out the other side with some synth-pop. What part of that will show up during their Lollapalooza set? Probably all three in some form or another. It should be pretty interesting.
4pm
Go See:
Yeasayer (4:00-5:00, Budweiser)
If you’ve not yet heard Yeasayer’s latest album “Odd Blood”, it comes highly recommended as one of the best albums of 2010 so far. Yes, they can get weird and freak-folky at times, but the newest stuff feels bigger and more open-air ready than ever. It should be a great, high energy set.
Alternate Pick:
X Japan (4:00-5:00, Parkways)
These guys are HUGE in Japan (and several other countries). They’re basically the Japanese version of Metallica, only with a much greater flair for the dramatic power ballad. After nearly 30 years of existence, this will be their first official U.S. show. They’re here ready to crack the U.S. market with new songs in the English language. Expect this set to be hard-hitting and powerful, a massive spectacle because the Japanese know we Americans like to use the phrase “go big or go home”.
5pm
Go See:
MUTEMATH (5:00-6:00, PlayStation)
This is a recommendation I wouldn’t normally give to a band I’m not particularly fond of. What I can tell you is that despite my problems with their music in general (it’s not THAT bad), MUTEMATH knows how to put on one hell of a live show. For a festival such as this one, MUTEMATH fits the bill more than perfectly. They are what every festival band should be, only with poorer music.
Alternate Pick:
Frightened Rabbit (5:00-6:00, Sony bloggie)
This Scottish indie rock band is coming off a slightly shaky new album that seems to focus on making stadium-sized melodies rather than actual good songs. Still, their previous effort “Midnight Organ Fight” is a pitch-perfect breakup album filled with amazing songs, so the set-long mixture of older and newer stuff should work out just fine.
Erykah Badu (5:00-6:00, adidas MEGA)
Erykah Badu has got her own thing going on sonically, that’s for sure. Her albums have ranged anywhere from R&B to soul to hip-hop and blues and everything in between. Most of what she’s done has been wonderful or at the very least thought-provoking. She’s a true artist and a consumate live performer as well. As good as her songs are, they do lack energy even on stage. But that voice, oh is it magical.
6pm
Go See:
MGMT (6:00-7:15, Budweiser)
I’m extremely hesitant to recommend this, mostly because every time I’ve seen MGMT live they’ve seriously sucked. It has not been a good experience. What I’m hoping for are some solid interpretations of the darkly psychedelic songs on their latest album “Congratulations”. If they can manage that, it should work well as the sun begins to set.
Alternate Pick:
The Temper Trap (6:30-7:30, Sony bloggie)
If you’ve watched a Coke commercial or seen a trailer for a number of different summer movies, chances are you’ve heard The Temper Trap’s song “Sweet Disposition”. Damn is that song good. So is much of the rest of their debut album, which should make for a decent live show over the angsty, Zeppelin-baiting riffs of Wolfmother.
7pm
Go See:
The National (7:15-8:30, PlayStation)
When they’re playing to a large crowd, The National know exactly what to do with their songs. They make a set list that’s good on energy but balanced with some of their artier stuff as well. They’re on a streak now of 3 incredible albums in a row, and their Lollapalooza performance should have a hodgepodge of songs from each of them, strung together in a personal and enchanting way.
Alternate Pick:
Cypress Hill (7:00-8:00, adidas MEGA)
Classic hip-hop, occasionally mixed with rock style, and they’ve also got some new material to perform. Security will probably be on careful watch for weed, so if you’re going to light up during this set, best to do it as discreetly as possible.
8pm
Go See:
Soundgarden (8:00-10:00, Parkways)
Why Soundgarden over Arcade Fire? Simply put, this classic 90s grunge band is playing their first big show in an extremely long time. They’re fresh on the reunion train, and for those of us who never got to see them the first time around, this may be the only opportunity. Nobody has any idea how long it might last. If Soundgarden has meant anything to you over the last couple decades, if you’ve been drawn in by “Black Hole Sun” or “Outshined” or any other one of their many hits, you owe it to yourself to go see this band make an official triumphant return. This may not be the intimate Thursday night show at The Vic they’re doing, but it does mark a huge “get” for Lollapalooza in 2010.
Alternate Pick:
Arcade Fire (8:30-10:00, Budweiser)
I bore witness to the mindblowing Arcade Fire set at Lollapalooza 2005. That’s a memory I’ll cherish for the rest of my life, most likely. The band’s new album “The Suburbs” is excellent and is making them more popular than ever. Now would seem to be the time to catch this band. The thing is, they’ll be back. Back to Chicago, and back to whatever city around the globe you, fair reader, live in. There’s no indication that the Arcade Fire are going anywhere, and if you miss this set there will be another. Soundgarden?<—That’s a big question mark. But hey, if Arcade Fire is your thing, and you’re upset about the possibility that Chris Cornell is in it for the big cash grab, enjoy the Arcade Fire set. It should be nothing short of magical.
