Lollapalooza Day 2: Time at Fest 2pm-9pm

2:30pm - Dierks Bentley: B+

Let’s be upfront. I don’t like country in general. I like Alt country (Bright Eyes, Nickel Creek, Iron & Wine might fit in this category). Howevs, this was an awesome show. The fans who were there because they love Dierks. Which means a lot of rowdy cheering and stomping. The band sounded really good and the music was something you could dance to. Also, bonus points to Dierks for laughing at the general Lollapalooza sentiment of “Who the hell is Dierks Bentley?” More bonus points because there was an onstage appearance of ubiquitous red cup of Hot Chicks With Douchebags fame (www.hotchickswithdouchebags.com).

Sadly, this was the best I could find


Dierks Bentley Sez: “Thanks for the nice words, John. I know you were only there because someone asked you to go and that you will only ever see me again because that same person will probably buy you a ticket. But that’s alright. Now let’s go get a cold beer and some women!”

3:30pm – Devotchka: B

Gypsy rock is the new black.

Devotchka is most well known for creating the majority of the Little Miss Sunshine soundtrack. I like their music a lot. They sounded good, but for a fest they just aren’t a huge energy band. God love ‘em they tried. But a 125lb woman playing a tuba can only jump up and down for so long before she’ll wear herself out.

I would close your eyes for this video. I don’t want to be partially responsible for causing a seizure.


Devotchka sez: “She’s only 110lbs. You cock.”

3:30pm – MGMT: A

And we have hit the first time I get to admit I left one band to go see another. Not the first or last time I will get to say that. These guys are awesome. Tons of energy. Sound great. Have a lot of really good music that you can either sit and relax to enjoy or jump around like a madman. Bonus points to this set because it helped prove my “no matter how much space is around you people will find a way to run into you” theory. Basically, I was way back from the stage relaxing and people still almost ran into me. Ridiculous.

I think this guy accidentally made one of the greatest music videos of all time.


MGMT sez: “We’re always ready to help prove scientific theories.”

4:30pm – Brand New: D-

Hi. We’re Brand New. The band. We have two drummers and 5 guitarists. But here’s what so cool. We’re all playing the same notes.

John sez: “Ugh I hated these guys. I hope they don’t read this an come hurt me.”

4:30pm – Explosions in the Sky: A+

I needed something to forget I ever saw Brand New. Enter Explosions in the Sky. They were very Sigur Ros-ian in that they had no words, just pure music. The one difference being Sigur Ros has a dude sing gibberish. Explosions might want to look into that, it actually adds a lot. But these guys sounded amazing. No doubt they can rock out. I didn’t mean to rhyme that line. Unfortunately I am using a typewriter and to go back and edit would involve me retyping all these words and html code. Sorry.



Sigur Ros for a point of comparison


This reminds me how much I miss the show “Reverb” that was on HBO. It is one of my all time favorites. I found a ton of bands I love through that show. Please bring it back HBO. I’ll kiss you.

Explosions in the Sky sez: “We don’t need a lead singer singing gibberish. That’s so Icelandic… Ya know. Cuz Sigur Ros is from Iceland… Oh what’s the point?” (sound of footsteps walking away)

5:30pm - Okkervil River: A+

This was the band I was most nervous about being disappointed in. I love Black Sheep Boy (album) but hadn’t really heard anything else. They sounded amazing. Nothing got lost in translation in the live show including lead singer Will Sheff’s maniacally desperate sing/scream voice.

Bonus points for having a disinterested woman playing guitar on stage who apparently is not a member of the band. Mystery women!

They also played my favorite song by them. No one else I know seems to like it. Take a listen and you judge. It is called “For Real”.


Here is one of their live performances. They didn’t play anything this slow. Just the best I could find that illustrates how good they sound live.


Worth noting there was a couple of dudes in front of us (and I mean they were dudes who were also a couple) and one of them was this little guy from the Phillipines who weirded me out. He was about 5ft tall, completely jacked and reminded me a lot of little superstar.

The key difference being little superstar wasn’t with his lover (maybe) and little superstar was able to have both feet on the ground at the same time. This dude was constantly on the toes of one of his feet while the other was on the ground.

The best part is I am pretty sure he knew my friend and I were laughing at him so he kept giving me menacing looks. It really didn’t help that he was between me and the jumbotron so he easily could have thought I was staring at him.

Litte Philipino man, I wasn’t staring at you, I promise.

Okkervil River sez: “We don’t know who that girl was. She just showed up with a guitar. We thought you knew her.”

Little Philipino Man sez: “I watch you when you sleep.”

Yikes.

6:30pm – Lupe Fiasco: A+

I know. 3 A+’s in a row? It seems like I turned into a kindergarten teacher who is grading whether or not you colored between the lines but you have to believe me that this was a scheduling thing. Pure coincidence. I have never been as happy at a music thing as I was during this almost 3 hours of Lolla.

Lupe is awesome. He has so much energy on stage. He is all over the place and sounds amazing. I have nothing else to say. Go see the best MC (rapper? Hip hop artist?) that is on the stages today. Yes I said that. Deal with it.

This is from ’07 Lollapalooza. Sorry for the long intro


Confession time: I saw one song of Broken Social Scene before heading to Lupe Fiasco. I didn’t review BSS here because they would have broken my string of A+’s. I didn’t want that to happen for one song from a band I genuinely enjoy. Go see BSS live. They are a great band.

Lupe Fiasco sez: “We should be friends. I think we would get along great and have a lot of fun.”

Broken Social Scene sez: “How could you do this to your Canadian brethren? … Of course you’re Canadian… Wow… You’re not? Now we don’t know what to think.”

Here is where Day 2 ends. Why? Because I was walking around talking to friends for the remaining 90 minutes I was there. I caught little snippets here and there but nothing I feel I could actually write something about in a fair way to the bands. Also, after this series of awesomeness I couldn’t really handle anything else.

Let’s wrap Day 2 up lightening round style with comments from bands that I ignored at the end of the day:

Sharon Jones sez: “I’m sorry Duffy ruined this style of music for you. Maybe Mark Ronson will redeem your faith.”

Toadies sez: “Screw you for hating us. We were an important band. Just because we look like the guy obsessed The Go! Team doesn’t give you have the right to judge us.”

DJ Momjeans sez: “I’m Danny Masterson! Admit it, the word momjeans is pretty incredible.” (John nods and points to nose)

Wilco sez: “Why can’t you get into us? We don’t understand it and it is starting to get really annoying. I think it’s about time you gave us another try.”

Rage Against the Machine sez: “You’re gonna regret not seeing us live when you had the chance.”

Rage is probably right. Let’s hope I didn’t repeat the mistake on Day 3.

Suspense!