Celeste went to Lollapalooza the past weekend, here is her take on the annual Chicago festival.
Winner of Friday Lollapalooza: Hey Marseilles
I only knew about this small band who was playing on the tucked away BMI stage because I have a friend who is local to the Seattle area where the band hails from and she told me I had to go see them. It’s hard not to love a band full of tall, good looking men holding an assortment of string and wind instruments. Songs abounded with the sound of the mandolin, guitar, viola, trumpets and accordion. There was also hand clapping. Even the half of the crowd who had obviously just come early to catch chance the rapper who was performing next on the stage were enjoying themselves. That’s a true testament to how much fun these guys are.
Most disappointing act of Friday Lollapalooza: New Order
They weren’t actually that bad. I just passed the Queens of the Stone Age stage while on my way to New Order and, much like restaurant order regret, spent the entire time wondering if everyone at the other stage was having a tastier time.
Loudest act of Friday Lollapalooza: Smith Westerns
I literally could not hear anything for the next thirty minutes.
Best local act of Friday Lollapalooza: Smith Westerns
It was worth it not to be able to hear anything for the next thirty minutes.
This local-Chicago-band-made-good apparently used to play really sloppy shows – their act was also their rehearsal. The band has since grown out of the practice, and they sounded much cleaner and more professional at this Lolla fest. While the Chicago hip-hop community tends to have a cohesive Chicago feel to them (I’d say we’re known for our witty rappers – Lupe Fiasco, Chance the Rapper, Kanye) the Chicago indie-rock community doesn’t seem to have to have any kind of style associated with them – these guys almost have a southern twang alt-country thing going on and it works for them.
Most fun act of Friday Lollapalooza: Hot Chip
Every time I’ve seen Hot Chip it’s been by accident and every time they’ve blown me away. Last year at Pitchfork and then again this year at Lolla – they’re just a great festival band. Their set is just an hour of pure unadulterated good old fashioned fun. Halley and I have decided that the greatest compliment you can give someone is that when you’re with them you have zero fomo. I have zero fomo when I’m watching Hot Chip. There’s literally nowhere else I’d rather be.
Most talented act of Friday Lollapalooza: Jessie Ware
Sure there might have been better dancing, better light shows, more sing-alongs and so on and so forth at other stages, but for pure talent, Jessie ware wins.