After 13 hours in a car, 18 hours in Chicago, a couple hours at the Chicago Art Institute, and an hour in line - we made it! Two close friends and I entered Lollapalooza, the fourth Palooza taking place in Chicago's beautiful Grant Park. Perry Ferrel pulled out all the stops to curate the best line up of American Festival's this summer.We got in just as Rogue Wave were finishing up, catching only 15 minutes of their beautiful ambiance, we dashed to catch England's The Go Team!. I knew The Go Team! would be fun, but I certainly did not expect to get knocked out of my socks the way I did. The Go Team's global energy, a fusion of Japanese rock, African drum, and Spanish flair proved the be the best way to kick start the day. After their hour long, energetic set we needed to cool down a bit with Wales songstress Duffy. Duffy, riding the neo-soul revival wave like her London counterpart Amy Winehouse, proved to be just as talented, just not as drug endused.
Friday was a marathon for us. After Duffy we ran to see Louis XIV, who proved to rock very hard in dapper suits braving the 100+ degree heat. As the temperatures rose and crowds packed in, Brooklyn's own Gogol Bordello showed how to really rock in the heat. All I can say about Gogol was they were certainly the best band of the day..period! Word's cannot describe how much fun they were and how it was a true pleasure it was to see them.
How does one top something like Gogol? We could not, so after them we took it easy for a bit, seeing Your Vegas and Mates of State, before going back to the main stage for Bloc Party. One of my favorite bands to emerge this decade, Bloc Party were definitely feeling the heat and were a tad disappointing. The band played more mellow tunes rather than some of their fan favorites. They were good, but I have seen them do better. Bloc Party's set began an all out marathon of running back and forth between the six stages to catch various acts. We were able to see Chicago's very own Cool Kids. Two emcees that just tore it up. The "Black Beastie Boys," as they refer themselves, rhymed and rocked the BMI stage like their heroes would have. From seeing 20 minutes of Cool Kids, we jetted to see VHS or Beta spin for a bit at the DJ tent, then ran over to catch Jack White and the Raconteurs. The Raconteurs were everything any rock an roll fan could have wanted--loud, fast and brilliant. I only wish we had seen more of them.
After seven hours in the blistering heat, it all led up to the almighty and powerful Radiohead. The only headliner of the night playing under their giant lighting rods to emulate the title of the band's latest In Rainbows. As they caught the attention of over 50,000 the one issue everyone had was the sound. The decibel level coming from the soundboard was not strong enough to support a crowd like this and at points they seemed mute on stage. Yet, they do not disappoint, the highlight of the band's set came during "Fake Plastic Tree's," as the band performed, mysterious fire works came off Lake Michigan and enhanced the song's strong finish.
****A more in depth RADIOHEAD review shall come next week after ALL POINTS WEST****
Radiohead (above) / The Go Team! (Below)
Duffy (below)
Gogol Bordello (below)
The Cool Kids (Below)
The Raconteurs (From the Screens--Below)
Rogue Wave (Below)
