FESTIVAL REVIEW: The Top 9 Performances of Lollapalooza

So after attending Gov Ball the first week of the June, I began experiencing the longest concert drought of the summer. I went from June 9^th – July 30^th without seeing a show. That’s nearly 8 weeks, which is ridiculous considering the activity 2014 has seen. I believe the only thing that got me through this drought was the promise of an excellent light at the end of the tunnel: Lollapalooza.

After an amazing time at Lolla 2013, it was clear that this should become an annual event on the calendar. Grant Park, Chicago truly is a perfect venue for a music festival. It’s large enough to hold 8 stages without conflicting sounds, but it’s also small enough to make a busy day of seeing many bands on different stages manageable. Plus it’s located right in the Loop of downtown Chicago, so lodging and transportation are easy. And don’t even get me started on the aftershows. Pretty much, it’s an epic weekend that any music fan needs to experience at some point.

So this year I traveled up to Lolla again but took a slightly different approach to the weekend. As I mentioned in my Music Festival Power Rankings, I was not overly impressed with the Lolla Headliners. I had already done the Outkast thing twice, so I spent more time focusing on the bands that made up the middle of the lineup.

Here’s who I was able to catch: Bombay Bicycle Club, Warpaint, Portugal. The Man, Chvrches, Lorde, Arctic Monkeys, The Districts, Vance Joy, Temper Trap, Fitz & the Tantrums, Smallpools, Jenny Lewis, Cut Copy, Bear Hands, Bleachers, Trombone Shorty, Cage the Elephant, Avett Brothers, Bronze Radio Return, Young the Giant, Kings of Leon, Chance the Rapper and Skrillex.

I usually do a Top 10. But I realized there was such a large drop-off between 9 and 10, that I decided to shorten this list to just the Top 9. Enjoy:

9. Vance Joy

One of the earliest sets of the day on Saturday drew one of the day’s largest crowds. It was Australian singer / songwriter Vance Joy. Vance is very mellow and has yet to release a full length album. All he has is a 5 song EP, led by his hit single “Riptide.” This indie hit had the crowd singing early in the day and has put Vance on the map.

8. Bleachers

I would have been alright with seeing or without seeing Bleachers at Lolla. I caught their performance at Gov Ball, and thought they were impressive for a new group that had only released 2 songs. I’m glad to see them again though after they've gained some more popularity. They kept the crowd entertained during their hour long set with catchy singles – “Like a River Runs,” “Shadow” and a cover of the Cranberries classic “Dreams.”

Lead singer and former Fun. Guitarist Jack Antonoff departed the stage and went into the first few rows of the audience for closer and first single, “I Wanna Get Better.”

7. Portugal. The Man

This was one of my favorite performances of the weekend. This wacky alternative group from Alaska came out playing the Pink Floyd classic "Another Brick in the Wall,", and that was just the start of the covers. They also performed Queen's "We Are the Champions," “Day Man,” yes the song from Always Sunny in Philadelphia, and one of my favorite songs of all time in Oasis’ “Don’t Look Back in Anger,” where they actually encouraged the Gallagher Brothers to get back together.

They spent plenty of time on their own material as well. PtM’s Evil Friends was one of the best albums of 2013, and they performed 6 songs off that album.

6. Cut Copy

So the big decision on Saturday night at Lolla was between seeing Outkast or Calvin Harris. I found myself at neither location, but at my favorite stage – the Grove, seeing electronic rock group, Cut Copy. I could not have been more pleased with the choice. Cut Copy has a dance music feel, but I appreciate being able to see the band members play their instruments vs just a DJ. It semi had the feel of a Empire of the Sun show.

5. Smallpools

Saturday afternoon was packed for the alternative rock fan. Fitz and the Tantrums, Grouplove, Manchester Orchestra and Smallpools were all playing in the same time slot, taking fans away from each other. But for the fans in attendance at the Grove, Smallpools put on an excellent performance. Similar to a Vance Joy, Smallpools has yet to release an album. Fortunately, the 9 songs they do perform were very entertaining.

Right away, opener “Mason Jar” let you know that these guys were no joke. They added some familiarity with a cover of New Radicals “You Get What You Give” and ended with lead single “Dreaming.” These guys definitely have the feel of a young Grouplove before they hit it big. I’m expecting a bright future.

4. Lorde

I was blown away by the crowd that Lorde drew at Lolla. She does appeal as almost the perfect Lolla artist, popular with the teenage girls but actually playing music that’s good enough to persuade any music fan to check her set out. The crowd for Lorde stretched across the entire field built for 2 stages, and overflowed into the vendor areas and walkways. I wouldn't be surprised if despite not even being a headliner she still drew the largest crowd of the weekend.

Lorde sure is talented. I’ll admit that I do own her debut album, Pure Heroine, and even listed it as one of my favorite albums of 2013 at the end of last year. She went through that album, touching all the hits, and even seemed humbled by the opportunity to play in front of so many people.

3. Avett Brothers

So last year at Lolla, the reason for the trip and winner of the power rankings was Mumford & Sons. You may not think it, but an acoustic band definitely is capable of entertaining a festival and killing it. The Avett Brothers Sunday evening set was reminiscent of the Mumfords.

Playing tunes that spanned the entire career of the Avetts, the group had everyone dancing in the rain to good old-fashioned folk rock. They featured the hits – “Live and Die,” "Down With the Shine” and “I and Love and You,” but they also played so many lesser known tunes that sounded amazing live. Seeing Avett’s on a headlining tour is definitely on the to-do list for the future.

2. Cage the Elephant

I first saw Cage the Elephant about 3 years ago, and I have memories of front man Matt Schultz being wild. What I didn't realize was just how unpredictable Schultz would be at Lolla. He came out on stage, with his backing band, in a dress shirt and jacket. Eventually, both the shirt and jacket were off, and Schultz took advantage of the rainy and muddy Sunday by rolling around in the mud and using the entire stage to his advantage.

Schultz performed multiple stage dives and traveled into the crowd at multiple times, all while singing some of the group’s best tunes. Going through all of Cage’s material, and with entertaining on-stage antics, this group really showed off as a great festival rock group. (Tampa friends – they’re headlining Coral Skies in October)

   1. Arctic Monkeys

You knew these guys were gonna be tough to beat. While half the crowd went over to see Eminem headline Friday night at Lolla, I stuck around the Bud Light stage to see my favorite band of the year – Arctic Monkeys. I saw these guys back in January as one of the first shows of the year, and have been itching to see them again ever since.

I was not at all disappointed. The boys played 10 songs off my favorite album of the year – AM, and they also mixed in a greatest hits collection from their first 4 albums. The opening drive of “Do I Wanna Know?” “Snap Out of It,” and “Arabella” to start was epic. And Alex Turner was made to be a front man, captivating the Lolla audience with his hair-combing and pristine voice. It’s good to see these guys finally receiving a major headlining slot in the US. It’s deserved.

Also, you may remember I put out this post back in March predicting the Lollapalooza lineup: Eh…..  9 out of 20 for the middle of the lineup isn't bad.