"This is Fun!"-- Fidlar

"Hello! Bonjour! Mushi Mushi! fuck I'm on drugs." That was my introduction to the band Fidlar. I was just walking by the stage as they were starting up. I had no intention of really watching them. After hearing that I was hooked. Playing a modern take on classic LA punk, Fidlar was one of the more entertaining bands of Lollapalooza.

Why Water Isn't Better Than thenewno2

Lollapalooza was so hot this year (how hot was it?) I had to miss most of a band I wanted to see. That band being thenewno2 led by Dhani Harrison son of Beatle. Doing a midday show at about the peak of the heat was unfortunate. Although I had been waiting to see them all day, the thought of an ice cold, life satisfying, delicious beer made much more sense. Drinking that beer and sitting in the shade with my shirt stuck to my back with sweat was amazing. Not so amazing was then standing in a 15 minute line to fill up a collection of water bottles at one of the refill stations. Although, we could just faintly hear thenewno2, I knew my chance to see them was fading.

After bringing much needed bottles of water to the rest of the group, Amy and I booked it over to the stage. Being a smaller stage we were able to sneak right up to the front. From there you could see how much Dhani looks like his father. It was disappointing that they were on one of the smaller (smallest) stages at lolla as they should have more of a following than they do.

F*ck Or Die

Die Antwoord did not disappoint at Lollapalooza. The originality of the South African group, consisting of Ninja and Yo-Landi Vi$$er, created a trance-like mood, making the support and energy from the crowd equally as impressive. I fink they’re freaky, and I fink I like it.

Behold…orange jump suits (prison suits?), a baby voice and pelvic thrusting… 

Dawesome.

Dawes (originally Simon Dawes) consists of brothers Taylor (vocals, guitar) and Griffin Goldsmith (drums, vocals) along with Wylie Gelber on bass and keyboardist Tay Strathairn (also of Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros). Their take on folk rock is refreshing, and it’s no surprise they’ve been the backing band for both Robbie Robertson and Jackson Browne. 

I get shivers down my spine every time I re-watch this performance of When My Time Comes from Lollapalooza. The band has such a wall of sound; and the driving beat and vocals in this song were made for an outdoor, festival setting. The way Taylor effortlessly bounces around the stage reminds me of D. Boon, and you can’t help but get swept up in it. How can you not love watching a band that are so passionate about what they do? If goosebumps haven’t set in before the crowd joins in during the final chorus, they’re sure to soon after…

That Western Skyline (on the band’s first full-length release North Hills) was the “holy shit” moment for me with Dawes. The narration in this song is beautiful and unique, along with a perfect drum sound that ties it all together. The story is told through a man recounting his troubles to Lou the bartender after he follows a girl to Birmingham from California. (The idea or dream of something is often better than reality, right?)

And oh Lou, no my dreams did not come true.
No, they only came apart.

"I can't find you, and everyone looks like Warpaint."

Bill and I had muddy, musical adventures at Lollapalooza and now we're going to share them with you! Aren't you lucky? The Gaslight Anthem were easily a highlight for me. Handwritten has been in constant rotation since it's release (everyone who has seen me driving down the road has almost certainly been exposed to me singing along to this album). There is nothing forced about their music, and this is only more evident in a live setting. Standing under the trees of Grant Park with the Chicago skyline as a perfect backdrop, everyone in the crowd singing along: this is what music is about to me. Just taking it all in and being taken by a moment.

This show kicked total ass from the moment the band walked on the stage to Fugazi's Waiting Room until the last notes of The Backseat (with a nice U2 snippet thrown in). I can't even single out anything, it was just one big ball of beautiful, heartfelt music.

I also wanted to post two of my favorite songs (Gaslight or otherwise) that have been released this year (or in several), Teenage Rebellion and National Anthem. The songwriting and awareness in these songs is truly beautiful. Enjoy. (Sorry the YouTube video for Teenage Rebellion looks like some big spammy advertisement. It's the only one I could find. Deal with it.)

And this performance had to be included. I like so much about the things this chooses to be.