Lollapalooza 2012 - Chicago

[UncleKev]

Santigold's set is gonna make a bunch of folks very, very gleeful.

I feel for those going to RHCP instead. Not too late to audible at the line...

[Yo Soy JBoy]

Aug 4, 2012 18:23:52 GMT -5 garageland said:

If anyone hasn't seen the updated schedule .. Curfew has been extended.

Dear merciful God,

Today was unforgettable for many reasons, good and bad. (I just re-read the following, and it deserves a disclaimer for length and complete rambling, but here goes):

To begin with, I missed Milo Greene, JC Brooks, And Doomtree because my buddy was running late on the pregame festivities. (I was a little awnry we didn't get in until 1:40).

But the afternoon was saved in an epic way when we booked it to the BMI stage and got rail for Moon Taxi. I daresay nobody had more fun at that set than me. I was the guy left of center wearing a green backpack and a blue t-shirt in case anyone saw me acting a fool.

I mentioned it in another post, but MT was just amazing, and really gave me the goosebumps and "I can't believe I just witnessed that" moment that keeps me and many others chasing the festival buzz. I shared a few words with their drummer and keyboardist through the fence, and they seemed super appreciative of the afternoon love they received.

After that we were planning on meeting a couple girlfriends by the fountain before Alabama Shakes when we got the worst news anyone can receive at a musical festival... Total evacuation.

30 minutes and seemingly an Armageddon later, we made it to the Chicago Art Museum to enjoy 30 minutes of rapid Impressionism, surrealism, and of course, the Roy Lichtenstein exhibit.

We then made it over to the nearby Russian Tea Time for an awesome dinner of Beef stroganoff and enough vodka shots to kill a small herd of cattle.

Right as we were winding up with dinner we got the word that the festival had re-opened with an amended schedule, so we hoofed it over to the south side and caught what we could of Tune-yards (I'd originally meant to catch TTMOE, but whatever). That was followed by a strong dose of Franz Ferdinand (at which point I somehow lost my friend... More on that in a second). At this point I was in total festie improv mode, so I ditched the planned: Bloc Party > RHCP > Frank Ocean in favor of Calvin Harris > Twin Shadow (beautiful accident) > Frank Ocean.

After an hour of a festie user (girl who dances/flirts with you to improve her position at a set) wearing me out at Frank (great, great set) I was ready to sprint for the exits... And I just returned home not more than 10 minutes ago to see my buddy caked head to toe in a solid 2 inch layer of mud. I sincerely hope I can follow this post with some pics to do it justice, but suffice to say it looks like he went mud wrestling then used the shower curtain as a sanitation blanket. Utterly disgusting.

Anyway, as I finish this horrible beast of a post, we are headed to Wicker Park for more shennanigins. Happy Lolla to all, and to all a good night.

Great post ysb, and all I'll say is that Russian Tea Time is a GREAT restaurant.

[patty_d_27]

Franz Ferdinand was amazing.

[glennron]

Aug 5, 2012 0:09:55 GMT -5 patty_d_27 said:

Franz Ferdinand was amazing.

Seriously. If it wasn't for lucking into getting second row for Tallest Man On Earth, that'd be the highlight of the day. And I'm not even a big fan of theirs. I guess I get why Europeans go crazy over them.

Twin Shadow also way exceeded expectations, even with only getting half an hour.

Oh and I hope Frank Ocean sucked cause I had to leave as he was starting.

[Yo Soy JBoy]

Sorry, but Frank and co. wrecked it. I have a great video of Bad Religion I'll post when I get around to it.

[Phi]

To Dave - Unfortunately for you I didnt pay $300 and come all the way to Chicago to see the bands you like


Today was amazing. Even with the evact. Luckily I was at Neon Indian at the soundboard and I got a heads up that they were evacuating the festival about 30min before they announced it so I made my way to a hotel right outside the gates with a comfy chair, bar, and bathroom all within 20ft from me with a glass window to watch the storm roll through.

Biggest dissapointment - Starslinger. Had no energy whatsoever.
Biggest surprise - Frank. quacking. Ocean. quacking WOW. What a damn show. Was so intimate at the Google stage surrounded by the park treeline. Was a small crowd and I was glad. There was so much love at this show by the entire crowd. Not a single summers breeze in a sac in sight, besides me. So glad I got to experience that.

[Phi]

Oh and there was a massive crowd outside the gates before they let people back in. It was really scary cause it was borderline riot scenario. At one point a guy got on top of a huge steel stoplight and started pumping up the crowd and shaking it violently. When he was coming down the entire metal stoplight fell over with him and into the crowd. I was about 30ft away but couldnt tell how many were injured. Shortly after they opened the gates. I have some pics of the guy on the stoplight. Was soooo frightening watching that thing come down into the crowd, I hope no one was seriously injured.

[Dave Maynar]

Aug 5, 2012 1:17:27 GMT -5 Phi said:

Oh and there was a massive crowd outside the gates before they let people back in. It was really scary cause it was borderline riot scenario. At one point a guy got on top of a huge steel stoplight and started pumping up the crowd and shaking it violently. When he was coming down the entire metal stoplight fell over with him and into the crowd. I was about 30ft away but couldnt tell how many were injured. Shortly after they opened the gates. I have some pics of the guy on the stoplight. Was soooo frightening watching that thing come down into the crowd, I hope no one was seriously injured.

When I saw that they were evac'ing people while watching Neon Indian, this is the kind of stuff I was of afraid of. From what I have read, the storm was legit enough that you couldn't blame them for wanting to get everyone out, but there are always people who are gonna be pissed. Hope nobody was hurt.

[Phi]

Lol at the end of The Weekend's set he yells to the crowd "Thank You Coachel----errrr----Lollapalooza!" hahahahhahah

[Silence04]

Hope you all are having a great time at lolla! Wish I had tickets this year.

Ended up going to that free twin shadows/neon Indian/passion pit Dj set... What an awesome night!!! Sound sucked, but the free open bar all night totally made up for it!

Also went to the passion pit Dj spybar show last night, place smelled of summer breeze. It was like a time warp back into my early 20s.


Also, FYI, this is kumas corners last year as a lolla vendor. So if you haven't waited in line for the epicness of their burgers yet, do it today!

[almostcrimes]

Aug 5, 2012 10:49:22 GMT -5 Silence04 said:

Also, FYI, this is kumas corners last year as a lolla vendor. So if you haven't waited in line for the epicness of their burgers yet, do it today!

WHAT?! That's worse than being evacuated.

People were really pissed when they started evacuating, but the storm became more than apparent after about an hour and everybody ate their words. Once the music continued though, there wasn't a single bad act. Franz Ferdinand was killer, Bloc Party was way better than I would have ever expected (except for some sound issues that affect everyone who plays the Sony Stage), and there is not enough praise to be heaped on Frank Ocean's set. Wow. Just wow. I missed Tune-Yards and Weekend, but alas, sacrifices must be made. (And I've seen them both before at Lollapa - err - Coachella.)

Or just take the blue line to belmont and have one of their burgers after the fest tonight. They are better in the restaurant anyways.

Excited to be headed down for what is going to be the best day of the fest! Plus, the weather is fantastic right now.

[togorm2]

Big G announced last night they're playing NYE in Chicago again this year. Thank God. There's brain all over my shirt from last night cause my mind melted right out my ears.

[patty_d_27]

Anyone not at Oberhofer right now is severely missing out

[Dave Maynar]

Aug 5, 2012 13:05:30 GMT -5 patty_d_27 said:

Anyone not at Oberhofer right now is severely missing out

They were pretty great at Roo.

[patty_d_27]

Sigur Ros, holy shiz it's beautiful

[UncleKev]

Aug 5, 2012 16:08:52 GMT -5 patty_d_27 said:

Sigur Ros, holy shiz it's beautiful

Their late-night set at Roo a few summers back ranks right up there with some of the legendary MMJ shows on the Farm. The strolling mariachis are indelibly stamped on my memory.

So jealous right now.

[katbur2]

I keep trying to wish them back to the farm

[thisismyname]

And Roo didn't book Jack why...?

Seen him twice but Seven Nation Army with the lolla sized crowd just now gave me chills. (Watched the webcast.)

Jack honestly looked taken aback. Rarely have seen that.

[Silence04]

Just found out about that secret Jack White show that happened at reckless records in wicker park... So pissed I missed it!

[finchdaddy]

il make this short..................that was simply one of the best weekends of my life.......Bassnectar Friday.....Frank Ocean at Metro Friday night........Big Gigantic at Congress Sat nite(wow)..............and JACK quacking WHITE tonight...............ive been to many things in my life and the Jack White Lolla show was one of the greatest things ive ever seen.....what a weekend...........

[Phi]

xoooooooooooo if u werent at The Mid tonight for Starlinger > Miike Snow DJ set you missed out Might very well be the highlight of my Lolla but that could easily be influenced by the amount of alcohol I've consumed tonight. But I really love the Mid venue. zBottle service ftw. And Sigur Ros killed it today, errr yesteryday. And Zeds Dead detroyed the Perrys Stage. And Justice was amazing. I dont knwoif they webcasted it so im not gonna commentcuse if they didnt I want everyoen to be surprised by their new stage production at Moogfest This drunk fuc k is going to bed.

[Dave Maynar]

This the traffic light you were talking about, Phil?

[patty_d_27]

Everyone's talking about how awesome Flo & Co. were, but let's not forget what was going on on the other side of the park

[Phi]

Yup that was it

[chicojuarz]

Aug 6, 2012 11:13:45 GMT -5 patty_d_27 said:

Everyone's talking about how awesome Flo & Co. were, but let's not forget what was going on on the other side of the park

That show was the shiz even the delay was entertaining.

[patty_d_27]

I really hope I can find a recording of the show, just for his stage banter

[glennron]

1. Jack White


2. Tallest Man On Earth
3. Franz Ferdinand
4. The Shins
5. Sigur Ros. If it wasn't for whole getting only an hour during the warmest part of a day in a field that was half mud, they'd easily be higher. Still sounded incredible, though.
6. The Walkmen. Did 6 cause they were too good to leave off a list.

I think I saw 15 full sets and a handful of partial ones, and I can honestly say the only set I was disappointed by was M83. Sound was wayyy too quiet and that was by far the least attentive crowd I've ever been in. Such is Lolla, I guess.

Really though, the crowd is the only complaint I have about the festival in general, and I didn't really mind it most of the time. Probably because I didn't go to Perry's at all. I never waited more than 5 or 6 minutes to use the bathroom, get food, fill up with water etc., even during the busy times in the evening. Never had a problem getting close to a show I wanted to see, even walking up just a couple minutes before. The Sony stage's sound was a little off on Friday, but they must have fixed something cause everyone I saw there Sunday sounded fine. Overall it was a great time, and as long as the lineup next year isn't 2011-esque I'll definitely be back.

[Phi]

If you guys plan on staying at The Chinatown Hotel next year, avoid room 112. I got so drunk last night I soiled the bed.