Lollapalooza 2005 Day 2
By: Brett Hickman |
Saturday September 10, 2005 |
| Though the hellish temperatures made the audience's health its first priority, enthusiasm for a second day of Lollapalooza would not be reduced. |
Getting off to a late start for Day Two of Lollapalooza meant I missed The
Changes. The exceptional band from Chicago were the only unsigned artists on
the main stages of Lollapalooza, and their reputation will certainly continue
to grow from this plum gig.
 Choosing one performer over another was much easier on day two than it was on Saturday. Kasabian won my attention over the country-tinged Coldplay-isms of Blue Merle. Kasabian, an English group enamored of both the "Madchester" sounds of the 80s as well as the shoegazer scene that overlapped it, are captivating performers that know how to play before a festival crowd. Though the heat may have dampened some of their propulsion, they still delivered a performance long on grooves and personality. Though certain to catch hell for this decision, I walked away from Dinosaur Jr. to catch Louis XIV. I did stop long enough to notice that Dinosaur Jr.'s J. Mascis now looks like an old witch, what with his long, stringy gray hair. If there was one performance that truly delivered the goods this weekend it was Louis XIV's. Lead singer Jason Hill made sure that everyone knew that his band was the best, not by stating it, but by proving it. Strutting, preening, pointing, and posing, Hill was dazzling to witness. When he wasn't acting like the cock of the walk, he was tearing ass on the guitar. Hill's playing style is equal parts Chuck Berry and T. Rex, with some Carl Perkins thrown in for good measure. The band's other singer, Brian Karscig, kept things both grounded and moving along while Hill drew in the attention. Drummer Mark Maigaard was a man positively possessed behind the drums; while bassist James Armbrust was unshakable, steady as a rock. If there is one thing I can impress upon those reading this review is that you have to run out and get the band's album, The Best Little Secrets Are Kept, and that you must see this band live. 
Perry Farrell's newest band, Satellite Party were not exactly "Awesome," to take
the title of one of the band's songs. Farrell, along with No Doubt bassist Tony
Kanal and former Extreme guitarist Nuno Bettencourt came off as little more than
a lark. The band need to prove they are more than just three superstar
musicians simply passing time in-between other work.
While watching Satellite Party, I apparently missed Sara, of sister duo Tegan & Sara, falling ill to the high heat. I came across the sisters earlier in the day. Both were dressed in black, and both appeared as frail looking as Michael Jackson on a bad day. These two things, coupled with the intense heat (with the heat index, somewhere close to 110 degrees) clearly spelled trouble. By the time the Drive-By Truckers came on, I was close to throwing in the towel myself. The DBT's are another band that played Lollapalooza that I've never been able to connect with on their albums, due to what I feel is cliché-ridden southern rock. However, in a live setting, as many have tried to impress on me, that cliché is somehow transformed into something genuine and heartfelt. The DBT's deserve another chance the next time they come through town. I just hope that this change of heart wasn't caused by heat stroke. With any excitement I had in reserve from the day before depleted after Louis XIV's set, and as the heat pressed on well into the late afternoon, my desire to stand and bake in the sun for Arcade Fire was very low. The members of the Arcade Fire were decked out in their Sunday best and were far too energetic for the temperatures that surrounded them. Their ebullience was the inspiration I needed for me to tough it out. The Dandy Warhols were plagued by sound problems, but the audience were at least treated to Anton Newcombe and Matt Hollywood, the band's Dig co-stars and members of the Brian Jonestown Massacre, who joined the Dandy's onstage.  Spent in just about every imaginable way possible, I shuffled off for the train ride home, neglecting, sadly, Death Cab For Cutie's performance. The heat had simply beaten me into submission, but I was still happy. I was happy because of how perfect (besides the heat) this weekend of fantastic music was. Lollapalooza's two day stint in Chicago is something that the city's music fans have been waiting patiently for. Now that it has been here, I for one never want to let it go. To those in charge in Chicago and at Capital Sports and Entertainment, I ask that you ensure Lollapalooza's return next year and the year after, the year after that, and on and on. And thank you once again for taking the chance in the first place. I am eternally grateful. |
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