TVD Live: Pitchfork Music Festival, 7/19

Pitchfork Music Fest started its 18th year at Chicago’s Union Park with a bang. The sun was shining, not a single rain cloud was present, and smiles were plastered proudly on attendees faces. This year’s festivities brought promise that anyone and everyone was sure to have a great time, with artists from multiple genres being represented across the board. Whether you wanted to dance, to cry, to thrash, or something in between, there was a set for you.

Tkay Maidza, a 28-year old Australian R&B/Hip-Hop artist, travelled over 40 hours to perform for her packed crowd, and if she was feeling any effects from her long travel time, it certainly did not show. Donning a black leather outfit with stars and the word “fame” fashioned on the back, Tkay commanded the crowd with her infectious rhymes and mesmerizing stage presence. Switching between quickly timed rhymes and euphoric poppy tracks, the crowd was treated to a set that was sure to wake them up and prepare them for the rest of the weekend.

Continuing with the Hip-Hop theme, billy woods & Kenny Segal, the collaborative act comprised of the rapper and producer respectively, performed a selection of tracks from their highly revered albums Hiding Places and Maps. A visceral listening experience on its own, hearing billy woods recite his relatable perspective of traveling over Kenny Segal’s jazz inspired backing tracks is even more impactful live.

Yaeji packed a punch during her slot, bringing on two backup dancers to help get the crowd jumping to her house infused electronic set. Between having a dancer push Yaeji around the stage on a rolling chair while pretending to drive a car, to synchronized movements that had Yaeji and her dancers hit their feet on every inch of the stage, there wasn’t a dull moment during her hour long set. The dancing crescendoed during the last track, “raingurl,” with many fans continuing to sing the song long after the set concluded.

Fans didn’t have a long distance to travel to get to the next dance party, which was 100 gecs at the stage right next to the one Yaeji just performed at. Blending hyper-pop with witty lyrics, 100 gecs is simply a good time. Looking out at the crowd, you see a wave of people dressed in shirts that say “I *heart* GECS,” bouncing off of each other, even starting a circle pit at one point during the set. What makes 100 gecs such a good time is their self-awareness. They know that their lyrics can be silly, with member Laura Les introducing their song “I Got My Tooth Removed” by saying “If you’ve ever had a tooth removed, we’ve got a song for you.” Their upbeat tracks that are known to blend multiple genres, like ska, nu-metal, pop, and electronic, were a highlight of the day, bringing out the largest crowd the fest has seen so far.

Next up was Jai Paul, a newcomer to performing but not a newcomer to the music industry. After releasing the critically acclaimed single “BTSTU” over 10 years ago, falling victim to an unfortunate record leak that subsequently led to a hiatus, Jai Paul made his return in recent years, with his first ever live performance debut at the 2023 edition of Coachella. Regardless of his journey so far, Jai Paul made sure to show his appreciation for his dedicated fans waiting for his Chicago debut, often motioning to fans in the crowd to compliment them when he had a pause from singing, and even clapping and bowing in between most of his tracks. If there was an award for the most humble performer of the weekend, it surely would be awarded to Jai Paul.

Austin based heavy hitters the Black Pumas brought their soulful, funky rock sounds to help close out the first night of 2024’s Pitchfork Music Festival. Befitted with a full band akin to an orchestra and a dazzling light set up to accompany their funky music, the Black Pumas did not disappoint. With the energy so contagious, frontman Eric Burton jumped into the crowd to bump shoulders with fans while belting out lyrics that felt like poetry. They set the bar high for the rest of the weekend’s headliners.

100 GECS