TVD Live: Lollapalooza at Grant Park, 8/4

The final day of the 20th Chicago edition of Lollapalooza was by far the hottest of all four days, with the peak temperature rising to 90°. Luckily this didn’t stop the park from becoming packed with attendees to watch a great mix of talented musicians absolutely rock it. While I may be jealous of the people that were able to enjoy the festival by streaming it live on Hulu, nothing compares to witnessing these great sets in person.

3:45PM: I started my day off with Waterparks, a pop rock band from Texas. Right off the bat their crowd is very active, screaming the moment they see even a fraction of the first person to walk on the stage. The crowd is littered with homemade signs and flags being proudly displayed. This is totally understandable because the band was also very active at the moment they walked on stage, their energy was incredibly infectious. However, it was hard to ignore the cameras that are streaming on Hulu during this set. They were quite invasive, oftentimes running around the artists in the middle of the stage, even blocking the view of the fans live in the crowd.

4:45PM: Teddy Swims has a lot of swagger and soul in his recordings, and it translates to his live performances, too. The powerhouse vocalist commanded the stage to an impressively large crowd, rightfully so after a last minute change up with the schedule put Swims on a larger stage than he was previously booked. Being one of the numerous acts this weekend that has found online popularity boosting him to the top of multiple charts, expectations were high for Teddy Swims, and he delivered. His vocals were even better live than on his recordings, perfectly encapsulating the soul you feel when listening to his tracks. I would watch out for Teddy Swims, as I can see him rising to the same level of stardom as Adele.

5:45PM: The Last Dinner Party was another act that was bumped up to a bigger stage, a very smart decision since they packed the Petrillo Music Shell, named the Tito’s Stage during the festival. When they graced the stage, it felt like we were transported to an art museum; each member donned an outfit you would see during the Renaissance. This band knows how to put on a show, often twirling around the stage while perfectly harmonizing with each other. Not only was this act visually stunning, but they impressed with their musical skills as well. It’s no wonder the crowd was going nuts any time lead singer Abigail Morris inched her way closer to them.

6:45PM: The northern end of the fest was transported into a disco when Conan Gray came to the stage. Having first performed at Lollapalooza in 2019 when he was only 20 years old, he has matured quite a bit in the last 5 years. His sound has evolved from a poppy teeny bopper to a well rounded synth-pop danceable beat, while still including the power ballads that his audience has grown to expect. The most impressive part of his set is watching him move through various octaves without missing a beat; his vocals truly shine, and his disco cowboy outfit definitely helped keep all eyes on him.

7:45PM: I have nothing but good things to say about Two Door Cinema Club. This Irish trio never disappoints when they hit the stage. Whether you’re seeing them in an intimate venue or a large festival, their music always has a way of transporting you to a happy place—for me, I always envision a tropical place in the summer. They’re just plain ole fun. Watching the band get lost in their music, closing their eyes as they sway with their instruments, the pure musicality is intoxicating. They do a really good job of keeping people on their feet, jumping to the beat as they recite every word back to the band.

8:45PM: Closing out the night is the recently reunited trio known as Blink-182. Having last played the fest in 2017 with Matt Skiba taking Tom DeLonge’s place, we were in for a treat with the OG lineup. Known for their NSFW jokes and banter, everyone’s abs had to have hurt from how much they were laughing along with the band. Their set was a perfect mix of all the old classics, a couple of covers from their side projects, and a few recent tracks thrown in. They took everyone on a trip down memory lane, feeling like we were all there alongside the band as they relived the glory days. They even threw in a nod to Thursday’s record breaking set from Chappell Roan, interpolating her song “Pink Pony Club” during their second to last song “Dammit.” Blink-182 proved that they are here for the long run, with a future just as bright as their beginning.

WATERPARKS