PHOTOS: BRIGID GALLAGHER | It had been 4 years since my last Lollapalooza, so I wasn’t sure exactly what to expect. In some ways Lolla has become Chicago’s favorite weekend for the general masses to get together and celebrate sunshine and alcohol rather than live music (what other festival sells out 3-day tickets before the line-up is released?), but the festival always manages to put together a collection of great acts who put on some fantastic shows. There’s also something profoundly unique about seeing world-class artists perform in a huge open field surrounded by skyscrapers.
I headed over to Grant Park around 2 PM already with a ring of sweat around my neck from the blistering heat. My first act of the day was St. Paul and the Broken Bones, and they kicked things off with gusto. Their energized blend of southern soul and gospel had everyone moving their feet, and their frenzied frontman Paul Janeway drew cheers from the crowd each time he belted out screaming high notes with surprising ease. At one point he got so into it he started rolling around all over the stage, suit and all.
From there I headed across the north field to Father John Misty for one of my most anticipated sets of the day. Like many, I thoroughly enjoyed his last album, I Love You, Honeybear, and was excited to see the songs in the live arena. New songs such as “When You’re Smiling and Astride Me” and “I Love You, Honeybear” garnered an immediate crowd reaction, while older songs such as, “I’m Writing a Novel” got everyone dancing around.
Father John, or Joshua TIllman, had a definite swagger as he moved back and forth across the stage, however his banter was a bit odd at times and he apologized for his sore voice so many times that he started to make his performance hard to appreciate. Luckily his unwavering confidence helped propel the group through the daytime set.
Up next was Hot Chip, and their crisp electronic melodies landed fantastically in the wide open sunny surroundings. The group was constantly moving around the stage, and they even included a couple of coordinated dance moves. Their musicianship was on full display as most of the members rotated between various instruments throughout the set. The energy on-stage and in the audience never let up and the flow was outstanding, a definite highlight of the day.
After a long walk over to the Samsung Galaxy Main Stage on the other end of the festival grounds, Alabama Shakes threw a soul and blues party which had everyone excited. Lead singer Brittany Howard was simply memorizing every time she stepped up to the microphone to deliver impassioned vocals or crank out creamy blues guitar licks. She’s a performer who’s got it all, and it was just fun to watch.
Alt-J put together maybe the tightest set of the day with their overdriven lo-fi guitars and mystical sound. It seems as though their drummer, Thom Green, is the driving force in the group, and his superb confidence and skill with the instrument creates a rock solid foundation for the other instruments to build their thick wall of sound upon. The performance was clean and rehearsed, and they kept a consistent vibe throughout. They were also one of the only bands to alter the images of the provided video screens, as they added in various effects and patterning over the black and white picture.
Like most music lovers on this earth, I’ve always had a soft spot for The Beatles, and I couldn’t wait to finally see one of them live in concert. Luckily for me (and the other thousands in attendance), Paul McCartney didn’t disappoint. The crowd was a mixture of younger festival goers who felt a certain obligation to see one of the remaining Beatles, but also plenty of dedicated fans, young and old, who were eager to relive some of their favorite tunes live.
Paul eased into his set with a mix of solo and Beatles songs, and when he dropped into classics such as “Paperback Writer” and “Maybe I’m Amazed,” an incredible silence washed over the crowd as we would hang on his every word. His band was outstanding and they created a comfortable pocket and for Paul to shine within. The stage rig featured various props which were hoisted down for different songs, an extensive light show, and even a platform which rose up from the front of the stage. This platform was used for a stunning acoustic rendition of “Blackbird,” which left no dry eye in the park.
One unfortunate aspect of the show was the un-ignorable noise and lighting from the nearby Kaskade show at the EDM centric Perry’s Stage. You could feel and hear the bass at various points throughout the set, and Paul even made reference to the stage, saying that we had to out-do the “dance” stage. In my opinion, this was an awful decision for Lollapalooza to place such a loud act right near Paul McCartney at the same time. It was simply embarrassing.
Luckily Paul didn’t let it affect him in the slightest and continued to put on a mesmerizing performance. “Let it Be” warmed our hearts as we swayed with locked arms, “Live and Let Die” included a powerful fireworks show, and “Hey Jude” capped off the set with the epic “Na-Na” section which was shared by every voice in attendance. To everyone’s surprise, Paul brought up Brittany Howard from Alabama Shakes during the encore for a rocking rendition of “Get Back” in which Paul and Brittany traded vocals and guitar licks.
Throughout the performance, Paul had an incredibly genuine excitement to him, like there was no place on earth he would rather be. It was a truly special show, and every person walked away with a smile on their face, including Paul McCartney.
