PHOTOS: BRIGID GALLAGHER | Gearing up for Saturday Lollapalooza, I knew I needed to prepare both for the sun and the masses. The weather was forecasted to be nearly 90 degrees, and from past experience I knew that Saturday always drew the biggest, densest crowds (it’s a Chicago Summer Saturday, time to party). This might be part of the reason why Lollapalooza weighed the lineup more heavily towards Friday and Sunday, knowing that they would sell out Saturday no matter what, but nevertheless there was still plenty of great acts playing on a beautiful day to an ecstatic crowd.
I first headed over to the Samsung Galaxy Main Stage for Death From Above 1979. Comprised of just Jesse F. Keeler on bass and Sebastien Grainger on drums, the group created heavy unrelenting rhythms which you couldn’t believe were produced by just 2 performers. Their sound lands somewhere between punk, metal, and post hardcore, and the show had a consistent driving energy which allowed the crowd to bang their heads and jump around in the pit. While their catalog might lack diversity, they put on an energetic show which was well received by the audience.
Walk the Moon was up next, and they delivered a spirited and fun daytime set which landed well with the younger crowd. Frontman Nicholas Petricca entertained the audience with his constant dancing and soaring vocals, and fans had their arms swaying up in the air for pretty much the entire show. Nicholas also took various moments to give motivational advice on not being afraid to be yourself, and you could sense the tweens in the audience collectively swooning. Their hit song, “Shut Up and Dance,” closed out the show and drew a huge reaction from the crowd as it broke into an all out dance party.
Coming off their well received new album, Currents, Tame Impala brought their psychedelic indie rock melodies to the Lolla mainstage for a stunning show. Their music bounced between ethereal melodies, potent overdriven guitars, and crisp synth rhythms. They also controlled dynamics in an interesting way, as they would draw the energy down to minimal levels in order to slam you with a sudden powerful wave of sound. They also utilized an extensive light show which included intricate pattern visualizations on the backing screen throughout the set. While it’s a show that might have shined brighter at night, it worked surprisingly well during the day and pleased all in attendance.
Ok, confession time. I’m actually a HUGE metalhead and was dying to see Metallica all day (in fact, I’ve been waiting to see them again since their last Chicago show in 2008 for the Death Magnetic tour). They were the band that first drew me into the world of heavy metal, and their musical influence on me is immeasurable. The members of the group are simply master performers (they played on every continent last year, including Antarctica), and they know exactly how to construct a thrilling and well-balanced performance.
They hit the ground running with fan favorites such as “For Whom The Bell Tolls” and “Disposable Heros,” and even newer tunes like “Cyanide” landed powerfully in the live setting. James Hetfield made a point of welcoming all the newcomers to the “Metallica Family,” and directed them to watch their neighbors to pick up on the live traditions.
The stage rig was massive and included a large backing screen which spanned the entire stage (imagine seeing James Hetfield’s screaming face 50 feet tall—it was awesome). Other classics like “One” created a deep mystical vibe, while “Fade to Black” highlighted the depth of emotion the band is capable of. After a couple covers, they closed out the show on universally common ground with a rocking “Enter Sandman,” which allowed even the newest fan to bang their head.
Whether it’s the chanting, collective clapping/fist bumping, or the call and return singing, Metallica always does a phenomenal job of creating a shared experience with the audience, and that’s not something many metal bands, let alone rock bands, can do. They’ve played these songs tons of times, yet they jump around the stage and scream the lyrics like it’s their first day out on tour. By the end of the show, most everybody was a believer. There’s a reason that Metallica is one of the greatest touring acts today, it’s because they love what they do, and we love watching them do it.
