2:27pm: I enter Pitchfork and immediately overhear one woman exclaiming to another, “Oh my God! I have that same leotard!” Of course.
2:35pm: Kevin Morby opens with some slow burners, including the title track of his first solo album, 2013’s Harlem River. The sun is shining and crowd is into it.
2:49pm: Morby’s set picks up during “Destroyer” from his most recent album release (this year’s Singing Saw). Whitney’s Will Miller adds horns to the mix and some female singers accompany the band. The crowd is swaying. If this is any indication of what’s to come, it’s gonna be a great day.
3:02pm: I’m taking a breather in the shaded VIP area and I know that I’m surrounded by indie celebrities but they’re all just attractive hipsters so I’m not sure who’s who. Does this mean I’m getting old?! Also, I’ve noticed that everyone under the age of 20 is giving me a look for wearing sensible, but not necessarily fashionable, tennis shoes. So, yeah, I’m old.
KEVIN MORBY
3:39pm: Digable Planets was one of my most anticipated acts of the fest and they are living up to my expectations, and then some. I’m not surprised—they’re hip hop royalty. “Let’s make this a beautiful world,” said Craig “Doodlebug” Irving. “Don’t let the ugly bring you down.” That, in short, is the message of their music. It’s powerful, it’s political, and it’s groovy. I don’t want their set to end.
DIGABLE PLANETS
4:12pm: I am a literal raging ball of energy right now because Savages just took over this festival. Holy shit they are ELECTRIC! And I’m not the only one who thinks so, as I turn to see smiles and headbangs contagiously spreading through the crowd. These four women are so talented and have such a presence. They’re true badasses.
4:41: Hannibal Buress sighting! Wish he was doing some stand up at the fest this weekend.
5:04pm: “DON’T LET THE FUCKER GET YOU DOWN,” Jehnny Beth is screaming as Savages continue to rage on. It’s the set I’ve watched the most of and danced the hardest to so far this weekend.
SAVAGES
5:18pm: Dev Hynes, a.k.a. Blood Orange, is late to hit the stage.
5:43pm: It’s funk, it’s soul, it’s R & B, it’s pop, it’s jazz, it’s interpretive dance, it’s…Blood Orange! Dev is doing it all, as he always does.
BLOOD ORANGE
BJ THE CHICAGO KID
6:12pm: I’m pretty sure that every, single member of the press was convinced that Chance the Rapper would make an appearance during BJ the Chicago Kid’s set. All of us were wrong. It doesn’t matter though because BJ is sensational, modern soul. The energy is high as he jumps between crooning into his mic and banging on his kettle drum. And it just dawned on me how Chicago-centric the lineup has been this year. There is so much young musical talent in this town—it’s great to see it showcased.
6:34pm: The sun is setting and Super Furry Animals are playing “Hello Sunshine” at the Green Stage, so all is well in the world for this one moment.
SUPER FURRY ANIMALS
6:56pm: Enjoying a lovely Goose Island beverage while I wait for Brian Wilson (!!!) to play “Pet Sounds” (!!!) in full (!!!).
7:20pm: A genius and a legend is sitting before me playing arguably one of the most musically influential albums ever. Fans in the front row are crying behind me. It’s a lot to process. He seems a bit disoriented but the band (featuring Beach Boys’ guitarist Al Jardine) collectively sounds wonderful.
BRIAN WILSON
7:40pm: I must leave Brian Wilson for a few to catch Anderson .Paak & the Free Nationals but once again the Blue Stage is on west coast time. I’m not that annoyed though because I get to catch the end of Jlin’s set, featuring some seriously awesome dancers.
8:10pm: Anderson .Paak’s sound check still happening. He was supposed to start at 7:45pm. The crowd continues to grow, which is no surprise to me because his 2016 album, Malibu, is one of this year’s best.
ANDERSON .PAAK
8:22pm: I am enthralled and having trouble pulling myself away to photograph tonight’s headliner, Sufjan Stevens. Anderson .Paak is making a statement. He is just getting started, folks. I’m waiting for him to announce his next Chicago show because I’m not going to miss it.
8:37pm: If you haven’t seen Sufjan Stevens live before, you might assume he puts on your standard folk show—a motionless singer/songwriter plucking away at his guitar, eyes closed, singing his heart out to a hushed crowd. But not Sufjan.
I’ve been steadily going to his concerts since 2006 and he’s always got something fun and playful up his sleeve. So I was already excited to see what he would do tonight. And here he is with his band, all clad in wild neon outfits, leaping around, and busting out choreographed dances. During the first song alone (“Seven Swans”), he grandly adorns himself with swan wings and smashes his banjo to smithereens. FUCK YES.
“I’ve been touring around the world singing songs about death and loneliness, so if you don’t mind I’d like to play some upbeat stuff tonight,” he says. Um, yeah. We don’t mind AT ALL.
SUFJAN STEVENS
8:45pm: “I’ve been living in New York for fifteen years but Chicago is my first love,” he says. Big cheers.
9:28pm: FINALLY! A Prince tribute—Sufjan and Moses Sumney sing “Kiss” to close out the night. Sunday, it’s seriously going to be difficult for you to live up to this most excellent Saturday.
OUR COVERAGE OF THE PITCHFORK MUSIC FESTIVAL FOR FRIDAY, JULY 15 IS HERE.
