After two quick breakfasts (one unexpected and one free) I began the walk Grant Park under the summer sun with colleague Viki Gonia. Twenty minutes of walking quickly made me rethink the idea of seeing Rogue Wave (Web site, Myspace) and instead I lounged in the press area drinking beer. After a quick rest and quasi-rejuvenation it was off to the Bud Light stage on the far side of the park. The walk was unshaded for the most part, though quick dips into the XRT lounge area near the BMI stage provided much needed respite from the heat.
Kicking off my Lollapalooza weekend in style, The Go! Team (Web site, Myspace) provided an incredibly fun, high energy set that got the crowd clapping, jumping, and dancing in spite of the midday August heat. Their blend of hard-rock, hip-hop, indie-rock, and dance beats created a festive vibe as they blew through their hour set including “Grip Like a Vice”, “Keys to the City”, “Ladyflash”, and “Doing it Right”.
In addition to the playground energy, part of the magic of the band’s live show is in realizing how versatile each band member really is. It seemed just about every member took a turn at the drums, most made an appearance at lead vocals, guitar players took turns at keys and the recorder, and the bass player mixed it up for a bit on the vibraphone. The child chorus-like backup vocals only increased the sense of youth and vibrancy rolling off the stage. Oh, and they frequently made use of dual drummers.
These elements alone would have made for an electrifying set, but lead singer Ninja was a force on stage. She never seemed to pause or tire as she worked it featuring such moves as The Jerk, the Twist, and a million others they don’t (yet) have a name.
Heading back to the media area, I was waylaid by the sound of heavy guitars mixing with a boogie-down tandem high-hat/snare. The Electric Touch (Web site, Mypace)offered arena rock with a touch of dance at the well-shaded BMI stage and though I was only able to catch the end of their set they offered a pleasant diversion from a long walk through the sun.
Since I didn’t have anything slated for a couple of hours I began the trek back to the press area to put some notes down into Google Docs, and to check e-mail, Twitter, and Newsvine.
After an extended break and a Go! Team sighting I made the not-so-far walk to the Myspace stage to see Mates of State. By this time my feet were mildly hurting, but the free beer and bottled water had bolstered my body and spirit and the time in the shade made me foolishly think the day was cooling down. An hour in the wide open converted softball fields which housed the south stages soon brought me back to reality.
Mates of State (Web site, Myspace) took the stage sunglass-clad and a little sunburned. The day’s brightness and U.V. index could not, however, outshine this husband and wife duo specializing in earnest, peppy indie-pop. Their slightly dissonant vocal harmonies were, as always, as charming as the cute looks they always give each other while playing. They ran through new and old fan favorites “Ha Ha”, “I Like You Crazy”, “Beautiful Dreamer”, and “My Only Offer”, before closing out with one of the more infectious offerings from their new album, “The Re-Arranger”.
Though the pair are definitely the featured pieces of the band, several of their songs (especially on the new album) feature instruments other than their keys and drums. Reflecting this, they were accompanied for most of their songs by a violin and cello which added smoothness and depth to their exuberant sound.
Luckily, the BMI stage where Cansei de Ser Sexy (Web site, Myspace) were scheduled to play was only a short walk away. Finishing their set when I arrived, however, was the recently buzz-laden Grizzly Bear (Web site, Myspace). They were the perfect band to warm the stage for Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks and, by extension, for Radiohead. They played thick, atmospheric rock music that channeled all the heaviest bits of Yorke and Co. with a similar crooning vocal. The Brooklyn, NY four-piece have been touring extensively and, judging by the generally positive reviews, has been impressing critics and fans.
By the end of Grizzly Bear’s set I was sitting off to the side on the grass in a bit of shade resting my feet, massaging feeling back into my calves, and practically chugging water to stay hydrated. I spent the 45 minutes of CSS’s set-up alternately scouting good places to watch from, and sitting down to grab a couple more minutes of rest.
After seeing CSS’ performance, it’s really hard for me to believe this group is truly tired of being sexy. The beats accompanying their electro-clash were heavily danceable and Lovefoxx’ voice was as smooth as her moves. Guitarist/keyboardist Ana Rezende rocked the shit out of every song, bass player Adriano Cinta rocked his creepy handlebar mustache, and guitarist Luiza Sa rocked the sex faces she was making while fingering her… notes. While the music itself was absolutely fantastic when translated live the stage show was the real draw.
Lovefoxxx came out in a tight-fitting red leotard adorned with flowers that deserves to be displayed with other such luminary outfits as Bjork’s goose-dress. This was eventually stripped off to reveal a floral printed blue one-piece. She was joined by a back-up dancer clad in an 80s-rrific flourescent, frilled one-piece whose dance routines are pretty indescribable.
All of these oddities mixed in with the group’s mix of sex and grit made for a damn compelling show.
Limping back to the press area (having lost Viki several hours prior and still not having met up with Leah M) I retrieved my laptop to put down some more notes, sit for a bit in an actual chair, and meet back up with Viki. As the cheers erupted for Radiohead and they launched into a few songs from their new record, In Rainbows, I finished jotting my notes, and decided that since I’m going to see the band at least once at All Points West next weekend, I might as well call it a day, rest my body and take a (badly needed) shower.
© Eric Atienza 2008 for Listen In. Some rights reserved.
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