Recently, we advised you get to know Mumford & Sons. Hopefully, you did. And hopefully, you then decided to go see them at Lollapalooza. We did. As expected, they had an incredible live set. (Video below)
What was unexpected was the following behind Mumford & Sons. Turning the corner to the Playstation stage I was fairly shocked to see the Mumford crowd extend into the lawn for the Budweiser stage. And while I’d like to think that Sound Citizen had something to do with this, I’m not delusional – Mumford & Sons are just that good. The crowd was ready, both in spirit and in their collective, intimate knowledge of the band’s repertoire.
It’s impossible not to get in the groove when these guys are in full jam – the guitar, drums, keyboard, stand-up bass and blistering banjo all come together seamlessly. Marcus Mumford’s vocals are gritty, bringing life to passionate lyrics penned to music that is written from the heart and explosive in performance.
This was an absolute highlight of Lollapalooza 2010. Below are videos for Little Lion Man, and The Cave. Enjoy, and get out and see them on tour, including Oct. 31 in Chicago.
The day-by-day 2010 Lollapalooza schedule has been released. And that means some tough decisions need to be made, especially if you’re not going for the entire weekend. But even if you do go for all three days, the constant congestion of walking paths and sprawling distance between the main two stages means there is little time to bounce around stages when two of your favorites are playing close together. With that in mind, let’s dive in and make some picks and air some grievances.
Friday, August 6:
The competing headliners on Friday are The Strokes (pictured) and Lady Gaga — by far, the easiest headliner decision of Lollapalooza 2010.
Some others of interest are The Walkmen at 1pm, Mavis Staples at 2, The Black Keys at 6, and Jimmy Cliff at 7:15. While there are some other good bands in there, nothing that knocks my socks off.
Friday’s toughest decision is between The New Pornographers and Devo, both at 4pm. When it comes down to it, I just can’t pass up The New Pornographers. Then again … it’s DEVO! This might come down to one of those see-a-few-songs-then-make-a-dash-to-the-next-stage … things. And, in that case, the ending set to see is Devo, for “Whip It” alone.
Saturday, August 7:
Saturday’s competing headliners are Phoenix and Green Day (pictured). I have never seen Phoenix, so I can’t comment on their live show. I do like some of their music and would be interesting in seeing them perform. However, I have seen Green Day and, armed with that knowledge, it leaves little in the way of a decision. Their show is high-energy, fist-pumping garage rock at its best. Sure, they’ve evolved and perhaps sold out a little but they are undoubtedly an iconic band and not to be missed.
Of note on Saturday are The Morning Benders at noon, The Soft Pack at 12:30 and Dawes at 3:30 (two of our picks for Lollapalooza 2010 show-stealers), Grizzly Bear at 4:15, Deer Tick at 5 and Spoon at 6:15.
Saturday’s toughest decisions are between Dawes and The xx at 3:30 and 3:15, respectively, and Grizzly Bear and Deer Tick, at 4:15 and 5. In these cases, I’ll pick Dawes over The xx and catch a couple Grizzly Bear songs before heading over to Deer Tick.
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Sunday, August 8:
Sunday is typically the day for the biggest headliners. But this year, with Soundgarden and Arcade Fire competing, it feels a little anti-climatic. They are both very good bands but compared to names like Green Day and Lady Gaga (I said names), 2009′s Janes Addiction and 2008′s Radiohead … Anyway, I have to go with Soundgarden here. I realize that this might be a total bust but the fact is, Soundgarden was HUGE to me back in the day and I just can’t pass it up. If they suck, I’ll walk the 20 miles to the Budweiser stage.
Other bands of note on Sunday are The Antlers at 12:15, Blitzen Trapper at 2, and Hockey at 3:30. There are several other very good bands on Sunday – by far, the day with the most difficult decisions. They are:
Minus the Bear vs. Mumford & Sons (pictured) vs. Freelance Whales – 3 pm.
Why, Lollapalooza did you do this? I would like to see all three, but that’s just impossible. Minus the Bear is one of the most unique bands around and Freelance Whales are emerging as an indie gem. But for my money (and lots of it) I’ll be at the Playstation stage for Mumford & Sons. Their combination of rock, folk and bluegrass is just too good. Plus, I’ve seen Minus the Bear before. But I’ll miss them.
Frightened Rabbit vs. Erykah Badu – 5 pm.
Again, I’d like to see both. Erykah Badu is not typically on my playlist but I have a lot of respect for her and she’s a master of her craft. Frightened Rabbit has real talent and seems like a nice one to catch in the waning hours of a long afternoon. Going with Erykah here – I’ll probably never go out of my way to see her but I know I should at least once.
MGMT vs. Wolfmother – 6 pm.
I’m not a college girl and I like rock music. Done.
Cypress Hill vs. The National – 7/7:15 pm.
Cypress Hill falls into that Soundgarden category for me, but The National are pretty damn good. This is tough because I’d love to see a pot-fueled crowd get down with “Insane in the Brain” but The National offer a more diverse experience. And, to me, rap is more difficult to carry off live. I’m going to have to split the middle on this one and see about half of Cypress then catch the rest of The National.
So there you go – Lollapalooza picks ala Sound Citizen. If I had to pick one day, I’m leaning toward Saturday because of The Soft Pack, Dawes, Grizzly Bear and Deer Tick, Spoon and Green Day. But Sunday has Mumford & Sons and they are very high on my list right now.
What are your thoughts? Please comment below!
I’m very interested to see a list of 2010 Lollapalooza aftershows — that might make these decisions easier. From experience, I can tell you that it’s well worth sacrificing a day (maybe two) of Lollapalooza to spend that money on aftershows instead.
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There are some great bands I’m excited to see at Lollapalooza 2010 – like Soundgarden, Green Day, The Strokes, The Black Keys and Spoon. But you know the bands in small type on the Lollapalooza lineup list? Yeah, those are often the best ones when it’s all said and done. Unfortunately, many times they are missed because you just don’t know who they are. Well, as always, we’re here to help.
Below you’ll find our list of five bands that you absolutely should not skip. In order of our predictions on who will be crowned Lollapalooza 2010′s Show Stealer:
The Soft Pack
This is one of our favorite new bands, and featured on Sound Citizen Radio 7. They play like they have nothing to lose and everything to gain, so look for a sharp, energetic set. This band is going places and they will be eager to slam their collective foot on the gas pedal.
Dawes
Another newfound favorite at Sound Citizen (and featured on Sound Citizen Radio 3), Dawes is a perfect fit for a summer day. These guys can rock out with the best of them, but I really dig their flowing melodies mixed with simple, clean hooks. “When My Time Comes” and “Love is All I Am” are two of the best songs I’ve heard this year.
The Morning Benders
Much of The Morning Benders (great band name, by the way) reminds me of the music from the simple times of the 50′s when music was considered rebellious but was understated. But, their arrangements are far from simplistic. Expect a big crowd reaction and sing-alongs with this one. The song “Excuses” is downright dreamy.
Freelance Whales
Sweeping songs are the specialty of Freelance Whales. They sound like a perfect fit for any number of indie movie soundtracks and kind of remind me of Postal Service. I think one of the most impressive things about this band is their ability to take several different instruments and styles and weave them together into one cohesive jam. Nothing sounds out of place.
Minus the Bear
You know the show BJ and the Bear? That’s how this band got their name… Anyway, this band is another that defies categorization. They can be metal, trip-hop and just about everything in between. They have serious chops and are not afraid to push boundaries. They have a new album coming May 4, so expect a heavy set of new stuff.
What do you think? Have any other show stealers you think we missed? Leave a comment and let your fellow Sound Citizens know!
We have another great show for you this week, including three new bands playing in Chicago in the next couple weeks – from Philadelphia and all the way from Australia. Also featured is an up-and-coming Chicago band and some news about Lollapallooza 2010 and Pitchfork.
As always, we make some recommendations about upcoming shows to look out for in the coming months. Hang tight, winter is almost over and that means the local music scene is coming alive again.
If you have any recommendations for us, comments, thoughts or opinions, please send an email to soundcitizenmike@gmail.com. And bands, if you want to be featured on Sound Citizen Radio, email an MP3 or a link where some of your music can be downloaded.
This weeks’ lineup:
Strand of Oaks, “Two Kids”
February 21, Halfway Lounge, Chicago
Young Jesus, (pictured) “God Put a Curse on Us”
Feb. 17, Matz Hall, Winnetka
March 5, Martyrs, Chicago
Grand Atlantic, “Coast is Clear”
March 9, Martyrs, Chicago
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