Rock Iowa

Any Iowans hitting up Chicago’s Lollapalooza?

I’m heading there right now. I’m definitely gonna post my reviews of shows and my experiences. Excited to see Manchester Orchestra, Devotchka, Cool Kids, Wilco, Love & Rockets, Explosions in the Sky, Rage, and obviously Radiohead. So look for those throughout the weekend. But in the back of my mind I’m thinking about comparing and contrasting Lollapalooza, this years 80/35, and what I am hoping for next years recently announced 80/35. I’m thinking, what made 80/35 a success? What is successful about Lollapalooza that 80/35 can learn from? What will make 80/35 v2 a unique experience? Why did 80/35 work? What blows about Lollapalooza? Etc.

So please, give me your opinions.

UPDATE #1 (a short one albeit)

So Friday, we saw in order: Rogue Wave, Yeasayers, The Enemy UK, Duffy, The Black Keys, Cat Power, Grizzly Bear, Bloc Party, Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks, Radiohead

Highlights:

We had just missed Manchester Orchestra and didn’t have an immediate show we wanted to see. We wandered over to the Yeasayers show because it was the first show that was going to start and well I was interested by the name. These guys put on a great show. Being the bassist, the first thing I noticed and listened for was the fretless bass being used that worked wonders creating a smooth groove plus lots of room for copying the melody. As the music filled the park, their atmosphereic pop explosion seemed relevant to alot of funky indie bands but as they moved into choruses the 60s were alive and well with spacey guitars and three part harmonies. Around the third song, a melding of jazzy bass, Middle eastern tinged guitar, fractured drumming, and dreamy synth had the crowd swaying, eyes closed, reliving a past that had ended before they were born. Good stuff.

Wow. The Keys have been getting plenty of press but they totally deserve it. How two guys, a guitar and drums, rock a crowd of thousands with seemingly simple blues riffs amazes me. These two got the magic. Buy their albums and support the artists they are coaching, ie Radio Moscow.

Cat Power was by far the best among the various female acts like Duffy, Uffie, and Kid Sister. Nicole Atkins and the Sea was a definite second. But Cat just controlled the crowd without trying to hype up her set. She’s the mistress of chill. So chill, you might not realize you already knew the words to quite a few of her numbers all from her covers record. But she masterfully renders them her own. And she transitioned so cleanly from soul numbers to Frankie’s ballads to gritty blues stompers. I’m mostly impressed by her rock songs which makes her voice sound a little janis without the gravel.

Update #2

Foals! By far the best set all weekend. Their young and energetic but they’re good, real good. I had heard their album Antidotes recently before Lolla and it was a bit quirky but as I walked over I wondered how they would transition live. Phenomenal. A slow lull of sonic thunder gave way as they kicked right into Electric Bloom. It seemed more of a party anthem than what I heard off the album. Straight drumming, solid bass, tingling soundscape, half talk/half yell vocals with the guitar sounding like Jimmy LaValle’s understudy. You know the spacey repetitive but slightly adjusting riff that becomes mezmerizing. Tristeza. Anyways, they played alot of songs off their album including Cassius, French Open, Mathelics, and Tron with great instrumentals between. I missed a saxaphone but their singer made up for that big time. Check these guys out.

Steel Train was next. I saw them at HOB a year or two ago and seemed real polished, poppy, and soulful. This time they made things interesting with a more raw and youthful atmosphere and blistering rock and roll. Alot of their acoustic intro, xylophones, and spacey keys were absent. Either way the crowd was full with a ton of stereotypes coming together giving the rawkfist and bopping heads. A good energetic show throughout. I still feel like they are Rooney’s opening act

I saw Foals, Steel train, MGMT, Bookashade, Devotchka, Explosions in the Sky, Spank Rock, Broken Social Scene, Battles, Toadies, Rage Against the Machine

Update #3 (Yes I know I’m the slowest Blogger ever!)

I stuck around to catch a listen of Saul Williams cause Kubie “suggested” I go. If you ever saw the documentary, Slam, you would know that he is a epic slam poet that caught the ear of Trent Reznor, who produced his first album. With such a crafty, operatic performer it was obvious this wasn’t just going to be a normal show. One part old school hip-hop, one part screamo, one part experimental techno and a sprinkling of flambouyant, Saul, in hot green shirt and yellow shirt, tribal painted face, and feathers creating a mohawk, runs around the stage has his backing band dressed in half-assed hero outfits pumping old school beats and new electronic sounds. Funky beats were spun by Kidrobot who occassionally would put on white feedsack. The odd-timed and sudden breakdowns reflect the power of his words to the creation of the music. Which are amazingly poignant and timely. Between sounds, Saul would cut to a soliloquy of some of his noted slam work. I could have just had him just rock those. Near the end he played a horriffic version of Sunday Bloody Sunday. It was just poorly played and this wierd monotone during the verses and off tune yell during the verse, pathetic solo. kinda ruined it for me. Later on Kubie informed me that its actually a satirical piece about some snobbish white folks doing a song on war and race and pestilence who had no real experience with any of that. That made me feel better.

I saw Nicole Atkins & the Sea, Chromeo, Black Kids, Iron & Wine, Saul Williams, Blues Traveler, Gnarls Barkley, & NIN

DISCUSS: Add a comment and tell us what Lollapalooza bands you want Iowa to steal for the next 80/35. Did you go to both? Give us your 80/35 vs. Lolla report.

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