Music Times reporter Ryan Book works best in his home territory of the Midwest, or at least that's what he told us. Join him every day this weekend for a chronological look at what went down at the Lollapalooza music festival in Chicago.
9:05: Got up early to check out the Field Museum of Natural History and are disappointed to find out the walk-through Egyptian tomb is closed. Bummer! They still have Sue, the world's largest complete T-Rex skeleton and the stuffed remains of the lions from The Ghost and The Darkness, so we can still nerd/geek out a little before Lolla.
10:45: They're giving out free cans of Red Bull outside the gates of the festival...that's a $4 discount compared to within the festival gates.
11:00: Far fewer in line for entry this morning. We suppose all of the pomp, circumstance and alcohol from Friday inspired many to sleep in today.
12:10: We're beginning with Brooklyn again, this time is the form of hip-hop fusion act Rocky Business. Guitarist "Jonny on The Rocks" is a poor man's Pac Man Jones, making it rain promotion flyers on the attendees instead of, we don't know, 7/11 coupons or something. We shouldn't complain, as "People Don't Dance No More" is just peer pressure-laden enough to get us dancing early.
1:00: Jungle's drummer has one of the more peculiar devices we've see thus far. A series of seven glass milk bottles hanging on strings to his right. And he uses them too. The result is a sound similar to clay wind chimes, a less predictable version of his standard chime set. Despite the chaos theory that is glass-bottle-chimes, the group plays a tight set.
1:32: Wildcat! Wildcat! is a Red Bull Sound Select band, so we figured we'd check them out in gratitude for the aforementioned free can of energy drink. Despite the repeated exclamation points in the group's title, Wildcat's sound is more atmospheric and chilled pop. "This is our second time in Chicago and the last time wasn't as cool," notes vocalist Jesse Taylor to the crowd. "Good job guys."
2:45: We sit down with Jon Batiste, leader of the group Stay Human. Check back to Music Times on Monday afternoon to read our exclusive interview.
3:21: "Why aren't we doing more of this," says Kate Nash, gesticulating at women and rocking out at Lollapalooza, respectively. She doesn't discriminate based on gender amongst her fans however. At least a dozen new friends get the superawesomebonus VIP experience when the songstress calls them onstage to be her backup dancers before leading them on a hand-holding, high-fiving tour of the camera pit while the rest of her band jams heavy. Nash herself returns to the stage to play the piano on "Merry Happy," slowly, then violently, then dancing upon its keys while a techie braces the instrument below her. A rousing finale to a great set.
3:47: Some great NBA outfits we've seen today: A) a green Sean Kemp Supersonics jersey, B) a classic Lenny Wilkins Hawks jersey and C) a pair of friends wearing a Stockton/Malone combo despite being in Chicago, home to the Bulls that knocked the Jazz out of the '97 and '98 championship. A bold move in the face of guaranteed derision. Stay thirsty my friends.
4:00: Rich Homie Quan's set opens with Iggy Azalea's "Fancy." Plus a few more guest appearances from Beyoncé and Migos among others. Unfortunately, all these tracks are being spun by his house producer DJ Fresh, who keeps assuring fans Quan will come out soon. Seventeen minutes into a 45-minute set, Quan finally graces us with his presence. Then he delivers amongst his short setlist, covers of YG's "My Nigga" and Yo Gotti's "I Know," both of which he at least appears on. The rapper ends his set seven minutes early, totaling 21 minutes of stage time. We used to feel bad that people only knew him as the "Some Kind of Way" guy, but when you show up your fans like this, that's just the some kind of way it is.
5:11: We're sure more covers have been played throughout the festival thus far, but Grouplove's version of the Beastie Boys' "Sabotage" is the first we've heard. And it's definitely out there enough to work.
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