The 6th annual Pygmalion Music Festival opened Wednesday with Janelle Monáe, Of Montreal, and Built To Spill — all on the same night. Of Montreal and Built to Spill were at roughly the same time, in fact – an act of schedule juggling that made fans and festival organizers alike crazy. But that bit of timing had the unexpected benefit of providing an interesting contrast in indie-rock styles.

Something disastrous would have had to happen to cause either the Of Montreal or Built To Spill shows to be less than first-rate. Nothing did, although Of Montreal suffered under the burden of playing in a venue (The Canopy Club) that has lousy sound and a stage too small to accommodate their theatrics. And theatrics they had: giant fish with gas masks and ray guns that gave way to unidentifiably masked creatures who crowded the stage; costumes, lighting, altogether a pop spectacle. Of Montreal’s music is integral to the spectacle, although whatever symbolic or metaphorical thought frontman Kevin Barnes had that linked shooting skull-headed aliens during “Suffer For Fashion” escaped me. But the show was fun, fey to the point of twee, bouncy, high-energy. It was also, ultimately, lightweight. The music was too similar to inspire; the show too over-the-top to genuinely engage.

Going from Of Montreal to Built To Spill was to live the Monty Python segue, “And now for something completely different.” Where Of Montreal sparkled with style, Built To Spill looked as if they dressed for the show by picking the least dirty-looking T-shirts and jeans off the floor. Where Of Montreal played to and with the audience, Built To Spill ignored theirs, playing with their eyes shut and heads down. Where Of Montreal were light, catchy fun, Built To Spill were all big rock chords and guitars. Like Of Montreal, they’ve been around more than 14 years and so are undeniably good at what they do. They are stone solid, with a crisp rhythm section and deftly handled guitars. Live, they lose that distinctive sound that screams “indie!” and Doug Martsch’s vocals are stronger, the whine of the studio albums less pronounced — clearly meant to be seen live. If you’re lucky, they’ll cover of The Grateful Dead’s “Ripple.” It’s incredible.

However, the hands-down star of the first night of Pygmalion – arguably the star of the festival, in fact – was Monáe. Opening for Of Montreal, she was everything an up-and-coming artist can be but rarely is: exciting, innovative, skilled. From Atlanta, Monáe is equal parts George Clinton, Stevie Wonder, James Brown (her use of the robe at the end of “Tightrope” is an homage par excellence), Ziggy-era Bowie, nu-soul, old soul, hip-hop, classic standards, rock. This is smart, sophisticated, high-energy music that wouldn’t be possible if Monáe weren’t such an agile singer. Nothing throws her: not rapid-fire vocals, not the standard “Smile,” not hitting high, sustained notes after dancing, not even being saddled with a room that throws so much bass and drums, the guitarist might as well stay at home. Monáe released her debut, The ArchAndroid (Atlantic), in May, and opening for Of Montreal has helped her. (Kevin Barnes came out to do a song with her; she returned the favor during the Of Montreal set.) But it doesn’t particularly help Of Montreal. That’s just how good Monáe is, even this early in her career. Don’t miss her.

– M. S. Dodds

While we’re still waiting for Pitchfork to hire one of the black-metal bands they wrote so much about in 2008, there is a change in store for this weekend’s festival that proves they’re paying attention.

Last year continued the All Tomorrow’s Parties “Don’t Look Back” series, in which veteran bands revisit a classic recording. In 2007, that meant Sonic Youth playing Daydream Nation, Slint doing Spiderland, and Gza recreating Liquid Swords. Fifty-two (or so) weeks later we got Public Enemy (with a newly VH1′d Flava Flav) and It Takes A Nation Of Millions, Sebadoh and the questionably honored Bubble & Scrape, and an underwhelming offer of Mission Of Burma and Vs.

Instead, 2009 has “Write The Night,” for which ticketholders could vote on sets for Tortoise, Built To Spill, The Jesus Lizard, and Yo La Tengo. Competition with Lollapalooza has put strain on the rest of the weekend, which is bravely headlined by repeaters The National, Grizzly Bear, and The Walkmen, but also one of the premier outdoor-festival bands in The Flaming Lips.

Pitchfork, per its name, should be more about the breaking and unknowns, of which there are many. They lost the bidding for Yeasayer last summer, but the band’s lo-fi Peter Gabriel-ness should translate better in Union Park. Fellow Saturday bands Plants & Animals, Cymbals Eat Guitars, Bowerbirds, and The Antlers tweak known-quantity indie-rock formulae (psychedelia, Up Records, indie pop, and loneliness, respectively) and it’s not an afternoon without abrasions suffered from Fucked Up, Wavves, and Pains Of Being Pure At Heart.

(Only two substantial hip-hop acts this year as well: MF Doom and Pharoahe Monch.)

Sunday represents a more standardized indie-rock lovefest, with M83, Vivian Girls, The Thermals, Blitzen Trapper, Frightened Rabbit, and Mew. But the most pleasant surprise is the return of Chicago’s duellin’ basses Dianogah.