Lollapalooza preview
Lollapalooza
Grant Park, Chicago
Friday, August 4th through Sunday August 6th, 2006
Conflicting Interests: Worst Time Crunches
Friday, 11:45 a.m. — Deadboy & The Elephantmen vs. Sound Team: Right off the bat (almost)! Jeff Buckley fanatics will be amazed by Deadboy (Dax Riggs) while anyone who would rather wake up to something with a beat oughta be captivated by the relentless Sound Team. Some better planning would have pit them against the similarly minded Go! Team.
Friday, 1 p.m. — Anathallo vs. Husky Rescue: Two bands few people have on their lists, miss one at your own peril. Anathallo take an almost Sufjan Stevens-esque grandeur into downer symphonies while Finland’s Husky Rescue measure high art (David Lynch, Philip Glass), country, and the somber haunt of Portishead without the fresh set of razorblades.
Friday 6:30 p.m. — The Raconteurs vs. My Morning Jacket: While MMJ have scored press worthy of The Strokes, containing their reverby racket outdoors could prove unmanageable. The main attraction for The Raconteurs is White Stripe Jack White, but his superstar status doesn’t diminish the impact of this “supergroup,” a less contrived beast than his main gig.
Saturday 3:30 p.m. — Calexico vs. Wolfmother vs. Lyrics Born: Calexico, whose Tex-Mex creations are easily supplanted but rarely accurately described, face the biggest name in the Sabbath revival (Wolfmother) and a rare hip-hop act (Lyrics Born), whose underground status is manifest following his rebirth on a remix album.
Saturday 4:30 p.m. — Gnarls Barkley vs. Sonic Youth: Money’s on Gnarls Barkley, whose “Crazy” single is a great over-the-counter drug and one of the few acts on Lollapalooza to genuinely get excited about. But don’t underestimate Sonic Youth, who headlined Lollapalooza in ’95 but are currently in support of their most melodic album ever, Rather Ripped. This’ll be a bloodbath.
Saturday 6:30 p.m. — Common vs. The Flaming Lips: O.K., for one, you’re in Chicago so you have to see Common. Second, God bless The Lips, but what does Wayne Coyne have left up his sleeve? At War With The Mystics had few flaws but you can’t bring out the fake blood, giant bunnies, and human bubble every the time, can you?
Sunday 2:30 p.m. — Ben Kweller vs. Nickel Creek: Remember first it’s Nickel Creek not Nickelback. The water variation play virtuoso bluegrass with a heartbroken core, while Kweller is “indie” rock’s reigning smug Weezerite.
Sunday 3:30 p.m. — Andrew Bird vs. 30 Seconds To Mars vs. The New Amsterdams: All righty, 30 Seconds are that shameless Jared Leto outfit and the Amsterdams are a whiny, former side project from ex-Get Up Kid Matthew Pryor. By default you need to go with Chicagoan Andrew Bird, a quiet, if more deserving chamber popper with a violin that’ll slice you a few more heartstrings.
TAKE A BREAK! You’re facing 33 potential hours of music — don’t be an idiot.
Friday, 12:30 p.m. — The Subways vs. Blue October: Umm, what the? Garage pop latecomers or played-out jock rock. We’ll take the sharp stick in the eye, please!
Friday, 4:30 p.m. — Umphrey’s McGee vs. Ryan Adams: The obvious choice seems Adams, though with his notoriously erratic behavior in Chicago combined with his propensity to pout, we say check out his Bud Light stage to see how things are going before hollering at a food tent.
Saturday: Amazingly we feel your time isn’t wasted the whole day. Eat lunch lightly; be prepared to run from stage to stage.
Sunday, 12:30 p.m. — Sparta vs. The Redwalls: Here’s a contest: Take the ambition out of At The Drive-In or the pride out of Oasis. (Buried from 1 to 1:45 p.m. are Burden Brothers and Manishevitz, so if you have a BM wreaking havoc . . . )
