Lollapalooza 2012 - Chicago

I keep trying to wish them back to the farm

Just found out about that secret Jack White show that happened at reckless records in wicker park... So pissed I missed it!

xoooooooooooo if u werent at The Mid tonight for Starlinger > Miike Snow DJ set you missed out Might very well be the highlight of my Lolla but that could easily be influenced by the amount of alcohol I've consumed tonight. But I really love the Mid venue. zBottle service ftw. And Sigur Ros killed it today, errr yesteryday. And Zeds Dead detroyed the Perrys Stage. And Justice was amazing. I dont knwoif they webcasted it so im not gonna commentcuse if they didnt I want everyoen to be surprised by their new stage production at Moogfest This drunk fuc k is going to bed.

Everyone's talking about how awesome Flo & Co. were, but let's not forget what was going on on the other side of the park

That show was the shit even the delay was entertaining.

1. Jack White


2. Tallest Man On Earth
3. Franz Ferdinand
4. The Shins
5. Sigur Ros. If it wasn't for whole getting only an hour during the warmest part of a day in a field that was half mud, they'd easily be higher. Still sounded incredible, though.
6. The Walkmen. Did 6 cause they were too good to leave off a list.

I think I saw 15 full sets and a handful of partial ones, and I can honestly say the only set I was disappointed by was M83. Sound was wayyy too quiet and that was by far the least attentive crowd I've ever been in. Such is Lolla, I guess.

Really though, the crowd is the only complaint I have about the festival in general, and I didn't really mind it most of the time. Probably because I didn't go to Perry's at all. I never waited more than 5 or 6 minutes to use the bathroom, get food, fill up with water etc., even during the busy times in the evening. Never had a problem getting close to a show I wanted to see, even walking up just a couple minutes before. The Sony stage's sound was a little off on Friday, but they must have fixed something cause everyone I saw there Sunday sounded fine. Overall it was a great time, and as long as the lineup next year isn't 2011-esque I'll definitely be back.

Shittting the bed is a customary gesture of gratitude in the Chinese Hospitality Industry.

What a great weekend. Biggest surpise... Justice. These guys were great. I wasn't feeling Jack White so instead of heading home I stopped by Justice and do not regret it one bit.

Favorite set... Moon Taxi. I know it has been said a hundred times in this thread, but they really fucking killed it.

Furthermore, I think I consumed enough alcohol to kill a small country, luckily though I did not soil the bed like Phi. Tomorrow I've got to do it all over again, except at the Metro to see Garbage. Going to be fuuuun!

Lolla was killer. I still think last year's lineup was better, but the post-storm vibes were so good. I can only describe it as a palpable shift in mood after a rough Friday. It completely turned a meh festival into a killer one. Top 10:

1) Sigur Ros - Words will never do this set justice. Even in the dead heat of a 4 p.m. set, they were incredible. I even saw a bro telling another bro not to tell anyone that he cried during Hoppipolla.

2) Florence + The Machine - She's built for festivals and feeds off the size of the crowd. Supposedly this was one of Lolla's biggest ever crowds, so she was going nuts. I only saw the last bit, but it was still the best of the four times I've seen Flo (who is always great).

3) At The Drive-In - I'll admit that I was kind of a hater of their Coachella set because of Omar RL's "we're just doing it for the money" comments prior to the shows, but this really changed my mind. Aside from not filling their time slot and Omar continuing to be a wet blanket, it was killer. A great send-off for one of my favorite bands in high school. Also, everyone must watch that video above of Cedric's stage banter.

4) Bloc Party - Great showmanship, strong live presence, and solid new songs. Cutting out a lot of the Intimacy tracks helped too.

5) Jack White. - Well duh. He played some dirtier stuff with Los Buzzardos, but when the Peacocks arrived, it was party time. He kills it every single time. Seeing him again next week and I'll probably be blown away a third time.

6) Frank Ocean - He would totally be higher if he chose a better setlist and his backing band wasn't so awful. The kid's a star and he's just starting to realize it, which means he's starting to get his stage legs, but he still has his personable charm.

7) Afghan Whigs - It's too bad there were only a handful of people here, because this was killer. Miles Iz Ded was the perfect closer and Dulli sounds great. Probably the best sound I heard on a main stage all weekend too.

8) M83 - The sound was bad if you weren't within 50 feet of the stage, the crowd was awful, and their light show wasn't in full effect until the last 15 minutes, but these guys are at the peak of their powers.

9) Franz Ferdinand - Drew a huge crowd (despite not having a real "hit" over here in more than a few years) and were as sharp as ever. A dance party that kickstarted the fest after Evacupalooza.

10) Metric - Like their studio output, Metric is slowly but surely getting better as a live act. A better chosen setlist would have helped a lot, but Emily Haines is nothing short of magnetic live.

Big Gigantic

that show was absolutely insannne... I was the bloke standing near the right pilar wearing a kangol hat rolling face dancing non stop

You know I completely agree. Before the rain I was thinking how it was by far the worst festival experience I ever had and that I would only to after shows or single day in the future for whatever the must see band was.

By the end of Sunday, I'd had a great time and seen more sets than it felt like I would.

Did anyone else see Aloe Blacc? His set was ridiculously awesome. By far the best surprise set of the weekend for me.

Maybe they had a good night on Friday or an off night on Saturday - either way, I wasn't impressed. The band's biggest issue is their drummer. He took the groove out of Novacane, sucked the tension out of Swim Good, and spazzed out during Crack Rock. I wasn't crazy about the other members of the band either, save for the guitarist. Plus, I've read a number of reviews of his show at Lolla that agree with my position, so I'm not alone on this.

My top 10:

Moon Taxi
Frank Ocean
Jack White
Franz
Florence
The Shins
Black Keys
Metric
GCJ
Afghan Whigs

Everyone has given love to the festival and the music on this thread, and I agree 100%. But my takeaway from one of the greatest festival experiences yet was that it meant so much more to me than a festival. My experience from Friday, August 3rd to Monday, August 6th of 2012 will forever leave me indebted and beholden to the city and people of Chicago (not to mention a lot of other lovely Midwesterners).

Let me digress to explain. When I went to Coachella 2010, as my sig implies, it was my first big traveling Fest. That festival changed my mind and my life far beyond the music I saw those 3 days. Rather, it challenged my entire preconceptions of "normal vs. weird," socially acceptable vs. outlandish, and enlightened vs. elitist. In short, it gave me the bug. I don't need to describe the bug for anyone here, since so many of you caught it years and decades before me. But it was eye opening. It gave me new things to live for, to imagine new travel, new music, new culture... And impowered me to make my imagination into the reality I wanted for myself.

Over the last few years, other festivals have taught me things too. JazzFest 2011 let me know I can totally share my love for music with my far more conservative family. Bonnaroo 2011 opened my eyes to the equilateral social order and pervasive generosity that I'd been seeking.

And, to move to the present, Lollapalooza 2012 taught me that each day is exactly what you make of it. That 300 mph torrential outpour blues isn't just the name of one of my favorite songs. That those same blues don't have to be melancholy and missing Alabama Shakes mustn't be a bad thing when there's Roy Lichtenstein, vodka, and wonderful strangers eager to help you spend the time. That bands like Moon Taxi seem to be genuinely moved to hear simple compliments from their fans, which in my opinion, is the mark of true rock stars. That people are moved by Frank Ocean not because of any controversy or in spite of it, but rather, without even considering it. That Jack White will go down as one of the greatest of all time, at least in my heart and mind. And last but most importantly, that strangers met in the strangest ways might offer hope, happiness, and love beyond my wildest dreams.

Thanks for letting me join in the fun, Chicago. I'll be seeing you again shortly.