Cafe Tacuba, Pearl Jam, TV on the Radio

CAFÉ TACUBA
For those who have never seen Café Tacuba live, bring your dancing shoes. But not the white ones — because they surely will be stomped and dirty by the end of the show from all the jumping and shit kicking that is bound to ensue. Wherever this Mexico City quartet goes, they bring with them boundless energy that borders on pandemonium. Having started in 1989, Café Tacuba’s lineup has remained in tact along with their patented Mexican-style folk-infused rock. That said, however, if there is one thing Café Tacuba isn’t, it’s exactly that: one thing. The variety of styles implemented and use of meticulous technique, as well as their notorious stage performances, makes Café Tacuba perhaps the most preeminent band that has ever come out of Mexico. Yes, that is quite the statement I know, but go see them live and then come talk to me. (Sunday, 7:15-8:15, Adidas Stage) –text: James H. Ewert Jr.

PEARL JAM
When Pearl Jam takes the stage on the final day of Lollapalooza, it will be exactly three days after the 15th anniversary of the band’s first performance at the festival — when it made its touring stop at the World Music Theatre in Tinley Park. (Thankfully this will be no sentimental trip back to that much-reviled outdoor venue.) So, from 1992 to 2007, what’s there to expect out of Pearl Jam these days? Well, for starters, the Seattle outfit is 17 years into a career that has made them one of the premier bands to experience live. Although the band’s most recent studio effort (Pearl Jam) was hyped as a return to form — when in fact it did little to diverge from a path already walked — Pearl Jam continues to find a way to connect with its ever-loyal fan base when gathered together for a concert, particularly one as monumental as this. (Sunday, 8:00-10:00, AT&T Stage) –text: Chris Castaneda–photo: Danny Clinch

TV ON THE RADIO
TV on the Radio is living the fantasy of every indie rock star wannabe across the world. On their most recent release, Return to Cookie Mountain, the band got to work with rock god David Bowie. Not only that, but the album has been flying off the shelves while the band has been selling out venues across the world and playing to gigantic festival crowds — backed by a hard-to-achieve crossover support from both the indie and mainstream rock crowds. For a short week or two, MTV decided to champion the band’s video for their most radio-friendly hit “Wolf Like Me”, playing short clips of the video after shows like “Super Sweet 16″ and “The Real World”. Even with all the newly acquired fame and the nonsense that surrounds it, the band has kept their cool while continuing to win over new fans daily with their unique and ferocious live show. (Sunday, 7:15-8:00, MySpace Stage) –text: Hal Conick–photo: Roman Barrett