Friday, 6:50-8:30

M83, Nero, Dawes, Dev, and DJ Zebo will be performing at Lollapalooza 2012 between 6:50 and 8:30 on Friday, August 3.

‏M83
‏If you were alive in the ‘90s, you were digging Smashing Pumpkins’ Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness. You remember Corgan’s “Zero” shirt and you fell hard for the (pre-food truck) food truck in the “Today” video. So did M83 auteur Anthony Gonzalez. It’s been his dream to create an album like Mellon Collie ever since, a feat he most certainly accomplished with his self-proclaimed “very, very, very epic” double-disc Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming. It’s part ‘80s soundtrack (think E.T. with a French film score) and all parts ambient and galactic (no surprise there, as M83 is named after the spiral galaxy Messier 83). It’s another homage to Gonzalez’s dreamy childhood and his shot at making music for a “soundtrack to an imaginary movie.” Part mystical and trance-inducing, part shoegaze and dance-producing, M83 manages to pull off both nostalgic and futuristic tones simultaneously. “Epic” is just about the only way to describe it. (Friday, 7:30-8:30, Sony Stage) –text: Abby Yemm

‏NERO
‏Take the heavy bass wobbling out of the South London club scene, bottle it up inside a joystick-wielding arcade machine and you have Nero, London’s leading drum and base trio. Nero’s spell-breaking blend of heavy bass overdrives and arena-rock synthesizers earned their debut album, Welcome to Reality (2011), a number one spot on the U.K. album charts, spawning hit singles “Promises” and “Me & You” alongside a worldwide tour last autumn. Known for their stylized, electro-chic videos drawing inspiration from video games, futuristic cityscapes, and legions of stadium lights, Nero lures its audience into a visually arresting trance before blasting fans with climbing guitar synths and ear-shaking bass wobbles. And along with the gaining popularity of having their songs featured on TV, Nero firmly plants itself in the electro/dubstep scene as a mammoth of stadium sound. If you wear a hat to their set, hold onto it. (Friday, 7:00-8:15, Perry’s) –text: Jason Oliva

‏DAWES
‏It’s been said before, but it happens to be true: Los Angeles rock band Dawes sound like they’re from California. (Rolling Stone called their sound “authentically vintage”.) Their debut album, North Hills, was recorded in the famous Laurel Canyon in a live setting set to analog tape. Continuing with this old-school recording approach with help from producer Jonathan Wilson, the band released their latest album Nothing Is Wrong in June 2011. Having jammed with Conor Oberst and Chris Robinson up in the L.A. hills, the band high-tailed it NYC to join Jackson Browne in a live serenade of the Occupy Wall Street crowd last December. With all the angst, lament, and heartache you’d expect from a modern indie folk act, they even made an appearance on the NBC show “Parenthood” a few months later. But when it comes to the music of Dawes, you can expect zero distractions. (Friday, 7:15-8:15, Google Play Stage) –text: Alexandra Zawada

‏DEV
‏21-year-old Dev is no stranger to writing and performing infectious pop tracks that gain immediate attention. The California native’s sensual, light voice was the heart of the explosive hit “Like a G6”, which gained her worldwide notice. Tracks are heavy on the dance side and take on a world of their own when the sexy artist begins to sing, as her voice (and looks) demand attention. That, with a carefree attitude, makes her performances playful and slightly arousing. (Friday, 6:50-7:30, BMI Stage) –text: Angie Martin

‏DJ ZEBO
‏When DJ Zebo mixes for Chicago dance floors, his spinning generates intense, body-glistening dance parties. Moving from rural Wisconsin to the city, he’s established himself as a confident, dynamic DJ in demand. Behind the turntable, Zebo is heavy on the hip-hop, generous with the electronics and meticulously packing in splices of shattering techno. Zebo’s spinning has incredible range; don’t be surprised to hear jungle in one instance and house the next. He keeps crowds interested…and interested in dancing. (Friday, 7:15-8:05, PlayStation Stage) –text: Angie Martin