Be Your Own Pet, Matt Costa, Last Band Standing Winner, Living Things, Musical Outfits, Nada Surf, Rainer Maria, Sa-Ra

BE YOUR OWN PET
This punk band’s back-story could have been a skateboarder’s daydream. Four Nashville teens with parents in the biz catch fire in England, get signed by Thurston Moore’s label, and spit out a self-titled, 33-minute verbal beatdown. Singer Jemina Pearl has a wonderful potty mouth with a Karen O pitch and a Joan Jett snarl. With lines like “My brain is on fire so piss in my ear”, she’s the kind of girl that handles premature ejaculation with a knee to the nuts. (Saturday, 12:00-12:30, Q101 Stage) –text: Sean Foran–photo: Frank Ockenfels

MATT COSTA
Fate smiled on music lovers when Matt Costa shattered his leg in a skateboarding accident and took up the guitar during his 18-month recovery. Three years later, Costa’s solo debut, Songs We Sing, captivates with a collection of beautiful songs that defies categorization. This 23 year-old Californian’s ’60s U.K. influences shine through, as does his clearly well-rounded musical self-education. Costa’s lyrics are genuine poetry delivered via heartfelt vocals and masterful guitar playing. (Saturday, 11:45-12:30, Adidas-Champs Stage) –text: Jen Fischer

LAST BAND STANDING WINNER
This slot will be awarded to the winner of Lollapalooza’s “Last Band Standing” battle of the bands competition, which began May 26 with a slate of the top 100 vote-getting acts who submitted music online. As of press time, the 4 finalists were: L.A. pop rockers Everybody Else, Virginia singer/songwriter Kate Starr, Kansas indie rockers The Appleseed Cast and NYC’s old school hip-hopper Tonedeff. The four will compete at Double Door Aug. 2, at which time the winner and runner-up will be announced. (Saturday, 11:15-11:45, Q101 Stage) –text: Jay Gentile–photo: Jody Warner

LIVING THINGS
They began their musical career playing carnivals in a kiddy-rock band …actually, playing in the parking lots adjoining the traveling carnival their father worked for. Living Things, which began as a trio of brothers, would practice their instruments to avoid beating up one another. Now while touring in support of their freshmen release, Ahead Of The Lions, these guys take out their aggression on President Bush whilst still managing to perform a few angst-riddled songs. (Saturday, 12:30-1:30, AT&T Stage) –text: Melanie Falina–photo: Floria Sigismondi

MUSICAL OUTFITS
Hometown heroes Musical Outfits should feel very comfortable playing against the backdrop of Chicago’s skyline at Lollapalooza. The four-piece has played almost every venue in the city, including a lengthy stint as the house band at Wise Fools Pub. Their latest album Left Here, released in 2005, was produced by Chris Steinmetz of Madonna, Kiss, and Ben Harper fame. Thankfully, their power pop tunes are catchy without becoming saccharine copies of everything else played on the radio. (Saturday, 11:15-12:00, BMI Stage) –text: Janine Schaults

NADA SURF
Nada Surf’s 1996 song “Popular” was inventive, jabbing the high school elite using excerpts from a ’50s home economics book. It may have been a bit cliché, but it captured the attention of Ric Ocasek who produced their 1996 debut, High/Low. The trio flourished in Europe, eventually returning to the States on the Barsuk label. Their 2005 LP, The Weight is a Gift, is a bit mellow and chock full of emo hooks, but Nada Surf may just surprise us yet. (Saturday, 12:30-1:30, Bud Light Stage) –text: Gina Pantone

RAINER MARIA
Rainer Maria masters the art of smiling while crying. The trio sounds poppy and cheerful, but Caitlin De Marrais’ striking voice is leaking some serious skin-shedding lyrics. Let’s be honest: Since the band did steal their name from German poet Rilke, Rainer Maria is borderline emo. Despite graduating from Polyvinyl to Grunion, one can’t help but note that the band keeps getting older as their fans get younger — while their music just stays the same. (Saturday, 12:00-12:30, AMD Stage) –text: Sharyn Goldyn–photo: Danielle St. Laurent

SA-RA
Sa-Ra’s 2005 full-length, The Second Time Around (Ubiquity), gave this previously behind-the-scenes production trio the opportunity to unabashedly usher their music philosophy — experimental, futuristic music with a black-centric lilt — to center stage. Sure, it sounds a bit like Kool and the Gang, Prince and Parliament are blasting off in a spaceship laden with ‘70s synths and electric guitars, but what’s wrong with that? (Saturday, 12:00-12:30, PlayStation Stage) –text: Stacey Dugan–photo: Mark Anthony