Midnight Conspiracy

Midnight Conspiracy understands the power of visuals in any great party. The focal point of their most recent tour spectacle, the “Eye Live Laser Lightshow,” is a 16-foot LED sculpture in the shape of a triangular eye with the guys spinning their hardware from the inside. If the sizzling atmosphere and Illuminati imagery aren’t immersive enough for you, there’s always the Dead Fame collective under which the boys paste street art and run a t-shirt line. The hometown Chicago producers are major players in the local dance scene, and have held residency at After Dark shindigs in the Art Institute and Delorean Nites at Lincoln Hall when they’re not touring North America. With a slew of creative hit remixes and an inability to rest on their laurels, the enigmatic Midnight Conspiracy keeps the partygoers guessing. Get in on the conspiracy while you still can. (Friday, 6-7, Red Bull Stage) –text: Jasmyn Martin

Midnight Conspiracy

At the late-night witching hour when many damsels are quietly turning into pumpkins, the mad men behind Midnight Conspiracy are just starting to ramp up the insanity. Known for throwing heavy party-crashed soirees in their hometown of Chicago, the MCs broke into the international circuit in early 2010 and have quickly become a coveted group booked to play the Ultra Music Festival, Lollapalooza, and the World Electronic Music Festival. It’s no conspiracy the group has hit the charts with their high-intensity breakout hits, including a deft rendition of Chromeo’s “Night by Night” that hit number two on Hype Machine. The notoriously picky Crystal Castles even featured an official Midnight Conspiracy remix on their 2010 tour. In addition to reinventing themselves through music, MC also offer their own Dead Fame clothing line and a trail of hidden street art in each city they visit. (Friday, 9-10, Magic Hat Stage) –text: Selena Fragassi

Sunday, 12-1:45

Titus Andronicus, Gold Motel, The Joy Formidable, Fences, The Kingston Springs, Iration, Midnight Conspiracy, and Lord Huron will be performing at Lollapalooza 2011 between the hours of 12:00 and 1:45 p.m. on Sunday, August 7.

TITUS ANDRONICUS
New Jersey’s Titus Andronicus allows you to feel whatever you want to — despair, bliss, frustration, joy — it’s all there in their grandiose lo-fi punk sound. Their lyrics border on defeatist, but their instruments play triumphant major chord progressions with emotions from both the positive and negative extremes. Thus their music is at once a cathartic release and an intense source of energy. Their songs aren’t simply played; they explode. (Sunday, 12:45-1:30, Music Unlimited Stage) –text: Joanna Tomassoni

GOLD MOTEL
Gold Motel, fronted by Greta Morgan of The Hush Sound, is one of those bands you love immediately. Whether it’s the upbeat, tasty sound of the drums, the playfully twanging guitar or the charismatic Morgan is impossible to say. Chicago-based Gold Motel is the kind of music you can’t help but dance to, even if you’re only bopping your head along to the beat. It’s the kind of band that makes you appreciate summertime. (Sunday, 12:15-1, PlayStation Stage) –text: Bethany Kibblesmith

THE JOY FORMIDABLE
Formed in North Wales, The Joy Formidable have been making a name for themselves touring with Passion Pit with three releases under their belt. They can be dark and shoe-gazey, but this is underscored by loud and wonderfully melodic songwriting. For a 3-piece band they have a fully formed, spacious sound. The Joy Formidable’s debut The Big Roar is aptly named. Their songs rise and keep rising, like something wild that cannot be contained. (Sunday, 1-1:45, Bud Light Stage) –text: Adrian Sobol

FENCES
If you dig somber, reflective lyrics brooded against somber, melodic music, you’ll dig Fences: a Seattle quartet that gives off as much of a Lemonheads vibe as they do a Matt Pond PA one. Like the former, their lyrics about getting drunk and passing out before kissing the girl are often deceptively simple. Like the latter, they can make even the somber feel catchy. Yet their fantastic live show is anything but a somber affair. (Sunday, 1-1:45, Google+ Stage) –text: Eric Lutz

THE KINGSTON SPRINGS
Nashville’s Kingston Springs put a refreshing twist on indie rock. Recorded by four 18-year-olds in their basement, debut EP Vacation Time melds a garage/blues sound a la White Stripes or Black Keys with a Southern-style, Kings of Leon-esque twang. You may find your soul singing along to a catchy vocal melody, only to lose it again in dreamy synthesizer riffs and almost-dissonant guitar harmonies that scream early Built to Spill infused with Delta blues. (Sunday, 12-12:45, BMI Stage) –text: Annie Debreczenyi

IRATION
Grooving bass lines? Check. Minimalist guitars? Check. That hazy charm necessary of any good reggae band? Check. This 6-piece Hawaiian band plays out of Santa Barbara, and their sunny Pacific roots lay foundation to their mellow, beach-ready songs. True to environment, Iration acts like any good friend at the beach; their sound is never officious or high-strung. Instead, Iration produces an uplifting atmosphere any beach bum could claim as their new summer soundtrack. Aloha. (Sunday, 12-12:30, Google+ Stage) –text: Logan Malloy

MIDNIGHT CONSPIRACY
Chicago’s Midnight Conspiracy could easily get away with calling themselves “The Kings of Remix”. The duo, always ready to host rowdy, sweaty dance parties, assures originality as they spin an abounding amount of electronic and house remixes at exceptional volumes. Constantly playing sold-out shows and festivals, they pull an array of remixes and mash-ups with potent energy. Coordinated lights are regular fixtures that make their heart-booming shows even more spectacular. (Sunday, 12-1, Perry’s) –text: Angie Martin

LORD HURON
Michigan native Ben Schneider’s musical project Lord Huron originally began as a solo project, but has more recently come to include a full band. The band’s self-released Mighty EP is full of rich acoustic guitars and lush harmonies with a healthy dose of Caribbean-influenced percussion thrown into the mix. Lord Huron has gained comparisons to bands such as Fleet Foxes and Vampire Weekend, but offer a more folk-rooted take on the genre. (Sunday, 12-12:45, Sony Stage) –text: Tim Mannion

Midnight Conspiracy

Imagine your job title is “Coordinator of the Ultimate Dance Party in Chicago”. Make a list of DJs you would want to appear. Then scratch that list because the only DJs that need to show up are local trio Midnight Conspiracy. Their synth-heavy, ‘80s throwback remix of Chromeo’s “Night by Night” was highly praised amongst music gurus while BBC Radio took note of their dub-step remix of Esser’s “Headlock.” To all you movers and shakers: time to start the conspiracy. (Saturday, 6-7, Red Bull Stage) –text: Angie Martin–photo: dablackswan.com