Benevento-Russo Duo, Hot Chip, Ben Kweller, Moses Mayfield, Nickel Creek

BENEVENTO-RUSSO DUO
Their critically acclaimed impact on SXSW 2005 was undeniable and launched “the duo” to new heights, mounting up to a summer ’06 tour backing Trey Anastasio and Mike Gordon as well as high-profile gigs such as this fall’s ACL Fest and CSE’s little sister festival in our own Grant Park. They bring a non-traditional form of music for your listening pleasure; with a keyboard-driven, funk-infused rock vibe that is far from genre specific. Their newest album, Play Pause Stop, dropped in early July. (Sunday, 2:15-3:00, AMD Stage) –text: Zach Davis–photo: Michael DiDonna

HOT CHIP
With MTV having lost its foothold on breaking new music long ago and its current block of programming birthing more terrorists than suckers every minute — seriously, if Pyongyang gets a look at all this idiocy and opulence, we are all done for — where does one look to for the latest music videos? Why, the Logo network, of course! I was at this party the other day and, sometime between a rerun of “Noah’s Arc” and the Jim J. Bullock tour de force “Queer Duck,” on came the video for Hot Chip’s “Over and Over.”
“Wow,” said one partygoer, “when the singer takes off his sunglasses and puts on his regular glasses he looks just like that Chicken Little kid from ‘American Idol’!” After that announcement, the party dispersed. I absconded from the premises, but not before stealing a bottle of wine. Hot Chip? Agreeable dance-pop to fill the gap before Junior Senior strikes back. (Sunday, 2:15-3:00, PlayStation Stage) –text: Josh Cox–photo: Jason Manning

BEN KWELLER
Ben Kweller has something to prove at Lollapalooza. Sure, the 25-year-old songwriter has already had a more colorful career than people double his age (with grunge band Radish and two solo albums) but now it’s do or die time for Kweller. He is at the musical crossroads of either fading into obscurity or starting his journey towards becoming a legend. His 2004 album, On My Way, showed amazing maturity and enormous potential — it was a hit with fans and critics. With his third album coming out in September and a reputation as an animated live performer, expect his performance at Grant Park to be captivatingly fun. (Sunday, 2:30-3:30, AT&T Stage) –text: Phillip Molnar–photo: Michael Waring

MOSES MAYFIELD
Moses Mayfield is good old rock and roll. Based out of Birmingham, this introspective yet full force Americana 5-piece may be up to something big. They have already started to move up the musical business ladder from their previous tour with The Fray. With a new release, a tour, and now Lollapalooza under their belt, will Moses be parting more than just the Red Sea? (Sunday, 3:00-3:45, BMI Stage) –text: Jackie Lee King–photo: MMC & Collin Vaughn

NICKEL CREEK
Nickel Creek is a throwback to the heyday of the Filmore, when comedians opened concerts and musical genres were made to be blended. This trio of Southern Californians, with their acoustic instruments and “newgrass” treatment of folk and pop music, is something straight out of that aesthetic of experimentation. Mandolinist Chris Thile, violinist Sara Watkins and guitarist Sean Watkins have been performing together since 1989, and their most recent record, Why Should the Fire Die?, shows how the three build on one another’s musical thoughts as only longtime collaborators can. Produced by Eric Valentine (QOTSA, Smashmouth) and Tony Berg, the album ditches the group’s country beginnings in favor of something darker and more aggressive, an almost “White Album” response to their previous work. It is as if these three artists were teetering on a creative precipice — and decided to take the plunge. (Sunday, 2:30-3:30, Bud Light Stage) –text: Sara Farr