June 2017 - Chicago Innerview

JOEY PURP

by Lisa Mrock

Chicago’s Savemoney crew is young, vibrant and changing the game by the day. One of its most essential next-in-line game-changers is Joey Purp, who is blessing Pitchfork with a Sunday set at a festival he could be headlining in a few years. He released his album iiiDrops last year, featuring a who’s-who of local rap stars — Chance, Vic, Mick, Saba — and featuring production work from Thelonious Martin, Nico Segal, and Knox Fortune. It’s safe to say that when he turns it out, the crowd at Pitchfork will be dancing like they’re at the East Room, especially when “Girls @” starts up. It’s a simple beat with verses from Purp and Chance about, you guessed it, all the different kinds of girls up in the club that “fuck you right and do you wrong.” Meanwhile, “Kids” is a distorted look at the partying youth who numb themselves with drugs and drink without really knowing why.

4:00-4:45 PM
Blue Stage

HAMILTON LEITHAUSER

by Karen Heeringa

Rumours. Kerplunk. Milo Goes To College. When people talk about the all-time best shows they’ve ever attended, it’s always when a band was playing all the great songs off “that really great album they just released.” It happens once, maybe twice in the lifetime of most bands. The album may not even have become iconic yet, but often times can be predicted by those who’ve got young ears willing to listen. Hamilton Leithauser, the former frontman of The Walkmen, will no doubt be promoting his fantastic 2016 album I Had A Dream That You Were Mine, which is a reason to go to this year’s Pitchfork Festival on Sunday in itself. Joined with former Vampire Weekend-er Rostam Batmanglij, Leithauser will bring every attendee to their tattooed knees with great songs such as “1000 Times” and “In A Black Out.” This guy is so good, he should be closing out the festival.

4:15-5:10 PM
Green Stage

RIDE

by Angie Martin
photo by Andrew Ogilvy

Legendary British shoegaze rockers Ride make dreamy cinematic pop that has stood the test of time. Formed in 1988 with intermittent disbandment, the quartet were pioneers in defining the shoegaze genre. Though shoegaze made its heyday in the ‘90s, Ride is speeding up to challenge the popular notion that the genre is dead. Thirty years later and two decades in between album releases, Ride continues to have a hard time shaking their reputation as “the kings of shoegaze”. Their knack for fuzzy feedback loops that ricochet off distorted guitars has intensified with age, but not to a point that’s overwhelming. In fact, the rockers have increased the meticulous melodies in their signature sound, showing that growing older can unlock greater creative power. They are playing a short tour in the U.S. to reestablish the intense rawness their music exudes, so see these reclusive Brits while you can.

5:15-6:10 PM
Red Stage

JAMILA WOODS

by Lisa Mrock

With a voice like a river, Jamila Woods has you floating on a cloud of critical acclaim generated by this rising poet/singer’s release of the near-universally adored HEAVN last year. Her gospel-inspired R&B discography bleeds with South Side Chicago pride, with songs such “Emerald St.” in which she asks a potential partner to bring over the mild sauce and coleslaw to have with her chicken wings, and is later joined by Saba who hopes for the night to never end. She’s joined by Chance the Rapper on The Lake Shore Drive-themed “LSD” with an offering of companionship, as long as they love her like she loves the lake. “Blk Girl Soldier” is her most famous assertion of her pride as a black woman and of the current struggles black women face, singing: “Look at what they did to my sister / Last century / Last week.” Her visceral talent can put anyone in awe, while keeping you feeling and thinking the whole time.

JOEY PURP

by Lisa Mrock

4:00-4:45 PM
Blue Stage

HAMILTON LEITHAUSER

by Karen Heeringa

4:15-5:10 PM
Green Stage

RIDE

by Angie Martin
photo by Andrew Ogilvy

5:15-6:10 PM
Red Stage

JAMILA WOODS

by Lisa Mrock

6:30-7:15 PM
Blue Stage

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Know before the show

Know before the show

JOEY PURP

by Lisa Mrock

4:00-4:45 PM Blue Stage

HAMILTON LEITHAUSER

by Karen Heeringa

4:15-5:10 PM Green Stage

RIDE

by Angie Martin photo by Andrew Ogilvy

5:15-6:10 PM Red Stage

JAMILA WOODS

by Lisa Mrock

6:30-7:15 PM Blue Stage

More Posts

Join Email List

Know before the show

4:00-4:45 PM
Blue Stage

4:15-5:10 PM
Green Stage

by Angie Martin
photo by Andrew Ogilvy

5:15-6:10 PM
Red Stage

6:30-7:15 PM
Blue Stage