TV ON THE RADIO

by Jimby Sisto
photo by JUCO

TV on the Radio took indie rock and elevated it to a dizzyingly theatrical, wild place. It’s crazy to think that their first release, a tongue-in-cheek reference to Radiohead entitled OK Calculator (recorded on a four-track recorder) was only three years away from their major label debut. That album, Desperate Youth, Blood Thirsty Babes, boldly screamed confidence and sheer creative spirit. Always a band to both have a sense of humor and a free-wheeling jazz element, TVOTR dug deeper as the years went on with songs like “DMZ”, “I Was a Lover” and “Caffeinated Consciousness” showcasing their obsession with war, love, and an all-but-certain apocalypse. With singer Tunde Adebimpe carrying one of the most uniquely genuine voices in all of music, it’s no wonder they once got celebrity fan David Bowie to lend vocals for them. Come and dance to “No Future Shock” and feel the weight of the world as well as the voices beating against it.

6:00-7:00 PM
Rise Stage

Riot Fest and Star Events Launch Würst Music & Beer Fest

Riot Fest’s ever-expanding empire has entered the Chicago street festival scene, with Riot Fest teaming up with local street fest promoter Star Events to launch the new Würst Music & Beer Fest September 8-10 at Randolph and Ogden (outside the Plumber’s Union) in the West Loop. The 3-day fest (taking place the weekend before Riot Fest) will feature a stout lineup of bands including Murder By Death, The Anniversary, and Diarrhea Planet, plus beer offerings from Guinness and bratwurst from local restaurants including Chubby Weiners, Chicago’s Dog House, and The Radler, as well as a bratwurst competition to see who will be crowned “The Big Wiener”. Riot Fest and Star Events also co-produce Chicago’s premier Latin music festival, Ruido Fest, which concluded its third year in July. Würst Fest tickets are on sale now for $25 for a 3-day pass, with special beer and brat pairing packages available as well as exclusive ticket offerings via email for Riot Fest ticket holders.

LIVE REVIEW: INNERVIEW DOES LOLLAPALOOZA, SUNDAY 8/6

On the final day of Lollapalooza, guests were greeted with plentiful sunshine and a comfortable drop in temperature, as girl power was in the air with big-name pop acts pulling out all the stops early. Swedish singer Tove Lo served an emotionally invested, barefoot performance which included songs from her new record Lady Wood — and at one point she even performed topless. UK pop phenom Charli XCX also returned to the Lolla stage, equipped with a few tricks up her sleeve including a surprise visit from Halsey, with whom she performed a well-received rendition of the Spice Girls classic “Wannabe”. (Chicago’s very own Cupcakke was also there, urging the crowd to “moan with her”.) Big Sean made the crowd “bounce back” over at the Bud Light stage and debuted an unreleased new track which featured guest vocals from Travis Scott. Yet it wasn’t until Arcade Fire took the stage that one of the best Lolla performances in recent memory unfolded as they delivered a life-affirming, power-packed show that included songs from as far back as fans can remember. From the moment their set kicked off with a furious rendition of new hit “Everything Now” until the time it concluded with a beautiful cover of John Lennon’s “Mind Games”, the crowd was captivated by the sprawling Canadian art rock collective as Win Butler climbed atop amps and Regine Chassagne thrashed around stage in a red leather jumpsuit. As the crowd existed their set, emotionally drained with huge smiles on their faces, the disappointment of night one was a distant fading memory — replaced by something much more powerful and lasting. BY DANIELLA THOMPSON–PHOTO BY CAMBRIA HARKEY/LOLLAPALOOZA 2017
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LIVE REVIEW: INNERVIEW DOES LOLLAPALOOZA, SATURDAY 8/5

Lethargic music seekers continued to maneuver through Grant Park as we moved into day three of Lollapalooza, with the affable tuneage of Glass Animals filling the open space of the Grant Park Stage with their unique beats echoing throughout their hour-long set. Rockers young and old united to pack the adjacent space over at the Lakeshore Stage, with English blues rock band Royal Blood absolutely shredding the stage. (There wasn’t a single hand in the air not locked into devil horns at some point during their set.) Over at Perry’s, Aussie DJ Alison Wonderland reworked tracks (including her own) and infused the crowd with a manic energy, which only continued to thicken in response to forthcoming performer 21 Savage as the sidewalks became lava in what I would call the largest surge of attendees heading to a stage that I’d witnessed thus far. Sylvan Esso returned to Lollapalooza and performed new music to a dedicated crowd of onlookers before R&B’s dark goddess Banks enveloped the crowd with her empowering lyrics and captivating dancers with a stage presence far more commanding than her 2015 Lolla debut. The xx took stage production to another level with a magical set that included lasers, rotating mirrors, and reflective components to complement their artistic vision. Hometown hero Chance The Rapper appropriately shut down the night, performing to a massive gathering of loyal fans in a triumphant set which featured a cameo from Vic Mensa, who joined Chance on stage for a slick performance of “Cocoa Butter Kisses”. BY DANIELLA THOMPSON–PHOTO BY GREG NOIRE/LOLLAPALOOZA 2017
Previous: Lollapalooza Day Two—Next: Lollapalooza Day Four