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CHROMEO

by Casey Moffitt
photo by Tim Saccenti

David “Dave1” Macklovitch and Patrick “P-Thugg” Gemayel, better known as Chromeo, continue their hedonistic electro-disco/funk adventure on their fifth studio effort Head Over Heels, once again brining the dance party along with them. The Canadian duo has the formula of 21st century disco down pat to get your feet moving, and they’re very experienced at it. Always starting with a sweet disco or funk groove, they then top those grooves off with synth-heavy chords for sticky melodies and pepper in a special ingredient in the form of a slap bass line, a hot guitar lick or an elongated talk box rant…and bam! Chromeo does it again. Intentionally giving you no time to catch your breath, Chromeo hurls that fastball right down the middle of the plate every time. They have no off-speed pitch. As fun as it is, chasing that fastball for an hour straight can get exhausting. In a good way. 

7:30-8:30 PM
Lake Shore Stage

EXCISION

by Casey Moffitt

Canadian dubstep DJ Excision has a rare skill for excavating the garish and transforming it into the sublime. As he pounds away at the EDM porn loop, he finds astonishingly vile and hideous tones to layer upon it, turning his show into an otherworldly realm littered with annoying beauty. Dropping wretched robotic tones and metal guitar riffs to grind away captive audiences, this alluring obnoxiousness is what makes Excision’s oxymoronic work so unusual. Previously, Excision has turned up the volume on this vulgarity, setting up a 250,000-watt sound system offering crowds no relief and showing no mercy. (Of course, his light show is also excessive and exquisite.) Excision also seems to have a penchant for violence as we hear about throwing elbows, breaking necks or cracking skulls. These are unusual themes to find in dubstep, and it’s more than a little unsettling. Then again, it all adds to the glorious discourse of the show. Your parents will hate it.

8:45-9:45 PM
Perry’s

ODESZA

by Jamie Garcia

The boys of Odesza are headlining Lolla this year and we’re already freaking the fuck out. The electronic duo from the state of Washington started out just six years ago, but with two influential studio albums under their belt plus several Grammy nods and a top 10 spot on the Billboard Dance 100, they’ve rapidly made a bold statement in EDM. If you’ve seen them perform, you’ve witnessed something truly special which is why their presence on a main stage this year is long overdue. Odesza works hard to take their fans on a magical journey by combining their signature drum work with melodic synths laced with themes of optimism, hope, and a dash of nostalgia to cultivate an experience that will elevate your spirits. As you carefully plan your Lolla schedule this year, consider closing out your weekend on what’s sure to be a ridiculously high note.

8:45-10:00 PM
Bud Light Stage

JACK WHITE

by Adam Hacker
photo by David James Swanson

Should we check to make sure Jack White is okay? I mean, he seems sane. But his latest album, this year’s Boarding House Reach, verges on insane. The rap verses, extensive bongos, and gospel choirs can all seem like a lot. What’s probably going on (for me at least) is that I can’t get his canonical days as one half of The White Stripes out of my head. In any case, Jack White always seemed so compelling because he actually made the blues sound progressive in the 2000s when it felt like every band was either trying to be the next big thing in post-punk, art rock, or emo. Not only that, but The White Stripes expertly employed a less-is-more strategy that to this day still seems unbeatable. White’s solo career has of course been brilliant and his music will likely be chanted in stadiums for years to come, whether he likes it or not.

8:30-10:00 PM
Grant Park Stage

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