LIVE REVIEW: INNERVIEW AT PITCHFORK FEST, DAY ONE

In defiance of Friday’s dreary weather, Whitney drew an unusually large crowd to the Blue Stage to kick off Pitchfork 2016 but it wasn’t until Twin Peaks took the stage that things really started clicking into high gear. If there were a contest that ranked bands by how many people showed up in their t-shirts, Twin Peaks would have won handily. Their hearty brand of throwback stoner rock was like a beam of sunlight igniting the whole park for the duration of their set, keeping the storm comfortably at bay. But if Union Park had a roof, Carly Rae Jepson would have torn it off as she effortlessly interwove her pop star persona with a more Pitchfork-friendly edge, highlighted by a killer song with Dev Hynes. Mick Jenkins’ so-so set ended up starting a little late due to a minor hiccup (which, happily, gave us time to enjoy more Carly Rae). By the time heavy hitters like Broken Social Scene, Shamir and Beach House had their turn, it was clear that Pitchfork Fest was off to a stellar start. Their sets were predictably fantastic, but day one of this year’s festival wasn’t about the big names. Instead it was about cult favorites blossoming into something more, their hardcore fans intermingling with the wanderers killing time between the shows. Here’s to sunny skies on Saturday…BY WILLIAM KOSH–PHOTO BY JLY
Next: Pitchfork Fest Day Two