Day 339: Go to Lollapalooza

The Midwest’s biggest music fest was this weekend, and we made a point to attend. Eight different stages scattered across Grant Park downtown. It’s an opportunity for great bands, both big and small, to showcase their talent to a bunch of drunk people who use the heat as an excuse to get away with wearing very little clothing. Here is a rundown of the bands I saw.

Kicked off the day at Fitz & the Tantrums, a great band I had never heard of before, but who apparently hails from our new home state of Ohio. Lead singer wore what looked like a magenta velvet suit. That should tell you all you need to know.

Next, a band called Death From Above 1979, which was a little bit too intense for my taste. Their songs literally sounded like it does when a plane flies by overhead.

Then we caught the Local Natives, a band I posted about going to see way back on Day 30. While I feel like their style is a better fit for smaller, more intimate venues, they were still awesome and are soon releasing a new album.

Then came Cee Lo Green, the disappointment of the afternoon. Maybe it was because he decided to wear an outfit that resembled a black viking prom dress on a 95 degree day on his 300 pound frame, but he just sounded tired and out of breath. What a bummer, because I love some of his music.

As for headliners, we saw the first hour of My Morning Jacket’s set. They were incredible – an energy thrilled, throwback rock show all the way. Every song was a moment. I could definitely see myself getting more into their music after that.

But the biggest highlight of the evening was Eminem. While My Morning Jacket is more along the lines of the music I listen to now, Eminem played a definitive role in my childhood, and his concert was nostalgic and awesome to the max. Fireworks, video effects and seamless rap classics, Steph and I found ourselves hopping up and down, singing along to “The Real Slim Shady” and “Lose Yourself.” And that is how you know it’s been a good night.