Playing Lollapalooza is a big deal for any band, but doing it on the lead singer’s birthday makes it even more special.  Such was the case for Nada Surf and their front man, Matthew Caws.   And their enthusiasm was apparent from the first notes.  From “Hi-Speed Soul” to “Popular” to “Always Love,” the band demonstrated why they sell out shows across the country.  They love being on stage, and the chemistry between them is undeniable.  When you add their amazing guitar riffs, beautiful vocals, and relatable lyrics to the mix, it’s the formula for an unforgettable show.  To top it all off, they know how to get the crowd involved in the fun.  In addition to a rousing rendition of “Happy Birthday,” the band encouraged the audience to perform a basic two-step to “Inside of Love,” which even the dancing-impaired enjoyed!  As we sang along to the set-closer, “Blankest Year,” it was apparent that this set would be the highlight of our Lollapalooza.

One great thing about Lollapalooza is the chance to check out bands you’ve heard of, but haven’t been able to explore.  We’ve been hearing about Oh No! Oh My! for the past couple of months and were eager to check them out.  When the band took the stage, it became obvious that these guys know how to rock and please their fans.  While melody isn’t really their strong suit, no one listening really seemed to mind.  Instead, they were jamming along to the band’s unique lyrics and instrumentation, including an occasional banjo.  As the band performed new songs sprinkled with already released tracks, it was clear that these guys were thrilled to entertain their audience and show the harder, punkier side of Lollapalooza.

Everyone needs a little Latin flare in his or her musical repertoire.  For those still looking for a band to fill that niche, we recommend Calexico.  Complete with maracas and Spanish lyrics, the group added a nice break from our otherwise singer/songwriter and indie rock heavy schedule.

During the set, there were lots of musicians on stage (sometimes seven or eight), producing big sound and energy, but at the heart of this band is John Convertino and Joey Burns.  The duo has been writing and performing together for over 10 years now and it shows.  But in no way has those years led to complacency.  Rather, as their music demonstrates, they are consistently changing and moving so things don’t get stale.

At one point, Nicolai Dunger joined the band on stage for an emotional cover of “Alone Again” in tribute to Arthur Lee, who recently passed away.  When combined the unusual stylings of the band, this poignant moment grounded the otherwise upbeat and lively set.

As Chicagoans, it’s almost embarrassing to say that we’ve never seen the Smoking Popes.  We know, it’s almost criminal to have missed such a great local band. But, thankfully, Lollapalooza came along solved all that.  In all honesty, if we saw any one of the Popes walking down the street, it would never occur to us that he was in a band.  All four guys are unassuming and have the “boy next door” look about them.  But, once they stepped on stage, it was apparent that looks can be deceiving; they are “indie rock boys next door,” a very important distinction. 

In front of a very receptive hometown crowd, the Popes played some old favorites (“Before I’m Gone” and “Need You Around”), but also treated listeners to a few tracks from their upcoming CD.  We anticipate that both “Welcome to Janesville” and “Stay Down” will quickly become the top-requested songs at shows, they are that catchy.  Bopping between upbeat ditties to more mellow tales of love and loss, the band showed why Chicago loves them so much.  Now that we’ve been indoctrinated into the ways of the Popes, we’re believers.

Elvis Perkins is connected to a couple of famous person, but probably not who you’re thinking, given his first name.  Rather, his father is the late Anthony Perkins (of Psycho fame) who died from complications due to AIDS, and his mother is Berry Berenson, the photographer/actress who was killed on one of the planes that crashed into the World Trade Center on 9/11.  As a result of the sorrow that has permeated his life, many of Perkins’ lyrics are personal and deal with loss and heartache, as evidenced in “Ash Wednesday” where he sings “two of the greatest tragedies of our time.”  It’s also one of the reasons why Perkins has been absent from the live music scene until recently. 

Despite the heavy themes, his melodies and live shows are amazingly upbeat and happy, tinged with an Irish flare, complete with upright bass, harmonium, jingle bells, and marching band drum.  This unique combination was definitely a crowd pleaser and got people on their feet.  During “Mayday,” a sailor in the audience provided a floorshow, dancing an Irish jig, which made the set even more memorable.  After such a fun experience, we’re happy to add Perkins to the list of artists that deserve further attention.

photo by Rachel Aherin