The beloved annual St. Louis festivalLoufest returned to Forest Park yesterday for another weekend of great music! From up and coming indie artists to established music veterans, this year's lineup has it all. In addition to a stacked lineup, the festival also changed locations slightly, moving out of the center fields of the St. Louis park and towards The Muny. With it, the new location also brought some new attractions, like a new record shop to host artist signings, the United Healthcare sponsored Zen Den featuring yoga and hammocks, and more. The "Nosh Pit" of local restaurants also returned, as well as Market Square, full of locally sourced vendors... but the real focus of the day remained on the music across the three stages. From Middle Kids kicking the day off to Snoop Dog closing out the night, the first day of Loufest had it all. Here are the highlights of day one!
Middle Kids Read the Crowd’s Shirts
The Sydney based trio Middle Kids never disappoints with their live show, always providing some engaging banter between their indie rock narratives. During their early afternoon set, bassist Tim Fitz mentioned between songs that he kept reading the crowd's t-shirts, calling attention to one that said "Science is Real." After the shirt chatter, Middle Kids played a new song from their upcoming album in addition to songs from their self-titled debut EP, like "Old River," which shows off lead singer Hannah Joy's powerful and emotive vocal range. Their viral and most-streamed song "Edge of Town" was once again the crowd favorite, with the early festival arrivers singing along and jumping around during the song's building and dynamic bridge. There's no doubt that Middle Kids will soon be playing the later slots at festivals across the country if they continue to deliver as much as they already do.
Middle Kids performing on The Enterprise Stage
Hippo Campus Played "Suicide Saturday" on a Sunny Saturday
Minnesota's Hippo Campus drew a large (and dedicated) crowd early on for their 2PM slot, the front few rows of the crowd screaming back the lyrics to the band. The crowd's energy amplified when the band played their most popular song "Suicide Saturday," which is already ironically upbeat, featuring a perfect sing-along melody for a festival. The title sounded even more out of place as a massive crowd danced and sang along to it with the perfect backdrop of a sunny Saturday afternoon. The band's hour long set kept the crowd engaged the entire time, lead singer Jake Luppen roaming the entire stage to jam with his bandmates and visit each side of the crowd. Live band member DeCarlo Jackson on the trumpet also added another layer to Hippo Campus's already vibrant performance.
Jake Luppen working the crowd at The Budlight Stage
Ron Gallo Thanked the Festival Sponsors
The Nashville via Philadelphia rocker Ron Gallo always brings the laughs and lighthearted humor to his live show, but don't underestimate the power of his message. Although he began his set by reading the stage name and thanking other festival sponsors off a piece of paper, reciting it all in a monotone voice for comedic value, Gallo and his bandmates immediately followed up with an intense jam session, waking up any of the festival stragglers just getting there at 6PM, or reenergizing those that had been their all day. Gallo also dedicated his song "Entitled Man Keep Your Hands Down Your Pants" to all the women of the crowd, using his music to convey the message that it's never okay to assault a woman, in any way. By not taking himself too seriously, but singing about and calling attention to serious issues both onstage and on his social media, Ron Gallo makes is easy for listeners to hear his message.
Ron Gallo at the BMI Tunespeak Stage
Cage the Elephant Maintained 110% Their Entire Show
There's never a dull moment during a Cage the Elephant show, and they proved themselves once again as they played during the sunset on Saturday night. From lead singer Matt Shultz jetting around the stage and bouncing back and forth in the manner of Mick Jagger, to his brother Brad Shultz jumping offstage and playing right at the crowd barricade in the second song, the band's energy never wavered. After playing hit after hit throughout their set, Shultz also took a moment to address the crowd about a serious issue, saying "Suicide is not cool, it should not be glorified," before telling the crowd he loved them all. The theme of the first day of Lou Fest seemed to be Rock'n'Roll with a powerful message, and Cage The Elephant delivered that ten times over.
Matt Shultz performing at sunset at The Enterprise Stage
Rainbow Kitten Surprise Worked the Stage
North Carolina's indie rock band Rainbow Kitten Surprise (don't let the name fool you) closed out the Tunespeak BMI stage on day one with their harmonies and dance moves. Drawing quite the crowd, their emotive and slightly theatrical set began with their popular song "Cocaine Jesus," which begins with the full band harmonousily singing a capella before launching into their full sound. Lead singer Sam Melo lent his theatrical, almost interpretive dancing style to his unique and distinguishable vocals during the entire set, hardly ever standing still for more than a second. Anything but mellow, Melo told the crowd that he likes to jump when he gets hot, and continued to zip from one end of the stage to another, spinning and using his hands to emphasize the music. In addition to the visual entertainment, the band sounded incredibly in sync and in tune.
Sam Melo of Rainbow Kitten Surprise closing out The BMI Stage.
That's a wrap for Day 1 Highlights. Keep your eyes on our social media platforms for live updates of Day 2. A full photo gallery of the weekend plus an interview with Ron Gallo is also coming soon, so stay tuned!
Presented by Notion Presents, Warble Dazewill take over the Logan Square Auditorium on October 13th and 14th. The lineup features some of our favorite local bands like Lucille Furs, Yoko and the Oh No's, Town Criers, Joe Bordenaro, and more! The Nude Party, Acid Dad, and LevitationRoom are also on this stacked bill, and there will be more surprises to come. Stay tuned to hear about additional vendors and local artists joining Warble Daze, but for now grab your tickets to hear some of the best music around for only $15 each day. Ticket prices will go up, so get in on the presale to get the most bang for your buck. Tickets can be purchasedhere, and make sure you follow Warble Daze on Social Media to stay in the loop!
Red Bull Sound Select announced today that they are bringing their 30 Day Festival to Chicago in November. The stacked lineup of over 70 artists includes tons of Chicago artists, like Noname, Whitney, Eryn Allen Kane,NE-HI, Kweku Collins, and more! Check out more details below.
All tickets for these shows are only $15, with a two ticket limit per event. Sign uphere to get more information on each show, including times and venues. Tickets go on sale September 6th.
LA duo James Sunderland and Brett Hite, AKAFrenship, and their live band hit the stage at Park West this past Thursday evening just after 11PM, as part of an official Lollapalooza aftershow with Tegan and Sara. Despite the late start of the show and the fact that some of the crowd had been watching music all day across Chicago's massive Grant Park, the room still buzzed with excited energy when the opening notes of Frenship's "Run Wild" rang out. The energy only amplified as the band performed some of their popular tunes like "Carpet" and "Knives," which featured Hite and Sunderland showing off some of their signature dance moves. As the set progressed, the duo worked the entire stage, quickly winning over the crowd at the intimate Lincoln Park venue. Towards the end of the set, the energy peaked when the keyboardist, Celeste, took center stage to sing Emily Warren's part of the band's viral song, "Capsize." The crowd sang along to its melodic and addictive track, remaining hooked as Frenship performed the final song of the evening, "1000 Nights."
The British invaded Lincoln Hall on Wednesday, August 2nd for an evening of pure talent, charisma, and rock'n'roll. Kicking off the Wednesday night "after" show, which actually took place before this year's 4-day Lollapalooza, Declan McKenna and his band played in celebration of both his first Lolla performance and the release of his debut album What Do You Think About the Car? As McKenna played through crowd favorites like his debut single "Paracetamol" and his latest, "Humongous," he and his band jammed cohesively, feeding off one another's energy. His 45 minute set concluded with the high energy single "Brazil," with its impossible-to-get-out-of-your-head chorus.
After a quick stage changeover, fellow Brits Temples took the stage to deliver a smooth and polished performance for the next 90 minutes. Combining a solid variety of songs from their debut LP Sun Structures and 2017's Volcano, the set flowed from start to finish with extensive jams and additions to songs that added layers to the live performance. The band's frontman James Edward Bagshaw sauntered around the small stage at the Lincoln Park venue, energy surging through not only Bagshaw and his bandmates, but the crowd and the band as well. A magnetic presence filled the concert hall as the crisp and perfected sound soared through the room during songs like "Certainty" and "Shelter Song." A lighting rig composted of chameleon, color-changing diamonds added another depth to the already enthralling performance from Temples. It's a rare feat when a band can develop such an engaging and evolved live show while still managing to sound flawless and in sync, but Temples made it look easy with their Wednesday night show.
Not only is the music of White Reaper the ultimate nexus of charm and pure rock ‘n’ roll, but it is uniquely adrenalized as well. This is a trait that leaps from the record to the stage, as the band delivered an invigorating performance at this year’s Mo Pop Festival in Detroit, Michigan.
One of the most memorable aspects of White Reaper’s set was their banter between songs. They evaded the trap of appearing as musical robots who went through song after song without acknowledging the crowd by a wide margin, and instead revealed an innate ability to make the audience burst with laughter. Guitarist Hunter Thompson jokingly asked the audience if they were enjoying their sabbath, as the performance took place on a Sunday, and bassist Sam Wilkerson gave a shout out to his twin brother and White Reaper drummer Nick - who then promptly removed his shirt and pants before continuing with the rest of the set. White Reaper is effortlessly charismatic - something that will contribute to the band’s inevitable longevity just as much as their musical skill.
White Reaper at Mo Pop 2017
Perhaps one of the most enjoyable aspects of White Reaper’s live performances is simply watching keyboardist Ryan Hater. Taking full advantage of the fact that he does not have an instrument strapped to him, Hater jumps and thrashes - even making the occasional venture to the microphone to interact with the crowd. One of the most enjoyable aspects of watching live music is being able to witness the palpable cycle of energy that exists between a group of musicians creating art that they love, and a group of people who love their art. For White Reaper, Hater is a major catalyst for the radiation of this powerful electricity.
After reaching the conclusion of their set with the track “Judy French,” a single from their most recent album that drips with a delectable combination of goodness and grit, the previously quiet audience was in an uproar of applause and cheers. The audience had fallen White Reaper’s spell - an easy feat for a band that’s a refreshing combination of skill and stage presence.
White Reaper is hitting Chicago this week! They'll be at Lollapalooza Thursday, August 3rd at 12:45 on the Grant Park Stage. They'll also be opening a sold out show with Royal Blood at Lincoln Hall on Friday, August 4th!
Can't get White Reaper? Revisit our interview with them here.
Already got the post-Pitchfork blues? Relive all the fun with our photo gallery of the incredible weekend, and check out our daily highlights featuring some standout moments during the performances.
Chicago based company Audiotree has become known as a tastemaker over the past few years. Taking artists of all different calibers and genres and giving them a means to showcase their live performances, Audiotree records live sessions in-studio and at local venues, opening up a world of discovery for music fans and a window of opportunities for musicians. In addition to these live sessions, Audiotree also puts on an annual music festival in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and this year they've got their best lineup yet. Headlined by Australian psych rockers King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard and rapper SuperDuperKyle, the two day festival has a little something for everyone. Check out the entire line up below, and grab your tickets here before they're gone. Single day tickets start at a mere $32.50 for GA with VIP options, and you can snag a two day GA pass for $60.
Another year at Union Park has come and gone, with many standout moments in between Friday afternoon and Sunday night. By the time Sunday rolled around, the crowd at Pitchfork had definitely dwindled down (three days of nonstop music can really get to you), but the performances were still topnotch. If you missed the festival and didn't opt to have Pitchfork couch party with the live streams, here's what you missed at the final day of Pitchfork!
Kilo Kish Got Theatrical
The LA based multi-talented Kilo Kish opened up the festival on Sunday, getting a little theatrical on The Green Stage. As Kish took the stage, it almost felt more like a Broadway musical was about to begin, rather than a festival performance. Kish's work as a visual artist definitely bled through into her performance as a musician. The multi-faceted and dynamic performance also featured dancing from Kish and she remained emotive while singing, which made for a perfectly well-rounded start to Sunday at Pitchfork.
One of the many expressive faces made by Kilo Kish
Danny Pudi Watched NE-HI
Chicago's own NE-HI had quite the draw at The Green Stage despite their early slot at 2:30PM on the last day of the festival. Among the thrones of locals coming out to support their own, actor and comedian Danny Pudi, who is best known for his role on Community, was spotted watching NE-HI's set. Regardless of their audience, NE-HI gave the same energetic performance they always do, with guitarist Michael Wells doing his signature high jumps and lead singer and guitarist Jason Balla throwing himself around the stage as he strummed his guitar. If you missed NE-HI at Pitchfork, catch them in the fall with fellow Chicagoans Whitney.
Jason Balla of NE-HI
Vic Mensa and Towkio Crashed Joey Purp's Set
Things got rowdy by 4PM on Sunday when Joey Purp took the stage with the support of his DJ Knox Fortune, Peter CottonTale of The Social Experiment, and a whole lot of bass. The crowd at The Blue Stage immediately went wild, reciting the Chicago based rapper's words back to him. During Purp's set, fellow Chicago rappers Vic Mensa and Towkio made a surprise appearance. Purp's set highlighted the collaborative nature of the Chicago music scene.
Joey Purp rapping to a packed crowd
Pinegrove Practically Hosted a Singalong
Some music festivals draw people in for the fashion or the non-music activities, but at Pitchfork most of the folks are there simply to enjoy their favorite bands. While devoted music fans staked out to see their favorite artists all weekend, none seemed more dedicated than those that watched the New Jersey natives of Pinegrove perform on Sunday evening. From the instant that lead singer Evan Stephens Hall sang the first note, the audience became a backing choir, loudly singing along to every word in songs like "Old Friends" and "Then Again." Hall fed the energy right back the enthusiastic crowd, giving a passionate performance.
Evan Stephens Hall mirroring the energy of the crowd
Jamila Woods Got Moved To The Main Stage
Another Chicago artist at Pitchfork this year, Jamila Woods got a much deserved stage bump on Sunday evening when her set got moved from The Blue Stage to The Green Stage. Unfortunately, The Avalanches had to cancel at the last minute due to a family emergency, so the poet and singer songwriter filled in for their slot on the main stage. Many fans had camped out all day to see Solange, and they got treated to an elegant and well-rounded performance featuring Wood's silky vocals and her boisterous backup singers. The Chicago music scene is alive and well thanks to talented songwriters like Woods, and we can't wait to see what else 2017 has in store for her.
Jamila Woods singing in the sunshine
The festival may be over, but our coverage isn't! Stay tuned for a full photo gallery of the entire weekend, coming tomorrow, and check out our social media for some sneak peeks at photos. Also make sure to checkout our highlights from the firstand second day.
After and eventful first dayat Pitchfork 2017, we returned to Union Park for another full day of music. During the second day, we managed to watch more than ten bands, but here are the moments that stood out as the top five highlights!
Jeff Rosenstock Became Obsessed Over The Wave
Brooklyn based punk rocker Jeff Rosenstock had the crowd at The Red Stage getting rowdy before the clock struck 2PM on Saturday. From the get go, Rosenstock expressed his elation about his band being invited to play at Pitchfork, even joking at one point that the person who invited his band to play must have gotten fired. Early on in his set, Rosenstock requested that the huge crowd did the wave, shortly after asking, "What if we do a converging wave, and when it gets to the center, everyone just does spirit fingers?" (The crowd happily obliged again). Rosenstock kept the crowd hooked for the remainder of his set with his humorous stage presence and lighthearted songs that had the crowd screaming back the lyrics. If you didn't roll out of bed on time to see him yesterday, catch him tonight at The Beat Kitchen!
Jeff Rosenstock rocking The Red Stage
Cherry Glazerr Crawled On Stage
Los Angeles based rock band Cherry Glazzer played a very sold out show at Schubas Tavern on Friday in advance of their Pitchfork Fest performance, and as one of the buzziest bands around at the moment, it's no surprise The Blue Stage viewing area filled up quickly for their 2:45PM show. Known for her outlandish stage presence, lead singer Clementine Creevy entered the stage by crawling to her mic stand. As the performance continued, Creevy continued her boisterous antics, making faces at the crowd and working the entire stage. Definitely one of the most entertaining sets at Pitchfork so far, Cherry Glazerr is a band you don't want to miss live.
Clementine Creevy crawling onstage
Mitski Was So Grateful She Almost Cried
"I can't thank you enough," Mitski told the crowd early on during her afternoon set, which followed Cherry Glazerr's show at The Blue Stage. Although she's quite the contrast to the over-the-top Cherry Glazerr set, Mitski drew in a massive crowd with her mellow narratives, which provided a nice break from the fast-paced day. Mitski first mesmerized the crowd with her soft, ethereal vocals, but quickly showed off her chops when the pace gradually picked up and she held out a roaring note towards the end of her set. Mitski reiterated her appreciation of the crowd saying, "This has been my dream since I was a little girl," her voice wavering with her thanks. If you missed Mitski's compelling set, she'll be back in October with The Pixies.
Mitski singing her heartfelt songs
Francis Climbed a Tree
Francis Farewell Starlite, the man behind Francis and the Lights, has collaborated with everyone from Bon Iver, Kanye West, and Chance the Rapper, recently remixing his song "May I Have This Dance" with the latter. That new collaboration coupled with Chance's tendency to show up announced at Chicago festivals had the crowd buzzing with rumors about a Chancis (Francis + Chance) performance. Although Chance never did end up joining Francis during his set, Francis kept the crowd glued to him the entire time, darting around from one end of the empty stage to the next as he sang over his tracks like "See Her Out (Thats Just Life)" and "I Want You To Shake" from his debut album Farewell, Starlite! Towards the end of his set, Francis took the energy up a notch, climbing a rig on the side of the stage and eventually making his way over to a tree next to the stage to climb that. Francis's Pitchfork performance reinforced his captivating stage presence as a musician and as an entertainer.
Francis and the trees
A Tribe Called Quest Brought On Nostalgia
Although it's been a while since they've toured and the iconic 80's hip hop group lost one of their founding members Phife Dawg last year, when A Tribe Called Quest hit the stage at 8:30PM Saturday, the energy at Union Park reached an all time high. Festival goers of all ages could be spotted screaming the lyrics back to the stage, which was lit up by the constantly-changing graphics and videos designed for this farewell tour by A Tribe Called Quest. The remaining members of the tribe also paid tribute to Phife Dawg, leaving an empty mic stand on stage in his memory. The nostalgic performance wrapped up about two minutes before the noise curfew of the festival and left the crowd wandering out of the park in awe of the historic performance.
A Tribe Called Quest making their Chicago comeback
Day 2 also included incredible performances from Vagabon, PJ Harvey, Angel Olsen, and more. Stay tuned for a photo gallery of the whole weekend, featuring photos of performances across the entire weekend, and follow along on our socials for real time updates of the third and final day of Pitchfork!
