Lollapalooza webcast schedule

The Postal Service @ Coachella 2013

If you weren't lucky enough to get tickets to this year's sold out Lollapalooza Music Festival in Chicago, you're in luck!  Lollapalooza will be streaming some of the best acts via their webcast throughout the weekend.  Highlights include Queens of the Stone Age, Nine Inch Nails, The Killers, The Postal Service, Mumford & Sons and The Cure.  So stay dry, stay cool, stay in your sweatpants and enjoy Lollapalooza from the comfort of your home.

Friday

2:30pm – Smith Westerns
3:30pm – Icona Pop
4:15pm – Crystal Castles
5:15pm – Imagine Dragons
6:15pm – Queens of the Stone Age
7:30pm – Band of Horses
8:30pm – The Killers
10:00pm – Nine Inch Nails

Saturday

2:15pm – Ben Howard
3:00pm – Court Yard Hounds
4:00pm – Local Natives
5:00pm – Ellie Goulding
6:00pm – The National
7:15pm – The Lumineers
8:30pm – The Postal Service
10:00pm – Mumford & Sons

Sunday

2:30pm – Alex Clare
4:30pm – Two Door Cinema Club
5:30pm – Alt-J
6:30pm – Steve Aoki
7:00pm – Vampire Weekend
8:15pm – The Cure

Lollapalooza 2013 Playlist

Live videos from Lolla 2013 artists

Were you too busy to do research for Lollapalooza 2013?  Don't worry, we've got you covered.  Check out our Lollapalooza 2013 playlist, featuring live videos from The Killers, The Lumineers, The Vaccines as well as other bands that don't start with "the".  Enjoy!

Lollapalooza Memories

In only 1 week, Nine Inch Nails, The Killers and Queens of the Stone Age will be taking the stage at Lollapalooza 2013. In preparation for what is sure to be an amazing year, let's take a look at five great moments in Lollapalooza history.

5. Pearl Jam Play To A Massive Crowd

During Pearl Jam's set at Lollapalooza 2007, Eddie Vedder reminisced of riding the train and listening to Patty Smith and Iggy Pop, both of whom also played Lollapalooza that year, somehow making the headlining set feel personal for all who were in attendance. The band played hit after hit, finally ending their set by taking influence from another great Lolla memory by inviting VIPs, including Ben Harper and Dennis Rodman, on stage for an epic rendition of the Neil Young classic “Rockin' in the Free World”

4. Foo Fighters Fight the Rain

Lollapalooza has had it's fair share of weather problems, but the Foo Fighters proved that rain doesn't have to be a night ruiner, in fact it can become a reason to put on the show of a lifetime. It had been lightly drizzling throughout the Foo Fighters 2011 headlining set, but as the band started to play “My Hero” the sky opened up releasing a flood of rain. It was one of those great human moments where everyone was in it together, rising above the elements and creating an unforgettable memory. Dave Grohl said it best as he told the crowd that he had been checking weather.com and thinking that the rain would only hit the Arctic Monkeys, who played before the Foo Fighters, “you think, I'm glad it stopped raining because we have to play now and then it starts fuckin' raining and it feels so fuckin' good that it's the best show you've played in a long time.” 

3. The Iggy Pop Stage Rush

“The Lollapalooza Dancers”, Iggy Pop exclaimed after hundreds of fans rushed the stage during the Stooges performance of “No Fun” at Lollapalooza 2007. This was one of those Lollapalooza moments that fans will be talking about for years to come. Iggy Pop masterfully welcomed fans to join him on stage as he was “lonely”. There was nothing security could do to stop the flood of people and as the song came to a close, Iggy Pop took control of what seemed to be utter chaos, clearing the stage and continuing on with the rest of the set.

2. Daft Punk Bring Their Pyramid to Chicago

Daft Punk's 2007 headlining spot at Lollapalooza was pure joy. Tens of thousands of festival goers were all smiling and dancing under the orchestration of everyone's favorite robots. The night was electric and everyone present knew that they were a part of something special. There is a reason why Daft Punk is on everyone's wish list for every festival lineup. A Daft Punk show is a full sensory experience and one that is not to be missed.

1. 2008 – Wow, What A Year

Radiohead, Nine Inch Nails, Rage Against the Machine, Kanye West, Wilco, The Raconteurs, Gnarls Barkley, The National, The Black Keys, Bloc Party all appeared on the unbeatable Lollapalooza 2008 lineup. On paper, this lineup looks too good to be true and in reality it was the best year in the history of Lollapalooza. Radiohead played an unopposed headlining set that was nothing less than perfection, Nine Inch Nails debuted an interactive light show like no one has every seen before... or since, and Rage Against the Machine actually had to stop their show and ask the crowd to take five steps back because things were getting too intense. This was one of those magical years where it seemed like each set of Lollapalooza was going to be the best set that you've ever seen... and then it would get topped.

Everyone experiences Lollapalooza differently, what are some of your favorite moments?

Watch Fiona Apple's new video for "Hot Knife"

Directed by Paul Thomas Anderson

Fiona Apple has teamed up with her ex-boyfriend, "Boogie Nights" director Paul Thomas Anderson, on her new video for the track "Hot Knife".  The pair dated in the late nineties and collaborated several times during their relationship.  2012 was a rough year for both Apple and Anderson, with Apple having to cancel her tour to be with her dying dog and Anderson receiving mixed reviews for his exploration into Scientology with his film, "The Master".  "Hot Knife" is artistic and heartfelt showing both artists at their best.  Check it out for yourself below.

The book says, "We might be through with the past, but the past ain't through with us." 

 Jimmy Gator - Magnolia

R. Kelly performs at Pitchfork Music Festival

It was a “grown man's sexy show"

 

R. Kelly @ Pitchfork Music Festival

  

R. Kelly treated a hometown Chicago crowd to a sexy hit filled dance party at the Pitchfork Music Festival on Sunday night. The set began with a brief interlude before Kellz got the party started, dropping "Ignition (Remix)" on the the sold out crowd. Fans went wild singing and dancing as the Pied Piper of R & B, backed by a live band, DJ and gospel choir, proceeded to play hit after hit. R. Kelly flawlessly navigated his way through his massive catalog of chart toppers including “Fiesta”, “You Remind Me of My Jeep”, and “Bump N' Grind”. Kelly's vocals were strong and his stage presence magnetic. It was all eyes on Kellz from start to finish.

Perhaps the most entertaining segments of the show were when R. Kelly would address the crowd, sing-talking in a way that only he can manage. Kelly complained about promoters telling him not to curse or make the show too sexual, he pleads to the crowd, “How the fuck do you expect me to do my motherfuckin’ show then? I thought this was a grown man’s sexy show”. As a cool rain poured down, Kellz kept things hot by going into smooth jams like “Down Low”, “Feelin' On Yo Booty” and “Strip for You”. Love was definitely in the air.

R. Kelly @ Pitchfork Music Festival

“Happy People” and “Step In the Name of Love” made for a funky dance interlude, after which Kelly bragged that he didn't need to take a break during the set because he is in shape. This led to R. Kelly leading the crowd in a chorus of “No Break/No Break/ No Break”, “In Shape/In Shape/In Shape” as he improvised detailed lyrics, impressing himself and the audience. “We didn't even rehearse that”, he exclaimed over the cheers of a captivated audience.

The end drew near as Kellz performed an impressive and triumphant version of the “Love Letter” show stopper “When A Woman Loves” into the 2007 hit “I'm a Flirt”. There was only one song that could close out the set and after one verse of “I Believe I Can Fly” the crowd took over the singing duties as R. Kelly stood on stage, basking in his lyrics being sung by 15,000 voices. As he began singing verse two, a flock of helium filled bird balloons were released into the night sky. It was the perfect end to a fantastic show.

video by AllShowsGo!

Phish play epic 3 set show in Chicago

Phish made up for lost time last night by playing an epic three set show in Chicago.  Read full story at examiner.com.

Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros - Review

They do what they do best on their self titled 3^rd album

 

In an interview with Billboard earlier this year, Alex Ebert, the mastermind and founder of Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros (ESMZ), said “We're starting to mature in a weird way, a bit late in the game, but it's a good feeling.” The band's upcoming release demonstrates an intricacy and patience that can only come with maturity. There isn't a blockbuster track like the 2009 hit “Home”, but the album is much more consistent than their previous efforts. ESMZ still explore the sounds and enthusiasm of the early sixties, but in a way that feels fresh and current.

The album starts off strong with “Better Days”, a sweet love song with a full sound. You can practically see young love blossom as Ebert sings, “Just know that every time I look in your eye/I see better, I see better, better days”. “Let's Get High” is a pothead's anthem in the winking way of Bob Dylan's “Rainy Day Women”, never officially endorsing drug use while celebrating the freedom of getting high on life and love. The sixties aren't the only reference point from which influence is drawn. “If I Were Free” has an eighties island vibe that would be perfect background music for Tom Cruise as he falls in love with Elizabeth Shue in “Cocktail” where as Motown and soul infiltrate the traveling song “Country Calling”. 

Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros - Coachella 2010

ESMZ are in danger of falling into the Rusted Root effect of adding a lot of odd instruments to fill out their sound and stage. The richness of the organ and percussion is nice, but the slide whistle borders on ridiculous. The horns on “Life Is Hard” are arranged at strange intervals that become unpleasant to the ears, perhaps that's the intention to emphasize the difficulties one encounters in life, but ultimately it made the track a skipper.

 

The production on this album is astounding and if I didn't know any better, I would think that it was released in the sixties. It sounds like real analog music, before everything became digitized and flawless. Every song isn't a hit, but what is an album without the deeper cuts. Alex Ebert and his band of merry musician's have written a complex album that fans (and festival goers) will love.

James Muphy talks new Arcade Fire album

"It's really f*cking epic"

 

James Murphy, LCD Soundsystem front man and producer of the upcoming Arcade Fire album, spoke with NME about the epic nature of the Cunuck's fourth studio album.

"It sounds like Arcade Fire in the way that only Arcade Fire sound like Arcade Fire, you know? It's really fucking epic. Seriously. I mean, I feel at this point like I'm too close to it to really talk it up and do it justice. You know?"

We'll have to wait until October to "sing the chorus", of what is sure to be one of the best albums of the year.

Mayer Hawthorne - Where Does This Door Go - Review

A talented artist is buried beneath his influences

Songwriter, Mayer Hawthorne, is a competent musician who knows how to write catchy pop music. On “Where Does This Door Go”, Hawthorne uses his influences liberally, drawing from geniuses like Michael Jackson and Steely Dan. Where as Michael Jackson touches people's hearts and souls, Hawthorne keeps things at a purely surface level. “Where Does This Door Go” is harmless fun music, but it is overly reminiscent of other artists and gets dull quickly.

Mayer Hawthorne spends most of the album channeling other artists. The jazzy track “Back Seat Lover”, is a sexy throwback jam that sounds like Chromeo with extra cheese. Hawthorne does his version of Bob Marley's “Mr. Jones” with the Rasta rhythm love song, “Allie Jones”.  “The Only One” is pop writing 101 and would fit right in on a Maroon 5 album. The most egregious example of imitation comes in the form of the Steely Dan rip off track “Reach Out Richard”. This track is so reminiscent of the Steely Dan song, “Peg” off their classic album “Aja”, that Hawthorn even changes his singing style to emulate that of Donald Fagen.

 

Hawthorne enlists the help of his friends throughout the album. Three songs on “Where Does This Door Go” are produced by N.E.R.D. mastermind and hit maker Pharrell Williams. All three tracks sound like quintessential Williams, with his musical voice shining brighter than Hawthorne's. Kendrick Lamar drops a verse on “Crime” that is a welcome change of pace, although his negative, gnarly vocals don't really fit in on this squeaky clean album.

What is going on with music today? First we had American Idol alum, Phillip Phillips blasting up the charts by doing his best Dave Matthews impression and now we have Mayer Hawthorne exploring multiple personalities by exploiting the styles of great artists that came before him. Taking influence is one thing, but copying another artist and selling it to a new audience as your own is just wrong. Hawthorne is a talented artist and he would do himself well to discover his own true voice. Listeners finally get a chance to meet the real Mayor Hawthorne on the closing track “All Better”. This beautifully simple song is genuine and true, revealing the talent that lies beneath the layers of influence.

Pearl Jam announce new album "Lightning Bolt"

Pearl Jam's 10th studio album, "Lightning Bolt", will be released on October 15th.  Along with the new album, PJ also announced a North American tour, although lucky Chicagoans can see the last grunge band standing at Wrigley Field on July, 19th.  Check out the official audio for "Lightning Bolt's" first single "Mind Your Manners".  Spoiler Alert:  It Rocks!!!!!

Pearl Jam North American Tour Dates
DATE CITY            VENUE
Oct-11 Pittsburgh, PA Consol Energy Center
Oct-12 Buffalo, NY  First Niagara Center
Oct-15 Worcester, MA DCU Center
Oct-18 Brooklyn, NY Barclays Center
Oct-19 Brooklyn, NY Barclays Center
Oct-21 Philadelphia, PA Wells Fargo Center
Oct-22 Philadelphia, PA Wells Fargo Center
Oct-25 Hartford, CT    XL Center
Oct-27 Baltimore, MD 1st Mariner Arena
Oct-29 Charlottesville,  VA John Paul Jones Arena
Oct-30 Charlotte, NC  Time Warner Cable Arena
Nov-1-3* New Orleans, LA Voodoo Music + Arts Experience

Nov-15 Dallas, TX       American Airlines Center
Nov-16 Oklahoma City, OK        Chesapeake Energy Arena
Nov-19 Phoenix, AZ    Jobing.com Arena
Nov-21 San Diego, CA Viejas Arena
Nov-23 Los Angeles, CA Sports Arena
Nov-24 Los Angeles, CA Sports Arena
Nov-26 Oakland, CA Oracle Arena
Nov-29 Portland, OR Rose Garden Arena
Nov-30 Spokane, WA  Spokane Arena
Dec-2 Calgary, AB Scotiabank Saddledome
Dec-4 Vancouver, BC   Rogers Arena
Dec-6 Seattle, WA Key Arena

Morrissey takes on Gordan Ramsey

Singer and well known vegetarian, Morrissey has donated his £10,000 payout from Channel 4 to a PETA campaign targeting Fortnum & Mason for selling the cruel dish, foie gras.  As the Guardian reports, Channel 4 did not get permission from Morrissey to use the Smith's song "Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want", to promote Gordan Ramsey's "Christmas Cooking Live" show back in 2011.  Anyone who knows anything about Morrissey and his former Smith's band mate and co-writer, Johnny Marr, would know that they would never approve of one of their songs being used to promote a cooking show that advocated the consumption of meat.  Perhaps the BBC, knew this as well and thought that £10,000 would be a small price to pay for free controversy and promotion.

Morrissey addressed the issue by saying, ""Ramsay may very well stick his head in his microwave when he hears that the money I received from Channel 4 because one of my songs used to promote his Christmas show is being donated to Peta to fight foie gras. Foie gras is so cruelly produced that he'd be against it if he had an ethical bone in his body."

Morrissey has been keeping the issue of animal rights in the news a lot this past year by canceling his appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live because the men of "Duck Dynasty" were set to appear with him, calling out Kate Middleton for her love of foie gras, and limiting meat options at his Staples Center show.

Review - Dave Matthews Band @ Alpine Valley 7/6/13

Dave Matthews Band play Alpine Vally Music Theatre

DMB may have been playing in East Troy, Wisconsin, but their setlist was all over the map

July 6, 2013 was a beautiful summer night in East Troy, Wisconsin. A perfect night for an outdoor concert, especially when Dave Matthews Band are about to take the stage. The opener for the night, the beautiful and talented Grace Potter with her band the Nocturnals, warmed up the stage with their infectious brand of dance rock. As Potter announced, “It's approaching the witching hour”, the sun was about to set and the band broke into their closing number, the catchy sing-a-long “Medicine”.

A mere thirty minutes later, DaveMatthews Band walk onto the stage and start their set with the slow building track, “Squirm”, off their 2009 album “Big Whisky and the GrooGrux King”. The crowd cheered and sang along as DMB transitioned into their 1991 classic “One Sweet World”. The night would continue on like this with the band playing great songs from all eras of their twenty plus year career. It was impossible to predict where the band would go next from song to song, but rabid fans were just as likely to sing along with new songs, like “Kill the Preacher”, a song the band first began improvising last year, as they were the to sing the classics like “Jimi Thing”. The band further kept fans on their toes by playing covers of Tom Petty's “Runnin' Down a Dream” and more predictably Bob Dylan's “All Along the Watchtower”, which has been a staple to a DMB setlist since the early nineties.

Fans were treated to a blues guitar mash-up made in heaven as jazz guitarist, Stanley Jordan, improvised a song with Dave Matthews Band's lead guitarist, Tim Reynolds. Jordan remained on stage and played “Grace is Gone” with the entire band, turning the beautifully sad love song into an emotional eight minute jam. Each member of DMB got an opportunity to solo throughout the night. Boyd Tinsley, the hardest working violinist in rock and roll, absolutely nailed his solo in “#41”. Bassist Stefen Lessard used his moment to tease the classic “#34” and drummer Carter Beauford took ownership over the set closer, “Two Step”. The horn section comprised of Jeff Coffin and Rashawn Ross filled out the group with talent and versatility that a synthesizer could never emulate (I'm talking to you Paul McCartney).   Even the presence of late saxophonist LeRoi Moore was felt when Dave played the tribute track “Why I Am”.

It's been over twenty years since Dave Matthews danced his way into the mainstream music scene and it's easy to see why DMB has one of the most successful tours year after year. The band is full of extremely talented musicians and Dave Matthews is still writing great music. They have evolved with the times while keeping their roots, allowing them to retain their core group of fans and picking up new ones along the way. A Dave Matthews Band live show is a great scene that everyone should experience at least once in their lifetime, but if you are like most DMB fans you will find that one show could never be enough.

3 Glastonbury Acts that we wish were playing an American Festival

Glastonbury had a banner year with young bucks the Arctic Monkeys opening the fest, the biggest rock band in the world, The Rolling Stones, making their sole festival appearance, and finally closing out Sunday with a triumphant performance from Mumford and Sons, the band's first since bassist, Ted Dwayne, was released from the hospital.  There were many great performances at this year's Glastonbury, but 3 of them should make Americans insanely jealous that they didn't make it across the pond.  These are 3 acts that we really wish were playing an American music festival.

1.  Public Image Limited
PiL, fronted by John Lydon (Johnny Rotten) of the Sex Pistols, represent everything that a great band should be.  They push the limits musically and politically, while remaining endlessly entertaining.  John Lydon could stand on stage reading the dictionary and he would no doubt make it captivating.  PiL's Glastonbury performance of "Rise", which was written about apartheid in South Africa, was especially poignant due to the current heath issues of Nelson Mendela.  In an interview with NME, Lydon shared that "if Nelson Medndela dies, I hope he goes to the proper place."

2.  Portishead
Trip hop pioneers, Portishead, infuse their sets with a haunting beauty that is unmatched.  The minimalist music under Beth Gibbons angelic voice transports listeners to a different place.  A Portishead set lands somewhere between heaven and an Orwellian rebellion waiting to happen.  Portishead are the kind of band that make a music festival special.  Maybe some American fests can wise up and book Portishead in 2014.

3.  The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones have been a band for 50 YEARS!  At this point, they are the biggest rock band in the world and every song in their set is a hit.  Seeing the Rolling Stones at a festival would have to be the greatest way to experience their set.  80,000 music fans "ohh, who-ing" along with "Sympathy for the Devil" would be a moment you would never forget.  Lets all keep our fingers crossed for the Rolling Stones to headline Bonnaroo 2014.

Watch Mumford & Sons perform "With A Little Help From My Friends" with thier friends

Vampire Weekend, the Vaccines, First Aid Kit and More join Mumford & Sons performing "With A Little Help From My Friends" Joe Cocker style

This is what music festivals are all about!  Mumford & Sons close out their triumphant Glastonbury performance by inviting Vampire Weekend, the Vaccines, First Aid Kit and the Staves to perform a rousing rendition of the Beatles classic "With A Little Help From My Friends".  This super-supergroup performed the song in the style of Joe Cocker's classic cover that he performed at Woodstock.  Watch the goose bump inducing performance below.