Official Lollapalooza 2009 Countdown (Pt. V)

Continuing the countdown of my Top Ten Must-See Lollapalooza Acts we take a look at the legendary Lou Reed.

#2: Lou Reed

The fantastically fascinating Lou Reed started his historic music career with The Velvet Underground with their 1967 debut album The Velvet Underground & Nico, which by now is well-established as one of the most, if not the most, important record in the history of alternative music.

Three studio albums later, The Velvet Underground disbarred with Reed turning his route to a solo career that saw such impeccable albums as 1972's Transformer and the heroin opera that was 1973's Berlin. In all, Reed is without a doubt the most seasoned and legendary music act at this year's Lollapalooza.

Reed will be performing on Sunday, August 9 (Day Three) at 6:30 on the Budweiser Stage. Suspicions still are high for a Lou Reed cameo during the Killers 8:30 show later that night at the Chicago 2016 Stage.

Lou Reed - Vicious (Live in Paris, 1974)


#1: Animal Collective

There's very little debate about whether Animal Collective have become the indie-alternative music scene's most polarizing, original, and oddest act in recent memory. The collective efforts of the group members Avey Tare, Panda Bear, and Geologist (all have real, more boring names) from one of this year's most aesthetically superior albums, Merriweather Post Pavilion, proved to be an even larger step for the band whose 2007 album Strawberry Jam was already one of the best albums of the decade.

The group will be performing on Saturday, August 8 (Day Two) two times. First, they'll be at the Perry's Tent for a DJ set from 2:30 to 3:30. Later that night they'll be at the Vitaminwater Stage putting a regular performance at 7:30.

Another added bonus, you can meet Animal Collective at 4:00 at the autograph tent, also on Day Two.

Animal Collective - Summertime Clothes

Official Lollapalooza 2009 Countdown (Pt. IV)

Continuing the countdown of my Top Ten Must-See Lollapalooza Acts we take a look at Brooklyn's TV on The Radio.

#4: TV on The Radio

Since the release of TV on The Radio's Young Liars EP back in 2003 it has been considerably difficult to pinpoint exactly what the band sounds like. Alternative is too easy; it's a solid collaboration of indie rock and electronic fusion, with influences of punk, funk, and jazz to round the sound out.

The band's 2006 landmark release Return to Cookie Mountain (named album of the year by Pitchfork and Spin Magazine) and the single "Wolf Like Me" (a must-see performance here on Letterman) continued to launch the band's name in the music stratosphere. Their 2008 album Dear Science (named album of the year by Rolling Stone and Spin Magazine, again) solidified the band's position in music today.

The band will be performing Saturday, August 8 (Day Two) on the Budweiser Stage at 6:30. The band will also be performing a sold out aftershow with Chairlift at the Double Door August 7 at 10:00.

TV on The Radio - Dancing Choose


#3: Yeah Yeah Yeahs

Yeah Yeah Yeahs were a late addition to the Lollapalooza bill as a desperate last-second measure taken by the festival's organizers to replace fellow NYC act Beastie Boys after the group had to cancel all of their remaining summer tour dates. Yet, as it stands, Yeah Yeah Yeahs still standout as one of the can't miss acts of the weekend.

The group's recent album release, It's Blitz!, was a maturation from the band's previous efforts. Although while Karen O and Co. sound has definitely changed since the group's astounding 2003 debut Fever to Tell, and 2006's Show Your Bones, the band remains one of the biggest staples in indie and alternative music.

The band (as one of the six headliners) will be performing Saturday, August 8 (Day Two) on the Budweiser Stage at 8:30.

Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Heads Will Roll

Passion Pit on Fallon

Taking a little break from the Top-Ten Must See Lollapalooza Acts today. Passion Pit (mentioned in yesterday's post) performed their single "The Reeling" from last May's debut LP Manners last night on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.

It's their first television performance so there are a few clear jitters on stage. Hopefully come August 9 they'll deliver on a bit higher level.

Passion Pit - The Reeling (Live on Fallon)

Official Lollapalooza 2009 Countdown (Pt. III)

Continuing yesterday's countdown of my Top Ten Must-See Lollapalooza Acts we take a look at my number six selection, Los Angeles noise-punk duo No Age.

#6: No Age

Since the release of 2008's Nouns LP off Sub-Pop, No Age has earned quick acclaim their frenetically quirky sounds from fans and musicians alike. The duo of Randy Randall and Dean Spunt, only with a guitar and drums, created a sound akin to early Sonic Youth and Deerhunter. From that, one could conclude that it also sounds nothing like them, as is the appeal of No Age.

The duo will be performing August 8 (Day Two) on arguably the biggest night at Lollapalooza on the Citi Stage at 5:00.

An added bonus; No Age will be performing with Deerhunter and Dan Deacon at Chicago's Logan Square Auditorium August 9. Tickets available here.

No Age - Eraser


#5: Passion Pit

Passion Pit have, in a very short time, become one of my favorite up and coming artists. The easily accessible indie-pop group's 2008 EP debut Chunk of Change and spectacular single "Sleepyhead" brought the group into the easily recognized indie-universe.

This year the grouped took another step forward with the May release of Manners. While the album still had a lot of what made Chunk of Change so good, it also added even more dance-able tracks like "The Reeling," including the aforementioned "Sleepyhead."

The group will be performing August 9 (Day Three) on the Citi Stage at 5:00, following Gang Gang Dance's 3:30 performance.

Passion Pit - The Reeling


Continued Tomorrow ...

Official Lollapalooza 2009 Countdown (Pt. II)

Continuing yesterday's countdown of my Top Ten Must-See Lollapalooza Acts we take a look at my number eight selection, Wisconsin's folk-group Bon Iver.

#8: Bon Iver

Bon Iver's July 2007 debut For Emma, Forever Ago (which was not released until February 2008 on Jagjaguwar) was instantly well-received from the foray of regular music outlets that have become the norm of indie criticisms; Pitchfork, The Village Voice, The A.V. Club, etc.

The group's 2008 Blood Bank EP was more of the adorned same - a well-received collection of North American folk that culminated with the eponymous single "Blood Bank."

Bon Iver will be performing August 7 (Day One) at the Playstation Stage (before Fleet Foxes) at 3:00.

Bon Iver - Wolves (Act I and II) (From La Blogotheque)

#7: Andrew Bird

Andrew Bird's name has always been jumping around Bears and Bullets since its inception over a year ago. I first came across the Chicago native back in 2005 with his sophomore album The Mysterious Production of Eggs and his single "A Nervous Tic Motion of the Head." The acute blend of subtle folk and heartwarming indie-pop was instantly enticing to me and I imagine anyone else who's a fan of his work.

Over the past three years Bird has released two more records, 2007's Armchair Apocrypha and last year's Noble Beast. While still keeping his notable soft-sounding, violin infused, whistle-friendly music that showed so much promise with his 2003 debut Weather Systems, Bird has sustained a comfortable maturity over the past several years making his newer music more and more memorable.

Bird will be performing Friday, August 7 (Day One) at the Playstation Stage (after Fleet Foxes) at 7:00.

Andrew Bird (ft. Dianogah) - Lull

Continued Tomorrow ...

Official Lollapalooza 2009 Countdown

Continuing the annual Bears and Bullets tradition, we'll be counting down my Top 10 Must-See Acts of the Chicago Festival for the remainder of the week (as well as new music news).

We'll start with ...

#10: Dan Deacon

For the most part, Dan Deacon stands alone as the most strange/curious act of the festival. His lite-brite electronica is well-known to cause a cavalcade of fans and on-lookers to participate in such wild acts of jubilation in group settings that they've become almost legendary in scale.

Deacon's latest album, Bromst, is a pool of electronica's fastest and most imaginative works, polarizing some and enchanting others. As was with his 2007 debut, Spiderman of the Rings, Deacon's music collection is a materialization of children at play through a whirl-wind of pace and careful carelessness. His music stands alone as a cement block between the club crowd and the indie, tempering a minimal bridge from one side to the other.

The bald and chubby Baltimore native will be performing his crowd-moving collection August 9 (Day Three) at 3:30 at the Vitamin Water Stage. He'll also be signing autographs at 5:30 at the F.Y.E. Tent.

Dan Deacon - Crystal Cat


#9: Fleet Foxes

While Dan Deacon may be a curious anomaly for Lollapalooza, Fleet Foxes may just be Grant Park's least daring opposite. The accessible branch of indie folk from their landmark 2008 eponymous debut will be more than enough to attract the listlessly enjoyable crowd (not to mention they'll be following Bon Iver) with endearing singles like "Mykonos," "White Winter Hymnal," and "Blue Ridge Mountains," among others.

The 5:00 August 7 (Day One, Playstation Stage) performance may not have been organized more perfectly, as the minimal acoustic cascades of the band settles the early-night crowd immediately before Andrew Bird's sun-setting performance.

The band will also. be performing at Jersey City's All Points West this Friday.

Fleet Foxes - Sun Giant/Blue Ridge Mountains (Via La Blogotheque)


Continued Tomorrow ...