Featuring Neko Case. Its hard to do video at festivals when close to a mosh pit but luckily this video didn’t turn out too badly.
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Tag Archives: Pitchfork
Today was the easy day. I didn’t get to Union Park until 4pm, just in time for No Age. I decided to wander for a bit at the start of their set and bumped into LA Seitz for a hot second before heading towards the area in front of the screen between the Red and Green Stages and that was where I spent the rest of the afternoon. You’ll be able to tell because today’s pictures are extra crappy.
No Age
No Age
This "look" happened more than once
Dancing Hippies
It was definitely a ton more crowded today so navigating between various stages in the sun and heat was just not going to happen for me today, I plan to torture myself with that routine tomorrow. Like I said, today was the easy day. No Age delivered one of, if not THE, fiercest set of the festival. I wrote in my notes, “if the rest is like this – then fuck to the yes!” (I really do write like that.) I was ready to get taken higher and then Destroyer happened. I really tuned this one out because I had dumb stuff like text messages and emails to respond to (I’m soooo cool, I know) but honestly, after the high energy set of No Age, it was really hard to come down from that high with a set that relied heavily on a saxophone. Again, saxophone. Sorry, maybe if someone else had preceded Destroyer it would have been a different experience.
Destroyer
Destroyer
Ugh...
This. Ugh.
It was back to the Green Stage for the Dismemberment Plan who were fun and woke up some of the crowd. At this point I was distracted by a fool (some random dude) running around in an old glory thong. As if that wasn’t disturbing and distracting enough, various people decided to go up to him and pose for pictures. At one point he bent over to put his beer down and his ass was not too far from my face. No me gusta culo.
Dismemberment Plan
D-Plan
Hipsters...
I want to see the whole thing - this was nuts
No. Just No.
Next.
DJ Shadow was the business. A huge white orb sat in the middle of the stage and we were supposed to see visuals projected onto the orb but the sun was very much out and it was hard to make out what was going on. Not even half way into the set, the orb opened to reveal DJ Shadow mixing with three cameras inside giving the fest-goers a close up of what was going on. This set got real. I saw a few people crowd surf and he packed it in, apparently he won the faceoff with Zola Jesus who didn’t have as big a crowd over on the Blue Stage. No Age was good but DJ Shadow was damn good.
DJ Shadow greeting the crowd
A look inside the orb
A peek inside
The night came to a close with a beautiful set from Fleet Foxes. This year’s Helplessness Blues was such an intimate album that like with Thurson Moore, I had concerns about how it would translate to a big festival setting. Where Thurston failed, Fleet Foxes succeeded. Their harmonies were perfect and angelic, each song beautifully executed and full of soul. I was a happy Bee in heaven and rode that wave all the way home. 2 down, 1 to go!
Fleet Foxes
FF
Sigh...
These shoes happened
Pitchfork’s annual music festival got off to an interesting start for yours truly. After suffering through two unbelievably long lines to get in, I made my way over to the first highlight of my day: tUnE-yArDs. I worship at the feet of Merril Garbus – this we know but I was concerned as to how her loops and building of each song would translate in a large outdoor festival setting. She was spectacular. I arrived during soundcheck and that alone got people pumped and ready. She’s so charismatic and has such a huge personality and magnetic stage presence. During this set I got a chance to meet and have a quick chat with Jim DeRogatis where I let him know how much I appreciated the OFWGKTA coverage and the support he has shown for domestic abuse and rape victims advocacy groups. We talked tUnE-yArDs and on my merry way I went.
tUnE-yArDs sound check
Merril Garbus
I made my way to the Green Stage and caught the end of Battles. Several people I spoke to told me it was a fun and energetic set.
A shot of Coterie Chicago & Chirp Record Fair
Hula girls
Tapes and other "goods" for sale
Battles
Battles, again
I plopped my ass on the grass and waited for Guided By Voices. In the meantime, I watched Thurston Moore on the screens but could I hear him? Nel pastel (that’s “no” if you don’t speak Beaner). I was with a lovely group of kids who took in this stray and I gotta tell you, even when the crowd was quiet it was very hard to hear was was going on over at the Red Stage. It’s odd that P4K organizers would place Moore on during that time of day to play what is basically an intimate acoustic album. He had an acoustic guitar, was accompanied by another, a violin and harp. That’s it. Judging by the folks who flocked towards the Green Stage for GBV, looks like the set was a snooze.
TM
G-to-the-B-to-the-fucking-V
That "Che" shirt happened at GBV
The kids doing a fine job of entertaining themselves
Tried to get full dog face but alas...
This feather happened
There are two reasons I went to Pitchfork: tUnE-yArDs and Guided By Voices. For a bunch of real old bastards those fuckers knew how to rock. Seriously. 25 years old wish they had that much energy. The line up and set list were a fans dream. This was my happy place until the kids in the mosh pit got a little too close for comfort so I left my cushy spot near the front at center and headed for safer pastures. This set also boasted one of the most diverse audiences with people ranging from very young to very wise (ahem). Below is a short video of the mosh pit. Next post I’ll throw up the opening song from this set that featured Neko Case.
GBV
GBV feat. Neko Case
oh yes
Rock this bitch!
*swooooon*
I started to head to the Blue Stage to check out James Blake but the crowd was so dense it was impossible for my 5’0″ self to find a decent spot to raise my camera for a picture. Sad to have missed Blake but bonus was seeing Abed from Community(!!!!!!!) (Danny Pudi) walk by – it is not my mission to document his presence at Pitchfork on film.
the cigar, the cuff, I can't even with this one
I found a spot on a bench and watched Neko Case on the screen. Super double bonus: while sitting I did the one thing I love to do more than anything at fests – people watch/photograph.
Love the headphones
I wanted a bag!
These shorts happened
This whole outfit happened
Anycrazyhipsters, Neko was the perfect. She took the stage as the sun was beginning to set and the cool breeze that had teased us all day was really kicking up – a lovely summer moment.
- First time seeing her live was a delight
Sigh...
Halfway through that set I wandered over to a spot near the screen in preparation for Animal Collective. At this point I was pretty much done. I’d been up since 5.30am, put in almost a full day at the day job, stood in a ridiculously long line just to get to the festival gate and I smelled like a farm animal. Real talk. I gave it a real go during Animal Collective but I just couldn’t muster up the strength to stick it out. The crowd was getting bigger and pushier and smellier by the second and all I wanted was a shower. Halfway through that set I bailed because frankly they started to bore me. And with that Day 1 came to a close.
The lone crappy shot of Animal Collective
Saw some great stuff (tUnE-yArDs, Guided By Voices, Neko Case), missed some I had hoped to see (EMA, James Blake) but overall a nice day to the start of what is promising to be a fantastic festival.
Off to bed I go.
One month from today, hipsters feigning indifference will gather at Union Park for Pitchfork’s annual musical festival. In the coming days and weeks I’m going to preview artists I am most excited to see at the fest. (And to P4K organizers: what’s a girl gotta do to get a copy of the schedule?)
Who: Thurston Moore
You Know Him As: Writer / Singer / Songwriter / Guitarist for Sonic Youth and appearances on a slew of songs and albums for a great variety of artists;
Fun Fact: Married to Kim-Fucking-Gordon
Currently: Pimping his new Beck-produced solo album, Demolished Thoughts (Matador).
Why: The album is beautiful collection of pensive and moody songs. With Beck on board as producer this is the most accessible album of Moore’s solo career. The first single, Benediction, perfectly captures the album’s vibe.
Moore takes the stage Friday, July 15.
There’s a fantastic article posted today on the Reader’s website that asks the question: “Do festivals like Pitchfork and Lollapalooza have the right to restrict photography in a public park?” As someone who has attended festivals in this town for several years it’s frustrating and comical to see the zeal with which security at Pitchfork enforce the “no professional camera” (i.e. cameras with detachable lenses) code. I recently purchased a new camera (Canon Powershot SD780 IS) and specifically sought out a small digital camera because it is small enough to hide should a venue have restrictions on photography and video. The photographs and video I post on this site don’t generate any kind of income for yours truly, I simply like to post pictures and video to share the experience with someone else and to document my life. That being said I understand a festival’s desire to control the content that gets out and a band’s desire to control the images and video that are released but isn’t it kind of a given that people will find ways around the rules and get their pictures and videos? Anyway, read the article and join the debate.
Looks like the folks over at Pitchfork Music Festival have planned another night of fun before kicking off their big ol’ festival at Union Park. On Thursday, July 15 the FREE festivities will take place at Bottom Lounge beginning at 7p with Neon Indian and Dam-Funk with DJ sets from El-P, Dark Wave Disco and Kid Color. Sponsor Toyota Antics will provide all sorts of other fun distractions like a photo booth, silk screen booths and a gaming arcade featuring 80′s games. Also, will call ticketholders will be able to pick up their festival passes at the event. Again, its all free and you can reserve your spot at UpTheAntics.com/Pitchfork.
In anticipation of this year’s Pitchfork Music Fest, you’re going to start seeing small features on some of the artist worth checking out. First up is Chicago’s very own Alla, comprised of brothers Angel and Jorge Ledezma with singer Lupe Martinez, their sound is a vibrant mix of psychedelic pop with hings of jazz, Tropicalia, lunge and hip hop. They’ve opened for Ximena Sarinana, St. Vincent and will take the stage on Sunday performing songs off their debut, “Es Tiempo.” Below is ‘Un Pedazo’ and be sure to stop by their MySpace page to listen to more.
Thanks to LA Seitz for parting with his 2-day pass to Pitchfork allowing yours truly to do hood rat stuff at Union Park.
