Best Bands I Saw
10. Kodaline
Friday, 1:45-2:30, Lake Shore Stage
Kodaline, an alt-rock band out of Dublin, rocked the Lake Shore stage early on Friday afternoon. With the whole crowd singing along to "All I want" and "High Hopes", Kodaline took Lollapalooza from a walk to a run (or at least a jog).
9. Foster The People
Saturday, 6:15-7:15, Samsung Galaxy Stage
The only reason Foster the People aren't higher on this list is because I only saw half of their whole set. But, from what I saw, Foster the People had the crowd dancing into the evening with "Call it What You Want", "Are You What You Want To Be", and "Don't Stop (Color on the Walls)". My biggest regret of the weekend was missing most of their set.
8. Cage the Elephant
Sunday, 4-5, Samsung Galaxy Stage
With one of the rowdiest crowds of the weekend, Cage the Elephant kept the Sunday party going. Lead singer Matt Schultz put on a show with crowd surfing and jumping around like crazy, and got the crowd singing along to hits like "Come a little Closer", "Shake Me Down", and "Ain't No Rest For the Wicked".
7. Broken Bells
Friday, 6:30-7:30, Samsung Galaxy Stage
I would like to take this time to apologize, on behalf of whoever scheduled Lollapalooza, to Broken Bells and any of their fans who attended their set on Friday. Just about everybody in the crowd was at Broken Bells to see Eminem, who was headlining that night at the same stage. The result was one of the worst crowds I've ever been a part of. Shame on you, Eminem fans. Even if you don't know their songs, Broken Bells are so incredibly groovy that you can't help but dance to them. If you disregard the crowd, Broken Bells had one of the best, if not the best, shows of Lollapalooza, and deserved better than blank faces and still bodies. Opening with "Perfect World", Broken Bells hit everything from "Vaporize" to "Medicine" to "The High Road", and I still had a blast if nobody else did. It also helped that they are my second favorite band I know all their songs by heart.
6. The Head And The Heart
Saturday, 7:15-8:15, Lake Shore Stage
Indie rock band The Head and the Heart brought the chill to Lollapalooza on Saturday. I was sitting for some of the set, but got up and into the crowd for the second half, and it was an equally great show from wherever you were. Closing with "Rivers and Roads", The Head and the Heart were a perfect catapult into the nighttime headliners.
5. Young the Giant
Saturday, 12 am - 1:45 am, House of Blues aftershow
I went to Young the Giant's aftershow at House of Blues on Saturday, and although this wasn't at the actual festival, I'm going to assume it was about the same as their Sunday set. With Grouplove and Manchester Orchestra playing a couple songs here and there, Young the Giant brought the energy and got the entire crowd jumping around when they closed with "My Body", and overall killed their set.
4. Bleachers
Sunday, 1:30-2:15, Lake Shore Stage
Bleachers, a very new band in the music world, is gaining steam, and it's easy to see why after their show Sunday afternoon. Jack Antonoff, lead guitarist of Fun., is the frontman of Bleachers, and he knows how to get the crowd riled up. With "Strange Desire" out just in time for Lollapalooza, Bleachers played most of the album during their 45-minute set. "Wild Heart" and "Rollercoaster" got the crowd going early, and "I Wanna Get Better" closed the party in memorable fashion, with Jack going into the crowd for the last chorus.
3. Grouplove
Saturday, 4:45-5:45, Bud Light Stage
My friend who convinced me to go see Grouplove over Smallpools put it best when she said, "Grouplove doesn't just play their music, they put on a show". And boy, did they put on a show. Even songs I'm not a huge fan, like "I'm With You", were pretty awesome. Christian Zucconi (vocals, guitar) is a sight to see on stage, throwing guitars and only sometimes feeling the need to catch them. Closing with "Ways to Go" and "Colours", all I could say after they left stage was "wow".
2. Arctic Monkeys
Friday, 8:30-10, Bud Light Stage
Alex Turner is a badass. It's as simple as that. Before I knew Arctic Monkeys was going to be at Lolla this year, I didn't know them very well. Then, amidst my lolla research, I looked them up and fell in love with them. Now, Arctic Monkeys are one of my top 5 favorite bands, perhaps even top 3 (That's a big deal). Anyways, Arctic Monkeys opened with "Do I Wanna Know", played my personal favorite "505" as their main set closer, and then did a 3-song encore, topped off by "R U Mine?". Their set was perfect in every sense of the word, and Alex Turner reminded us just how cool he is, combing his hair mid-set and flipping off the camera.
1. Bronze Radio Return
Sunday, 6:50-7:30, BMI Stage
It may have been because I was front row, or because I knew every single word to every single song, but Bronze Radio Return played one of the best damn shows I've ever seen. Opening with "Further On", Bronze Radio Return managed to fill a measly 40 minute set with some of their best tunes, not to mention a guitar-harmonica off between two of the band members. Seeing them so close also makes me wish I had seen more bands at the small BMI stage. When they closed with "Shake! Shake! Shake!" and "Down There", I don't know about the rest of the crowd, but I sure was moving to the beat and jumping around like no other. Anybody who has a chance to see Bronze Radio Return should do anything they can to get to a show.
Friday, 1:45-2:30, Lake Shore Stage
Kodaline, an alt-rock band out of Dublin, rocked the Lake Shore stage early on Friday afternoon. With the whole crowd singing along to "All I want" and "High Hopes", Kodaline took Lollapalooza from a walk to a run (or at least a jog).
9. Foster The People
Saturday, 6:15-7:15, Samsung Galaxy Stage
The only reason Foster the People aren't higher on this list is because I only saw half of their whole set. But, from what I saw, Foster the People had the crowd dancing into the evening with "Call it What You Want", "Are You What You Want To Be", and "Don't Stop (Color on the Walls)". My biggest regret of the weekend was missing most of their set.
8. Cage the Elephant
Sunday, 4-5, Samsung Galaxy Stage
With one of the rowdiest crowds of the weekend, Cage the Elephant kept the Sunday party going. Lead singer Matt Schultz put on a show with crowd surfing and jumping around like crazy, and got the crowd singing along to hits like "Come a little Closer", "Shake Me Down", and "Ain't No Rest For the Wicked".
7. Broken Bells
Friday, 6:30-7:30, Samsung Galaxy Stage
I would like to take this time to apologize, on behalf of whoever scheduled Lollapalooza, to Broken Bells and any of their fans who attended their set on Friday. Just about everybody in the crowd was at Broken Bells to see Eminem, who was headlining that night at the same stage. The result was one of the worst crowds I've ever been a part of. Shame on you, Eminem fans. Even if you don't know their songs, Broken Bells are so incredibly groovy that you can't help but dance to them. If you disregard the crowd, Broken Bells had one of the best, if not the best, shows of Lollapalooza, and deserved better than blank faces and still bodies. Opening with "Perfect World", Broken Bells hit everything from "Vaporize" to "Medicine" to "The High Road", and I still had a blast if nobody else did. It also helped that they are my second favorite band I know all their songs by heart.
6. The Head And The Heart
Saturday, 7:15-8:15, Lake Shore Stage
Indie rock band The Head and the Heart brought the chill to Lollapalooza on Saturday. I was sitting for some of the set, but got up and into the crowd for the second half, and it was an equally great show from wherever you were. Closing with "Rivers and Roads", The Head and the Heart were a perfect catapult into the nighttime headliners.
5. Young the Giant
Saturday, 12 am - 1:45 am, House of Blues aftershow
I went to Young the Giant's aftershow at House of Blues on Saturday, and although this wasn't at the actual festival, I'm going to assume it was about the same as their Sunday set. With Grouplove and Manchester Orchestra playing a couple songs here and there, Young the Giant brought the energy and got the entire crowd jumping around when they closed with "My Body", and overall killed their set.
4. Bleachers
Sunday, 1:30-2:15, Lake Shore Stage
Bleachers, a very new band in the music world, is gaining steam, and it's easy to see why after their show Sunday afternoon. Jack Antonoff, lead guitarist of Fun., is the frontman of Bleachers, and he knows how to get the crowd riled up. With "Strange Desire" out just in time for Lollapalooza, Bleachers played most of the album during their 45-minute set. "Wild Heart" and "Rollercoaster" got the crowd going early, and "I Wanna Get Better" closed the party in memorable fashion, with Jack going into the crowd for the last chorus.
3. Grouplove
Saturday, 4:45-5:45, Bud Light Stage
My friend who convinced me to go see Grouplove over Smallpools put it best when she said, "Grouplove doesn't just play their music, they put on a show". And boy, did they put on a show. Even songs I'm not a huge fan, like "I'm With You", were pretty awesome. Christian Zucconi (vocals, guitar) is a sight to see on stage, throwing guitars and only sometimes feeling the need to catch them. Closing with "Ways to Go" and "Colours", all I could say after they left stage was "wow".
2. Arctic Monkeys
Friday, 8:30-10, Bud Light Stage
Alex Turner is a badass. It's as simple as that. Before I knew Arctic Monkeys was going to be at Lolla this year, I didn't know them very well. Then, amidst my lolla research, I looked them up and fell in love with them. Now, Arctic Monkeys are one of my top 5 favorite bands, perhaps even top 3 (That's a big deal). Anyways, Arctic Monkeys opened with "Do I Wanna Know", played my personal favorite "505" as their main set closer, and then did a 3-song encore, topped off by "R U Mine?". Their set was perfect in every sense of the word, and Alex Turner reminded us just how cool he is, combing his hair mid-set and flipping off the camera.
1. Bronze Radio Return
Sunday, 6:50-7:30, BMI Stage
It may have been because I was front row, or because I knew every single word to every single song, but Bronze Radio Return played one of the best damn shows I've ever seen. Opening with "Further On", Bronze Radio Return managed to fill a measly 40 minute set with some of their best tunes, not to mention a guitar-harmonica off between two of the band members. Seeing them so close also makes me wish I had seen more bands at the small BMI stage. When they closed with "Shake! Shake! Shake!" and "Down There", I don't know about the rest of the crowd, but I sure was moving to the beat and jumping around like no other. Anybody who has a chance to see Bronze Radio Return should do anything they can to get to a show.
Best Songs | Best of Lolla Playlist |
1. "My Body" - Young the Giant 2. "505" - Arctic Monkeys 3. "R U Mine" - Arctic Monkeys 4. "Further On" - Bronze Radio Return 5. "I Wanna Get Better" - Bleachers 6. "Ways To Go" - Grouplove 7. "Perfect World" - Broken Bells 8. "Rivers and Roads" - The Head and the Heart 9. "Down There" - Bronze Radio Return 10. "You're Still A Mystery" - Bleachers | |
If I could go twice, I'd See
1. Smallpools
2. The Airborne Toxic Event
3. CHVRCHES
4. The Kooks
5. Eminem
6. Childish Gambino
7. The Avett Brothers
8. Nas
9. Lorde
10. Hozier
2. The Airborne Toxic Event
3. CHVRCHES
4. The Kooks
5. Eminem
6. Childish Gambino
7. The Avett Brothers
8. Nas
9. Lorde
10. Hozier
Songs I wish I'd Heard
1. "Sleep Forever" - Portugal. The Man
2. "The Changing Lights" - Broken Bells
3. "Wolves" - Bronze Radio Return
4. "Around My Head" - Cage the Elephant
5. "A Certain Romance" - Arctic Monkeys
6. "Wake Me" - Bleachers
7. "Strawberry Hill" - Bronze Radio Return
8. "Mad Sounds" - Arctic Monkeys
9. "The Angel and the Fool" - Broken Bells
10. "Daydreamer" - Young the Giant
2. "The Changing Lights" - Broken Bells
3. "Wolves" - Bronze Radio Return
4. "Around My Head" - Cage the Elephant
5. "A Certain Romance" - Arctic Monkeys
6. "Wake Me" - Bleachers
7. "Strawberry Hill" - Bronze Radio Return
8. "Mad Sounds" - Arctic Monkeys
9. "The Angel and the Fool" - Broken Bells
10. "Daydreamer" - Young the Giant
Best Crowd
1. Grouplove
2. Cage the Elephant
3. Bleachers
4. Arctic Monkeys
5. Calvin Harris
2. Cage the Elephant
3. Bleachers
4. Arctic Monkeys
5. Calvin Harris
Worst Crowd
1. Broken Bells
2. Portugal. The Man
2. Portugal. The Man