The Great Lollapalooza Schedule Debate

This summer I'm finally taking the plunge and roadtripping it to Chicago for Lollapalooza for the first time. By the grace of some amiable higher being, somehow the time, money and means amassed, and I am not one to defy fate. Granted, I was signifigantly more attracted to the headliners at the Pitchfork festival in July, but the dates didn't work out and first year festivals often have plenty of there own issues. I am more than happy to drink in the Lolla culture and enjoy a pretty impressive, if not jaw dropping line-up.

Friday is already shaping up to possibly be the best of the three. Bon Iver, Fleet Foxes, and Andrew Bird all back to back on the same stage. Hopefully Bird has already started on his beard for the occasion. This more than makes up for a weak morning, but also presents the inevitable festival conundrum- having to miss certain sets to see others. At this moment I am likely to forego Of Montreal to see Bird, but its hardly an easy decision and may flip several times depending on what I'm listening to at any given moment. But lets at least try to consider this from an intellectual standpoint. The most recent releases from each never got more than a couple spins from me, as I failed to really connect with more than one or two songs on either. OM boasts a much larger and better back catalogue (nothing against all those bluegrass albums, just not my thing) yet I doubt they will dip into most of it as they seem to be committed to their post-Elephant 6 reinvention. And though it is easy to say that Barnes will put on a much more entertaining show, I am equally interested in witnessing Bird's calculated looping techniques and the subtle ways he builds large soundscapes on the stage, as opposed to the constant excesses of OM. Not having to physically move from one stage to another may be what wins this one for Bird in the end (especially if I'm already in prime position), but OM finishing their set slightly earlier provides the advantage of leaving a little more time to elbow to the front for headliners Kings of Leon (I would have been more excited for this one before 'Only By The Night' but am nonetheless pretty pumped). Peter Bjorn and John and Thievery Corporation, it would have been fun, but it just wasn't meant to be.

Saturday is a fairly 'meh' day for me. I'd like to catch Ezra Furman in the morning and probably the Constantines. Then I suppose Los Campesinos, mainly out of Arts and Crafts loyalty though. From there I'm sure my buddies will wanna see Gomez (sorry Chairlift, but your album put me to sleep and then gave me those half awake not fully enjoyable awkward type dreams...) after which No Age is a must. The debate here comes down to Lykke Li vs. TV On The Radio. In the the blue corner, a beautiful Swede who probably has the cutest nose that side of the Atlantic, and sings self concious minimalist crooning pop ballads, which even though she hasn't realized it yet, are all secretly about me. In the red the over hyped, vaguely intelectually compelling band that I always felt obligated to listen to but never quite connected with, maybe because the music was just so in touch with "the climate of the times" (whatever the hell thats supposed to mean). KO. Get psychedelic with a little Animal Collective, and of course we'll top it all off with some Beastie Boys.

Sunday again brings up a smattering of acts I am interested but not diehard committed to see. In many ways this makes sorting through them all the more difficult. We'll probably begin the day with Ra Ra Riot, followed by the Raveonettes (sorry Gang Gang Dance) and then Vampire Weekend. In deciding Cold War Kids or Dan Auerbach, I think that CWK take it on the strength of the first album alone. I still don't understand why someone in a two piece blues outfit feels the need to make a solo blues record, but if for some reason the Keys show up instead count me in. As much as I love The Velvet Underground, Deerhunter on the heels of 'Microcastles' sweeps an aged Lou Reed, with time enough to scamper over to catch Band of Horses. I don't know why we couldn't squeeze them in on that Friday Bud stage as well, but I'm not complaining. For the headliner, I've already seen the Killers and they honestly weren't bad. I may just hand that one completely over to my compatriots as to whther they or Janes Addiction get the final nod.

All in all, after a lot furrowed eyebrows, sweat, and calculated reason, I think my Lollapalooza schedule is pretty much set. Am I wildly offbase anywhere here? I think not. Now there's nothing left to do but sit and let the anticipation build. See ya at Lolla.