Day 2 of Lollapalooza was dominated by the biggest name on this year’s bill: Bruno Mars. All jokes aside about all the train service needed for suburban attendees, Bruno demonstrated exactly why he’s a superstar and why he has such mass appeal.
But it wasn’t just about Bruno for me this past Friday, as I packed my schedule all the way through from 1ish till closing time. The one thing that I did get to do that most other Lolla -goers didn’t was have a 2-punch combo of witnessing a (killer) live performance + having a chat with Chicago’s own Post Animal. The boys’ set was a refreshing change of pace for me at that point, making use of the intimacy of the American Eagle stage to incite some gnarly circle pits and plenty of air guitar (that could’ve just been me).
Although that chat kept me away from the festival grounds for a bit, I still wound up closing Day 2 with having seen the likes of Clairo, Parquet Courts, Greta Van Fleet, James Bay, the tail end of Walk The Moon, and Bruno Mars. Check out the recap and photo gallery below.
Bruno Mars cements his superstar status
Bruno is the biggest Pop star in the world. Not that he needed to prove it, but this Lollapalooza performance was filled with example after example that served as evidence of exactly why he’s reached such heights. Bruno’s got the moves, hits for days, and a charm that cannot be denied. I can honestly say Bruno Mars is one of the best entertainers I’ve ever witnessed.
Greta Van Fleet are legit, just give them space
These young dudes made a big splash when their work first started surfacing. The Led Zeppelin similarities sure helped elevate the band, but also deservedly drew them criticism. But here’s the deal, the Zep 2.0 act is fleeting. They’ve got way too much potential to keep going in this direction, and their rise is all the proof people may need to show that there is still very much a market for this sound. Now that they’ve got our attention, let’s see what they do to keep it.
Chicago’s Rock scene is as dope as its Hip Hop, just look at Post Animal
One of the most refreshing acts I saw at the festival was Chicago’s own Post Animal. With banter that would fit right in at a dingy bar or a basement, the place rocked out in a similar fashion. Circle pits, dust winds that clouded our view better than any smoke machine could, and tunes that kept people moshing. Our local scene is in a renaissance, with Hip Hop and R&B leading the movement, but our Rock bands are quickly catching up. Twin Peaks and The Orwells have been representing us well, and after this set, I can see Post Animal as the next great Chicago band.
Photo Credit: Oscar Oliva Jr / Pursuit Of Dopeness
