With nearly 200 artists performing on ten stages spread throughout Chicago’s Grant Park, Lollapalooza provides a virtually unparalleled festival backdrop, with live music taking place over the course of four days directly in the middle of downtown along Lake Michigan.
While rain fell on the final two days of Lollapalooza this year, there were no storms, with the festival proceeding as scheduled – albeit in a particularly muddy manner in Butler Field on Grant Park’s south end, home to both the T-Mobile main stage as well as the Coinbase stage.
“Two years ago, we played on I think it was the Bud Light stage. We weren’t really sure what to expect but got one of our first huge festival crowds. It just felt like you were flying or something. It was incredible,” said Mt. Joy singer and guitarist Matt Quinn backstage Sunday, looking back. “I’d love to see Little Yachty. But I’m going to be playing while he’s doing his thing,” said the singer, surveying the Sunday schedule. “Holly Humberstone is amazing, big fan. And then, obviously, Red Hot Chili Peppers is a good way to cap it off.”
On tour in support of their third studio album Orange Blood, Mt. Joy returned to Lollapalooza for an even higher profile slot on the festival’s Bud Light main stage this year, a one hour set ending just three hours before the Red Hot Chili Peppers would grace the same stage, with singer songwriter Lana Del Rey co-headlining across the festival grounds.
Since forming in 2016, Mt. Joy has never been afraid to address the times in song, partnering with groups like Music Cares, HeadCount and Campaign Zero along the way.
“I just feel like, at the end of the day, we always talk about how if you’re going to do this and make your living doing your dream job, there’s such an opportunity to maybe help people,” said Quinn. “And we feel like we’ve brought people together from all different walks of life. And if they can agree on Mt. Joy, maybe they can agree on what we think, honestly, are pretty simple human rights type things – and try to make the world a better place using our music.”
Similarly, English singer songwriter Declan McKenna is no stranger to a socially conscious approach, with songs like “Brazil” and “British Bombs” carrying a strong message.
Prior to a performance on stage Friday at Lollapalooza, McKenna performed an intimate aftershow at Chicago’s Bottom Lounge in front of just 700 lucky concertgoers.
“It was a nice, sort of sweaty club show – a lot of energy and people just packed in,” said McKenna backstage this weekend, one of the few performers with time to spend at the festival as opposed to an immediate departure. “We’re kind of at the end of our tour so I thought I would seize the opportunity to check out a bit of the festival. Primarily, I want to see Lil Yachty – because I really like his new album,” he said. “I’m just going to go with the flow. L’Impératrice I would love to see, a French band who are playing here – but they’re clashing with Lana Del Rey. So we’ll see.”
Prepping the release of his third studio album, McKenna offered up his latest single “Sympathy” during both Lollapalooza appearances.
“I’ve worked on the new album and it sounds a bit different,” said the songwriter. “The whole ethos behind it is just if I have an idea, run with it – and see what’s the furthest place I can take it to. It’s a pretty feel-good album. It’s chill by my standards. And I’m really happy with that,” he said of the forthcoming record. “I just try to be true to myself and write with the right intentions. At the end of the day, there’s a purpose to it sometimes when there’s things that need to be said. That’s always been a part of my art – even before people paid attention,” said McKenna. “I think it makes for the most honest stuff – the most believable and relatable stuff. And I think that’s where people connect with music.”
With so much music taking place throughout Grant Park at any given time, one of the most thrilling Lollapalooza moments each year is in the inevitable discovery of something new.
New Jersey indie rock trio The Happy Fits, who performed for 45 minutes as a four piece Sunday at 1:45 PM on the Coinbase stage, don’t include a bassist, with singer and cellist Calvin Langman often handling the low end, and the group crafting inventive, catchy, melodic tunes which draw upon elements of pop, rock and chamber pop.
“Lollapalooza! What’s up, baby?!” said Langman on stage Sunday, following opening number “Around and Around.” “We’re The Happy Fits from New Jersey and we came here for one reason and one reason only: and that’s to get you to move! So, let’s do this!”
Appropriately enough, “Moving” followed shortly thereafter, the group putting a synthy, new wave spin upon the track.
Lollapalooza 2023 saw the return of Kidzapalooza, a stage which specializes in presenting family-friendly fare throughout the weekend. One of eight primary stages, Lollapalooza also features a pair of tiny stages in the Toyota Music Den and Bud Light Backyard, both of which offer fans a rare opportunity to see some of their favorite artists in a much smaller setting despite the festival placement.
Armenian singer songwriter Rosa Linn performed on both, later closing out the BMI stage Sunday night as part of four total shows she’d perform throughout the weekend.
Plucked from obscurity in 2022, Linn rocketed to stardom, representing Armenia on the international song competition Eurovision. Her song “Snap,” which examines the difficulty involved with adjusting following a serious relationship and the importance of mental health, went viral on TikTok, with the singer signing with Columbia Records last August.
One year later, Linn has toured with Ed Sheeran, released her debut EP, is on the road with Young the Giant and hit the stage at Lollapalooza Sunday, with “Snap” now surpassing a billion streams.
“I’m not sure I’ve had time to process it. Because it was really crazy,” said Linn, 23, backstage Sunday. “I mean, I signed in August with Columbia. I moved to L.A. in September and started working on new music. And I was writing every single day up until starting the tour. I feel like it’s a never ending cycle of touring, studio, touring, studio – but those two things are literally my favorite things on the planet. So I never get tired of it,” she said.
Moving between drums and vocals during the set, “Mountains” was an early highlight. Later, Linn added guitar and mellotron to a live take on Stevie Nicks’ “If I Were You,” which appears on the new EP Lay Your Hands Upon My Heart.
Backed by a two piece band, the group put a bit of a rock spin upon “Snap” in the live setting, freshening it up for the Lollapalooza crowd.
“For a creative person – and it doesn’t matter if you create music or whatever you do – it’s really heartwarming to see that someone actually feels the same feeling as you did,” said Linn of the visceral response that the highly relatable story at the heart of “Snap” has evoked. “ It helps me to see that I wasn’t the only one to go through that. And, also, it’s just amazing when you sing your song for people and they just appreciate it. You appreciate it even more,” she said. “‘Snap’ is either the last song that I’m doing or something in the middle. And the faces that I see… People just all of the sudden are like, ‘Oh!’ ‘Oh, I know this song!’ And their attitude and their engagement completely change. But it’s a fun feeling.”
Elsewhere Sunday, daytime disco act Poolside was a late highlight in the shade of the Bacardi stage, founder Jeffrey Paradise putting forth 45 minutes as Lollapalooza 2023 cruised toward the finish line, rain having mostly subsided as afternoon gave way to early evening.
Following a previous afterparty appearance, Poolside made its Lollapalooza debut, celebrating the release of their brand new single.
“‘Float Away’ just came out a few days ago,” said Paradise backstage Sunday. “It’s kind of a yacht rock song – a lot of acoustic guitar, a 12 string kind of vibe. Very different than anything else we’ve ever done – but still enough that you feel like it’s Poolside,” he explained. “It’s a collab with this group Vansire – these guys from New York. It’s about a divorcee who’s stuck out on his yacht regretting his life,” he said, prepping the release of a new album this fall. “It’s my first time signing with a label. It’s 11 songs – more like song written rather than like a DJ track. I think I expanded the palette a lot more,” said Paradise. “It’s song writing with attention to detail and the lyrics are more thoughtful. Just a lot more interesting detail and less DJ-oriented. I’m really excited.”
Each year, the Lollapalooza schedule is packed with an array of local artists, ranging anywhere from alternative acts like Wilco or Liz Phair to to hip-hop stars Kanye West and Chance the Rapper since arriving in Chicago as a destination festival in 2005.
Following a Saturday night aftershow, Chicago electronic duo Louis the Child closed out Perry’s stage Sunday evening as Lollapalooza wound down, launching their Sunday night set with the brand new single “How High.”
“The aftershow last night was really fun,” said Robby Hauldren. “There are some times when you play and the set, when you’re playing, it’s like, ‘I know the next song. I know the next song! Let’s try this. Oh, let’s try that.’ And sh–t just works. And it felt like one of those last night,” he said. “We were just on it. The songs were just hitting. People were down with everything. We had some more creative transitions that were different and new where I was like, ‘Whoa, we’ve never done that. That’s cool!’”
Saturday’s aftershow followed the duo’s LTC Brunch, a packed pop-up off site Saturday afternoon at Concord Music Hall on the city’s near northwest side which featured art, drinks, fashion, music and more.
“I feel like we wouldn’t have our sound without ‘Flashing Lights’ by Kanye being out. We grew up on Kanye. And the mix between Kanye and Daft Punk is kind of right where we sit – this mix of dance music, house, hip-hop rhythms, a little bit of jazz. All of this different influence. And then also just having Lolla,” said Freddy Kennett of Chicago’s impact on the duo. “It’s like a melting pot city with food and culture. And we’re melting pot artists where our genres are very eclectic. Each song could be a completely different vibe,” he said. “Little me would not believe that we’re here closing Perry’s and it’s just so exciting.”
Over the course of 90 minutes on the main stage, Red Hot Chili Peppers put forth one of the weekend’s most rewarding sets, wrapping up Lollapalooza 2023.
“Hey, hey! Chi-town mother f–ers, whew!” said bassist Flea on stage in typically spastic style, following an opening jam that doubled almost as a musical mission statement. “Did you say, ‘Chi-town mother f–ers?’” asked vocalist Anthony Kiedis rhetorically in reply, his rapport with the bassist on point. “Chad, I liked that opening drumbeat tonight very much. Very much,” asserted the singer, complimenting drummer Chad Smith as the group tore into “Can’t Stop” to open the show.
“Can’t Stop” would set the pace early during a set which would frequently resemble the work of a great jazz band, each member of the group flying off in amazing directions… that somehow totally worked.
Each member would take solos, with the group frequently jamming together during quick, cool little interludes, a band sounding rejuvenated.
Already with two new albums under their belt, and almost a year and a half of touring together since the return of guitarist John Frusciante in 2019, Lollapalooza found the Red Hot Chili Peppers firing on all cylinders, seemingly capable of almost anything at this particular moment.
“Thank you so much for sticking around to see us play,” said Flea. “I wouldn’t miss it for the world,” Kiedis fired back to the amusement of the massive throng gathered. “I’m very happy that you’re here,” retorted the bassist, destroying the opening bassline to the new “Aquatic Mouth Dance.”
Kiedis danced across the stage in his trademark style as Frusciante shredded to close the song, the group meandering through a quick jam en route to “Suck My Kiss.”
“Chicago! I love your sidewalks!” shouted Flea during a solo, perhaps referencing Merle Haggard’s 1971 cut “Sidewalks of Chicago,” a country song about homelessness.
Following “Soul to Squeeze,” Frusciante handled vocals and guitar during a surreal solo take on the 1990 Cynthia and Johnny O freestyle hit “Dreamboy/Dreamgirl,” the band soon rejoining for another quick jam, with drummer Chad Smith watching Flea intently as Frusciante kicked in.
That jam would eventually give way to a bit of “London Calling.” What began as a fairly traditional take on the Clash classic soon received the full on Chili Pepper treatment, with the group eventually heading into Californication’s “Right On Time,” flames shooting from the roof of Perry’s stage visible from throughout Butler Field.
Between “Tell Me Baby” and “Californication,” Flea looked left, facing off against Frusciante as the duo offered up one of the set’s most beautiful moments, one seemingly improvised and inspired, standing out even in such a terrific performance.
Returning from encore, the Chili Peppers slowed things down with “I Could Have Lied,” taking on one of Blood Sugar Sex Magik’s most introspective moments (one allegedly inspired by Kiedis’ interaction with Irish singer Sinéad O’Connor, who passed away at the age of just 56 last week).
Whipping up another frenzied jam, the band cruised toward finish with “Give It Away.” “I give them five stars!” joked Kiedis of the group’s instrumental effort, setting up the late hit as Flea bunny hopped in place on stage.
“We appreciate you being here. We spent this night together. We appreciate you,” said Kiedis to the capacity crowd as the band made its way off stage. “What a great four days,” said Smith, following an impromptu a cappella rendition of Frank Sinatra’s “Chicago.” “Lollapalooza for 30 years!” observed the drummer. “We love you. Amazing.”
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