Lollapalooza 2011: 10 Rock Bands You Need to See
Lollapalooza 2011 will be held August 5-7 in Grant Park in Chicago,Illinois. The festival offers a little bit of everything, bringing together rock, pop, hip-hop, indie music and dance acts. You can't catch them all, though, which is why I've put together (in alphabetical order) a list of the 10 must-see rock bands atthis year's Lollapalooza.
If it’s garage-rock with a touch of Beach Boys melody that you crave, check out Best Coast. Last year, the Los Angeles group (guided by frontwoman Bethany Cosentino) released their debut, Crazy for You, a brokenhearted collection of sun-kissed tunes about cute guys who keep letting you down. This is fantastic summer music, but don’t expect empty-headed pop. Instead, Costentino would rather hide in her bedroom staring out the window at all the happy people out there in the world. (Note: Best Coast’s set will overlap somewhat with Cage the Elephant’s.)
Lollapalooza always makes room for some high-profile reunions, and this year’s most intriguing might be Big Audio Dynamite. The 1980s dance-meets-rock group rose out of the ashes of the Clash, where Mick Jones had been a founding member. BAD went though a few personnel changes over the years, but this Lollapalooza show will feature the group’s classic ‘80s lineup. Get ready to bathe in the nostalgia while you shake your rump.
This Kentucky band built on the promise of their self-titled debut with this year’s Thank You, Happy Birthday, which produced the smash chart hit “Shake Me Down.” Cage the Elephant’s performance earlier this year at Coachella was memorable for frontman Matthew Shultz’s dive into the crowd wearing a dress. Will they try to top it in Chicago? (Note: Cage the Elephant’s set will overlap somewhat with Best Coast’s.)
The debate over whether they’re a “real” rock band is silly. Among acts that incorporate guitar, bass and drums, Coldplay are as popular and respected as any rock act out there. This will be the first time Coldplay will play Lollapalooza, and no doubt their swooning ballads and anthemic tunes will be warmly received by the crowd, even if hardcore rock and alternative fans think they’re lightweights. (Note: Coldplay’s set will conflict with Muse’s.)
Deftones delivered last year’s best rock album with Diamond Eyesand all they’ve done since is tour like dogs to support it. Disappointingly, the album wasn’t quite the triumphant commercial comeback it should have been for the band, but these alt-metal veterans have plenty of hits to entertain the crowd -- and maybe remind the casual fan that they haven’t lost a step in subsequent years.
It’s hard to envision how any group will end up supplanting Foo Fighters as 2011’s rock band of the year. They put out their first No. 1 album in Wasting Light, and its lead single (“Rope”) has gone on to be the year’s biggest rock hit. Sixteen years into their career, they’re as massive as they’ve ever been.
This year’s Blood Pressures found the blues-rock duo reuniting for the first time since 2008’s Midnight Boom. Powered by Alison Mosshart’s vocals, the Kills deliver sexy, dangerous rock tunes, and after her recent involvement with Jack White’s the Dead Weather, her primary band has seen their visibility go up. Still, the Kills remain more of a cult favorite than a mainstream success. Lollapalooza would be a great opportunity to catch up with this group.
Muse haven’t put out an album since 2009’s The Resistance, but it’s arguable that they’re as popular as they’ve ever been in the States. The U.K. trio won a Best Rock Album Grammy earlier this year, and The Resistance was their third straight record to go gold in the U.S. There’s no word yet when the band will head into the studio to work on their next record, but in August they’ll be playing some festivals in America and the U.K. Maybe we’ll get to hear a few new tunes during their Lollapalooza show? (Note: Muse’s set will conflict with Coldplay’s.)
Led by Jim James and his angelic voice, My Morning Jacket are a powerful combination of soaring guitars, hippie good vibes, and daring experimental touches. Their latest, Circuital, is a fine place to start, but 2005’s Z perhaps best encapsulates their dreamy, galvanic essence. They’re a perfect band to enjoy on a summer night under the stars.
Last fall, A Perfect Circle reunited for a brief tour that’s morphed into something more permanent. The band, led by Tool frontman Maynard James Keenan, haven’t put out a new album in seven years, but it’s a group whose popularity has remained pretty high, which is understandable since it also includes former members of Nine Inch Nails (drummer Josh Freese) and Smashing Pumpkins (guitarist James Iha). A Perfect Circle may unveil a new track or two during their set, but the betting is that fans will want to hear old favorites from Mer de Noms or Thirteenth Step.
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•Best Coast (Sunday, August 7, 5:45pm, Google+ Stage)
If it’s garage-rock with a touch of Beach Boys melody that you crave, check out Best Coast. Last year, the Los Angeles group (guided by frontwoman Bethany Cosentino) released their debut, Crazy for You, a brokenhearted collection of sun-kissed tunes about cute guys who keep letting you down. This is fantastic summer music, but don’t expect empty-headed pop. Instead, Costentino would rather hide in her bedroom staring out the window at all the happy people out there in the world. (Note: Best Coast’s set will overlap somewhat with Cage the Elephant’s.)
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•Big Audio Dynamite (Saturday, August 6, 4:30pm, Music Unlimited Stage)
Lollapalooza always makes room for some high-profile reunions, and this year’s most intriguing might be Big Audio Dynamite. The 1980s dance-meets-rock group rose out of the ashes of the Clash, where Mick Jones had been a founding member. BAD went though a few personnel changes over the years, but this Lollapalooza show will feature the group’s classic ‘80s lineup. Get ready to bathe in the nostalgia while you shake your rump.
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•Cage the Elephant (Sunday, August 7, 5:15pm, PlayStation Stage)
This Kentucky band built on the promise of their self-titled debut with this year’s Thank You, Happy Birthday, which produced the smash chart hit “Shake Me Down.” Cage the Elephant’s performance earlier this year at Coachella was memorable for frontman Matthew Shultz’s dive into the crowd wearing a dress. Will they try to top it in Chicago? (Note: Cage the Elephant’s set will overlap somewhat with Best Coast’s.)
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•Coldplay (Friday, August 5, 8:30pm, Bud Light Stage)
The debate over whether they’re a “real” rock band is silly. Among acts that incorporate guitar, bass and drums, Coldplay are as popular and respected as any rock act out there. This will be the first time Coldplay will play Lollapalooza, and no doubt their swooning ballads and anthemic tunes will be warmly received by the crowd, even if hardcore rock and alternative fans think they’re lightweights. (Note: Coldplay’s set will conflict with Muse’s.)
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•Deftones (Saturday, August 6, 5pm, PlayStation Stage)
Deftones delivered last year’s best rock album with Diamond Eyesand all they’ve done since is tour like dogs to support it. Disappointingly, the album wasn’t quite the triumphant commercial comeback it should have been for the band, but these alt-metal veterans have plenty of hits to entertain the crowd -- and maybe remind the casual fan that they haven’t lost a step in subsequent years.
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•Foo Fighters (Sunday, August 7, 8pm, Music Unlimited Stage)
It’s hard to envision how any group will end up supplanting Foo Fighters as 2011’s rock band of the year. They put out their first No. 1 album in Wasting Light, and its lead single (“Rope”) has gone on to be the year’s biggest rock hit. Sixteen years into their career, they’re as massive as they’ve ever been.
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•The Kills (Friday, August 5, 4:30pm, Bud Light Stage)
This year’s Blood Pressures found the blues-rock duo reuniting for the first time since 2008’s Midnight Boom. Powered by Alison Mosshart’s vocals, the Kills deliver sexy, dangerous rock tunes, and after her recent involvement with Jack White’s the Dead Weather, her primary band has seen their visibility go up. Still, the Kills remain more of a cult favorite than a mainstream success. Lollapalooza would be a great opportunity to catch up with this group.
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•Muse (Friday, August 5, 8:15pm, Music Unlimited Stage)
Muse haven’t put out an album since 2009’s The Resistance, but it’s arguable that they’re as popular as they’ve ever been in the States. The U.K. trio won a Best Rock Album Grammy earlier this year, and The Resistance was their third straight record to go gold in the U.S. There’s no word yet when the band will head into the studio to work on their next record, but in August they’ll be playing some festivals in America and the U.K. Maybe we’ll get to hear a few new tunes during their Lollapalooza show? (Note: Muse’s set will conflict with Coldplay’s.)
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•My Morning Jacket (Saturday, August 6, 8pm, Bud Light Stage)
Led by Jim James and his angelic voice, My Morning Jacket are a powerful combination of soaring guitars, hippie good vibes, and daring experimental touches. Their latest, Circuital, is a fine place to start, but 2005’s Z perhaps best encapsulates their dreamy, galvanic essence. They’re a perfect band to enjoy on a summer night under the stars.
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•A Perfect Circle (Friday, August 5, 6pm, Music Unlimited Stage)
Last fall, A Perfect Circle reunited for a brief tour that’s morphed into something more permanent. The band, led by Tool frontman Maynard James Keenan, haven’t put out a new album in seven years, but it’s a group whose popularity has remained pretty high, which is understandable since it also includes former members of Nine Inch Nails (drummer Josh Freese) and Smashing Pumpkins (guitarist James Iha). A Perfect Circle may unveil a new track or two during their set, but the betting is that fans will want to hear old favorites from Mer de Noms or Thirteenth Step.
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