Jeff McClusky & Associates

This year, I was fortunate enough to attend Chicago’s 3-day music festival in Grant Park, Lollapalooza. Headliners included Coldplay, Muse, Eminem, My Morning Jacket, Deadmau5, and Foo Fighters. 

My Lollapalooza experience began on the Bud Light stage with Young the Giant. Their set was an excellent way to start my weekend; I was already a big fan of their debut album and their live set was even more impressive. Also on Friday, I saw Foster the People, Two Door Cinema Club, Kids These Days, OK Go, Skrillex, and Coldplay. Unfortunately, Coldplay and Muse played at the same time at opposite sides of the park, making it impossible for many fans (such as myself) to see both acts. However, I was pleased with my choice to see Coldplay’s entire set; highlights included “Yellow,” “God Put a Smile Upon Your Face” and a touching Amy Winehouse tribute during the encore. 

Most of the talk on Saturday surrounded Eminem’s upcoming performance and comeback. However, my personal highlights included Fitz and the Tantrums, Mayor Hawthorne, and Local Natives. All three of these bands played exceptional sets; their exuberance about playing Lollapalooza seemed to radiate off the fans and increase the excitement all around. Eminem, as it turns out, was worth the wait and the talk. His set seemed to prove that he truly was making a comeback, especially during his encore performance of “Lose Yourself” that sent 60,000 fans into a frenzy. 

Similar to Friday, I had trouble deciding which headliner to wait for. In the end, I waited all day in the front row of Deadmau5, watching Flogging Molly and Nas and Damian Marley as I waited. After watching half of Deadmau5’s set, I left to catch the end of Foo Fighter’s set. While I was pleased with my decision to see half of each, I definitely want to see a full Foo Fighter’s set soon. Their set was an excellent way to close out Lollapalooza; they rocked out until the last possible minute and through two torrential rainstorms, impressing thousands of fans and Lolla visitors.

Overall, the weekend was immensely successful. I learned a lot about new and up-and-coming artists, and got to see some of my favorites. I look forward to attending Lollapalooza again in the future!