Pitchfork – the hyper-critical indie blog known to thrust virtually unknown artists into overnight sensations with the help of some kind words and a high numerical rating – is holding its annual music festival this weekend in Chicago’s Union Park. I am happy to announce that my bags are packed, my Amtrak boarding pass purchased, and I’m ready for the windy city for the next couple days. Admittedly, I would like to consider myself a veteran of sorts to the music festival scene (three Lollapaloozas and one Bonnaroo under my belt), but this will be my first ever Pitchfork experience. Sure I plan to check out the majority of the Festival’s headliners, but my main intention is to discover some new music outside my “comfort zone.” Think of my pending review as “A Noobs Guide to Pitchfork,” or “Pitchfork for Dummies.” Until then, here are some recommendations of better-known artists I plan on checking out while on site.
Modest Mouse: (Fri. 8:30p.m. A stage) Though these indie rock veterans just played Milwaukee’s Summerfest less than two weeks ago, a Friday night headlining slot at Pitchfork provides yet another opportunity to watch the Seattle six-piece dip into their expansive catalog of angular indie rock in an outdoor setting. Hopefully Isaac Brock and company look a bit livelier than they did at their recent Summerfest gig.
Raekwon: (Sat. 4:15p.m. A stage) Raekwon makes his return to Pitchfork – although this time without partner in rhyme Ghostface Killah – for a late afternoon performance on the main stage. 2009 proved to be a revitalizing year for the Chef as he reasserted himself as hip-hop’s premier ghetto Mafioso storyteller with the release of Only Built 4 Cuban Linx… Pt.2. Fingers remain crossed, in hopes that Rae sticks around for Big Boi’s Sunday night set to drop guest verses on “Skew it on the Bar-B” and “Royal Flush.”
Freddie Gibbs: (Sat. 7:40p.m. B stage) Straight outta Gary, Ind., “Gangsta Gibbs” is an authentic, self-made thug trying to make it in the rap game during an era overrun with club rap and straight up phonies. Dropped from Interscope Records in 2009 before an official album could be released, Gibbs continues to grind out mix tapes (Miseducation of Freddie Gibbs, Str8 Killa No Filla, ) in preparation for his first proper release on his own label, Gibbs Family. Having no qualms with openly discussing murder and gunplay, Gibbs message is loud and clear: gangsta rap is far from dead.
LCD Soundsystem: (Sat. 8:30p.m. A stage) Reportedly, the recording sessions for the third and most recent LCD Soundsystem album, This is Happening, excluded front man, James Murphy from helping produce – brace yourself for this – part of the new Arcade Fire album. Understandably, it’s missed opportunities of this caliber that have caused Murphy to mark this summer as the end of the road for LCD as a touring band. In a similar move to Trent Reznor retiring Nine Inch Nails, Murphy has asserted that the LCD name will continue in some fashion or another for years to come. At any rate, this Union Park performance for the New York ensemble is a DO NOT MISS for Midwest fans.
Beach House: (Sun. 3:20p.m. C stage)
Milwaukeeans were faced with a conundrum of musical preference earlier this year when Beach House (Pabst Theater) and Passion Pit (Riverside Theater) were both booked to play within a few blocks of each other on the same night in early April – things could be much worse I suppose. But considering that Passion Pit decided to check out their competition prior to hitting the stage, and despite our less than glowing review of Beach House that evening, we remain intrigued as to how the dream-pop duo and its layers of textured rhythms will be received at the outdoor festival with a mid-afternoon set.
Big Boi: (7:25p.m. C Stage) Antwan “Big Boi” Patton, aka Daddy Fat Sax B-I-G B-O-I, aka the more productive (as of late) half of OutKast has finally – after years of label politics – released his first true solo album, Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty. And while it’s not the OutKast album that fans have been impatiently waiting for since Stankonia (2000), it’s certainly the next best thing, for now. Watching a Big Boi solo show is a little bit like watching Roger Waters perform Dark Side of the Moon without David Gilmour; you can’t help but notice that something is missing. But rest assured that Big Boi can hold it down on his own (performing solo since ’04), usually starting with Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik and leading through the catalog to his present day solo material.
Pavement: (Sun. 8:30p.m. A Stage) Sure, the ‘90s gods of indie rock were booked as the centerpiece of this festival, but we’re a bit more exited to catch them at the smaller, more intimate confines of the Pabst Theater in Milwaukee come September. But don’t worry we’ll check them out after Big Boi finishes up his set.
Three-day passes, Saturday and Sunday tickets have all sold out, but a limited amount of tickets will be available at the Union Park box office Thursday, July 15 at 11a.m.
And for those of you who remain ticket-less, there will be a live webcast of select performances broadcast here throughout the weekend.