Lollapalooza 2006

Grant Park, Chicago, IL
August 4–6, 2006

Perry Farrell's feast for the senses returned to Chicago for the second consecutive year, bringing over 130 bands and an estimated 170,000 fans to the Windy City. Since its inception, Lollapalooza's vision has always extended beyond music, and this year was no exception: The makeshift global village had plenty to do between shows, including Causapalooza, with information on different social and environmental organizations; the pint-sized rock shows of Kidzapalooza, which was as entertaining for the adults as it was for the kids; and the infinitely strange interactive world of the Mindfield, which featured anything from Second City comedy to superhero competitions. Part document of the present, part optimistic PSA for the future, Lolla remains one of the bellwether festivals of the calendar year.

Day One Highlights:
The early day slots can be hit and miss, but this was not the case for Brit upstarts the Subways, who thrashed through their set list as if they had just consumed a case of energy drinks with their morning coffee. Riding the success of their platinum single "Rock & Roll Queen," Josh Morgan ignored the daylight hour with the brash, but unintentionally Spinal Tap announcement, "I think tonight's going to be our best gig."

Providing a contrast in style to the Subways, Matt Hales, a.k.a. Aqualung, made his Lolla debut, delivering airy vocals and orchestral melodies to a sun-drenched crowd. "Playing live is the payoff to the writing and recording process," he explained, and immediately after the gig, headed back to the U.K. to continue working on his next release.

Local unsigned singer-songwriter Cameron McGill made the most of his side stage appearance, delivering a heartfelt set to a crowd that seemed a million miles away from the rest of the madness. Set amongst large trees and backed by Lake Michigan, this stage was the perfect refuge from the beating sun and pounding guitars across the park.

Panic! At the Disco, the first of several '80s retro bands slated for the first day, took the stage in full circus-chic outfits, inviting members of the Lucent Dossier Vaudeville Cirque to interact with the band members throughout their vibrant, visually arresting performance. To their credit, they succeeded in walking the tricky line between theatrics and absurdity — a line very familiar to organizer Perry Farrell and marquee act the Flaming Lips.

Poised to join the ranks with such bands as Interpol, the Killers and Bloc Party were Editors. Despite a relentless touring schedule they managed to energize the crowd, mainly through the exaggerated antics of lead singer Tom Smith, whose deep, booming voice doesn't quite seem to match up with his diminutive, Justin Timberlake–size body. When asked why they consider themselves a "non–rock & roll band," bassist Russell Leetch explained soberly that they liked to focus on the music and what they do on stage rather than being known for what goes on backstage. An admirable vision from an emerging band, but give them a few more Lollapaloozas and a home video from a hacked Sidekick, and they'll learn.

There were several great performances on the first day of the festival, but none brought down the house like the Raconteurs. Whether it was cranking out their radio hit "Steady as She Goes" or being one of several bands to cover Gnarls Barkley's "Crazy", every moment of their guitar-driven set was sonic gold.

Exclusive Photos from Day One:
The Subways
Cameron McGill and What Army
Aqualung
Panic! At the Disco
Editors
Ryan Adams
The Raconteurs
Violent Femmes
Death Cab for Cutie

Day Two Highlights:
Skateboarder turned singer-songwriter Matt Costa opened day two with the perfect hangover set: quiet and melodic enough to get the musical juices going again, without offending the pounding the ears took the day before. This moment of tranquility lasted until mid-afternoon when Wolfmother took the stage and unleashed their take-no-prisoners brand of old-school guitar rock, single-handedly setting the bar higher than any band that played before them, and arguably anyone who played after them.

After Wolfmother rocked the faces off of those in attendance, many walked across the field where the masters of all things costume, Gnarls Barkley, proceeded to get to work on their booties. The crowd erupted as Cee-Lo and his band of groovy guys and gals took the stage in impeccable tennis whites. Most of the set inspired mild head-bobbing, until the much covered hit "Crazy," when the grassy field became an all-out dance pit.

The Flaming Lips delivered a set that seemed transmitted via satellite from the happy place in Willy Wonka's head. Large blue balls danced against the Chicago skyline as several Santa Clauses and aliens gyrated on either side of the stage. Confetti and streamers littered the sky as stagehands dressed as superheroes helped lead singer Wayne Coyne into a large plastic bubble that he used to surf the crowd. Later in the set, after Coyne escaped from his bubble, he sported his extra-large hands and directed the crowd in several sing-alongs. When asked about his stage show, Coyne said, "We just try stuff and if it works we go 'Fuck, that's cool,' but we never really know what's going to work." On this particular night it all worked, and walking away from the stage was like climbing out of Alice in Wonderland's rabbit hole.

As was the case with the day two headlining acts, the bigger names didn't always deliver the best performances. Hip-hop media darling Kanye West dropped a ho-hum set and whined about the audio quality provided by his hometown, while luckier festivalgoers saw arguably the best show of the weekend, courtesy of the lesser-known Spanish idol Manu Chao in a rare North American appearance. He may not be a household name in the States, but his blend of Latin, reggae and punk had the euphoric crowd savoring every precious moment of his time on American soil.

Exclusive Photos from Day Two:
Matt Costa
Coheed and Cambria
Wolfmother
Gnarls Barkley
The Flaming Lips
Kanye West
Manu Chao

Day Three Highlights:
As the weary fans began to fade under the barrage of the previous days, the Irish band the Frames provided the musical panacea needed to carry on. Charismatic lead singer Glen Hansard got the crowd involved early before they had time to zone out, and kept them involved throughout the show. The best moment of the set came when music superfan "Beatle Bob" stepped from the shadows to join the band on stage. (Having Bob join a band onstage is similar to Roger Ebert giving a film two thumbs up.) Bob and Hansard engaged in a strange dance exhibition that brought a moment of levity and bonding between the crowd and the cast onstage. As Beatle Bob exited, Hansard remarked: "I believe that was quite the honor."

Reggae performed by an Orthodox Jew isn't exactly the typical formula for mass crowd surfing, but immediately after Matisyahu took the stage the steady stream of bodies began flowing as if on a conveyer belt to the front of the stage. Many in the crowd swayed to the rhythmic beats, but it was also clear that more than a few fans were setting up camp for the Red Hot Chili Peppers, who played later.

Hometown favorite Wilco took the stage to one of the loudest roars of the weekend. Jeff Tweedy and company mixed in new songs with old standards, but it really didn't seem to matter what they played: The loyal Chicago crowd loved them unconditionally, even giving a huge round of applause when Tweedy displayed the Proactiv Solution–worthy zit on his forehead.

Ultimately, Perry Farrell took the stage to thank all of the hard-working people who made the weekend possible and to announce the final act of the weekend, the Red Hot Chili Peppers. The Peppers started strong, but ended up playing an uneven set of older songs, strange covers and new songs without much in between. Despite their set list John Frusciante proved to be a force to be reckoned with, stealing the show with his consummate guitar licks.

Though not every moment was a total success, you have to give Perry points for trying: In a Web-based world that filters music fans into ever-narrower niches, his grand experiment continues to assert that there is a circus tent big enough to bring them together. And if it's a clashy, glorious mess, the more the better.

Exclusive Photos from Day Three:
Burden Brothers
The Frames
Ben Kweller
30 Seconds to Mars
Matisyahu
Wilco
Red Hot Chili Peppers


Lollapalooza official site