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The Pitchfork Music Festival kicks off its 2008 edition this weekend at Union Park, and we're going to highlight some of the "can't miss" acts of the weekend on Chicagoist over the next few days. Today we'll tackle eight can't-miss acts from the sold-out Saturday line-up.
Jarvis Cocker's set is easily one of the most anticipated acts of the entire festival. The archly British ex-frontman of Pulp continues to pen lyricallly rich and glamorously elegant songs that continue to bolster Cocker's reputation as one of the most gifted songwriters of his generation. His output has always been infused with both dark humor and bleak characters creating songs that take one's breath away in equal parts shock and delight. (8 p.m. on the Connector Stage)
The Hold Steady's new LP, Stay Positive, has been making the rounds in the Chicagoist office and with good reason: it's another great collection of fist-pumping, sing-a-long anthems perfect for an outdoor festival. We've never been disappointed by Craig and the band and we can't wait to work up a sweat to their set. (7 p.m. on the Aluminum Stage)
While !!!'s last album left us a bit cold, the same can't be said for their live show. The band nearly stole last year's Lollapalooza as singer Nic Offer kept the security detail busy with his forays into the crowd and beyond the stage. Their dance-punk never fails to get the masses roiling and we're looking forward to seeing all those hipsters shake the bony booties God gave 'em. (6 p.m. on the Connector Stage)
We want to like Vampire Weekend, we really do. No, we didn't think their debut was the second coming of The Talking Heads but we do admit to finally falling a bit for the group's playful melodies and light as air tunes. While we admit we're bit nervous that the band could wreck the souffles they call songs onstage, we pulling for them to pull it off. (5 p.m. on the Aluminum Stage)
The terms "British" and "Rapper" are two words that just don't seem like they go together. Thankfully, Dizzee Rascal skewers this perception and has taken the grime genre worldwide. His crazed, rapid-fire delivery on top of thumping garage beats make him one of the more intriguing performers on stage this weekend and well worth catching. (4 p.m. on the Connector Stage)
Icy Demons arose as a side project -- it's members hail from Man Man and Bablicon -- but their recent Miami Ice album proves the froup can stand firmly on it's own laurels. That disc was populated by sleekly cool, slightly remote electronic dance pop with a jagged streak. We're curious how they'll pull off the fine balancing act between disco and The Fall onstage, so we're really looking forward to their set. (2:20 on the Balance Stage)
Jay Reatard is a fucking mess, and we mean that in the best possible way. There may be blood after his set. (1:30 p.m. on the Aluminum Stage)
Titus Andronicus only recently came across our radar, but they haven't left our view since. Their debut, The Airing of Grievances, is chock-full of Springsteen-ian anthems fueld by snotty punk speed-freakery. Their self-titled anthem kicks off with drums that sound like Phil Spector manning a cell-phone recorder before exploding into a seriously distorted harmonica and finishing with the band injecting an optimistic fervor into the nihilistic refrain of "your life is over." These New Jersey kids just may be the break-out act of this year's festival. (1 p.m. on the Connector Stage)
The Pitchfork Music Festival takes place at Union Park this weekend, July 18-20, and some tickets are still available.
Additional reporting by Marcus Gilmer
Image of !!! by Jim Kopeny
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Can someone tell me about Jay Reatard? I find his name to be asinine and juvenile and therefore refuse to listen to his music. Is that decision asinine and juvenile?
saw Jarvis Cocker at Fuji Rock Fest last year and he was boring as hell. It's just lame, vanilla song writing. He was witty as hell in between songs, despite jabbering to a mostly Japanese crowd. Hopefully he's ramped up his performance because I do love the guy.
mike_thoms, no argument his name is asinine and juvenile, but your decision not to listen to him because of that is also kind of asinine and juvenile. Slate put it well:
Jay Reatard live is quite an experience. It'll be over before you know it, but those 30 minutes sure pack their punch.
No comment about Fleet Foxes? Their lastest album is GORGEOUS. If I were going to the festival, it would be just to see them, as I've seen all the other bands at festival rounds. But, luckily I can catch them at the free show on Thur and avoid the heat.
That Fleet Foxes disc is really pretty, but it just doesn't connect with me on any level beyond appreciating its harmonies.
so ... this will be my first time to pitchfork, and i'm really bummed that my three day pass doesn't allow me re-entry to the park. i thought that would be part of the deal, ala lolla. (ala lolla ... say that three times fast.)
anyway, this has thrown me in a dilemma of choices, given the weather and all of that. i thought i'd be able to come and go as i pleased ... they won't even allow you to bring food, at least according to the website. sealed bottled water, but still. gah. boo.
Fleet Foxes are good but it's like MMJ committed incest with Band of Horses and they had Fleet Foxes.
Yeah, I guess it would have been a nice highlight to focus on bands that haven't played Pitchfork or its parent festival (Intonation 2005 prior to the split, since the organizers went on to produce pfork). . or that don't regularly play the festival bills such as Lollapalooza.
I think there's a little more to it, if you give it a few more listens. A great summer album, and a great thing to sit back and catch on a fast day.
And, I would say its does copy the stylings of CSN&Y (and associated bands), just as Band of Horses and MMJ alludes to. Sorry, though I dig those bands, they didn't bring anything relatively new to the table either.
jay reatard got his name when he started a band called the reatards (no one could spell "retard" so maybe it was an apt name). he was 14 at the time so yeah, juvenile to be sure but in keeping with the punk rock tradition of taking your band name as a surname (ramones, oblivians, etc.) he's been jay reatard ever since.