The Devil You Know

By Scott Smith in Arts & Entertainment on Apr 11, 2005 4:48PM

As the organizers of Lollapalooza struggle to dot their I’s, cross their T’s, and leave the bags of money behind the correct trees, Pitchfork does them one better by announcing they’ll be “curating” the first Annual Intonation Music Festival on July 16th and 17th at Pulaski Park. (Curating? Huh. So that’s what pretension smells like). But let’s leave our own sarcasm aside for a moment because Pitchfork has done something really crazy and released a lineup as well. And it’s a great one including The Decemberists, Broken Social Scene, The Go! Team, The Wrens and The M’s with more to come. Biz3 will also have a DJ tent on site.

We’re also applauding Pitchfork for its unique method of ticket distribution. That is, their lack thereof. No advance tickets will be sold. Instead, you’ll have to line up before the gates open at noon and plop down ten bucks like all the other proles.

In other Chicago-centric Pitchfork news, they’ve also posted the track listing for the upcoming Sujfan Stevens album, Illinois, which features more than a few nods to Chicago. Sadly, our hopes for a song entitled “I Stole The Hubcaps Off My Trixie’s Jetta” were dashed. But we’re looking forward to the gentle riffs and wistful thoughts of songs like “Chicago”, “Come On, Feel The Illinoise”, “The Seer’s Tower” and the Superman ode “The Man From Metropolis Steals Our Hearts.” Though Stevens has never lived in Chicago or Illinois, he’s stated that his goal is not to provide a historical or cultural assessment, but rather “an emotional assessment.”

Finally, Pitchfork provides some tentative confirmation of one act booked for Lolla: the Kaiser Chiefs, who played a show here at Empty Bottle last month and return on May 31st at Park West.