Lollapalooza 2024 - Day Two Report

Friday August 2, 2024 @ Grant Park, Chicago

Chappell Roan hangover permeated throughout the Lollapalooza on day two with the buzz around the merging star's set the previous day record breaking set. In the twenty years Lollapalooza has been in Chicago, Roan's set is one of the ten best and possibly the most attended and while no one drew the same crowds on day two, the festival was not without its highpoints as the festival once again avoided serious weather and had sunny skies throughout the day. While headliner SZA met all expectations and then some during her headline set, Friday was full of many surprises including several indie acts giving their all and enshrining their sets in the hearts and minds of those who witnessed them.

FifteenOeight 12:00
Kicking off day two is Fifteen0eight, an alternative-electric duo hailing from Boston. Daphne Eleftheriadou and Tomer Oron lead the band and with a performance that merged electronics and big blazing guitars. Lead singer Eleftheriadou dressed in all white, commanded the stage like a pro in their early set at the BACARDI stage. The deep rhythms, electronic drums and keyboards serenaded the fans as they entered the festival for the day. It was a performance worthy of a later day set time and the band proved they're one to watch in the coming years. Their debut album TRUTHFULLY is out now.

Cale Tyson 1:00
Originally from Fort Worth, Texas but who moved to Nashville for his career, indie folk musician Cale Tyson has a country flavor to his music. "City Girl" was an early set performance the crowd embraced. Performing at the BMI stage (which curates the acts that perform every year), he shows the talent of someone who is just starting his journey.

sundial
The Bud Light stage is the second biggest at Lollapalooza, placed at the north side of the festival and early day performances are often hit and miss, but Jisu Kim and Dorothy Chan, the pop-duo best known as sundial, brought their breezy pop music to the crowd under the blazing sun. Their pop emo sound reached far to the streets where you could see passers by stopping to take in the physical performance Kim and Chan brought to the stage. Performing songs from the roaring twenties and singles such as "your text," they built each song amping up the crowd. The duo can work a big stage and they were an early day highlight, notably the penultimate song of their set "liar" which had the crowd waving their arms coordinated with the chorus "Don't you know I'm a liar?" which they were singing back to them.

Taylor Acorn 2:15
Not knowing what to expect from the banner with the name Taylor Acorn behind the stage, I was pleasantly surprised to see her come out amidst blazing guitars. She grew up in North Central Pennsylvania town of Wellsboro and her Lollapalooza debut was a much-needed gut punch early in the day. The heavy and wailing alternative riffs aren't far from early Paramore Backed with just a guitarist and drummer, it was a lively set that shook people from their early day slumber. There's nothing like watching a performer take to a stage and give their all, like a pinch-hitter who hits a grand slam. Acorn went from 0-60 with her force: the quiet/loud Pixies effect was in full force and the crowd loved her zealous performance.

Wilderado 2:50
The Tulsa, Oklahoma alternative indie folk band returns to Lollapalooza. The first time they performed at the festival, it was an early day set where they shined and seduced the crowd, and their return was no different as their harmonies ascended off the Bud Light stage at the north side of the festival. "Morning Light" was an early set highlight which is an irresistible joy ride where the harmonies and drums elevate the song to the sky. You feel the world opening as they solidify and become a band. Lead vocalist and guitarist Max Rainer, guitarist Tyler Wimpee and drummer Justin Kila are a band who continues to improve with every performance and release. Their live sets are nothing short of breathtaking. They believe in the power of music and bring that magic to the concert stage. During "Talking" they proved themselves to be a perfect festival band who deserves all the praise and one everyone should see whether it's in a club or at a big field because they're one of the best working bands today.

Ava Maybee
The American Idol alum made her Lollapalooza debut at the BMI stage. She also has ties to the festival through her family. Her father is Red Hot Chili Pepper drummer Chad Smith and while this may appear to be a conflict, it wasn't. She was compelling with her raspy and her engaging stage presence showed she earned her spot at the festival. Whether it was dedicating a song to her ex in the audience, sharing her soul on originals such as "Self Doubt", "Colors" or whipping the crowd into a frenzy for a cover of Katy Perry's "I Kissed a Girl", Maybee showed the audience that while her connections opened some doors for her, she's still in the room because of her dedication and talent.

RAYE 3:45
There was a huge crowd for twenty-six-year-old British singer RAYE at Tito's Handmade Vodka Stage at Lollapalooza. RAYE is a stunning performer with a voice that can send shivers down your spine. Her set focused heavily on her 2023 album My 21st Century Blues and she stood on the stage in a beautiful navy strapless gown as her dancehall soul permeated throughout the park. "The Thrill is Gone" "Mary Jane" and "Ice Cream Man" were delivered with precision in exquisite performances where she told the crowd in-between songs, "The most important thing is hope and holding onto hope." The only challenging aspect of her set was the stage. Tito's has long been a problematic stage after 3pm. The sound has always been an issue with larger crowds and standing on asphalt in the heat of summer is not an optimal way to see a show. They need to add additional speakers and find a way to have a video screen. When you have an artist with as much buzz as RAYE, she really should have been on a bigger stage where more could have appreciated her superb performance.

Tiny Habits 4:45
The BMI stage once again delivered the goods with Tiny Habits, a folk trio hailing from Boston that consists of Cinya Khan and Maya Rae and Judah Mayowa. Their hushed and moving set was a sanctuary from the boisterous sounds of the festival and their intimate and acoustic set soared and was delicate in a way that little else can be in a huge festival. The three piece performed songs from their debut album All For Something and a few covers which included Keane's "Somewhere Only We Know" which was as perfect as music can get.

Victoria Monet 5:25
Victoria Monet stood out from other R&B acts of the weekend by bringing a secret weapon, a live band. Her smooth songs were accentuated by background dancers and her voice soared, but it was her backing band that really made her sparkle. Backing tracks and samples are becoming more prevalent with live performances and Monet showed the crowd that a band matters as they could follow her lead, react to a vocal indication and dance moves that can push and pull a crowd. "Ass Like That," "Coastin'" and "Moment" were highpoints with her band making the power of her music reach far and wide. Sometimes it's not about who has the loudest beat but who can excite an audience with the sheer willpower of a handful of musicians working in synch with one another. With the Olympics in full focus in our minds, great bands, and performers like Victoria Monet remind you of the awe and presence of godlike talent is like. She has made a career of writing hits for other artists such as Black Pink and Ariana Grande, but at Lollapalooza, this was her moment to shine where she glistened like a star in the sky burning bright.

The National Parks 5:55
The National Parks set at the shady BMI stage was the definition of joy. Sometimes music hits you right where you need it to hit you. The indie folk band stands out from their peers in their ability to wind up a crowd and make them feel like they're part of a larger community. When you sing a long or interact with the artist, it brings the audience up to their level. Guitarist and lead singer Brady Parks was profoundly humble but also has that "it" factor where you see him once and can't wait to see him again. Megan Taylor Parks on fiddle had plenty of moments where she stole the focus of the crowd elevating the songs with every pluck and slash of her fiddle. For their set closer, "All We Ran" the band had the crowd get on their knees before delivering a rousing finale where the crowd leaped to the sky. The National Parks worked the crowd into a tizzy delivering a memorable set. They release their new album on August 23, Wild Spirit and will be on tour this fall.

Faye Webster 6:25
Faye Webster was another surprise with her music echoing dreamy landscapes and the sweetest sounds as the sun disappeared behind some of the Chicago skyscrapers. Performing half of her new album Underdressed at the Symphony she reminded the crowd that the festival shines when it embraces dark and quieter corners of the music industry with her indie pop stylings.

Laufey 6:45
Lollapalooza has always prided itself on diversity and the performance by Icelandic artist Laufey was unlike anything else in the festival's history. She performed with the Chicago Philharmonic, which was the loveliest and most beautiful set of the entire weekend. The performance was notable for a few reasons, it was the first time a full orchestra of more than fifty performers has been on the stage in Lollapalooza's history and it was also the Chicago Philharmonic's largest audience in their history. The twenty-five-year-old singer from Iceland is known for jazz pop and is classically trained, but no one could have foreseen this set. Performing at the Bud Light stage and seeing a vast field filled with young fans, many from Gen Z, take in this classical and jazzy set was something to behold. This is not a standard set and is a miracle they were able to pull it together for an outdoor performance. A cover of "It Could Happen to You" with RAYE was one of many highlights, but seeing these songs from such a young and upcoming artist tackled by such a well-respected and established group of classical musicians is something none of us had on our Lollapalooza bingo card. It is a prime reason Lollapalooza continues to thrive; they deliver one-of-a-kind experiences.

SZA 8:55
SZA, born Sol�na Imani Rowe, is not to be underestimated. Her headline set at Lollapalooza on day two was one of the weekend's highlights. Covering R&B, pop, neo soul and hip hop, SZA covers multiple genres, and you can see why she has become one of the most sought after live performers for festivals. The opening trio of songs sent the crowd into a singing frenzy, "PSA," "Love Galore" and "Go Gina." Singing from an elevated stage, it made everyone on the field able to see her and the backing dancers. It was a wildly ambitious set for such a large festival setting featuring mushrooms and other props that would emerge over the set.

For close to ninety minutes, she serenaded the Chicago crowd who soaked it all up. Towards the end of the set, when a giant tree emerged that was slanted, she made her way over to it where she tossed off her shoes and committed, "I'm done with these shoes" and even put on her eyeglasses as she sung from a tree uprooted from its roots. As she sat there, she allowed herself to be vulnerable and played "Nobody Gets Me" about her ex-fianc�. Despite drawing one of the largest crowds of the weekend, at the end, we watched a woman purge her soul through her voice to strangers on a field, but in truth, the fans are more like family and the bond between artist and fan grew tighter. The act can work through their pain while the audience takes notes on how to navigate the waters of a broken heart. Despite all the dazzle and glamour of a festival, it's human moments like this one that are the most powerful.

Anthony Kuzminski is a Chicago based writer and Special Features Editor for the antiMUSIC Network. His daily writings can be read at The Screen Door. He has seen over 1,000 concerts in his life and has covered Lollapalooza in-depth for over a decade. He can be contacted at tonykAT antiMUSIC DOT com and can be followed on Twitter

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