Lollapalooza 2023 weekend wrapup: Who played and who slayed
Spectacular summer weather gave way to rain on Saturday and Sunday. But crowds kept coming for the music. A lookback at the weekend’s standout artists — in photos with mini-reviews.
By
Chicago Sun-Times staff
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Fans take photos and video of Tomorrow X Together as they perform at the Bud Light Stage, during day 3 of Lollapalooza at Grant Park, Saturday, Aug. 5, 2023.Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere / Chicago Sun-Times
Fans take photos and video of Tomorrow X Together as they perform at the Bud Light Stage, during day 3 of Lollapalooza at Grant Park, Saturday, Aug. 5, 2023.Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere / Chicago Sun-Times
Lollapalooza 2023 weekend wrapup: Who played and who slayed
Spectacular summer weather gave way to rain on Saturday and Sunday. But crowds kept coming for the music. A lookback at the weekend’s standout artists — in photos with mini-reviews.
By
Chicago Sun-Times staff
URL Copied!
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Lollapalooza 2023 is in the books. Here’s a lookback at some of the artists who performed Friday, Saturday and Sunday — with reviews from the Chicago Sun-Times’ crew of critics.
Singer Anthony Kiedis (left) and bassist Flea perform. ‘Few bands are as closely associated with Lollapalooza as the dynamic rock-rap-funk outfit Red Hot Chili Peppers: The group appeared in 1992, when it was a touring show, and have played the Grant Park events in 2006, 2012 and 2016. Now both 60, Kiedis and Flea —with drummer Chad Smith, 61, and guitarist John Frusciante, 53 — bounded through a decades-skimming setlist that included the 2022 hit ‘Unlimited Love’ and concert staple ‘Californication.’ The band peppered its 90-minute set with improvised instrumental segments. It was cool to see these unscripted moments, almost as if thousands of fans were allowed to eavesdrop on a private jam session.’ — Bobby ReedOwen Ziliak / Chicago Sun-Times
Rina Sawayama (center) performs at the Bud Light stage. ‘The Japanese-British talent’s rousing set clamored for headline status. With four costume changes, stylized choreography and gestured dance narratives as well as unique and quick set changes (including somehow transforming the bare-bones platform into a quasi-wrestling ring, then a dressing room, then a rodeo), it was one of the best uses of space, time and resources seen this weekend.’ —Selena FragassiTyler Pasciak LaRiviere / Chicago Sun-Times
‘‘Chicago is one of the most beautiful cities I’ve ever seen,’ Lil Yachty told an audience that started settling in for him at the Bud Light stage at least 40 minutes before his arrival. Fans sang along to ‘Broccoli’ until the last line when Yachty dropped his mic and let the crowds finish the song. At 25 years old, the rapper has been an essential part of rap since 2015, when he dropped ‘One Night’ — another song with fans dancing and singing energetically. The song ‘drive ME crazy!’ had fans mellowed out, enjoying the expressive and passionate last portion of Lil Yachty’s set.’ — Ambar ColónTyler Pasciak LaRiviere / Chicago Sun-Times
Matt Quinn of Mt. Joy performs on the T-Mobile Stage. ‘Offering a style that merges folk-rock delicacy with jam-band intensity, Mt. Joy kept its hardcore fans gleefully entranced during an hourlong set. Like any band that knows how to engage the tie-dyed contingent at a festival, Mt. Joy knew when to peak, ending its set with a succession of numbers that steadily cranked up the sing-along factor. Even hundreds of yards from the stage, the sound mix for this performance was outstanding.’ —Bobby ReedOwen Ziliak / Chicago Sun-Times
‘Bakar might have been feeling the effects of the depressing weather Sunday. It took a bit for the London-based singer, producer and model (who often worked with the late Virgil Abloh) to bring some needed energy to his set. With the 2023 single ‘Alive!’ the singer took the message to heart and brought some life to the performance, jumping down from the stage to mingle with the crowd. By the time he came upon uber hit ‘Hell N Back,’ Bakar had climbed a section of scaffolding, as he led a mass singalong of the track. Watch for his new album ‘Halo,’ out in September.’ — Selena FragassiOwen Ziliak / Chicago Sun-Times
Day 3: Saturday, Aug. 5
‘Although the Grammy-nominated rapper had to compete for concertgoers with the rest of Saturday night’s headliners, Pusha T attracted a crowd that was ready to party hard at his set. Calling Chicago his ‘home away from home,’ Pusha T made sure to let fans know that he felt he wouldn’t have a career without his connection to the city. He’s worked with fellow rapper Ye (formerly Kanye West) on songs like ‘Mercy’ and ‘Remember,’ and he performed his verses from both songs despite publicly cutting ties with the controversial artist in 2022. Later, he did a cover of Chicago drill legend Chief Keef’s ‘I Don’t Like,’ while once again encouraging fans to open up mosh pits even as light rain started to fall.’ — Ambar ColónOwen Ziliak / Chicago Sun-Times
‘Tomorrow x Together made history at Lollapalooza again Saturday as the first South Korean boy band to headline the festival. The act prepared in earnest for the occasion, earlier in the week sharing footage of rehearsals on TikTok. The singing and choreography were on par for the main event and had many dedicated fans dancing right along with their every step. Other highlights included ‘Can’t You See Me?’ with a good round of fireball pyrotechnics and the slowed-down ballad ‘Blue Spring,’ written as an ode to their fans, which naturally had many faces crying.’ — Selena FragassiTyler Pasciak LaRiviere / Chicago Sun-Times
‘The BMI Stage has done it again. Every year, the tastemakers book the big acts of tomorrow. Lady Gaga and Halsey are alumni, and soon, you can count on R&B pop talent Danielle Ponder as the next one to break into superstar status. With her booming, saintly voice that could break through glass windows, undeniable charisma that makes you want to lock eyes with her and never turn away and incredible backstory that reminds you to never give up on your dreams, the soulful Ponder is on her way to being a one-name wonder in the style of Aretha, Nina and Adele.’ — Selena FragassiTyler Pasciak LaRiviere / Chicago Sun-Times
‘Jean Dawson held nothing back at his midday set at the Bacardi Stage. From the gritty opening riffs of his first song, ‘Three Heads,’ to his ominous oversize black raincoat, it was clear the Mexican American experimental pop rocker was not here to play nice or mince words. He unleashed his bilingual track ‘Policia,’ sharing his disdain for police and the system that ‘incarcerates people that look like me.’ Twenty minutes prior, he also divulged, ‘I don’t give a f*** about a festival, I care about you,’ dialing into the focused fans in front of him who fed into the real talk he was serving with songs about being an outsider.’ — Selena FragassiOwen Ziliak / Chicago Sun-Times
‘With a sound that is influenced by the soul and groove of the ’60s and ’70s, Thee Sacred Souls still manages to sound contemporary. The rain didn’t seem to bother rambunctious lead singer Josh Lane, who at one point tempted fans to chase him as he ran across the muddied baseball fields in Grant Park. Thee Sacred Souls want the world to know that they’re all about love and every emotion connected to it. They performed a romantic cover of The Fuzz’s ‘I Love You For All The Seasons’ while fans embraced each other and swayed in the rain.’ — Ambar ColónTyler Pasciak LaRiviere / Chicago Sun-Times
Day 2: Friday, Aug. 4
Kendrick Lamar performs on the T-Mobile stage. ‘When one of the greatest rappers of all time takes the stage at Lollapalooza, you better believe people will show up — and listen. He’s a wordsmith who relies on his oration and calm intensity to get his messages — of race and equality, of relationships and family, of trauma and growth, of reality and humility — clearly across. Lamar had a troupe of dancers with him, whose careful movements provided visual interpretations of each song. But for the most part, it was the rapper and his body of work that took center stage.’ — Selena FragassiAnthony Vazquez / Chicago Sun-Times
‘For Thirty Seconds to Mars’ opener ‘Walk on Water’ Jared Leto, pictured, went to great heights to start things off — literally. The Hollywood icon turned into a stunt double, somehow making his way to the very top of the stage and, tied to bungees, leaped to the ground below in a daring move that made many people audibly gasp. ‘I almost killed myself for you,’ he jokingly exclaimed. Expecting an actor to have great showmanship is one thing, but the way Leto tempts and teases his crowd is truly an art form.’ — Selena FragassiAshlee Rezin / Chicago Sun-Times
‘The project of singer, songwriter and producer Jackson Stell, Big Wild hit the Bud Light Stage and connected with a party-oriented crowd. With an equal emphasis on melodic hooks and hypnotic, hip-shaking beats, Stell is a purveyor of a glossy brand of dance-rock that’s a good fit for the summer festival circuit. He dedicated ‘OMGarden’ to his 12-year-old pet rabbit, whom he claimed was at home watching the livestream of Lollapalooza.’ — Bobby ReedAnthony Vazquez / Chicago Sun-Times
‘It’s not often you see violin on the stages of Lollapalooza, but then again there are few that play the instrument as uniquely as Sudan Archives, the alter ego of musician Brittney Denise Parks, who masterfully blends classic Celtic sounds with electronica, folk, R&B and experimental noise. Her abilities on the violin and transforming it into a vessel for experimental music are not only fresh but a reminder of the possibilities that come as artists move further away from genre classification – while her showmanship is nothing short of boundary-less performance art.’ — Selena FragassiAnthony Vazquez / Chicago Sun-Times
‘Getting a good spot at the beabadoobee set was like winning the lottery. The Filipino-Brit talent played up the confessional heart-to-heart with a leather couch on stage that she sat on while strumming her guitar for several songs, all of them bleeding with her ‘90s influences like Mazzy Star and Elliott Smith. Her youth showed as she whipped out a pink guitar, sharing that its name was ‘Barbie,’ but that’s only for the better as time is very much on her side to keep developing her tender artistry.’ — Selena FragassiAshlee Rezin / Chicago Sun-Times
Saiki Atsumi (left) and Kanami Tono perform with Band-Maid on day two of Lollapalooza. ‘The Japanese rock act is the quintessential example of not judging a book (or a band) by its cover. Inspired by everyone from Carlos Santana to Deep Purple and Smashing Pumpkins, but looking like demure movie characters, Band-Maid is a total exploration of contrast, and about as shock rock as you can be nowadays — not for the blood and gore of, say, GWAR, but for the immediate hypnosis they impart.’ — Selena FragassiAshlee Rezin / Chicago Sun-Times
