By Brady Lavin
Lollapalooza has so many big name acts, sometimes the little guys get lost in the shuffle. Make sure not to ignore the smaller stages like the BMI stage and Google Play stage or the early hours of any of the stages or you’ll miss out on some of the best new artists. The organizers of Lollapalooza make sure they book top notch talent, so whenever you have a break between bigger acts, check out the side stages for bands like the following.
Wax – Fresh out of Youtube University, Michael Jones, better known by his stage moniker Wax, brings fresh and upbeat hip hop/rap to the early hours of Friday at Lollapalooza. His songs are often tongue-in-cheek, goofy sing-a-longs about sex and other things, but like most successful comedic musicians, there is much more to the music than just jokes. Oh, and he plays guitar, sings and raps solo and with a band, so if you want a lighthearted, intimate way to kick off your Lolla weekend, get a nice early afternoon Waxing.
Yellow Ostrich – One of the many color-themed acts Lollapalooza this year, (Red Hot Chili Peppers, Jack White, White Rabbits, The Black Keys, The White Panda, The Black Keys, Black Sabbath, Red Oblivion, The Big Pink, Kid Color, Santigold, yeah.) Yellow Ostrich is a heartfelt, loop-happy counterpart to the more well-known, equally loop-happy tUnE-yArDs, who are playing on Saturday. While tUnE-yArDs focuses on odd, funky grooves with bombastic hooks, Ostrich takes it the opposite direction and goes a little more honest and folksy, with wonderful results.
Russell Marsden of Band of Skulls (Source: Wikipedia)
Band of Skulls – Their band name may sound a little douchey, but their music is The White Stripes with less of an old soul, a chick bassist and a better drummer. Sparse but hard rocking, the interplay between the two lead vocalists is the centerpiece and main focus of this sometimes sinister three piece. Even the guitar solos seem a bit Jack White-y, but that’s because Jack White is a lot of other people-y, as any good blues guitarist should be.
First Aid Kit (Source: Wikipedia)
First Aid Kit – Now I know a lot of people have heard of First Aid Kit, but I was at an acoustic show at Goose Island Wrigleyville the other day and when the performer asked if anyone listened to First Aid Kit, I was the only “whoo!” If you can stand to start your Lolla weekend on a bit of a downer, these two not twin sisters (but oh do they look it) will sing sweet sweet folk harmonies that will melt the hardest metal fan scowl. Fans of Fleet Foxes would love these girls, but they are probably already fans!
