This is going to be the shortest review blurb I’ve written all summer because Arcade Fire is playing on the stage a hundred yards from our truck at Lollapalooza and that’s no time to be on a computer.
We’ve given away over 20,000 free ice creams at Lollapalooza over the last five years. There’s been some amazing highlights in that time, like Broken Social Scene and Manu Chao, but this year was my favorite yet. We moved to a new spot up north near all the bands we wanted to see and everything fell into place.
We’re big fans of Stars and it so happens that Stars are big fans of ice cream. We caught up with them and walked across the street to The Green at Grant Park to shoot them play “Ex Lover” on a mini golf course. The only downside was the mosquitoes have been out in full force and we should have brought some bug spray with us.
On Saturday morning we wrangled up Constellations to play a song. Ever since seeing them at Bonnaroo I wanted to get them on the series. It sucked that I had to leave to pick up ice cream and didn’t get to see it. 
Because The Kissaway Trail had an early set I waited to open the truck and went over to watch their set. Later that day we headed over to the gardens in Millennium Park and they fought off the mosquitoes to play a couple songs.
Thanks for being troopers guys!
Ok….I reallllly have to run. Arcade Fire are still on and I need to dance before this whole fest ends. Bye bye Lolla!
And also, from intrepid photographer Paige:
240,000 people attended Lollapalooza this year – the biggest turnout yet. The festival grounds grew to accommodate the larger numbers. While the stage configuration remained the same, the infrastructure grew to include Congress Ave, which served as a pedestrian expressway and portapotty haven between the two main stages, which are almost a mile apart . They also took the food up a notch, and had some great local organic alternatives to the usual greasy festival staples.
For me, the highlights of the festival were Arcade Fire and Empire of the Sun. Arcade Fire was the closing act of the festival on the north side. They drew a huge crowd, with legions of excited fans spilling over all the way to the Playstaion stage to the south. “Crown Of Love” was dedicated to “our good friends in the National,” who had delivered a passionate set just minutes before. Arcade Fire’s anthems seem destined for huge crowds like those at Lolla, and we all gathered up our last shreds of energy to rally and blissfully dance to their foot-stomping festival-closing set.
Empire of the Sun closed out Saturday night at the smaller DJ-centric Perry’s stage, but there was nothing small about their performance. In addition to the three elaborately costumed musicians, Empire of the Sun were joined on stage by four beautiful dancers that changed their wild costumes for every song. I was fortunate enough to get to stay in the photo pit for the entire set, but I must confess, I sent much more time dancing than shooting after the first three songs. I can’t wait to see them again this Sunday night at Outside Lands.
Such lovely photos Paige! Amazing!