Like many other college students, I have spent weeks anticipating this year’s lineup release for Lollapalooza with the tenacity of a small child on Christmas Eve. Many of my friends are veterans of the festival and already had planned to take the trip out to Chicago, regardless of the performers. But having never been to Lollapalooza — or any large music festival, for that matter — every musician counted.
When the full lineup for Lollapalooza, which runs August 2-4, finally was released Monday, I was both pleasantly surprised and confused by the headliners. Having seen The Killers in December in Ypsilanti, Mich., I was blown away by their energy and would love nothing more than to see them again. I also have become a huge fan of Mumford and Sons’ music, both past and present, and have watched countless videos of their live shows like a full-blown addict.
Their current popularity aside, I have nothing but respect and love for both bands. But The Cure … not so much. Granted, the group had its share of intense fans throughout the ‘80s and ‘90s. But in 2013, The Cure seems a little outdated for such a popular festival, to say the least.
In terms of including some of my favorite artists, day one of the festival hits the nail on the head. With muses, such as Imagine Dragons, Lana Del Rey and Band of Horses, it’s a win-win for me. While Imagine Dragons recently has been on the fast track to musical fame, Band of Horses has been a personal favorite since my high school-hipster days. My obsession with Lana Del Rey began more than a year ago and has grown exponentially ever since. After her tour across Europe, I’m excited to see the crooning singer venture west of New York City to perform.
Day two keeps the anticipation running, mixing up the list with Matt & Kim and The Lumineers. Though their funky sound hasn’t completely catapulted them to stardom just yet, Matt & Kim will be a sight to see. After missing out on seeing Kendrick Lamar in Detroit early this fall, I’m envious of anyone who gets to see him take the stage Saturday.
The lineup seems to lose a bit of momentum with day three, with smaller bands taking up the bulk of the day. 2 Chainz, of course, will be the exception. While his collaborations never fail to make me laugh, I’m intrigued as to how he’d take to riding solo. The lineup also includes Tegan and Sara, who I love but already have seen live, as well as Vampire Weekend, an old favorite of mine who I have heard put on an increasingly underwhelming show. But with Frontier Ruckus, a folk band made up partially of MSU alumni added to the mix, it might be enough to turn the day around.
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