By Jodi Root
2:11 PM – First Goose Island 312 in hand, successfully smuggled my free Coke Zero to mix with my jack. Plants and Animals is on the C stage—pretty steady rock, not sure where they’re from but they either have legit accents or are just practicing some fake rock star swagger. Driven, bluesy rock guitars and indecipherable vocals—shout out to the Schuba’s set later tonight. Nice way to start the day.
2:25 PM – All the kids are flocking to the front of A stage for Fucked Up. Not sure what to expect, sound check is just beginning and I have a feeling I won’t be safe sitting much longer, these kids are looking pretty intense.
2:31 PM – I was right. Standing is necessary. Fucked Up is really funny. My left foot is asleep from sitting on it for so long and eager gutter punk wanna be suburban kids keep walking into me—I know at some point I’ll topple over. Some dude behind me is doing his best Fucked Up impression growling “don’t wanna be born again.” This is certainly not my cup of tea. Some 13 year old kid is shown on the big screen bodysurfing with an angry security guard yanking him down. The dude keeps screaming “fuck yeah,” he’s partially nude and very white, very large. He has a beach ball on his head that he ripped apart with his teeth. Loud, lazy guitars and just an overall ruckus. I feel hella old. As I turn to leave, I am joined with almost every other over 25 year old, shaking their heads in unison. I just don’t get it. . .
2:47 PM – Escaped the hardcore hell and am now relaxing in the shade at the hidden B stage for the Antlers. Over all vibe is much more chill, pretty organ key opener—The Antlers are definitely a breath of fresh air. High pitched vocals, confused at times if singer is male or female, but it doesn’t matter. This is chill, kinda dig it. Overhear more attendees discussing their confusion over Fucked Up, I have a feeling they may be responsible for a large chunk of the Antlers’ audience turnout.
3:20 PM – Pains of Being Pure at Heart are kicking it off. Light rain is drizzling on and off. I’m standing directly behind the C stage sound tent with a decent view of the stage. The sound quality is pretty good, but that view I just mentioned is now being challenged with a mass of umbrellas. PPH are playing my faves, “This Love is Fucking Right,” “Young Adult Fiction.” Singer: “We got some good advice from pink eyes—he said we should sound more like Weezer if we can—I agree.”
3:35 PM – Starting to rain again, beer count is now at 2. Pains are still playing and two young boys sporting Mesugah and Mastadon hats stumble over my purse, confused and unsure what to take away from the delicate tinkering pop of Pains. Funny.
3:38 PM – “Stay Alive” is up. Twinkling keys, solid guitar, kinda whiney vocals. It’s ok, I love him anyway. You can see the green line going past behind the stage and trees; it’s a nice reminder of where we’re at. Oh Chicago, I love you so. Singer breaks, “ This is pretty insane how many people are here, thank you so much for sticking around ,” with a shout out to Cymbals Eat Guitars who will be future tour mates. Singer is like a gracious little Christian boy who just got everything he asked for for Christmas. It’s sickeningly cute. Pains closes their set with the self titled anthem, “Pains of Being Pure at Heart.” Cute set, but I think I dug their SXSW showcase more—sound was a bit more crisp and I wasn’t being rained on.
4:11 PM – Thai food vendor, luckily there are more options for eats today. Shrimp Tempura is HIGHLY recommended. Mmmmm, sweet potato fries.
4:20 PM – Mouth is now feeling wrath of teriyaki sauce, kind of on fire. . . Final Fantasy is playing in the background. Not too familiar, but definitely need to get closer to check this out.
4:34 PM – Turns out Final Fantasy is definitely not a video game inspired soundtrack, but rather a classical Andrew Birdish gentleman who is TEARING this shit up. Very beautiful, delicate and eloquent. He’s also super cute. Wish I could catch this in a smaller indoor venue, though, for maximum experience. I bet it’d be awesome at the Lakeshore Theatre. In the distance I can overhear some thrashasms from the B stage—Ponytail I believe?
4:55 PM – Smooth trumpets and delicate, sexy violin work—am completely sold on Final Fantasy now. Will definitely be checking some of his material post P4K, biggest new find yet. Yeasayer is setting up to the left with their sound check, getting pumped.
5:19 PM – Yeasayer is beginning. Chimes, maracas, and an incredible vocal range from the singer. I’m missing Wavves, and 100% Ok with it—Yeasayer is killing this, owning P4k. A live, safari like version of Dark Was the Night’s “Tightrope”,” incredible. Whistles, tambourines, dance party. Clapping, jungle beats. Layers of insane instrumentation. The live delivery of this group is indescribable, the album does is no justice. As the familiar chords to “2080” begin, there is a downpour—the crowd is overjoyed, dancing and thrashing in the rain, this is a pretty amazing sight.
6:02 PM – “Sunrise” concludes. Dude from Yeasayer, “Thank you Sears Tower, Willis Tower, Bruce Willis,” chuckles but crowd kinda fights back (we Chicagoans are big on not changing our ways), laughing, “Sucks so much, I know how much you love Sears.” New song is next—insane, this new album will rule.
6:34 PM – DOOM (and his mask). Sun finally comes out, and light reflects off the aluminum face mask. Doom’s spitting out the beats, I recognize a track from The Mouse and the Mask days. Dude’s sporting some sort of swamp monster costume, shit’s tight but I’m kinda bummin’ that it’s only between Doom and Pharaohe Monch to rep for P4k’s hip hop selection.
7:24 PM – Beirut!! Stand up bass, trumpet, accordion, and of course, the adorable little child faced gent himself. “Nantes” opens it up. Niiice. Second Dark Was the Night song of the evening, Beirut busts into the accordion happy “Mimizan.” The sound is great, everyone is smiling. Huge crowd. A ukulele makes an appearance, “This might be the biggest crowd this ukulele has played for yet.” A french horn!
7:39 PM – Intense trumpet solo action. And wait a minute, “Concubine”!!! Awesome track, but half expecting Ghostface to step out and start spitting “Save Me Dear” on top. Oh Hood Internet, how you’ve retrained my listening pleasure. . . .
7:57 PM – Matt and Kim are 30 minutes late (I think that has something to do more with Wavves, though). They jump on stage, “What’s up Chicago????” Loud crowd reception. Bust out with an energetic rendition of “It’s a Fact (Printed Stained).” A lot of older material is being showcased, including crowd pleaser “Yea Yeah.”
8:06 PM – “Good Old Fashioned Nightmare” is blowing up the dance party. Piano keys, dancey claps, extra disco drum back beat, super fun. The crowd is hella packed, so hard to believe that I saw this duo perform for maybe 200 kids just months ago at the Subterranean. Everyone seems to be digging it, but I’m inclined to punch the dude beside me who just asked his bros if these guys are responsible for “the Six Flags song,” dude, these are soooo not the venga boys. Go home. “Cutdown” is on now.
8:22 PM – Oprah shout outs and “Light Speed.” “Silver Tiles” dedicated to crowd—keyboard becomes unplugged. Kim laughs it out and we continue to rock. Matt instructs crowd, “Everybody throw one hand up in the air. No wait, let’s do both hands! (Pauses), “I think this may be the biggest crowd we’ve ever played.” It is pretty packed out here. Last song, “Daylight.” Crowd goes bananas, including myself. This is just a rad ass dance party now. I oddly am craving some Bacardi now. . .
8:49 PM – It’s been a long day. I’m dehydrated, tired and dirty. I am in no mood to cram the green line car amongst the hipster army tonight, so I stand back for a song and a half of The National and soak in the headliner briefly before I call it a night. It’s chill, solid and the National. I hear some piano, some guitars, and I’m afraid if I stick around any longer I’ll fall asleep. Thanks Pitchfork, it’s been pretty real. Time for some shut eye if I’m gonna make it for M83 and Grizzly Bear tomorrow.
