Saturday proved to be yet another day of sweltering Chicago heat. We tried to avoid the burning sun as long as possible – a good choice from what we’ve heard. A friend reported that Delorean’s typical dance show was compromised by the heat, and that few fans could stand the sun enough to dance for more than a few minutes before retreating to the shade.
Chicago babies The Smith Westerns played to an unexpectedly large crowd. Perhaps it was the fact that the Balance stage was the only place with refuge from the fiery sun, but after touring with “it” band Girls earlier in 2010, they’ve gathered a fair troupe of followers and didn’t disappoint! Their sound perfectly complemented the shady Balance stage, and you could tell that they’ve tightened up significantly in the past year. Just ask Paige (see Day 1) – she’s been listening since before the babies were even legal! Although exuding a somewhat bratty and over-confident stage presence, their boyish charms worked well for them onstage. And apparently singer Cullen Omori has caught the attention of famed photographer Ryan McGinley, who was courting him side stage with video camera in hand. Is a nude video ala Sigur Rós “Gobbledigook” on the way, perhaps? We can only hope!
Next up was WHY?, led by Yoni Wolf donning a plaid shirt and a straw hat to beat the heat. The crowd at the Balance stage was dense yet again for Yoni’s interpretive dance antics throughout the set, which was Alopecia heavy. Yoni did, however, give the crowd a taste of his lyrical flow, which he later told Eleven was something he was going to explore even more heavily in his future work.
We enjoyed Panda Bear from a distance, lounging in the grass and enjoying some much needed sustenance via free Cliff Bars available at the fest. Though Panda Bear, real name: Noah Lennox, has received mediocre reviews for his solo offshoot of Animal Collective, we really loved it. Maybe it’s because we weren’t as cranky and weary as the fans standing out in the hot sun.
By the time LCD Soundsystem came on, the sun had gone down, the air had cooled off, and fans were ready for one of the most anticipated sets of Pitchfork 2010. James Murphy and friends really seemed to enjoy themselves on stage, headbanging and jamming throughout the show. And we really enjoyed it too, Mr. Murphy.
Via our field operative Noah: A great send-off to a city they probably won’t visit until their reunion tour. James Murphy tore the house down with “Drunk Girls” and “Daft Punk Is Playing at My House.” If only, if only.
We’re not really sure what Noah means, but we’ll leave it at that.
