RECAP: Lollapalooza 2017, Day Three
This weekend, along with some of the biggest stars in music today, we’re descending on Chicago for Lollapalooza. Be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat for live updates!
Saturday in general was definitely the apex of Lollapalooza 2017, which was stacked with big names, and even bigger sets. Throughout the day, there was a mix of well known young artists and seasoned festival veterans, as well as a headliner worthy of shutting his home city down. Here’s some of the highlights of Saturday at Lollapalooza:
Amine Impresses In His Lollapalooza Debut
Photo by Greg Noire
With an album that just recently dropped, as well as XXL Freshman List certification this year, Amine filled up the Pepsi Stage early in the day. While his set began with a DJ running through the current must-play hype tracks from other artists, the crowd needed no preparation, bouncing along with everything that came through the PA. By the time the man of the hour hit the set, the crowd packed the wooded stage area all the way to the street, with some fans opting to climb trees to catch the “Good For You” rapper. The set closed with a rap-along to his breakout hit “Caroline”, which had the crowd eager to get gory, like a Tarantino movie, to say the least.
Glass Animals Get Groovy
Photo by Cambria Harkey
One of the essential sets on the Grant Park Stage on Saturday was Glass Animals, who by this point are no strangers to the festival circuit. Backed by a set complete with a shiny, rotating pineapple, a reference to their song, “Pork Soda”, the English indie act was able to move the crowd with hits from both of their albums. Frontman David Bayley was an enigma onstage, making his way not only down the side of the video board area of the stage, but into the crowd as well. A thoroughly impressive standout in a day of standout performances.
Royal Blood Bring The Power
Photo by Candice Lawler / Lollapalooza 2017
Immediately following Glass Animals, directly across from them on the Lake Shore Stage, English rock duo Royal Blood brought an absolutely powerful set to Lollapalooza. With just a bass, occasionally an organ, and drums, the band mixed tracks from their debut with recent release “How Did We Get So Dark?”. The band also interacted with the crowd well, with genuinely funny lines from Mike Kerr, including a bit about introducing the “rest of the band” while looking at drummer Ben Thatcher, and Thatcher “refusing” to get back to the drumset mid show.
21 Savage Packs Perry’s
Photo by Grant Hodgeson / Lollapalooza 2017
The hype around 21 Savage is incredibly real, as the rapper filled the Perry’s stage up as far as the eye could see early Saturday night. Hot off of the release of his debut full length, “Issa Album”, an overflowing, raucous crowd bounced along to 21. The night was still relatively young, but he definitely made a case to be headlining a bigger stage, and it’s entirely possible that it could happen within a few years.
Chance The Rapper Comes Home
Photo by Greg Noire / Lollapalooza 2017
The absolute highlight of Saturday, and probably Lollapalooza in general, was the night’s headliner and hometown hero, Chance the Rapper. With probably one of the largest crowds in the festival’s history, Chano was welcomed onstage by an intro video comprised of clips of all of his television appearances, as well as his recent Grammy win, and even a brief video clip of Michelle Obama saying his name. This was designed to be a special moment, and boy did he deliver, with a mix of tracks spanning his entire career thus far. Tracks from “Coloring Book” elicited some big reactions, only to be topped by roars for songs from his breakout “Acid Rap” tape. Guest appearances from Vic Mensa, who performed his verse on “Cocoa Butter Kisses”, as well as an encore with the partial help of Francis Farewell Starlite of Francis and The Lights made this feel larger than life, and in many ways, it was. It’s hard to estimate how many people were at the set, but from about a football field away from the stage, there were still fans as far as the eye could see going backward. A truly special moment for Chance, Lollapalooza, and Chicago in general.
