2006 Pitchfork Music Festival

"no Rita Lee, no credibility"

Main stage:

• Silver Jews
• The Futureheads
• Ted Leo/Pharmacists
• Art Brut
• Destroyer
• Mountain Goats
• Band of Horses
• Man Man
• Hot Machines

Biz3 stage:

• Dominik Eulberg *
• Matmos
• Ada *
• Ghislain Poirier
• 8 Bold Souls

* sponsored by Summer Dance

Sunday, July 30

Main stage:

• Os Mutantes
• Spoon
• Yo La Tengo
• Devendra Banhart
• Mission of Burma
• Aesop Rock
• The National
• Jens Lekman
• Tapes 'n Tapes
• Chin Up Chin Up

Biz3 stage:

• Diplo
• Tarantula A.D.
• Tyondai Braxton
• Bonde Do Role

Stay tuned in the coming weeks for many more additions, including many more to the Biz3 stage-- featuring the best in hip-hop, jazz, electronic, and experimental music. We will also announce some exciting new additions to the festivities, including a pre-party and more extracurricular activities that will join the WLUW record fair and DEPART-ment craft and clothing fair on site at Union Park during the festival

I'm really excited about this, this is going to be great.

ihttp://www.simonfraser.net/dante/Folio/illos/AGGRO.jpg

"As a matter of fact, I am free that weekend!"

Okay, I'll go with the hotpants and tubetop look. I'm thinking a sun visor and flipflops might complete the ensemble . . .

I was gonna say that...

The funny thing about PFM fans and critics and everybody in between is that it falls into the typical intellectual/hipster/nerd denominational backbiting where there isn't much that separates anybody from anybody else but they all absolutely hate each other for the most esoteric and petty things.

It reminds me of the Nazis members hating the Nazi sympathizers (who hate the Jews), while the SA hates the SS who hates the elite inner-circle who hates the Nazi members who hate the SA, etc...Any third party would just laugh at the petty differences that separate the Nazis.

It's all a lot of petty nonsense over who is the "hipster" and who is the genuine fan of pop music.

"I laugh at the Nazis!"

http://townsvillebulletin.news.com.au/common/imagedata/0,3600,5133552,00.jpg

"I laugh at the Nazis!"

oh please. everyone experiences summer and apparently, their respective towns are the worst. will say this though: intonation festival < chapel hill in july.

http://www.banooba.net/images/joevicki.jpg

The notice on the festival's ticket page is great: "Children under the age of 10 are free when accompanied by an adult." OK, so how much is it if they go by themselves?

Are there any rumors of the "more to be announced" bands? The line-up is solid, but spending two long, hot days in a huge crowd to see abbreviated sets by bands I've seen (or could if I wanted to) play full sets in small or midsize clubs (Os Mutantes excepted, of course)... not my cuppa tea. Feel free to convince me otherwise.

There's supposed to be about 30 acts, so there's still more to be announced, by the look of it. The first seems to be missing some proper headliners in comparison to day two, with its Spoon/YLT/Os Mutantes.

-- jinx hijinks (mikeoptin...), April 14th, 2006.

and in American Express commercials

Another funny quirk was that the people who bought tickets ahead of time had to stand in a line that wrapped around the block to get in. I just walked up and bought my ticket and walked in right away.

I know someone who might fly from San Francisco for this just for Blue Cheer. But I bet they'll book other shows too.

Standing directly in front of you?

I hate that word when applied to booking bands.

This year's Ozzfest is being curated by Josh Feinstein, a 15 year-old high school student from Lincoln, Nebraska. Josh has over 167 band t-shirts (all black), including past Ozzfest participants Korn, System of a Down, Slayer, and Pantera. Josh has a tremendous interest in the Occult, and has a MySpace page notable for its many varied takes on the pentagram. He enjoys the poetry he carves into his arm, erotic fantasy literature, and playing his Sony PSP on the school bus.

The point of the joke was that while most places get the "too hot" line or the "too cold" line, Chicago is always getting BOTH from people, which is a bit funny if you happen to kind of come from that part of the midwest: like yes, duh, it's hot in summer and cold in winter, is this really that impressive?

Also, does anyone else remember that huge dude in the red mesh jersey?

Oh, now I feel like complete shit. I've been talking to him at a few concerts when we've run into each other, but he was so soft-spoken when he mentioned his name that I've been calling him "Max"... At least he's been really really nice about it if he's noticed.

Pitchfork should be a good festival though. If it's like last year, the sets won't even be that abbreviated. Only the first 3-4 acts on each of the two stages had half hour sets. Then there were a couple bands with 45 minute sets and the headliners with hour-long sets. Not too far off the average concert, IMHO. Plus, they actually started on time for everyone but DFA1979 (since they expected them to immediately follow an act on the same stage).

All told, probably going to be well worth my $30 and two days.

Thax read at this Handsome Family show at Schuba's or the Empty Bottle or something and it was great

(But you guys are Chicagoans it sounds like & likely know better; I defer)

-- phil-two (philtw...), Yesterday 6:53 PM. (phil-two)

quite right. oops.

Intonation = June 24-25
Pitchfork = July 29-30
Lollapalooza = August 4-6

Inpitchpooza
Intolollfork
Pitchpatation
Forktonooza

etc.

m.

But I'm looking at the setlist now, and I enjoy many of these bands on record well enough, but I hope the performances won't be boring.
I think I'm only saying that because I've recently been to too many boring indie rock shows where the bands play their song, and it sounds good, and that's nice and all...but there's not much more to the set than the band standing and singing. That's fine, but, does any band really *perform* these days? It gets tedious standing and listening and watching after a while--not that you have to stand there, but. if the song is odd to move to, I guess I get a little restless.

Anyhow, I don't know where I'm going with this, but. It's coming up. and feedback from the last fest looks pretty good.
so. that's good.

ROFL

"Recommended!!"

put it on a white board, give them incentive to improve their scores. haha, I'm not against that idea.

MAN MAN !!!!

Hopefully it'll be as congenial and happy an atmosphere as last year. All indie nerd crowds are actually pretty fun to hang out in.

What are the chances of Malkmus coming out with the Silver Jews? And then what are the chances of a Pavement reunion to close out the night? Yeah, that's what I thought. Still love the lineup though.

BTW, what I loved so much about the fest last year was that the two stages were never simultaneously active (see: Lollapalooza, Coachella) and never necessitated a huge hike and much strategizing to move from one to the other (see: Lollapalooza, Coachella). It was designed to allow you and encourage you to see and enjoy every single act.

That said, sound sucked at Intonation this year. I hope quality PA is what P'Fork brought to the fest last year and brings with them again this year.

Sunday: 97
Intensely hot by afternoon. Elevated humidities threaten a dangerous peak heat index of 108°. Generous sun/puffy cumulus clouds. Gusty SSW winds.

weather.com made it sound much more uneventful... typical low 90s and sunny with a chance of thundercakes. humid as balls. ya know, like most summer days in the south.

m.

'Tis gonna be hot though.

Ick, yeah I'm DC area and the weather is pretty disgusting.
So I guess that this is the good advice:

Even then, it's doable -- don't worry about looking cool. Leave your combat boots and black t-shirts at home and bring a sun hat and a spray bottle.

i wonder if they'll have lots of vegan food. vegan food is good. Hot Dougs sounds nast.

BTW - if you're looking for good eats: Harold's Fried Chicken.

Just bring a hat, sunblock and maybe a spray-bottle of water. And don't be afraid to take shade breaks (though be warned: there's very little shade, except on the perimeter, behind the port-o-lets).

(Speaking of port-o-lets, anyone else notice that advances in port-o-let technology means thet don't smell nearly as bad as they used to?)

EXCESSIVE HEAT WATCH IN EFFECT FROM SATURDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH TUESDAY EVENING
Rest Of Today...Partly cloudy. Highs in the lower 90s. Light and variable winds.

Tonight...Partly cloudy. Lows in the mid 70s. West winds around 10 mph early in the evening becoming light and variable late in the evening...Then becoming southwest around 10 mph after midnight.

Saturday...Partly cloudy. Highs in the mid 90s. Heat index readings 96 to 101 in the afternoon. Light and variable winds.

Saturday Night...Mostly clear. A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms in the evening. Lows in the mid 70s. Southwest winds around 10 mph.

Sunday...Partly cloudy. Highs in the mid 90s. Heat index readings 99 to 104 in the afternoon. Light and variable winds.

Sunday Night...Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 70s.

In case you don't know, "heat index" is like the inverse of "wind chill". It'll be humid, your sweat (and anyone else's sweat that gets on ya) won't evaporate.

http://www.coppertone.com/detail_gp_50spectra.aspx

seriously. i put this on once a day and didnt get burned at all. not even after all the sweating.

Though for Mission of Burma, the "awesome index" will be very high, I hear.

Bottom line, the atmosphere was beautiful. but, from the reaction towards the music, one would think the crowd to be mostly kids who were in love with the idea of being in love with music. I felt kind of out of place. I mean, I'm not sure if I have it all wrong, (plus I of course wasn't everywhere all the time) but it seems like you can memorize all the band facts you'd like, but if you don't let all of your deep rooted 'do I look cool' concerns dissolve when you're witnessing that band you've downloaded all 5 albums from and enjoy yourself, then, what the fuck is the point?

"and no one got hurt"

Of course no one got hurt! no one moved but two inches from their designated standing & staring spot except to switch stages to analyze the next band!
And I know everyone enjoys themselves differently, especially the contemplative intellectual-types, so the only real reason I comment on this is because when the energy levels are low, there's nothing to feed off of. I mean you can dance your ass off because you are feeling it, and thats cool memories, but.
I don't know.

But me and the friends had fun.
So, yes, otherwise beautiful atmosphere, could not ask for nicer more courteous people to have been surrounded by otherwise, great bands, I'd do it again.

I'm jotting about the whole on some blog, but I'm just wondering how others experiences were.

Didn't the girl from Bonde do Role break her arm while crowdsurfing in the tent?

I had fun. And got sun poisoning. Or some kind of rash. I don't really fault anyone for not dancing so much in unremitting 100+ degree weather.

Regarding Mission of Burma: awesome, but very nearly heartbreaking to hear Roger Miller flirt with playing "Trem Two" and then declare his effects pedal unfit. When I heard the opening notes, I came bounding from the water line--I was mere feet from the fountains--damn.

Maybe it was the weather, but I'm starting to think I enjoyed Vice Intonation a little more. It definitely featured more memorable acts.

Oh, and yes - Mission of Burma were, as expected, great. Neither of the girls behind me had heard of them. Or, for that matter, any of the bands on the second day bill - save, mysteriously, for Yo La Tengo.

aw damn. another person i totally missed!

re: bonde de role

i was about 10 ft away from where she fell... they carried her away and i could see her sitting there getting attended to. i don't think she had a broken arm because after a minute or two, they were freaking out enough. i think the bdr guys just said, "oh, she broke her arm. ha ha!" what a total asshole. maybe i'm missing a cultural cue or something, but between their attitude about her falling and him spitting beer on her, i couldn't help but sort of hate that guy. and their music was awful. the myspace tracks were interesting so i specifically stayed for their set but their live implementation was total amateur hour. flip to spankrock tho... who's lyrical content is probably just as hyper-sexualized, but who totally ruled despite technical problems with the maroons running the sound on the biz stage.

stupid opinions aside, i hope the bdr girl was okay.
m.

I am still pissed about it

I left after one song of Ghislain Poirer. Did he stop playing trip hop, or is that pretty much his thing?

The problem of DJ groupies who go to a party to not dance was also in evidence for A Trak at sonotheque that night. Also, A-Trak made the terribly named 'flosstradamus' look bad as party DJs.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reply to: pers-187932700@craigslist.org
Date: 2006-07-29, 10:59PM CDT

I saw you at Pitchfork standing in line for beer tickets. We caught each other's eyes and then acted very interested in the trees and the ground. Wish we would have said something to one another:"Did you like Art Brut?" perhaps. Me: oversized sunglasses, striped Urban Outfitters shirt, lots of long necklaces, skirt, dirty chuck tailors, short messy wavy hair in pigtails, lots of bangs. You: dark shaggy hair, dark frame glasses, rolled up jeans, dark socks, plaid button down, smoking American Spirits. Let's get coffee at Filter or some PBRs at Gold Star sometime?

this is in or around Union Park/Pitchfork

no -- it's NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests

I'm like 80 shades darker than when I left for Chicago -- my cab driver thought I was Somali!

the bondo do role thing was totally grisly. i was positive she broke her arm cause it cracked the railing in a really awkward way and then buckled under the weight of her fall, but apparently it was just a dislocation. still, jesus, OW.

that said, it was a really ill-advised stage dive. no security at the front + minefield of concrete, railings and monitors in the deposit zone = poor exit plan.

xpost yeah i was really pleasantly surprised at the amount of people dancing for the techno stuff.

Can't wait to get home from work and see if I can spot myself geeking out in the Art Brut youtube. Nice meeting you, jaymc!

True, the tent actually made things worse because it halted the breeze.

Silver Jews were good but not as life changing as in march. Funny banter. He's best in a room full of jews fans.

Met Darnielle. What a great fucking guy. I just said I liked his show and we wound up talking for 5 minutes. And his show WAS good. Really good.

Walkmen's guitarist looks frighteningly like Eddie Van Halen. It's in the face. The singer was totally into it but I dont understand why the guitar tone has to be ear drum shattering all treble so you can only hear a few scratches here and there. But their drum kick sound and their bassists crab dance were both equally nice.

Destroyer does the pained artist thing well. Actually liked it. Best guitar tone of the entire event I think. Agree that he needs to uhmm maybe engage the audience. But maybe he doesn't either.

A lot of the second day was a blur because I'd slept in a car and was all sweaty. I kind of walked from show to show and would leave early if I lost interest.

Yo La Tengo's piano stuff was a lot better than the guitar stuff.

The Liars need to lose the guitar and singer and keep with the drummy stuff.

Spoon was good and they later asked my friend if he could get them blow.

Devandra was perfect summer outdoor music. Jammy and light and airry.

Os Mutantes was biggest letdown of all. It was all overdone and made into some laser show light rock muzak extravaganza. That was the one I was looking forward to the most.

I saw like 4 white rappers at assorted periods and although I didn't catch any of their names they usually weren't very good.

my friend stayed at the hotel pitchfork rented out for the artists and met david byrne (there to see os mutantes) and lou reed who said something about yo la tengo and offered my friend whiskey shots (my friend turned him down!)

WHAT THE FUCK!

your friend is in the rock penalty box.

also, no rita lee no dice

the liars were possessed.

burma ruled.

t. braxton was awesome, but managed to clear the tent a good bit.

holy reasonable food and beverage costs.
m.

Ada was my revelatory moment. That shit was great. Not only the mohawk kid but the hairy kid in the blue soccer shorts was dancing his ass off!

Damn Ulrika, Jens' pianist, though. I still don't think she understands that we need to be together.

yeah, wtf, that was just weird. I've never seen anything so...ridiculous and almost...disturbing? If that tent wasn't so hot I would have stayed in there to get those timid kids bumpin. But when Diplo told the crowd it was one of the best he'd ever played to, that was some kind of bs.

And still, that Burma crowd was such an embarrassment. However, the best thing about moving around in that sort of indie immobile-ness is that the people start move over so you have lots of room to rock out. Still. lame.

It just seemed like with all the talk about people wanting to see them (the conversations I'd had with random attendees prior to the set), there was going to be some sort of expression about it. I love that sort of display of unabashed energy--the stuff usually only reserved for rocking out in your room. So it really just would have been nice to be surrounded by a bit more of the excitement verbalized prior. Maybe a few more fist pumps. Some air jamming. a little bit of bumpage?

But, okay. I just love music & the adrenaline rush of letting it take me over (when possible. and before I get too old to do so.)

and m.--happy to hear.

anyhow. I had a good time.

Tim Tuten, co-owner of the Hideout. Funny thing is, he often does the same grandiose patter before shows at his tiny club, too.

And I'll second the 'great city' nod. So clean!

and I thought the laid back, indie-celebs walking the streets and watching the shows vibe was cool too

On Friday afternoon, we ran into Wayne Coyne from the Flaming Lips walking around near the Art Institute, watching kids play in the monolith sculpture fountain pool, in his full-on suit and (untied) bow tie. (He said he was in town because they were playing in Wisconsin that weekend; it had nothing to do with Pitchfork.) We talked to him for a little while (we had seen the Lips play in L.A. just last week) -- he's a super nice (and intense) guy.

Drew, did you see the amazing all-windows, super-reflective building on the river where it bends? That's my favorite in Chicago. Also, that last part feels like my whole summer. Drunk dude today in Logan Square telling everyone to fuck themselves, that he was fucked up and at one point saying, "I'm a n*gger." Very confusing and deeply depressing.

Chin Up Chin Up: "generic angular guitar rock"
Man Man: "all shtick and no substance"
Band of Horses/The Walkmen: "good but not great"
Destroyer: "fine but not fabulous"
Silver Jews: "interestingly skewed but far from superb"
Mountain Goats: "too sleepy and tuneless"
Ted Leo: "a rollicking set"
The Futureheads: "overstayed their welcome and became repetitious"
Danielson: "gimmicky presentation"
The Liars: "rollicking noise-rock"
Aesop/Lif: "good-time hip-hop party grooves"
Devendra: "hippie campfire music"
Mission Of Burma: "nothing short of incendiary"
Os Mutantes: "gloriously strange and sweepingly cinematic"

wtf!

"Argos is a frumpy Everyman and unapologetic schlub -- think of Philip Seymour Hoffman portraying the late rock critic Lester Bangs in "Almost Famous""

wtf more!

no lester bangs, no credibility.

SpankRock "crotchtastical booty jamz"
Tarantula A.D. "Shadowfaxxxploitation"
etc

spankrock: "a rousing set of hipster-friendly party grooves"
tarantula a.d.: "loud but not incendiary"
dominik eulberg: "rhythmic and trancey"

etc etc

Agreed with the comment on Destroyer's guitar tones. Some of the best tones I've ever heard. "It's Gonna Take An Airplane" was probably my favorite moment of the festival.

Other highlights were energetic sets from The Walkmen, CSS, Liars, Mission Of Burma (despite the Trem Two bullshit) and Os Mutantes

The goddamn sound: I hope Pitchfork jacks up the ticket price an extra $5 next year and improves the sound system. This was a real frustration. If you were standing close to the stage, the sound was fine. If you were back in the crowd, you were SOL. The music played softly and had no punch to it. A larger bank of speakers placed higher off the ground would probably take care of this. I know it's a festival, but you shouldn't be required to stand within 30 feet of the stage to enjoy the music.

Ran into the Liars rhythm section at a Walgreens and Britt Daniels at a grocery store within 5 minutes of each other after the festival. The heat and music had dulled me beyond comprehension and I had nothing interesting to say to either. Just vague fanboy ramblings.

Chicago is unbelievable. Again I'll just echo the sentiments above. It's everything you could want in a big city without the obnoxious pretensions. As much as I loved the Pitchfork festival, I didn't have my mind properly blown until I visited the Art Institute a few days later. I'm still reeling. The only letdown was the King Tut exhibit at the Field Museum. Probably the worst case of false advertising ever.

I really wanted to see more dj tenting, but i couldn't get anywhere close to the tent, too crowded.

Who's all going this year?

Fwiw, single day and 3-day passes still available. Dunno if that's unusual with a couple of days to go ...

Unusual for 3-day passes.

I'll be there. FAP?