Lollapalooza Plan Of Attack - Sunday

With a festival as sprawling and diverse as Lollapalooza, one can easily feel conflicted about where to spend your precious time. Should you plot an early spot waiting for the popular band or roll up fashionably late splitting time with lesser known acts? Would you be better served seeing an artist you know little about or go for the group you just satisfyingly caught in a much more intimate setting? Fret not, noble 'Palozzian, your choices are not so weighty. With Sunday being the most diverse lineup, let's see if we can make it through without too many regrets.

HEALTH/The Antlers/The Dodos: 11:30-2pm
If your energy reserves have not yet been depleted, roll in early Sunday for the up-in-your-grill noise of HEALTH. Next, traverse quickly across Grant Park to catch The Antlers. Their 2009 emotionally swollen ode to dying Hospice is a heartbreaking listen. Finally, the stripped down, primitive approach of The Dodos will remind you that often times less is actually much more. However, for the more is best crowd, head over to the DJ stage for the electro-tweaks of Felix Cartal or the bursting African soul of Nneka.

HEALTH - Die Slow


The Antlers - Two


The Dodos - Fables


Felix Cartal - Montreal Dreams


The Cribs/Chiddy Bang/Yeasayer: 2-5pm
For this conflict-ridden block of time, I am opting for the good times to keep me pushing through. With The Cribs being the festival's most raucous option for British born rock, they will remind you what country puts the "P" in power-pop. My next stop will definitely be at the DJ stage for the party put on by Philly's Chiddy Bang. (Lots of P's there too!) If you can make it, run over and catch the last bit of Yeasayer's music that draws influence from all over the world. There are so many options here, you can make your own choices based on your listening palate. Try Chicago's favorite bar band The Ike Reilly Assassination, the intense British folk of Mumford and Sons or the infinitely interesting blend of Latin and hip-hop from Mexican Institute of Sound.

The Cribs - Mirror Kissers


Chiddy Bang - Kids


Yeasayer - Ambling Alp


Mumford and Sons - The Cave


Mexican Institute Of Sound - Cha Cha Cha


Frightened Rabbit/MGMT: 5-7:15pm
This slot might contain the toughest call of the night. Although I enjoy Erkyah Badu's incredible voice, Scotland's Frightened Rabbit is an all-time favorite of mine. Their 2008 effort Midnight Organ Fight is a never-ending cycle of acoustic strength and lyrical might. After that, MGMT's synth-dance set will be a bouncing, flashing disco mess. However, my inner crowd surfer may be swayed to check the 60's stoner rock of Wolfmother. Might have to catch one of those golf cart shuttles for this one.

Frightened Rabbit - Nothing Like You


MGMT - Electric Feel


Wolfmother - Dimension


The National/The Arcade Fire: 7:15-10pm
Although Cypress Hill might be fun, I am just not that into weed. No worries, because The National are the very definition of an American success story. Touring and recording for many years until their 2005 breakthrough album Alligator, the New York based band has been riding the well deserved waves of critical adulation for their distinct yet familiar brand of heart strung indie. With their brand new release The Suburbs less than one week old, The Arcade Fire will definitely close the show with one of their trademark emotional live performance. However, a special shoutout to Soundgarden for going viral and running around Chicago and giving away free tickets to their indoor show at The Vic. That will be a great venue for their career-spanning retrospective.

The National - Bloodbuzz, Ohio


The Arcade Fire - Ready To Start


Soundgarden - Pretty Noose


Again, stay cool and look for my post-concert analysis next week. Do it to it.