Lollapalooza 2008 Dates Confirmed

The dates for Lollapalooza 2008 have been confirmed as August 1-3 in the semi-permanent residence of Grant Park. After this year's lineup, which was impressive, to be sure, what's in store for '08? We'll have to wait and see.

A few suggestions: PJ Harvey, a newly reunited Babes In Toyland (yeah, in my dreams), Cat Power, Liz Phair with her pants back on and with her good music in tow (maybe a full performance of Exile In Guyville, a la Slint's Spiderland performances?). I don't know why I'm naming all female artists here, I believe it to be a mere coincidence. But it could be a prescient vision of a Lilith Fair revival.

Wilco Announce Millenium Park Benefit Concert

While news of my Chicago vacation fades into oblivion, let's hit this one tidbit: Wilco have just announced that they will headline a September 12 show at Millennium Park's Frank Gehry-designed Pritzker Pavilion.

Kristen and I floated past the Marina Towers (architect Bertrand Goldberg. We're architecture dorks in my house) from the cover of Yankee Hotel Foxtrot several times on the L, but never got close enough to the buildings to get a fantastic photo like the above. Those buildings were like the phantom of Chicago when we were there. . .always fading in and out of view! And all the time we spent on State Street, we never made it to that part of State Street.

Presale is happening today for the show. Proceeds benefit Chicago Coalition For The Homeless.

Dan Deacon Played Pitchfork Festival in Chicago This Weekend, Failed To Have AGT Lovefest

It is worth noting that my Chicago vacation coincided with the Pitchfork Music Festival, which I did not attend. Why? One reason is that Pitchfork is an online zine that you love or hate, and I generally hate it. I just can't get down with their whole hipster agenda. Sure, I would have loved to have seen Slint, Cat Power (still listening to The Greatest, Chan. . .brilliant record!), etc., but I don't think I could take 3 hours (not to mention 3 days) with a bunch of white belts and pencil jeans. And hearing a bunch of suburbans and middle-class urbanites getting live with Clipse and drug violence . . . I'm getting ill.

Brooklyn Vegan, however, has an interesting article about the Fire Marshal shutting down Dan Deacon and Girl Talk because their sets drew massive crowds. Cool pictures of the Deac on BV, looking a bit rotund and without his usual uber-geek glasses (see above and at BV's site. . .how about that gingerly redhead looking enamored with Dan Deacon?). It's alright, Danners, I'm four-eyed and kind of round myself. But there I was, in the Chi, and another person was there reppin' Balto, and you left me hanging, Dan. You left me hanging and didn't get in touch so we could hold hands and walk through Millenium Park together. See if I come to your set at Whartscape this weekend!

Any Given Tuesday Takes Chicago Vacation

Happy 4th of July! I am happy to say that I am going on vacation next week with Kristen. There may or may not be posts from July 10-13 depending on whether I can either log some posts in advance to publish for those days or arrange some guest bloggers (anyone interested? Leave a comment or email me.) to cover for me. I will have internet access, but intend to use it very sparingly. We will be in Chicago, Kristen's old stomping grounds, seeing the sights and enjoying some much-earned alone time. I'm hoping to meet R. Kelly and tell him how much I love the "Same Girl" track, but if anyone else is interested in meeting up around the Hancock Building, my hotel is right across the street. No paparazzi, please.

I also need a cure for nailbiting, if anyone's got some advice. I've been chewing my nails for way too long, and it's got to stop.

Now go enjoy your Independence Day! And if you're at work, enjoy yourself immensely once you get off! You deserve it.

Lollapalooza Schedule Is Here!

The Lollapalooza schedule has been made official, and you can download it here.