In a year of big performances at Lollapalooza, Saturday was perhaps one of the biggest.
Coinciding with the Chicago fest's 20th anniversary, it was fitting that The Killers were the headliners on Saturday night, as they were also one of the headliners in 2005 for the first edition in its permanent home at Grant Park after previously being a traveling festival across North America for the first few years.
The day started with a splashy performance from rising Chicago act Brigitte Calls Me Baby, who actually had a sound reminiscent of The Killers on some of their songs. It was such a fun, lighthearted introduction for the day, setting the mood for the rest of the performances there on the IHG stage as well as the nearby main stage (T-Mobile).
Armani White opened the T-Mobile stage for the day, and he proved to be such a gracious performer, telling the crowd repeatedly how glad he was to be playing at Lolla, having previously attended as a fan in 2018. He talked about how far he has come in the years since and how grateful he was to be surrounded by so many in the crowd.
A surprise favorite for us was the band Happy Landing, whose album Golden just released a few weeks ago. The timing couldn't have been better, as they had the crowd at the Bacardi stage absolutely enthralled with their violin-laced, folk performance in the vein of acts like The Head and The Heart and Judah & the Lion, both of whom they've toured with recently. For those familiar, and especially those unfamiliar with the band, they were a true gem.
Another favorite was the rising pop-rock act Nightly, who delivered one of the best shows at the BMI stage so far this weekend. It was clear many of those in the crowd also knew their music as they sang along with a majority of their songs, including their addictive recent single "the movies," which was a moment of magic in the middle of their set.
Later in the day, CANNONS drew an incredible crowd to the Tito's Handmade Vodka stage, where they made their second appearance at Lollapalooza, following their 2021 performance, which actually marked their first-ever festival performance, as the singer Michelle Joy noted how Lolla holds a special place in their hearts. It was the perfect way to spend that time just as the sun began to set and gentle glow covered the stage as fans danced around.
Next up, we moved from big, theatrical performances to big, sweeping vocals with an emotionally stirring set by Sam Nelson Harris, the lead singer of the band X Ambassadors. While Harris performed solo with just his acoustic guitar on the BMI stage, the stripped down effect provided a great atmosphere for Harris to showcase hie vocal prowess, which is truly undeniable. And although he did perform a number of his own solo songs, he treated fans to a number of X Ambassadors songs, opening with "Renegades," and then later playing his Medium Build collaboration "Friend for Life," before capping with a gripping rendition of the band's standout single "Unsteady."
As night approached, Killer Mike took the Bacardi stage, backed by a number of singers all dressed in white like himself. It evoked a very spiritual mood, as Mike played the role of entertainer as well as preacher, offering words of encouragement to the crowd, all smiles as he seemed to relish the moment. It was a powerful performance.
Of course, the night was capped by none other than the aforementioned headliners The Killers. "We're the Killers," frontman Brandon Flowers said into the microphone before the band began performing officially. "We're a great rock and roll band!"
If there was any doubt why The Killers were returning to headline one of the biggest festivals in the world 20 years after the release of their breakout album Hot Fuss, it was squashed within seconds of the band's performance as they electrified the T-Mobile stage opening with "Somebody Told Me," as a sea of tens of thousands of fans elatedly sang every word back to them.
Whereas some artists fade from the zeitgeist after years in the mainstream spotlight, The Killers have essentially escaped such a fate, perhaps thanks to generations of millennials and Gen Xers who grew up with this band and associate them with such pivotal moments in their life, as songs like "Mr. Brightside" and "Smile Like You Mean It" soundtracked their formidable years.
Maybe it was this sense of wonder and nostalgia which seemed to sweep over the field as Brandon Flowers led the crowd through the set list, offering silly commentary in between songs before launching into his Las Vegas showman persona, ever present throughout the set and proving why Flowers continue to be one of the best, most entertaining performers of his generation.
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