Chicago is quickly becoming the center of the music universe, at least when it comes to big summer festivals. So it's only fitting that the biggest fest of them all, this weekend's Lollapalooza, features plenty of music from Chicago talent.
We're not just talking Common and Wilco, folks. Here are some of the many homegrown (or at least locally nurtured) artists you'll see onstage August 4-6:
The Bon Mots
Friday, 11:15 a.m.-noon, BMI Stage
How'd you get your Chicago start?
We all came to town with different bands in the '90s, including Mitch, Big Angry Fish, The Webb Brothers and Emil Muzz. We met by playing on bills together at places like the Lounge Ax.
What's your favorite thing about Chicago?
Probably the City Sticker revenue program. After that, it would have to be the varied and massive underground music scene—and all the great players in great bands we're lucky enough to call friends and collaborators.
Bon Mots-apalooza will be:
Twelve-string Rickenbacker and six-string Harmony guitar-fueled tunefulness.
ScribbleMonster
Friday-Saturday, 11:30 a.m.-noon, Kidz Stage
How'd you get your Chicago start?
ScribbleMonster began as a side-project of the ShysterS, an indie-rock band that, despite a 20-year history in the area, remains virtually unknown here. It didn't take long for us to realize ScribbleMonster was the band we were meant to be all along.
What's your favorite thing about Chicago?
Can we just say everything? The music, the people, the clubs, the sports, the food, the neighborhoods, the parks, the museums, the skyline. There's no better city in the world. If we can only have one thing, we'll take The Ike Reilly Assassination, please.
ScribbleMonster-palooza will be:
A fun, interactive rock show for the whole family.
Cameron McGill and What Army
Friday, 12:30-1:15 p.m., BMI Stage
How'd you get your Chicago start?
Playing countless Sunday and Monday nights at the Elbo Room for nobody and no pay. Wrote a lot of songs though, and kept trying to play them for whoever would have me. Does that qualify as a start? I'd do it all over again I guess, sometimes I still do.
What's your favorite thing about Chicago?
It's good at mocking me. It's a wonderful city with so much to appreciate, and whenever I forget that and am too turned inside, it always reminds me that it can offer as much of a respite as I am willing to look for. I also like drinking at The Charleston.
Cameron McGill-apalooza will be:
Six kids eating at the grown-up table for the first time: messy, sweaty and irreverent, but mostly fun.
The Musical Outfits
Saturday, 11:15 a.m.-noon, BMI Stage
How'd you get your Chicago start?
We all grew up together. We started playing as a house band at a number of different bars and venues around Chicago when were about 18 or 19. Writing music and playing out was an addiction for us, we never stopped, never will...
What's your favorite thing about Chicago?
BEARS,BEARS,BEARS,BEARS,BEARS! Summers are great, too.
Musical Outfits-apalooza will be:
Hot, fun, loud, drunken, not long enough & a kick ass rock show.
Katie Todd Band
Sunday, 11:15 a.m.-noon, BMI Stage
How'd you get your Chicago start?
When I returned here after college, I already had some family and friends to support me and give me courage to pursue music full time. I began working at Uncommon Ground and the majority of the staff was involved in the arts in one form or another. I learned a ton from them regarding the Chicago music scene. Starting out, I made a point to play as many open mics as possible... sometimes three to four times a week. Shortly thereafter I started collaborating with drummer/brother-in-law Mark Cameron and recorded a demo CD. It kind of grew from there.
What's your favorite thing about Chicago?
The general attitude I'd have to say. People in Chicago overall remain pretty real and humble to me... We're a big city, but obviously not New York or LA, and I think that because of this, our demeanor remains honest and raw.
Katie Todd-apalooza will be:
Passionate... Honest...Heartfelt.
Mucca Pazza
Sunday, 11:45 a.m.-12:30 p.m., adidas-Champs Stage
How'd you get your Chicago start? The Hideout.
What's your favorite thing about Chicago?
Great communities and weird sites: Friends of the River, Finkl & Sons, West Town Bikes, The Rat Patrol.
Mucca Pazza-palooza will be:
You will see a swarm of nerds in band uniforms. You will think it's chaos. Then you'll hear something brassy, something funky. Then you'll remember there are two kinds of people in the world: people who don't mind making fools of themselves and people who point at people making fools of themselves. Then you'll make a choice.
The Redwalls
Sunday, 12:30-1:30 p.m., Bud Light Stage
How'd you get your Chicago start?
We handed out as many demo tapes as we could and played any show that was offered—anything to get our name out there. We'd play after the headliner at 1 or 2 in the morning for a bunch of drunks. It's actually a good time to play—you always get the best fans or the most abusive fans, either way it's interesting. So yeah, that's about it, that and rugged good looks.
What's your favorite thing about Chicago?
Being that it's the biggest city in the middle of the country you get all the good things about New York and none of the bad things about Los Angeles. It's a blue-collar town that doesn't like change and that's why it's always a good place to come home to. And it's got the best food in the world.
Redwall-apalooza will be:
A spastic barrage of melody and good times.
More info on
Lollapalooza 2006 is available on
ChicagoFests.com, the Chicago Festivals Guide.
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