Friday 03/08/07 Day One @ Lollapalooza Festival, Grant Park, Chicago

Three years on since its 21st century resuscitation and Lollapalooza has finally hit its stride.  An overabundance of top-flight acts, this is, by far, the best lineup of any festival in North America in 2007.  Perry Ferrell, take a bow.  You had the worst banter of the weekend – “no rain tonight, but it will rain insanity!!!” – but you are forgiven.  You can even play ‘Pets’ again, if you want. 

Ted Leo manages to get through the first three songs without wounding his forehead.  No time to see if he ever breaks the skin – it’s a fountain speedwalk to the Bud Light stage and The Polyphonic Spree.  Hope they’ve reinforced the stage – today, the Spree, tomorrow, I’m From Barcelona.

Leaping upon the landing, bounding into the photo pit, Tim DeLaughter leans against the barricade, engages the crowd.  As if to test the sturdiness of the stage, he unleashes a local Chicago tap dancing troupe to do their worst.  The stage remains intact.  The new black uniforms look a whole lot better than the white robes.  Toward the end of the set, the Polyphonic Spree covers Nirvana’s ‘Lithium.’  Hair-raising.

Lingering in the north end of Grant Park in the shade by the porta-potties and waiting for M.I.A. to follow the Spree.  She has arrived, a vision in short silver shorts.  She says she lost her voice in Los Angeles.  Holding aloft a mystery elixir, she tells us that Jack White FedEx’d the item to her hotel room.  Throat Coat?  Moonshine?  Vodka?  No one knows.  She screams “Lollapaloooooooza!!” at least as many times as she shakes her hips.  She dons a cap with a red feather and for the moment resembles Scott Weiland.  She becomes This Year’s Jared Leto when she climbs the rafter.  She employs the same vocal inflection as may be heard on that “loosen up my buttons” song by the Pussycat Dolls and we’re not entirely sure who stole from whom.  All in all, a riveting performance – visually, if in no other way.