The Killers played their favorite songs, a stage was named after Skrillex, and Future x Metro Boomin drew so many fans that the crowd was asked to take five steps back twice during their set on the penultimate day of Lollapalooza 2024 on Saturday at Grant Park in Chicago. Killer Mike, Deftones and Four Tet were also among the highlights on Day 3.
The killers are here to serve you.
“You have to give the world irrefutable proof that you are who you claim to be,” said Brandon Flowers, the band’s lead singer, at the start of their headlining show. Later, he described his band as part of the “service industry.” And he’s right. The Killers have been upping the ante for the crowd’s enjoyment: inviting a young fan on stage to play drums during “For Reasons Unknown,” covering Chicago power-pop heroes Material Issue, and acting as a karaoke band so festivalgoers could sing “Somebody Told Me” and “Mr. Brightside” back to them. Flowers even played air guitar for his band, pretending to sing like the Vegas guys. The Killers can sleep soundly knowing that their fans have sore throats and songs stuck in their heads. North Carolina.
Future x Metro Boomin go like this
Future x Metro Boomin release collaborative album We don't trust you. In March, and by April, Kendrick Lamar’s “Like That” sparked a feud between Lamar and Drake (others, including J. Cole and Rick Ross, also chimed in) that dominated the rap news cycle throughout May. While that feud appears to have been put on hold for now, fans were quick to catch the penultimate track on their catalog that launched a series of parodies. While they collaborated on an album (they released “Like That”) We still don't trust you In April, there were several collaborators, Lola was free of surprise guests, and the group focused on their solo and group work, including “Type Shit” and “Luv Bad Bitches.” Future’s “Fuck Up Some Commas,” their own “Low Life,” and Young Thug’s “Relationship” were also standouts, getting the crowd singing along and packing their main part of the festival. the
Skrillex wows audiences with amazing dubstep songs and remixes
Veteran Skrillex has turned to the genre that made him a household name, dropping the bass-defying tracks “Xena” and “Rumble” from his 2023 album Seeking to shoot. As flames rose from the stage, the dance floor began to multiply. Screams and cheers ensued. Skrillex then played at the Sony Theater; Perry’s stage was renamed Skrillex I in his honor that day. Skrillex paused to acknowledge the theater’s connection to Lollapalooza founder Perry Farrell, adding that he wanted the name to remain dedicated to Perry. Skrillex thanked the fans at the front of the stage, who had attended his opening afternoon set: “You guys didn’t move,” he said, before slipping into a medley of early 2000s tunes like “Bangarang” and “Scary Monsters and Gentle Ghosts.” Fans greedily raised their hands at Skrillex’s new and early material, chanting “One more song” as he left the stage. South Korea
Killer Mike's Saturday Service
The outspoken Killer Mike took time during his show to talk about social justice and community, a theme he weaves into his music and life as a social activist. “My name is Michael and my heroes are Alice Johnson and Fred Hampton,” he said, praising the people who inspired him to organize. “We’re about to have a renaissance.” After the new album was released, Songs for Sinners and Saints“The End” for 2023 Michael, His set included gospel-flavored tracks from the new effort. Joined by Mighty Midnight Revival and DJ Trackstar, Killer Mike served as a preacher taking the crowd to church while delivering standout songs like “Run” (“Free Young Thug,” he said of the collaborator on the song) and “Talk’n That Shit!” He also brought out surprise guest Eryn Allen Kane for their collaboration “Scientists and Engineers.” “I hope you leave today loved and cared for,” the Run the Jewels member said at the end of the set, giving a joyful send-off to his spiritually moving performance. the
Deftones sound like kids again
Deftones’ recent reappraisal is partly driven by TikTok and Gen Z, which seems to be responsible for the Sacramento band remaining young at heart. Fusing nu-metal, post-hardcore, and shoegaze, they belted out moody ’90s songs with a loud, sultry energy. But the energy was all cheer. Band leader Chino Moreno looked absolutely thrilled, jumping across screens and knee-highing around the stage with a huge smile that belied his bellows. No matter how heavy the songs got, Deftones and their fans (who, at one point, held four mosh pits at once) were simply happy to be there—even when Moreno apparently broke a tooth in the crowd during “Needles and Pins.” More than 35 years later, Deftones still finds beauty in their artistic thinking. North Carolina
Four Tate lays the table on collaborator Skrillex
One of electronic music’s most prominent innovators, Four Tet, provided the starters for Skrillex’s dubstep set. The veteran DJ ditched the ambient music for a bass-driven set, playing MPH’s “One Sixty” and a medley of Carly Rae Jepson’s “Call Me Maybe” with dubstep newcomer Hamdy’s “Never Let You Go.” He also played songs from his 12th studio album sparingly. threeReleased in March, Four Tet turned up the volume on a dubstep-inspired remix of Billie Eilish’s “Lunch” and his Fred Again collaboration “Baby Again.” During Saturday’s show, he set the table for the main collaborator with “Butterflies” from Skrillex’s album. Seeking to shoot. – South Korea
Friko Channel Indie Rock Spirit Lola 2007
In an era of indie rock that parodies country or pop, local duo Friko proudly reclaims the 2000s-adjacent emotional sound instead. Joined by guitarist, bassist, cellist, and violinist Nico Capitan, singer-guitarist and drummer Billy Menzenberger, they immerse themselves—sometimes literally—in the music, with the raucous “Chemical” and the punk-swinging “IN_OUT.” Friko extracts such raw, tense emotion from their songs that if you close your eyes, you’d be forgiven for thinking Bright Eyes was playing. After their closing performance of Radiohead’s “Weird Fishes/Arpeggi,” their peers from Hallogallo—the unstoppable Chicago youth scene that spawned Horsegirl and Lifeguard—bombarded Friko with cheers, as if they were seeing celebrities.North Carolina
Dora Jar is the clown that everyone really loves.
Given how energetic and impetuous Dora Jarr’s indie songs are, it should perhaps come as no surprise that she is equally eccentric in character. Jarr hid behind a funny little curtain, then stuck out her foot, then her hand, and finally her face to the tune of “She Loves Me” before strutting around the stage, speaking in cartoonish, Polish, and dolphin-screaming voices. While “Polly,” “Multiply” and “It’s Random” got the audience dancing, Jarr’s character earned their respect. “We’re always performing, all of us, you know?” she asked. It was an encouragement to prioritize authenticity, quirkiness and spontaneity—something Jarr’s first festival performance did with ease.North Carolina
IVE Shake It Up With Live K-Pop Arrangements
South Korean girl group IVE has been riding their massive world tour like a well-oiled K-pop machine. However, Lollapalooza fans were treated to a rare variation on this itinerary: a five-piece live band. While IVE sang and danced to “Accendio,” “Eleven,” and “Heya,” the electronic songs featured sophisticated, jazzy arrangements. This technically left room for potential mistakes, but in IVE’s hands, it was anything but re-evaluation. “My hair is gone,” laughed a slightly embarrassed Eugene after a wardrobe malfunction caused by dancing too hard. “But I love you guys.” Those moments of unpredictability made IVE’s set uniquely memorable on an already memorable tour. – North Carolina
Nia Archives brought the jungle to the mainstream. Three years ago, Nia Archivz played a jungle medley for a crowd of 30 people, and now stood in front of hundreds of fans waving their arms and cheering her on. The “new jungle singer” began an hour-long set, lining up for a quick cover of Charli XCX’s “365” and A$AP Ferg’s “Plain Jean,” and grabbing the microphone to perform “So Tell Me…,” “Cards On the Table” and “Silence Is Loud” from her self-titled debut album. Since releasing her EP Heads John West In 2021, the 24-year-old artist was on the rise, launching curated club nights called Up Ya Archives and opening for Beyoncé. Renaissance A London tour, and a performance at Coachella in 2023. Her Lollapalooza show on Saturday was full of energy, as she kept fans excited with her signature song “Forbidden Feelingz,” bringing renewed energy to the electronic music subgenre. South Korea
