The final day of Lollapalooza at Chicago's Grant Park hit a high-drama note with a slightly late performance by Lou Reed, which allegedly caused some discontent among Band Of Horses, who had to wait until he was finished to start their set on the nearby PlayStation stage. But honestly, guys? He's Lou Reed. He doesn't know how to be uncool (though he did look a tad grumpy). And, wait--he's LOU REED.
Lou opened his set with "Sweet Jane," and then played an excellent 15-minute droning session toward the end of the show, segueing into "Waiting For My Man." Fans sang along to "Walk On The Wild Side" until the sun went down, and then the New York King exited the stage.
To complete festival organizer Perry Farrell's vision of a crazy dance space, MSTRKRFT was booked for Perry's Stage, and the area was packed with blinged-out scenesters getting their jam on.
Before Jane's Addiction took the main stage, a helicopter did rounds above the crowd. For a second I thought the band would pull a Madonna and actually arrive in a chopper!
Even better: Perry Farrell came out practically painted gold, wearing chrome bellbottoms, a lamé suit jacket, and chains. Jane's return to the festival couldn't have been any more glamorous...that is, until Perry busted out with maracas, turned his back to the audience, and bent over.
Jane's guitarist Dave Navarro was equally badass with his shredding, and on my way out of the photo pit I witnessed perhaps the most fan-worthy moment of the festival: a diehard fan with a bandaged leg who was doing tumbles and air-guitar nonstop all over the grass.
