Chi-city and the Pitchfork Festival or Why J should go to shows again...Part 1

"Perhaps the most typically American place in America." James Bryce, 1888

The wife and I went to Chicago in July so I could attend the Pitchfork music festival for the second year in a row. I thought I would be going by myself as my usual show companion had already made alternate travel plans but at the last moment I convinced the missus that Chicago was a fun city to visit plus she wanted to check out the craft fair at the festival to see if she might want to participate as a vendor next year. Thought she is not a live music fan I got her a 2 day pass for Saturday and Sunday, while I had already bought a 3 day pass before acts were announced.

Buying tickets to a show when you don't know who will be performing would seem like a bonehead move. I would normally agree but this year the Pitchfork Festival was extended, adding a Friday night to the weekend schedule. The Friday night acts it was announced would be part of the 'Don't Look Back Series'. The series has artists performing records from beginning to end. Previous performances have included Low performing Thing We Lost in The Fire and the Dirty Three performing Oceans Songs. This was enough for me to buy tickets as soon as they went on sale despite having to probably go alone. Plus the festival itself is well organized and usually has an eclectic line up, this year being no different.

When it was announced that Sonic Youth would perform Daydream Nation on Friday night I knew I had made the right decision. I have been a Sonic Youth fan for while and have been seeing them live just as long. Though I have a special place in my heart for Evol and especially Sister (chock full of Philip K Dick references) Daydream Nation was the 1st Sonic Youth record I anticipated coming out. I remember being blown away hearing the whole thing from front to back the first time. It would still be 2 or 3 years before I would see then live for the first time. By then they had signed to a major label with grunge right around the corner. Their live set did not include a lot of stuff from Daydream Nation at that time so this would be my first chance to hear some of these songs live.

More in part 2......Publish Post