#74 - In Old Chicago

I gotta be honest. I wasn't in the mood for this kind of movie when I watched it. I probably didn't give it the attention it deserved, but thats the way it goes. It just didn't pull me in right away like Alexander's Ragtime Band did. Why do I bring that movie up? Well, the male and female leads are all the same people. It's a team. It's a blockbuster trio. Honestly, these three people work very well together. The interaction between them is pretty damn similar between the three of them, just a few changes here and there. But leadin man falling in love with leadin lady and Don Ameche as the supporting guy with the mustache. Brothers or bandmates, it really doesnt matter.

I think the reason I was pulled into this movie as much as the other is because there isnt any music by Irving Berlin. Okay, that and the fact that I was seeing the same characters again, but I think I have made that point already.

I'll tell you what, even though I spent the middle of the movie trying to thaw my stupid little freezer enough so that I could close the door, the ending is quite well done. The brothers fight against an angry mob while trying to save Chicago from the big fire. The scenes were well planned out, well shot, and the special effects were quite well done. I was impressed and it was the only part of the movie that had me completely engaged. Of course, I have to deduct points for the origin of the fire. I know it started in a theatre and not in the house of these two guys mother. Thats what you get when you light a wooden building with flammable curtains and paint with candles and oil.

Unrelated Lollapallooza segment 2: Actually, its not that unrelated since both things took place in or near downtown Chicago. Okay thats a stretch. Anyways, on day two I started by watching Nada Surf. They rock. They were very good and have a classic sound. I need to get some of their stuff. I checked out Coheed and Cambria and they were alright. They did a good job at what they were doing, but I just wasnt into it all that much. I will tell you that the lead singer has one hell of a head of hair. Eat your heart out Sideshow Bob. After they got done, Wolfmother started on the other side of the field. They had a great introduction by the man, Perry Ferrell himself, and they were pretty good. Kind of a rocky, somwhat psychadelic, rockin kind of sound. Hard to describe, but it was entertaining. I cut out of there early to check out Sonic Youth on the other side of the park. They were fantastic. Most of what they did was from their new album, but they played great. I need more of their stuff too, but there is a lot to choose from. After they got done, The Dresden Dolls started on the other side of the field. Sound familiar. Bands were going back and forth from stage to stage all day long on two sides of the park. And then there were the side stages going on too. Non-stop music all day long. Now, I have heard some of The Dresden Dolls stuff and I enjoyed the edgy cabaret sound that they created. When they play live, it is very intense, energetic, and quite entertaining. They have classic cabaret makeup on and its a guy on drums and a girl on piano, and she is really good. She slams down on those keys and put everything into her songs. I dont know if it is on any of their albums, but I was shocked when they broke out with War Pigs by Black Sabbath. The highlight was when Amanda Palmer tried to change into a t-shirt becuase her outfit was too hot. She tried to do it without flashing the crowd and failed. After that it was thirty minutes of her in a tshirt and stocking with garters and her sweaty hair in her face, messing up her makeup as she pounded away on her piano and poured out her lyrics. I dont think anyone the entire weekend sang with as much passion and intensity as she did. It was great to watch. It was quickly overshadowed by what was about to take place on the other side of the field. I have never heard about what takes place at a Flaming Lips show, but it is one of the most amazing spectacles I have seen on stage. Wayne Coyne starts off the show by climbing into a clear ball that gets inflated until its like a life sized gerbil ball. He then gets carried out to the audience and crawls over the crowd. When he gets back, half the stage is filled with dancing santas and the other half is filled with chick aliens. In the back they blow up a huge inflated santa, alien, and two astronauts who all start dancing around. And then they toss out about a dozen enormous blue balloons into the crowd that float in the air forever. And in the middle of all this chaos is this madman in a vest and dress pants with a huge head of hair. It's as if he is conducting all of the madness around him as he shoots off a seemingly endless supply of streamer cannons into the crowd. It was absolutely phenomonal, and the best part was that it fit the music they play. It wasn't spectacle that distracted from or covered up the music. Instead, it was a tremendous visual environment that was supported by and emphasized the music. Unbelievable. After that, I made my way back to the other side of the park and got ready for the last show of the night. I kid of heard The New Pornographers from the other side of the field, but now really. I would have liked to have heard them better, but I was getting a good spot for Kanye West. For a while I have been impressed by Kanye's ability to have catchy, popular songs while actually being a good rapper. And let me tell you, he blew the place up. He came out ready to put on a show for his home town and he delivered. He had a full string section, backup singers, and of course, a DJ. Here's a note to audio technicians, dont screw up Kanye's mic when he is in his hometown trying to put on a hell of a show. He will rip you a new one until its fixed, which in this case took about three songs. It was still a hell of a set that had half of Grant Park on their feet and dancing along. It was another good ending to another good day. I wasnt able to check out Gnarls Barkley, Common, or Blackalicious, but like I have said before, I had to make my choices. The final day will be in my next review.