* = GREG KOT’S PICKS
SATURDAY
1:00 Hot Machines: We got frustrated that Chicago’s most underrated punk rock band never plays out, so we booked them ourselves. MAIN STAGE A–ALUMINUM
1:30 Chin Up Chin Up: We’ve watched them blossom into one of Chicago’s most promising indie acts, persevering through tragedy and turmoil. This city rules. MAIN STAGE C–CONNECTOR
2:00 Man Man: Matching outfits, multiple mustaches, instrument-swapping, banging on cans, a dude playing two trombones at once, a singer named Honus Honus … do we need to go on? MAIN STAGE A–ALUMINUM
2:35 Band of Horses: From a modest set opening for Iron & Wine last spring to a SXSW performance teeming with nervous energy to a pair of spellbinding, sold-out Schubas gigs, this band’s growth over the past year has been simply amazing. MAIN STAGE C–CONNECTOR
3:30 Mountain Goats: We’ve long felt a special kinship with John Darnielle–and not just ’cause he moonlights as a rock critic. Listening to the keen observational wit and nuance of his songs, you get the feeling he just knows. MAIN STAGE A–ALUMINUM
* 4:20 Destroyer: Because we had to uphold our rep for pushing highly literary, cerebral music–bring your pocket thesaurus, kids! MAIN STAGE C–CONNECTOR
* 5:10 Art Brut: Hilarious, observational comedy/music that wears its heart on its sleeve and rocks. With British accents! How could we not? MAIN STAGE A–ALUMINUM
6:10 Ted Leo: One of the most reliable acts in the underground today. Essentially, we invited Ted Leo to play our festival because we want to hug him. Repeatedly. MAIN STAGE C–CONNECTOR
7:10 The Walkmen: We love watching too-tall Hamilton Leithauser stagger and lurch around the stage, spitting lines about his “dumb haircut from 1960” while the band jams away like its instruments are about to fall apart. MAIN STAGE A–ALUMINUM
8:10 The Futureheads: Nothing greets the coming night like three Brits harmonizing on a cover of Kate Bush’s “Hounds of Love.” Bring your gooseflesh. MAIN STAGE C–CONNECTOR
* 9:10 Silver Jews: David Berman ended his long-standing no-touring policy earlier this year; when we heard the news, we picked our jaws up out of our pint glasses and ensured his whipsmart, classic rock-tinged music would be heard for the first time in its most natural setting: under the summer stars. MAIN STAGE A–ALUMINUM
BIZ 3 STAGE
* 8 Bold Souls (1 p.m.): We brought in these jazz vets to remind the young’ns there’s more to Chicago than post-rock and Billy Corgan.
Flosstradamus (1:50 p.m.): This local deejay duo’s monthly Town Hall Pub residency is one of the hottest club nights in the city–literally, it’s like a furnace in there. We wanted to see them in the open air for once.
* Chicago Underground Duo (2:50 p.m.): Chicago’s experimental and electronic-tinged jazz gets marginalized by far too many local institutions. It’s no wonder they rarely perform live. We blame you, WBEZ!
Tyondai Braxton (3:45 p.m.): Just ask this versatile and extraordinary soundsmith to play “Unbreak My Heart.” We dare you.
Ghislain Poirier (4:30 p.m.): Top remixes for key artists, his own stellar productions and cheeky mixes of New York street hop, crunk, grime make him the deejay version of a triple-crown threat.
Spank Rock (5:25 p.m.): A rowdy East Coast party rap crew, led by potty-mounted emcee Naeem Juwan. Did he just say that? He did not just say that. Oh man, he did.
Matmos (6:45 p.m.): We’re hoping Pitchfork contributor Drew Daniel, who makes up half of this electronic duo, will someday introduce us to Bjork (whom he backs up). But since we’re not holding our breath, it’s a good thing we also adore his music.
Matthew Dear (7:40 p.m.): Why go all the way to Germany for a slick microhouse deejay when Detroit is just around the corner?
A-Trak (8:40 p.m.):Lollapalooza got Kanye West, we got his deejay. We’re not disappointed; you won’t be either.
SUNDAY
* 1:00 Tapes ‘N Tapes: The first band in ages out of Ryan’s hometown of Minneapolis to successfully bring the rock. Husker who? MAIN STAGE A–ALUMINUM
1:30 Danielson: Imagine if the Partridge Family didn’t suck. Now imagine if they played fractured, orchestral art-pop paeans to God. Danny Bonaduce doesn’t seem so weird anymore. MAIN STAGE C–CONNECTOR
2:00 Jens Lekman: This lovable Swedish songwriter stole Pitchfork’s cold, jaded heart last year with his clever lyrics and lush instrumentation–and he hasn’t given it back. Now we’re emotionless killing machines with a taste for human flesh. Watch your back, Jens! MAIN STAGE A–ALUMINUM
* 2:35 The National: This brooding band is so big they’re called The National. They’re so awesome they could be called The Awesome. But then we’d probably hate them. MAIN STAGE C–CONNECTOR
3:30 Liars: Tribal drumming, ethereal guitar work, mystical chanting and serene experimental bliss-outs. Yep, it’s a Pitchfork festival! MAIN STAGE A–ALUMINUM
* 4:20 Aesop Rock & Mr. Lif: These underground hip-hop emcees might share a record label, but it’s curious to watch them share a stage. Oscar and Felix were never this street. MAIN STAGE C–CONNECTOR
* 5:10 Mission of Burma: They’re one of the most revered bands to come out of the early ’80s post-punk scene … and they came to us? Guys, let’s start over from the part where we’re groveling. MAIN STAGE A–ALUMINUM
6:10 Devendra Banhart: He might look like he just waltzed over from the Viceroy, but freak-folk’s eccentric kingpin was at the top of our list. Five bucks says no shirt and one of the day’s best sets. MAIN STAGE C–CONNECTOR
* 7:10 Yo La Tengo: Ryan’s first show in Chicago was Yo La Tengo at the Metro in ’97. They are probably one of the best bands on Earth. They are certainly the best in Hoboken, N.J. MAIN STAGE A–ALUMINUM
* 8:10 Spoon: One of their greatest songs is “Chicago at Night.” And they’re playing–get this–Chicago, at night. We swear, it was totally coincidental. We’re not that clever. MAIN STAGE C–CONNECTOR
* 9:10 Os Mutantes: Man, we are so happy about this. Legendary ’60s Tropicalia band reunites to play its first-ever show in Chicago, and our festival is the conduit. Can we be serious for a minute? We’re all crying right now. MAIN STAGE A–ALUMINUM
BIZ 3 STAGE
* Jeff Parker/Nels Cline Quartet (1 p.m.): Two of Chicago’s most innovative, experimental guitarists from two of Chicago’s finest bands (Tortoise, Wilco respectively). Come early or leave crying into your hands.
Bonde Do Role (1:55 p.m.): Their gleeful pillaging of hair metal and booty bass got them hooked up with Diplo, who in turn handed us their demo. Incredibly, they even make Alice in Chains sound funky.
* CSS (2:50 p.m.): Mark our words, pants will come off to these Brazilian ladies’ gratuitously lascivious electro-pop.
Cage (3:40 p.m.): Veteran emcee Cage has weathered drug addiction, abuse, mental illness, label troubles and run-ins with the law. We figured it’s time he had some sun.
Tarantula A.D. (4:30 p.m.): Progressive chamber music by Devendra Banhart buddies and Biz3 favorites. A curious marriage of classical forms and popular genres: metal, punk, flamenco and more.
Ada (5:20 p.m.): Who cares if she covers the Yeah Yeah Yeahs? She’s the first lady of German techno.
* Glenn Kotche (6:10 p.m.): Pitchfork reporter Kati Llewellyn has the biggest crush ever on Wilco drummer Glenn Kotche. She also respects him professionally.
Dominik Eulberg (7:10 p.m.): One of Germany’s top deejays was also once a park ranger, so he should feel right at home overseeing the rugged wilderness of Union Park: “Look, a band of horses!”
Diplo (8:10 p.m.): Anyone who can get cross-armed indie kids to dance to the Ying Yang Twins is a favorite in our book.
