What a weekend! We saw a lot that we liked and a bit that we didn’t at Pitchfork 2015. With that, let’s look back at the highs and lows of this year’s festival performances.
Josh Terry, music reporter
Best: Chance the Rapper. Nothing’s better than a totally bonkers and compelling homecoming show. Chance nailed it.
Source: All photos via Chicago Tribune
Runners-up:
Natalie Prass. Even without the strings and horns of her excellent debut album, Prass’ live setup is just as awesome. Also, the new songs, specifically “Jass,” have this tropical vibe I’m really digging.
Bully. This Nashville band was so good I can’t wait to see them again in two weeks at Lollapalooza.
Future Islands. Amazingly, I’ve missed every chance to see this incredible Baltimore synth rock band until now. Totally worth the years of waiting and missed opportunities.
Worst: A$AP Ferg. As I noticed rowdy festivalgoers making a completely full recycling bin crowd-surf, I realized this set was way too lit.
Matt Pais, music editor
Best: With the disclaimer that I only attended the fest Friday and Saturday (and covered Taylor Swift on Sunday), the best stuff I saw came from Sleater-Kinney, closing Saturday with a headlining set that provided a wall of wail not seen frequently enough at Pitchfork. Corin Tucker, Carrie Brownstein and Janet Weiss haven’t lost a step in their post-reunion days, roaring with professionalism, passion and musicianship. What a concept.
Runner-up: Bully is a blast of early-‘90s grunge noise, with good material that never feels like mere homage. To see and hear them is to bow down to singer/guitarist Alicia Bognanno.
Worst: ilovemakonnen, by a mile. Based on his Friday afternoon set, he has no lyrics, flow, beats or stage presence on which his success can stand. How has he made it this far—I know, I know, Drake remix, whatever—and can it stop please?
Rianne Coale, social media manager
Best: Chance the Rapper. WOW. His set was by far the best of the whole weekend. He had wardrobe changes. His mom was there. And Kirk Franklin brought some gospel soul to the set. It was just a non-stop entertainment train. I loved every minute of it.
Worst: iloveMakonnen. Having never been to Pitchfork before, I heard his set on the first day and thought, “If this is the kind of music they play at this fest, it’s going to be an incredibly long and painful weekend.” It was not only the worst set I heard at Pitchfork, but it was probably the worst set I have EVER heard anywhere. Yeah, it was THAT bad.
Akeem Lawanson, online producer
Best: Chance the Rapper, by far. He really knows how to put on a show, feeding off of the energy of the audience.
Worst: Shamir. I love his music, but he seemed to be going through the motions with his performance. His lackadaisical stage dancers didn’t add much to the performance either.
