Pitchfork Recap
The second day of Pitchfork was honestly delightful in comparison to the incredibly rainy first day. People were cheerful, dressed for a summer day, and ready to be entertained. One thing I instantly picked up on during this festival was how much of a fashion event this turned out to be. No matter the genre of clothing, people were just oozing coolness. The grounds were still a bit soggy from the previous day’s rain, but it wasn’t stopping anyone from laying down a blanket in the grass and settling in with their friends and some snacks from the vendors. Not only were there food trucks and food stalls, the expansive artist booths housed some spectacular prints, clothing, jewelry, and records. I think the planners for this event did an exceptional job in creating a space that allowed people to explore, relax, and take in all the artists they came to see. I appreciate that there wasn’t much overlap between the sets I was excited for.
The Linda Lindas
The Linda Lindas are made up of Eloise Wong, Bela Salazar, and sisters Lucia and Mila de la Garza. I was so excited for their set as I previously had the pleasure of seeing The Linda Lindas perform in the rebellious but sweet coming of age movie, Moxie. A la Phoebe Buffay, the group played a song named after Bela Salazar’s cat, “Monica”. They closed out their set by covering “Rebel Girl” by Bikini Kill, a crowd pleaser and personal favorite. These girls had so much energy and presence they felt like veterans of the stage. They were dancing, the field was filled with happy people; it truly could not have been a more joyful time.
The Armed
Being introduced to The Armed via live performance was the way to go. I don’t think I’ve ever experienced a band with more stamina. The crowd ate it up when the ICP reminiscent painted band members took turns hanging out at the front of the stages. Half of the time I didn’t know what was going on and I LOVED it. Strong vocals, strong instrumentals, and strong stage presence.
Japanese Breakfast
Japanese Breakfast put on a show that was nothing short of a fever dream. After seeing the performance at Coachella this year, I was once again gobsmacked by Michelle Zauner’s presence and voice. People were absolutely vibing during this set. I was looking forward to “Paprika”, and her charismatic beating of the gong did not disappoint. The ever-creative and dreamy singer drew me in and was the highlight of my time at Pitchfork.
Lucy Dacus
Lucy, Lucy, Lucy. My god does she have the most beautiful, buttery, soothing voice. When I closed my eyes I couldn’t even tell what era she was from because her vocals are the kind that transcend a generation. She serenaded the crowd dressed like a cotton candy dream, her hair adorned with little jewels, and wearing her trademark red lipstick. I heard someone in the crowd say “Wow, she’s getting so popular,” and in my opinion she deserves all the new attention she’s been getting during her solo days after first being introduced through the BoyGenius trio. The cherub-faced singer garnered the crowd’s attention and got them in the perfect mindset before Mitski took the stage.
Mitski
Mitski was THE artist to watch. I did not experience a bigger or more concentrated crowd the entire weekend. I could even see people taking in her performance from rooftops across the field- no one wanted to miss out on her set. People danced and sang along; the entire atmosphere was one of jubilance. She played her TikTok viral hit, “Nobody”- and one of my absolute favorites “Your American Girl”. Her live version of “Nobody” had a more delicate and slow pace that complimented the story being told. I couldn’t help but be mesmerized by her distinctive and theatrical dancing as the sun set and Day 2 of the festival came to a close.
