For the uninformed (if not only for the daylight, climb out from that rock you've been hiding under; you're no lizard): Pitchfork Music Festival is a 3-day indie rock extravaganza that since its inception in 2006 has been an annual Midwestern hipster pilgrimage destination. What's unique about the festival is that, aside from the bands and the cheap price and amazingly inexpensive bottled water, some hipsters actually even actually wear shorts! It's also not uncommon to see really colorful and close-fitting t-shirts with ironic slogans, band names/logos, swirly modern graphic designs, and the occasional vintage Cubs shirt. Those who don't wear shorts usually have tight jeans on, and some even have *gasp* cargo pants. Sometimes utility actually does eclipse fashion as a primary concern of the cool kids who are quick to utter quite potent doses contempt for the crass assumption that they actually give a shit about what you think. Oh yeah, and the shoes. Chuck Ts, Onitsuka Tiger, Pumas, or bare feet. There are no other options. Enough about stereotypes. I wear things that look like what I just talked about. I am a walking cliche (+10 for Shins reference).
The lineup usually spans the entire chronology of "indie rock", and includes performers who perform music that people who tend to like indie rock also like (or at least pretend to like so as to not appear close-minded, even though as J stated below many would probably instantly wince at the mention of the Grateful Dead--I've been guilty of this but am slowly getting better) such as indie pop, indie dance, indie jazz, indie electronic and indie world music. Past years have seen breakouts (Danielson, Man Man, CSS, Tapes 'N Tapes, Dan Deacon, Girl Talk, Deerhunter), veterans (Yo La Tengo, the New Pornographers, Spoon, Of Montreal, Silver Jews, Stephen Malkmus), and legends (Yoko Ono, Os Mutantes, Sonic Youth). There has been the quiet of Beach House, the completely opposite loud of Mastodon, the funky of Jamie Lidell, the perfectly sincere of Jens Lekman.
This year's lineup as it has been announced so far again offers something for everyone.
Friday, July 18:
Pitchfork Music Festival and All Tomorrow's Parties
present "Don't Look Back"
Public Enemy performing It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back
Mission of Burma performing Vs.
+ one more to be announced
Saturday, July 19:
Animal Collective
Jarvis Cocker
!!!
Vampire Weekend
Dizzee Rascal
Fleet Foxes
No Age
Jay Reatard
King Khan & His Shrines
Atlas Sound
The Ruby Suns
A Hawk and a Hacksaw
Occidental Brothers Dance Band International
+ many more!
Sunday, July 20:
+ many more!
Yeah, the formatting sucks. I don't know.
Anyway, I've got two predictions that, if true, would make this year's lineup infinitely more awesome than those of years past.
Prediction 1: The Black Lips. How perfect would the Lips be at the tail end of Saturday's dirty garagerockathon? Seriously. Atlas Sound, King Khan, Jay Reatard, No Age, and Black Lips? Fuckin' A!
Prediction 2: The Feelies just reunited. There is one slot open for "Don't Look Back" on Friday. Crazy Rhythms is one of the greatest albums ever recorded. You. Do. The. Math. That would be all kinds of amazing.
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