The Scenestar

Live: Pitchfork Music Festival 2017

ARTICLE AND PHOTOS BY CHRIS ALVAREZ

The 2017 edition of the Pitchfork Music Festival at Union Park in Chicago added a few wrinkles to what could be seen as a well-oiled machine. VIP tickets and amenities were offered to the public for the first time. Also, lockers and cellphone charging stations were implemented into the festival infrastructure. Such things are standard at other larger festivals, but Pitchfork has tried to keep the DIY spirit alive as much as possible (despite numerous sponsorship partners). With a deep lineup, arguably the best weather of the whole summer, and an almost sold-out weekend, it seemed that the festival was set up to go flawlessly. Barring issues regarding entry into the festival on Friday, which were alleviated the next day, it all went according to plan. But with a literal 11th hour cancellation by The Avalanches on Sunday afternoon, the festival scrambled to avoid keeping attendees at the Green Stage in total silence while awaiting headliner Solange. Chicago native Jamila Woods was moved from her Blue Stage slot and was greeted by a buoyant crowd, with whom she responded in kind with an elegant performance. Despite those hiccups, a fantastic weekend of music took place. Below are five highlights of the three-day festival.

Live: Hazel English At Bootleg Bar

ARTICLE BY CHERYL CHENG
PHOTOS BY LESLIE KALOHI

JULY 19 | "I'm so stoked to be here," exclaimed Hazel English to the packed crowd at her sold-out Bootleg Bar show. "We love L.A. We arrived today, and it was like, 'Oh, it feels like summer.' In the Bay [Area], it's always freezing." After performing at this venue in February, and now touring in support of her double EP Just Give In + Never Going Home, the Oakland-based Australian and her band were met by a joyously enthusiastic audience tonight. When one person cheered especially loudly, Hazel smiled and replied, "Yeah, let's keep up the energy!"

New Artist Alert: Alex Lahey

Alex Lahey performed her first-ever L.A. show on March 11 at the Echo, admitting it was also her first-ever U.S. show, and despite this, the Melbourne singer-songwriter seemed to be at ease in the ever-growing spotlight. The up-and-coming artist, who released her debut EP B-Grade University last summer, has been quickly catching the attention of everyone from Australia's Triple J Unearthed, who awarded her a slot at Splendour in the Grass, to Pitchfork, which gave its Best New Track seal of approval to her single "You Don't Think You Like People Like Me."

Live: Zak Starkey + SSHH At The Viper Room

ARTICLE AND PHOTOS BY TONY MOLINA

NOVEMBER 4 | WEST HOLLYWOOD—Upon a cool night stroll down historic Sunset Boulevard, where L.A. rock history stands ground against the newly gentrified horizons, the sight of the Sunset and Clark Street intersection still soothes with a mental and spiritual comfort. As of late, Hollywood has stretched in so many directions, morphing into an unfamiliar landscape far from its sweet sunset and sun-kissed, low-profile skyline. But even in the calm night, this intersection still makes me proud of what these street blocks once were witness to: legendary rock music. Who knows what time will do to these streets as changes seem to blow in quicker than a Facebook post. But for the moment, I want to cherish what these streets have been all about: musical treasure. Not just that music is experienced here, but we're lucky that the music creators walk with us here. Not every town gets this.

Live: Pitchfork Music Festival 2016

ARTICLE AND PHOTOS BY CHRIS ALVAREZ

JULY 15-17 | CHICAGO—The 11th annual Pitchfork Music Festival was held once again at Chicago's Union Park. The three-day event featured an eclectic mix of musical genres to please the palate. The weather also decided to abide by these rules: There was chilly temps and some rain on Friday, absolutely perfect summer weather on Saturday, and not to be forgotten, brutally hot and humid conditions on Sunday, as is the norm for the Midwest in mid-July. With the summer festival circuit being so saturated, it can be difficult to stand out, but the tried and true Pitchfork Music Festival was able to deliver plenty of stand-out moments that would make anyone in attendance look forward to next year the minute the last note rang out on Sunday night. Below are a handful of thoughts on some of the performers during the weekend.

Live: Pitchfork Music Festival At Union Park

ARTICLE AND PHOTOS BY CHRIS ALVAREZ AND AMANDA BARTELS

JULY 17-19 | CHICAGO—The Pitchfork Music Festival, now in its 10th year, has come a long way from its humble beginnings as Intonation in 2005. At that time, boutique festivals were few and far between in North America, so Pitchfork easily stood apart from such behemoth events as Coachella, Lollapalooza, and Bonnaroo. The Pitchfork Music Festival carefully selects its talent to represent that moment in music, and this year's event was no different, with a plethora of artists (old and new) that aimed to please serious music lovers' palette. At the core was the representation from the city of Chicago with seven artists on the lineup, two of which were headlining. It was only fitting that they opened and closed the festivities.

Live: Mono At The Troubadour

ARTICLE BY CHERYL CHENG
PHOTOS BY CHRIS MOLINA OF MONO AT THE INDEPENDENT

JUNE 27 | WEST HOLLYWOOD—Japanese instrumental rock band Mono, who is on tour in support of new albums The Last Dawn and Rays of Darkness, performed an engaging set tonight at the Troubadour. A band of few words, Mono arrived on stage—without introduction or greeting—to an attentive, hushed audience. The somewhat awkward silence was broken with the opening notes of Darkness's "Recoil, Ignite," a track that begins quietly and then explodes into a complex flurry of guitars and drums almost two minutes in.

Live: The Decemberists At The Greek Theatre

ARTICLE BY CHERYL CHENG

MAY 2 | LOS ANGELES—Seasoned fans of The Decemberists who missed tonight’s show at the Greek Theatre actually didn’t miss much. That isn’t to say The Decemberists didn’t put on a solidly entertaining show, but these veteran folk rockers often put on a consistently similar show—even if touring for a new album.