Chicago – Day one of Pitchfork 2015 was a HOT one. Yes, I did just scream hot at you with aid from the caps lock. It was that hot. While temperatures soared into the 90s, with the added humidity, the real feel was in the 100s. Keeping cool and hydrated was a definite priority, but so was catching some fantastic music. Best New Bands caught five new bands worthy of some press, on the Friday of P4K.
Ryley Walker
Chicagoan Ryley Walker started the day off on the Blue Stage. The heavily shaded green may have brought some over, but it was the chill psychedelic jazz-infused tunes that kept them around. Overheard in the crowd: “God, he’s amazing!” Indeed he is. Only in his mid-twenties, Ryley Walker is talented beyond his years, echoing the sounds of legends like Tim Buckley and Fred Lonberg-Holm, and mastering the art of guitar picking. Walker played the title track of his sophomore album, “Primrose Green.” Smoke filled the lawn, from green of another kind, and a breeze passed by, calming the heat for a moment. It was the perfect way to start Pitchfork weekend.
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Mac DeMarco
Ah yes, our favorite smoking crooner, Mac DeMarco, once again performed at Pitchfork, and as to be expected, the twenty-five year old Canadian brought an influx of excited fans over to the Red Stage. Kids jumped up and down, singing along to “Salad Days” and “Blue Boy.” Between songs Mac and his band cracked jokes, and the sunburnt, chain-smoking rockers gave PSAs about the importance of wearing sunscreen and the dangers of smoking. All in a days work for some of the hardest working slackers in music today.
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Tobias Jesso Jr.
I left Mac to see another Canadian, Tobias Jesso Jr. I was not alone. The lawn by the Blue Stage was packed with eager fans, excited to see the guy stealing hearts and ears with songs like “Without You” and “Hollywood.” The Haim sisters – who are in town opening for Taylor Swift – were among his fans, watching side stage, beers in hands, and all smiles. The slightly tipsy singer cracked jokes between songs, stopped to note that it was “fucking hot,” and referred to himself as a diva while directing the sound guy to adjust his monitors. He also quipped, “We’ll try to keep it down for Panda Bear,” when the Animal Collective member’s sound began bleeding over. That or the heat didn’t stop Tobias from enjoying his first ever performance in Chicago. It didn’t seem to deter his fans either. “How Could You Babe?” brought loud cheers. Couples tenderly embraced, while others swayed, singing along word for word, with just as much emotion as Tobias Jesso Jr. himself.
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CHVRCHES
Scottish lovelys Chvrches brought a bit of a dance party early Friday evening, over at the Red Stage. The trio thanked the large crowd for coming to their “first American show in a very long time.” Frontwoman Lauren Mayberry chatted with the crowd, making note of the night’s headliners, Wilco, who surprised fans by dropping their latest album Star Wars – free of charge – shortly before performing that evening. Mayberry joked that while they may not have unleashed an entire album, they did unveil their latest single “Leave A Trace” the day prior. The band then went on to perform the song. Some die-hard fans could be seen and heard singing along to that and other new songs like “Clearest Blue.”
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Ought
Canadian foursome Ought closed out the night on the Blue Stage. Talk about a day for Canadian bands, eh? A heavy swarm of kids could be seen making their way over as Wilco played behind them. I guess they decided to leave that for their parents and catch a band that sounds similar to another band their parents probably love: Talking Heads. Blue lights bathed the band as the sun set in the distance. The call of night ever so slightly cooled things off, making people more inclined to let loose. The lead singer of Chicago band The Walters was seen getting down to Ought’s “Pleasant Heart.” Up front fans jumped up and down, arms flailing in the air, while frontman Tim Beeler sang, “Can you feel it?” Oh yeah, they felt it. It’s hard not to feel Ought. The band has charisma and some amazing lyrics, like “I’m talking out of my ass because my heart is not open.” How could you not love a band that writes so honestly?
There’s two more days of Pitchfork Fest 2015. Stay tuned for more of our coverage, and tweet at us with your favorite new bands of the fest!
All Photos by Sarah Hess
Sarah Hess
After attending The School of the Art Institute in Chicago, Sarah went on to study education at Dominican University, earning a degree in history. When not teaching, writing, or taking in a show, she is most likely to be found with a camera to her eye or hanging out in a darkroom.
You can follow Sarah Hess on twitter at @Sarahhasanh and view her music photography on her website: smhimaging.com.
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