This is what I love about Lollapalooza: the somewhat obscure Texas psychedelic rock band Explosions in the Sky (three guitarists and a drummer) played one of the main stages on Saturday around 4:30 p.m., the very same stage where Wilco would close the house hours later. And they were good. Really trippy.
(For photos of Explosions in the Sky and more of today's artists, check out Gil's Lolla photo diary).
Two of the guys sat down Indian style for a couple of songs and seemed like they were in a trance staring at their pedals and the thousands in the audience gave them more than polite applause. Hell, I've hardly heard of these guys and know them only by reputation.
Meanwhile, about 300 yards away, just a few minutes before, Lolla figurehead Perry Farrell was rocking his namesake stage – a small tent, really – and backing him were celebrity DJ Samantha Ronson, Satellite Party guitarist Carl Rotivo, dancer, and Farrell's wife, Etty... oh, and Slash. Yeah, that Slash. I just happen to be strolling by on my way to see Explosions and, like everyone else craning their necks, was like, "Is that Slash?"
They jammed on a techno remix of the Jane's Addiction classic "Mountain Song" and then the audience had to shout along to the Slash-assisted "Jane Says" after Farrell's mic went out. So, to recap, Explosions in the Sky were rocking the main stage when a little impromptu jam that could easily have switched places with them was in a corner of the venue under some trees, unannounced.
This is the kind of dem-rock-racy that Farrell dreams about – surprises around every corner, guests sitting in and making special moments and it's why I love Lollapalooza and I always laugh at the people who just camp out and wait for something to come to them. You have to go find it ... and that's half the fun.