Blonde Redhead
Lollapalooza in Grant Park
August 3rd, 2007
Yes, yes, I’m still working on Lolla photos. I realize this was well over a month ago but at the same time it’s nice to look back and have these photos. It was day one of three at Lolla and things were starting to settle down just a little bit before Daft Punk was to unveil their pyramid lightshow monstrocity. I had seen Blonde Redhead earlier this past year at the Metro and had been frustrated with the overall lack of light so I was really excited to be taking these photos.
First, Kazu Makino may have a really strange sounding voice but it’s a little bit of art and a little bit of punk and somehow it just works for me in a real raw emotional sense. I find myself to be at my most creative artistically while listening to Blonde Redhead as well (I mean, specifically while painting) and there’s a sense that Kazu says sometimes what I don’t.
That said, 23 has grown on me more and more…I have all of Blonde Redhead’s albums but this one took a little longer than La Mia Vita Violenta, In an Expression of the Inexpressible or Melody of Certain Damaged Lemons. However, much like Misery is a Butterfly and perhaps eve surpassing that, I started craving some of the songs. (My favorites definitely including the title track, “Spring and by Summer Fall” and “Silently.”) Hearing some of 23’s songs a second time in a live setting as well as some of the best of their career was sort of like watching ocean waves sweep over you. I sat on top of a hill in Grant Park after the three songs were up and for the first time of the day really felt the intensity and the effect of it.