Filtering by Tag: L'Rain

Pitchfork Music Festival 2024: Saturday Highlights

July 22, 2024 / Rachel Zyzda

Pitchfork Music Fest returned for day two at Union Park on Saturday, July 20th, with another perfect day of weather and a musical line up that focused on good old fashioned rock n’ roll in the early afternoon and pivoted to pop queens and dance beats in the later hours.

The day began with some local love thanks to Chicago’s own Lifeguard opening the fest on the Green Stage. They kickstarted the rock-focused performances with their grungy, indie sound and had the early afternoon crowd enthralled. As I listened to their set, I overheard an audience member say, “I LOVE Lifeguard! The fact that these teenagers are rocking so hard like a band from the 90’s is insane.”

Next up, L'Rain, the moniker for artist Taja Cheek, and her band slowed down the tempo and projected a calm demeanor out to the crowd with their ambient, experimental sound that helped get everyone in the right headspace for a full day at a festival.

Another Chicago-based artist, Kara Jackson, hit the Green stage next, and she brought along other Chicago music icons to play in her band, including Sen Morimoto, Macie Stewart and Kaina— all of whom have played past Pitchfork Fests. Kara’s set opened with her popular cover of Karen Dalton’s song “Right, Wrong or Ready” before moving onto her single “no fun/party” from her 2023 debut album. During the second song, Jackson said, “I’ve done this song a billion times in the last year or so. It gets really boring sometimes but I realized it reminded me of one of my favorite other song that maybe some of you have heard before” as she slipped in a snippet of SZA’s “Love Galore.”

From there the tempo ramped back up with a slew of bands that all complemented each other’s sounds well. First, New York’s Hotline TNT riled up the Blue Stage, starting off their set telling the audience “Let’s go fucking crazy today” as the band and audience fed off of each other’s energy. Feeble Little Horse followed, drawing in a large crowd over at the Red Stage, especially for the early afternoon timeslot. “We’re so happy to be opening for Carly Rae Jepsen,” the band joked— adding in “And Karly from Wednesday. You should see them too.” Both Hotline TNT and Feeble Little Horse’s sounds had similar grunge elements as Lifeguard.

Before we got to the first Karly of the day, Water From Your Eyes hit the Blue Stage next. Lead vocalist Rachel Brown took the stage saying, “What’s up Chicago? Who likes alternative rock music?” once again keeping up the theme of Saturday’s afternoon line up. Brown also told the crowd that they were currently experiencing a lingering cough following a case of laryngitis, which they chalked up to as karma for sneaking into Pitchfork Festival ten years ago when they were a teenager.

Asheville alternative rockers Wednesday, which includes vocalist Karly Hartzman and MJ Lenderman (who actually played Pitchfork Fest last year), hit the Green Stage next. The group amped up the volume and showcased Hartzman’s signature scream vocals as they played songs from their 2023 album Rat Saw God as well as some newer unreleased material. Wednesday’s set also included a cover of “Women Without Whiskey” by Drive-By Truckers.

As the day slipped into the evening hours, the vibes of Pitchfork crept more towards a dance party, starting with the legendary hip hop group De La Soul performing some of their iconic songs like “Me Myself and I” alongside a cover of “Simon Says” by Pharoahe Monch— the latter of which featured a guest appearance by Monch himself.

Pitchfork Fest began the descent into evening by journeying into pop music for my favorite set of the day from Jessie Ware. The singer and her band brought a full production packed with choreographed dance numbers and dazzling outfits. Ware herself donned a sparkling jumpsuit featuring cape sleeves and sequins that radiated from the evening sun, while her backup dancers also sported vests bedazzled in sequins. While Jessie showcased her flawless vocals and diva-belting abilities, she also connected to the crowd with her humbled and hilarious stage banter. “This is my favorite city in The States to play,” she proclaimed as she continued to shout out some of her long-time supporters from Chicago by their first names. Ware’s dancers shone as they did flips and lifted the singer up, but Ware also made sure to include the fans in their choreography as she performed her song “Beautiful People.” Everyone got into the crowd-participation dancing as Jessie told everyone to “stand up, turn around, take a bow.” The singer even joked that security could join in. As I’ve mentioned, several of the artists performed covers during their sets today—and who doesn’t love a good cover during a festival set? Jessie Ware’s show was no exception as she performed a rendition of Cher’s hit “Believe,” jumping down from the stage to sing with fans along the barricades.

Meanwhile Bratmobile kept the rock presence alive over on the Blue stage. They brought their riot grrrl songs like “Brat Girl” and “Panik” to the fest. True to the cover-song theme of the day, they also performed a cover of “Cherry Bomb” by The Runaways.

Carly Rae Jepsen flipped the switch back to pop over at the Red Stage, entering to “I Wanna Dance With Somebody” and rocking a sparkling sequin dress. Jepsen’s stage backdrop consisted of a disco ball screen that changed colors depending on the song. Jepsen also set up her songs with some fun stage banter, saying “Are you guys ready to run away with us tonight?” before her hit “Run Away With Me” and joking that she sometimes forgets the words to “Call Me Maybe” so she she’d need the audiences help singing along. The crowd happily obliged to singing and dancing along, and Jepsen also came down from the stage to sing with fans along the barricade.

The dance party wrapped up the second day of the rest with a headlining set from Jamie xx.

Check out highlights from the first day of the festival here and stay tuned for the final day.

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categories / Gigs, Festival, Photos, Reviews
tags / Pitchfork Music Festival, Lifeguard, L'Rain, Kara Jackson, Hotline TNT, Feeble Little Horse, Water From Your Eyes, Wednesday, De La Soul, Jessie Ware, Bratmobile, Carly Rae Jepsen, Jamie xx, Music Festival, Live Review, Live Show

Live Recap: Pitchfork Festival 2022 Day 3

July 20, 2022 / Rachel Zyzda

The third day of Pitchfork Festival took place on Sunday, July 17th, with breezy and cloudy weather conditions to go along with all the chill vibes.

I began my day catching a set from Taja Cheek, AKA L’Rain, and the beginning of her set featured a calming reset for all fest goers. Cheek asked everyone in the audience to take a deep breath and close their eyes, saying, “this is the only time in the history of the world that all us will be together in this space.” It was the perfect reminder to be more present with current experiences, and felt like the Calm app IRL. For the remainder of the set, Cheek’s silky smooth vocals and chill energy kept the vibes going.

Next up, Chicago’s own Kaina took the Green Stage and continued the breezy tones. “I’m from Chicago and this is my first time playing Pitchfork. I’m so emotional to be here,” Kaina told the audience. L’Rain’s set earlier had featured a saxophonist in the band, lending a soulful touch to her music— and the saxophone trend only continued with Kaina’s show. Her band features fellow Chicagoan and multi-instrumentalist Sen Morimoto, who played the sax during Kaina’s Pitchfork debut. The show featured some of Kaina’s newer music from the 2022 album It Was a Home, as well as a few from her 2019 album Next to The Sun. Kaina didn’t let her set end without giving props to her bandmates— “Pitchfork, please give it up for the band, these are my best friends,” she said.

Sunday was the day of the festival where I was least familiar with the artists on the lineup, so it was my day of discovery. One act that I experienced blindly was Sofia Kourtesis. Kourtesis is originally from Lima, Peru, but based in Berlin, Germany and her music captures a perfect blend of her hometown and current base by blending EDM sounds with Lantinx flare. Her set was at 2:45 PM but it felt like we are all in a nightclub in Berlin with the amount of bass and beat building she did in her performance. The crowd was very into her performance, and Kourtesis returned the enthusiasm by saying “We had a very hard time coming here, but to see your faces makes it worth it.”

Next up, I caught a few minutes of Injury Reserve on the Red Stage, and it was another first-time discovery for me. The hip hop group from Tempe, AZ is composed of Ritchie with a T and Parker Corey, and the duo performed their set on a hazy, fog-filled stage.

BADBADNOTGOOD unfortunately had to drop off from the Sunday lineup due to illness, but we got to experience Natural Information Society in their place. I saw the ensemble recently open up for Kurt Vile at Thalia Hall, but they switched it up at Pitchfork Festival by playing one long piece for the entirety of their set. The band set up included brass instruments, woodwinds, and of course— a saxophonist! Sunday’s line up was essentially “more saxophone!” instead of “more cowbell!”

Noname was up next back at the Red Stage, delivering another dose of hometown pride to the festival ground. Noname has played that same stage at Pitchfork Festival before, but this was definitely the most packed I’ve seen the audience. Fans were loudly screaming her lyrics back at her, and it was obvious Noname was very appreciative of the support. Her set also had a guest appearance from rapper The Mind.

After almost a full day of no rain, the clouds eventually opened up and we got a brief shower of downpour that had some fans scattering towards trees and the record fair tents for cover. The rain also caused a short delay for the next sets from Earl Sweatshirt and Tirzah, who played at the Green and Blue Stages respectively. Lots of fans stuck it out and rejoiced when Earl Sweatshirt and his DJ finally took the stage. Earl Sweatshirt kept the chill vibes going, telling the crowd he came out in flip flips. Despite being laidback, he did try to rile up an empty spot in the crowd, but realized there was a huge mud pit that prevented everyone from packing into that section.

Toro y Moi closed out the Red Stage with some funky, electronic-based grooves. The set started out kind of slowed and subdued, but continued to pick up to a point where the whole crowd was dancing along. Setlist highlights included “The Difference” and “Ordinary Pleasure.”

The Blue Stage wrapped up for the entire weekend with a delightful set from Cate Le Bon. Le Bon put on a very polished and serene performance, which included songs like “Pompeii,” the title track of her latest album, and fan favorite “Moderation.” Her band also included a (you guessed it) saxophonist, bringing the daily sax count up yet again.

The Roots closed out the entirety of Pitchfork Fest 2022 with a bang, bringing their feel-good tunes to the Sunday evening audience. Their set was a non-stop medley of dance-inducing grooves— from the performance of “Jungle Boogie” at the start of the set to “Move On Up” at the end, they kept the hits coming. Their set also featured a guest appearance from Hannibal Buress, who had done a DJ set in the new Zelle tent earlier in the weekend.

See the full photo recap of Sunday below, and make sure to revisit the day 1 and day 2 recaps.

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categories / Festival, Gigs, Photos, Reviews
tags / L'Rain, Kaina, Sofia Kourtesis, Injury Reserve, Natural Information Society, Noname, Earl Sweatshirt, Tirzah, Toro y Moi, Cate Le Bon, The Roots

Acts To Get There Early For: Pitchfork Festival 2022

July 01, 2022 / Rachel Zyzda

Pitchfork Festival returns to its usual slot at Union Park this July, after taking place in September last year. The annual music fest will feature some of our favorite acts as headliners, like The National, Mitski, and The Roots—among other performers like Japanese Breakfast, Toro y Moi, Parquet Courts and Lucy Dacus. As always though, the P4k line up is packed with tons of hidden gems that will put on incredible sets. Tune in below to hear some of the acts of the festival that ANCHR will be showing up early to Union Park to catch.

Friday

Ethel Cain

Singer songwriter Ethel Cain writes about some harrowing and dark themes, but she has mastered the craft of depicting sadness in her music through such a refined and beautiful lens. Cain delivers these stories with reverberated, ethereal vocals and captivating melodies that make it hard not to become instantly enchanted by the songs “A House in Nebraska,” “Hard Times,” and “Crush”—just to name a few.

Cain grew up in a Southern Baptist family in Florida and sang in the choir, but ultimately left the churn as a teen when she came out to her family as gay. On her twentieth birthday, Cain came out publicly as a transgender woman. Cain nods to her religious upbringing with the title of her debut record Preacher’s Daughter, which was just released in May of 2022. The debut album follows up the EPs Golden Age and Inbred, which Cain released in 2019 and 2021 respectively.

If you’re looking for a festival set that will get you feeling all your feelings, while also sounding absolutely stunning, do not miss Ethel Cain at Pitchfork on Friday.

Start With: “American Teenager,” “Gibson Girl” and “Crush”

For Fans Of: Hatchie, MUNA, Zola Jesus

Where to catch her: 1:45-2:25 pm, Red Stage

SPIRIT OF THE BEEHIVE

Here at ANCHR, we love a good experimental rock band, so naturally, we’re fans of SPIRIT OF THE BEEHIVE. The Philadelphia-based band has had a history of rotating members, but currently the group is composed of Zack Schwartz, Rivka Ravede, and Corey Wichlin— who all wear multiple hats for the band, contributing everything from vocals, keys, guitar, bass and drums. The shuffling around of band duties likely contributes to the diverse and expansive genre-sphere that the group has created.

The band’s name comes from a 1973 Spanish film with the same title, which is fitting because their sound has a cinematic quality to it. The band describes their song “THERE'S NOTHING YOU CAN'T DO” from their 4th album ENTERTAINMENT, DEATH as being one showcases the growth they’ve undergone from their inception to current day. "This song draws on some of the sonic aesthetic of SPIRIT OF THE BEEHIVE's old records and aligns those sounds with the electronic instrumentation we've been exploring," Wichlin says.

SPIRIT OF THE BEEHIVE will certainly keep us on our toes during their performance, which makes them a perfect way to kick off the festival on Friday afternoon.

Start With: “There’s Nothing You Can’t Do,” “fell asleep with a vision"" and “Natural Devotion”

For Fans Of: Squid, Dry Cleaning, black midi

Where to catch them: 2:30-3:15 pm, Green Stage

Saturday

Jeff Parker & the New Breed

At ANCHR, we also love a versatile artist, and with Jeff Parker, there’s not much he hasn’t dabbled in. Parker was born in Bridgeport, CT and has been making music since 1991, pushing boundaries with his guitar playing and composing via an array of collaborations. Parker is a member of the band Tortoise, and has also worked with the likes of Andrew Bird, Yo La Tengo, and George Lewis—just to name a few.

There’s a effortlessly breezy tone to Parker’s style, which incorporates everything from jazz to folk to rock to pop. The bio on Parker’s website says his works “explore and exploit the contrary relationships between tradition and technology, improvisation and composition, and the familiar and the abstract” and that truly comes across as you listen through his catalog of music.

Parker also has local ties to Chicago as a founding member of the groups Isotope 217˚ and Chicago Underground. If you’re looking for a festival set that will be equal parts fascinating and soothing, make sure you catch Jeff Parker & the New Breed. We think it will be the perfect way to kick off the second day of the festival.

Start With: “Suffolk,” “Cliche” and “Soul Love”

For Fans Of: Anderson .Paak, Tortoise, Ben LaMar Gay

Where to catch them 1:00-1:40pm, Green Stage

Chubby and the Gang

While Charlie, aka "Chubby,” Manning-Walker of Chubby and the Gang has been involved with different bands in the British scene since 2004, he only formed this variation of an ensemble in 2019. The West London-based group consists of Ethan Stahl, Tom "Razor" Hardwick, Maegan Brooks Mills and Joe McMahon alongside Manning-Walker. The lineup is composed of different members of hardcore punk bands Arms Race, Vile Spirit and Gutter Knife.

Similarly to the bands they came from, Chubby and the Gang’s songs have a classic punk feel to them, full of bright drumbeats and cheeky lyrics—but they also mix in other genres and influences. In the short few years since the group formed, Chubby and the Gang has already released two full-length albums, including their sophomore release The Mutt’s Nuts, which was produced by Jonah Falco of Fucked Up and put out via Partisan Records. Most recently, Chubby and the Gang added an EP to their discography, entitled Labour of Love, and aptly released on Valentine’s Day this year.

I have yet to see the band perform, but I just know they’re going to be great at getting the crowd amped up and ready to take on the second day of Pitchfork Festival.

Start With: “Coming Up Tough,” I Hate The Radio” and “All Along The Uxbridge Road”

For Fans Of: Turnstile, PUP, Fontaines D.C.

Where to catch them: 2:30-3:15pm:, Green Stage

Sunday

L’Rain

ANCHR’s Sunday picks are all about the vibes and escapism. L’Rain is a Brooklyn-based singer and musician who composes experimental and mesmerizing songs— imagine losing yourself in a soundbath in the rain, and that’s kind of what L’Rain’s “Heavy (But Not In Wait)” feels like to me.

L’Rain is the moniker for Taja Cheek, who grew up around family with a music business background— her dad worked in music marketing and promotion and her grandfather owned a jazz club. Cheek’s moniker is also a tribute to her mother, Lorraine C. Porter, who unfortunately passed away before Cheek released her debut album.

L’Rain’s music has such a glossy fluidity to it, and that’s probably in part due to the ballet and dance that Cheek studied while growing up. In addition to dance, Cheek learned to play a multitude of different instruments— including bass, piano and cello. As if that’s not all, Cheek even studied music and American Studies while attending Yale, no big deal.

To date, L’Rain has put out two albums; 2017’s self-titled debut and 2021’s Fatigue. Be sure to attend her set on Sunday and drift away to a mix of L’Rain’s unique musical stylings.

Start With: “Find It,” “Two Face” and “Heavy (But Not In Wait)”

For Fans Of: Circuit des Yeux, Cassandra Jenkins, Animal Collective

Where to catch them 1:45-2:25pm, Red Stage

KAINA

Like I said, the Sunday acts are all about the escapism vibes, and Chicago’s own KAINA has the silky smooth vocals and dreamy tunes to help you drift into your personal oasis at Pitchfork.

KAINA is a first-generation Latina and was born and raised in Chicago, and she does an incredible job of composing her songs so that they fuse together Latin-inspired sounds with Chicago soul and blues. You can hear her influences shine through, yet her sound is something completely unique.

In addition to the Chicago influences that we’ll hear in KAINA’s set, there’s a strong chance we’ll see some other hometown artists joining her onstage at the fest— she’s collaborated with Sen Morimoto, Saba, and Nnamdi just to name a few. I’m also looking forward to hearing songs from KAINA’s sophomore album It Was a Home, which was released this year as a follow up to 2019’s debut Next to The Sun.

There’s a lot going wrong in the world right now, but I have no doubt we can all temporarily sway away our problems while watching KAINA.

Start With: “Golden Mirror,” “Could Be a Curse” and “Apple”

For Fans Of: Jamila Woods, Cuco, Wet
Where to catch her: 2:30-3:15pm, Green Stage

See the full Pitchfork Festival schedule here, and get ready by listening to the playlist below.

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categories / Festival, Gigs, Music
tags / Ethel Cain, L'Rain, Jeff Parker, Chubby and the Gang, Spirit of the Beehive, KAINA, Pitchfork Music Festival, Pitchfork, P4K, Music Festival, Preview, Chicago

ANCHR Magazine

Filtering by Tag: L'Rain

Pitchfork Music Festival 2024: Saturday Highlights

Live Recap: Pitchfork Festival 2022 Day 3

Acts To Get There Early For: Pitchfork Festival 2022

Friday

Ethel Cain

SPIRIT OF THE BEEHIVE

Saturday

Jeff Parker & the New Breed

Chubby and the Gang

Sunday

L’Rain

KAINA

See the full Pitchfork Festival schedule here, and get ready by listening to the playlist below.