Chances Were Good You’d Hear Something Great: Day 3 Lollapalooza 2017

Day Three of Lollapalooza belonged to hometown hero Chance the Rapper. His headlining show served as a victory lap of sorts after a remarkable year. Chance, who took the stage about 15 minutes late, began with a video introduction that featured news reports chronicling his recent accomplishments, including a Grammy win earlier this year. “I’m gonna fuck this show up,” he yelled early in his set. Emphasizing the gospel side of his sound, he started with songs such as “Blessings” and “Angels” before dipping into the slow jam “Juke Jam.”

Animated and clearly enthused to be playing before the hometown crowd, Chance used the performance in front of an enormous crowd to show just how far he’s come — only three years ago, he did a set on a side stage in front of a crowd that numbered in the hundreds. Now he’s a bona fide superstar who performed in front of tens of thousands.

Other highlights from the day included Aussie singer-songwriter Vance Joy, who delivered a solid hour-long set that featured tunes such as “Fire and Flood.” Joy also played a spirited cover of the Paul Simon track “You Can Call Me Al” that even included a snippet of Omi’s “Cheerleader.” The good-natured Joy regularly told stories to introduce his songs and adroitly alternated between acoustic guitar and ukulele.

English rockers Glass Animals played an energetic set. Singer-guitarist Dave Bayley, who wore skinny jeans, sneakers and a striped shirt, jumped around on stage as he delivered songs such as “Black Mambo.”

The recently reunited alt-rock band Live thrived on an enthusiastic response from an audience that sang along to songs such as “All Over You,” “I Alone” and “Selling the Drama.”  Wearing all black and dramatically gesturing during the performance, singer Ed Kowalczyk looked like a punk rock preacher. Kowalczyk capably adopted a baritone for a cover of the Johnny Cash classic “I Walk the Line” and paid tribute to the late Chris Cornell with a cover of the Audioslave tune “I Am the Highway” before ending the set with “Lightning Crashes.”

Folk-y indie rockers the The Head and the Heart embraced an old school approach during their hour-long set. The band arrived on stage as the Eagles’ song “One of These Nights” played over the PA system. The group’s harmony vocals worked particularly well on songs such as “All We Ever Knew” and “City of Angels.”

Rapper Russ might have performed to backing track, but he connected with a big crowd that sang along to tunes such as “Do It Myself.” Constantly encouraging fans to “jump, jump, jump,” he resorted to a number of clichés during his set, but his exhilarating delivery recalled the late, great Tupac Shakur.

Later on that same stage, North Carolina-based duo Sylvan Esso alternated between electronic ballads and EDM anthems. Singer Amelia Meath’s remarkable voice and immediate familiarity with the crowd struck a chord.  

Playing opposite Chance the Rapper, the British rock act the xx delivered a drone-y set that channeled shoe-gazer rock and the Velvet Underground on songs such as “Infinity” and “Lips,” a track that featured particularly soulful vocals.

Chance the Rapper might have stole the show, but an incredibly diverse lineup played on Day Three and fans embraced the wide range of acts that performed. In fact, a huge crowd huddle at Perry’s Stage to hear Kaskade, choosing to skip Chance’s show to catch the DJ’s performance. 

For more photos from the day, click here.