It was already a stretch to see Yo La Tengo try to return the energy with “Pass the Hatchet,” and a particularly uninspired version of “Sugarcube.” Somehow, the fans who voted missed the fact that “Blue Line Swinger” is both Yo La Tengo’s most significant track and, arguably, the band’s best live track. To restrict a band that has earned every right to be able to play whatever they want was exceedingly demeaning, however unintentional. As a result, Ira, Georgia Hubley and James McNew never smiled, almost never said a word, and stormed off the stage as soon as it could be done tactfully. Both Yo La Tengo and the band’s fans deserved better.
The Jesus Lizard
Where to begin? How about the fact that the most highly-anticipated reunion of the past year has completely fulfilled all expectations? David Yow’s vitriolic vocal attack incorporated the festival, the audience, general squeamishness, and yes, the aging process. The old fans were thrilled to see their heroes still as good as ever, the new fans were struck dumb with glee to finally see the band live, and new fans were one as well. There were even some fans with their toddlers in attendance, and they enjoyed it just as much.
Perhaps the best part of the Jesus Lizard’s set is that as good as their festival appearance was, their upcoming tour dates in smaller clubs across the country will be even better. The Write the Night feature didn’t really matter: all of the songs are great, and all needed to be heard. The Jesus Lizard will never be a band to take over the world, but for a certain breed of fans, they may as well be Led Zeppelin. This is the band tons of people have been waiting for in the past decade, and in some cases, all their lives.
Built to Spill
From a critic’s standpoint, the Jesus Lizard’s return to Chicago was by far the most significant Friday set. So the decision to close with the venerable, but less vital Built To Spill seemed a bit curious. It turned out to be a wise programming decision: Built to Spill is a much better band to close the night with, assuming the Jesus Lizard didn’t make you pass out.
The only indie band to keep the flannel from the 90s, Built To Spill is the kind of band Write the Night was made for: a catalog full of rock songs that can tackle a festival, no less exceptional than the other. While Built to Spill has been less active this decade, they’ve been active enough to stay vital in young minds in the last 10 years. Where the Jesus Lizard provided the danger that a festival like Pitchfork sorely needs, Built To Spill is the type to bring it home with just about every major song in their canon, and it’s hard to think of a better song to wind down the opening night of Pitchfork 2009 with “You Were Right.”
Article comments
1 - Glen Boyd
Good shit Ethan. I hate Pitchfork on principle, but keep it comin'.
-Glen
2 - blackbrown
While I agree with most of the details in this review. 2 things:
1. No way was Tortoise worse than Yo La Tengo. I know you're trying to be kind, but let's call a spade a spade: Yo La Tengo was god-awful.
2. I again see the optimism, but Built to Spill had no business following the Lizard and it showed. While they played a fantastic show, it would have been all the more fantastic had they come before the Lizard. Pitchfork royally screwed up on this one - just like they did last year when they had Spoon (one of the worst bands to ever play the fest) close out following Dinosaur Jr. - the only band to truly grab the crowd during last year's fest.
Bottom line: No matter how good Lizard and Spill were, the crowded was cheated out of how much better both bands would have been had their order been reversed.