Photo Credit: Richard Giraldi

“Whoa…I’m about to see Depeche Mode! I feel like I’m 35!” an 18 year-old fan yelled.

After a few weary looks and sarcastic eye-rolls from a number of festivalgoers around him, a bearded older gentleman turned to the youth and said, “What’s so funny about that?”

It was this generational divide among the Depeche Mode crowd on Lollapalooza day one that made their performance so peculiar yet immensely entertaining.

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Photo Credit: Richard Giraldi

If Lollapalooza 2009 day one could be summed up in one word, it would be wet.

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Hey everyone. I’m live at lolla in the pouring rain. Rocking out to The Gas Light Anthem as we speak.

Anyway, technical difficulties have kept me from updating our twitter – @loudlooppress.

So for today, you can see my live tweets at twitter.com/rgiraldi – my personal twitter account. – complete with pictures!

Thanks for reading loudlooppress!

UPDATE: Back home from Lolla Day 1. Will have a wrap up post along with a full Depeche Mode review up soon. Also, @loudlooppress should work tomorrow as I’ve configured it to work with Twitpic. However, for some reason my normal Twitter device texts aren’t going though. Weird, huh? Anyway, stay tuned.

Yep, it’s Lolla weekend. So this edition of Weekend Diversions will be short and sweet. Here we go…

The Warlockss

San Francisco’s The Warlocks, inexplicably hated by Pitchfork (seriously, search for them and you’ll find all 2′s and 3′s), are playing 2 nights at the Empty Bottle, Thurs, Aug 6 and Fri, Aug 7. So someone must like them. If you haven’t heard their druggy, shaggy, mopey haze and like that kind of bending, sighing sort of thing, check them out. Don’t let those wannabee taste makers tell you what to think (not all of us need to know what Radiohead had for breakfast). – Ross Meyerson

9:00. Friday, 8/7. Empty Bottle. $10. 21+

Bird Talk

Chicago’s Bird Talk may blandly label themselves as indie and rock on their myspace page, but you’ll hear some new wave flourishes amongst their 90′s underground sound. Live, they bring a ton of energy and a pinch their cheeks charm and, if you’re lucky, Jumpy’s glasses might come flying off. Nervous Fingers, another local favorite, open, bringing their Feelies like jangle with them. – Ross Meyerson

9:00 PM. Friday, 8/7. Beat Kitchen. $8. 21+

Woods

Woods play their only Chicago show this Sunday, Aug 9th at my favorite local record store, Permanent Records. Yes, Woods only stop is an in-store but look at it as a win-win: not only do you get to see some fine lo-fi, charming, early Built To Spill-esque indie rock but you’ll probably also walk out with a ton of sweet vinyl. The show is at 6pm but maybe get there a bit early to browse.. – Ross Meyerson

6:00 PM. Sunday, 8/9. Permanent Records. FREE.

Finally, don’t forget all the Lollapalooza aftershows!

See you at Grant Park. Don’t forget to follow us on twitter: @loudlooppress!

Yes, it’s time again for the Chicago music event of the summer. Be sure to follow us on twitter at @loudlooppress. We’ll be tweeting live from Lollapalooza all weekend long. Then tune right here for day-after wrap ups and then a complete post-Lolla review.

Still want more? Head to Lollapaloozablog.windycitizen.com to find our coverage and even more in-depth Lolla stories.

This year’s event is an odd hodgepodge of new and old acts. Headliners include Depeche Mode and Kings of Leon who’ll play on Friday night, Yeah Yeah Yeahs and Tool who’ll take the stage on Saturday night, and The Killers and Jane’s Addiction will close the festival on Sunday.

But I’m sure most music fans know at least something about the headliners. What about all those bands playing earlier in the day and on the small stages? There are like 180-or something bands playing, you know.

So this year, we present you with a preview of can’t miss acts that you probably didn’t plan on seeing. Lets do this.

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So that happened.

If you were trying to buy Them Crooked Vultures tickets for their Metro show on Sunday night, you undoubtedly saw this page followed by “No Inventory Currently Available.”

Lollapalooza fans from facebook, twitter and Lolla’s message board are irate over the technical difficulties. Here are a few responses to this morning’s disaster:

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Chicago Tribune’s Greg Kot breaks the news that Schubas owners Chris and Mike Schuba are readying a brand new music venue at 2424 N. Lincoln Ave, which is set to open sometime this fall.

The new club, named Lincoln Hall according to the Trib article, will be a mid-sized music club in the vein of the original Schubas at 3159 N. Southport Ave. and other mid-sized Chicago venues such as the Double Door and Martyrs.

The club is being built in the old Three Penny Cinema building, which is sweet for me because I pretty much live right next door. But a music club should be a great addition to a beautiful area that already has the Biograph Theater, Clarke’s Bars And Grille and a number of college bars.

Kot’s article states that construction on the new club continues, but there is no set opening date at this time.