Briston Maroney, Conan Gray, Melanie Martinez and more: What you missed Lollapalooza Day 3 and 4

chicago, il- august 3rd, 2024

Through what might as well have been the hottest 4 days of the year, the crowds of Lollapalooza continue to show up and show out time and time again. Saturday and Sunday’s lineups were more on the mellow side with lineups that hail in comparison to the likes of modern-day icons Chappell Roan and SZA, which arguably rounded up the most viewers of the fest. Nonetheless, fans continued to take to the barricade for their favorites. I could only bounce around for so long from stage to stage, and I salute fans who continued to come back for more.

And for one final go around, here’s what you missed on the last 2 days of Lollapalooza:

Friko

If you know the Chicago music scene, you know Friko. Championed by Niko Kapetan and Bailey Minzenberger, the group made their Lollapalooza debut surrounded by family and fans alike, making for a surreal and intimate moment on one of the world’s biggest stages. The band made the most of the provided timeslot for an earlier set on the Bacardi stage and got the crowd roaring. The running setlist included one of their biggest hits, “Chemical”, with accompanying vocals from their backup guitar player Korgan Robb, to send home that satisfying echo and reverb in the chorus. Vocalist Niko Kapetan bounced from the mic to multiple guitars to the piano and back to the mic throughout the entire set, and to further show off the group’s talent and passion for multi-instrumentalism, drummer Bailey Minzenberger took a break from the kit to take the spotlight on the guitar during an intimate rendition of “For Ella”. To round out their first of two set times on the Lolla stage, the group was joined by a set of strings with a closing cover of Radiohead’s “Weird Fishes/Arpeggi”.

Briston Maroney

Briston Maroney's Lollapalooza set proved a pleasant surprise for the crowd. Known for the mellow, introspective sound of tracks like "June" and "Freakin' Out On The Interstate," which he performed later in the show, Maroney opened with a dynamic display of his heavier material. The unreleased song "Gizzard" showcased a heavier more rock-oriented side of what he had to offer, showing a tantalizing preview of the edgier direction he may be exploring. Maroney segued into the more familiar, contemplative tunes that have earned him a devoted following. The contrast between the opening and closing numbers highlighted Maroney's versatility as a performer, able to seamlessly transition between intimate folk-pop and stadium-sized alt-rock, creating the perfect in-between that is Lollapalooza.

Conan Gray

Conan Gray strutted onto the stage in full 80's fashion, donning a sparkly two-piece set in hot pink and blue - complete with metallic raindrops, bootcut bottoms, and aviator glasses. He opened the show with an interlude of "Fainted Love," and the audience was electric from the moment he stepped on stage. The entire crowd had been on their feet as he began his song, "The Exit," and even those who didn't know the lyrics sang along in their own way. Throughout the set, Gray interacted with the audience in every way possible, spending a few moments reading the signs and throwing up heart hands to members of the crowd.

Gray truly embraced his youth on stage, as he spent most of his songs jumping around and sharing his enjoyment with the entire venue. During "Astronomy," Gray took the set in a more somber direction as he switched from an electric guitar to an acoustic one, embellished with a bright yellow star in the center. He followed this song with the fan-favorite, "Heather," and let the audience unleash their emotions in screams during the chorus at the top of their lungs. In this crowd, it didn't matter if their "Heather" was a popular girl in their school, or someone they could never hope to be - every person in the audience related to it the same way.

During "Memories," you could see two girls who knew every word of the song. They, along with a few others in the crowd, had stated that they "played that song non-stop for like two months."

As Gray rounded out his set, he had a quick outfit change, switching from his bejeweled vest into a tank top with the word "Bourgeopalooza" (which combined Lollapalooza with the title of his song "Bourgeoisieses"), and a black floor-length feathered cape. Gray's set was beyond energetic - so having the opportunity to experience his music live felt like a gift. From the lighting, vocals, and energy of the audience, the entire performance was heaven-sent and captured the true essence of Lollapalooza.

Deftones

No need to check the daily schedule and map to direct you to the Deftones set on the T-Mobile stage, you can simply locate a Deftones’ show by the sheer amount of bass moving the ground under your feet: a telltale sign that the atl-metal icons are closeby. The set came 2 days after a surprise headlining show they performed at Metro, which warmed up the group for their outdoor set. The group let their 90s/early 2000s legacy prevail as generations united to hear their sound. The crowd jumped and thrashed along with the band, led by lead singer Chino Moreno, who did the same so much so that he chipped his tooth on the mic, '“the second time in 2 days” where he fell victim to his unbridled energy. Nonetheless, they stayed true to the art of their performance with their blockbuster tracks “Passenger”, which made its live debut at their Metro set, and “Digital Bath”, making for a fitting encore.

Melanie Martinez

Melanie Martinez followed Conan Gray at the Bud Light stage, and it was the last set of the night. From the looks of the crowd, it was evident that many had taken root at the stage's barricade from the moment the festival gates opened. Throughout the audience, children, teens, and adults alike could be seen decked out in outfits representative of Martinez's various musical eras. Some wore baby pink frills from head-to-toe, about Crybaby or K-12, while others chose to wear earthy greens and magentas in favor of Portals. One especially young fan named Kenzie (9) had even recreated the mask that Martinez typically wears from scratch, using materials from home. Despite the dedication of her fans, the entire audience remained extremely friendly throughout the night, even as the time for her set drew nearer.

Martinez began her set with a video showcasing the aesthetic of her Crybaby character, accompanied by red fireworks as she descended upon the stage. She opened with songs from her album Crybaby, joined by a team of dancers wearing white rabbit heads and pink 1800s-inspired babydoll costumes. This portion of her performance included tracks like "Crybaby," "Dollhouse," "Sippy Cup," and "Pity Party," each with a different pastel-colored backdrop representing the rooms of her dollhouse, which ultimately burned down as she completed each song. The crowd seemed to know every word to "Pity Party," and midway through, they collectively let out a blood-curdling scream - a tradition her audiences have created during shows.

The light pastels of the Crybaby era were soon washed away by a wave of water on the screen as Martinez transitioned into her K-12 era. Here, her dancers donned purple and pink frilled nurses' outfits as they wheeled her on stage in a hospital bed. She performed "Nurse's Office" and "High School Sweethearts" from the album, with her dancers and members of the crowd holding up candy heart signs that read "Die Slow," "Fuck You," and "You Suck."

At the end of this song, Martinez's K-12 persona was "shot by cupid" and 'died.' A fan named Alyssa (16) later explained the significance of this transition, stating that it represented "the death of her old persona and transition into a new life" with the Portals era.

During the Portals portion of the set, Martinez wore her Monster costume - complete with pink skin, four eyes, and ears shaped like butterflies. At the end of her performance, she dedicated the show to the ongoing conflict in Gaza, chanting with the crowd "Free Palestine" while waving the Palestinian flag.

Overall, Melanie Martinez's Lollapalooza performance was an amazing way to end the weekend, taking the audience on a journey through her various musical eras. The crowd remained enthusiastic, respectful, and eager to connect throughout the set.

Read about Day 1 and Day 2 here.

Cover Photo by Roger Ho for Lollapalooza.

Writing Assisted by Suma Sesay.