Brigitte Calls Me Baby, Skrillex And The Killers On Lollapalooza Day 3

“Cheers, Chicago!” said singer Wes Leavins on stage early Saturday afternoon as day three at Lollapalooza kicked off in the Windy City. “We are Brigitte Calls Me Baby from Chicago!”

Lollapalooza has historically embraced Chicago artists, showcasing local acts like Chance the Rapper and Wilco as well as up-and-coming artists on an annual basis.

In the 90s, when the Chicago music scene launched alternative acts like Smashing Pumpkins, Material Issue, Liz Phair and Urge Overkill, the city was infamously dubbed the next Seattle.

30 years later, Chicago’s music scene is gurgling nationally again with artists like Friko and Brigitte Calls Me Baby performing this year at Lollapalooza.

“It’s incredible. And it’s a long time coming for sure. The last three or four years, since after COVID, the scene has definitely taken off,” said Friko singer and guitarist Niko Kapetan backstage following the group’s 40 minute performance on the Bacardi Stage. “And I think there are a lot more good bands too that I hope to see get the attention as well. And we’re gonna try to spread some of that,” he said. “Bands like Sick Day and Hemlock. Neptune’s Core
Core
. Lifeguard.”

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Friko and Brigitte Calls Me Baby each performed a pair of sets Saturday at Lollapalooza, appearing at the intimate Toyota Music Den following main stage sets. Both are also signed to Dave Matthews’ ATO Records, with Friko releasing their debut album Where We’ve Been, Where we go From Here this past February.

For Kapetan, casting a keen eye upon the business side is crucial as the band begins their ascent.

“At least for us, all of the closest people to us on our team came when we were still a band that didn’t have much attention or money behind us. So, everybody is in it for the right reasons. And that’s so important for a band coming up,” he explained. “But there is also way more transparency for bands, I think, because of the internet. Because of how things work with how information travels, it’s easier to stay aware of how everything’s working around you. Because you have to pay attention so you don’t get screwed over,” Kapetan explained. “Labels don’t really have that kind of power anymore to say and do everything. You have more power now as an artist luckily, which is great.”

Brigitte Calls Me Baby opened up the IGH Stage at 12:30 PM local time on Saturday, reaping the benefits of a surprise set a half hour earlier by DJ and producer Skrillex on the Perry’s Stage.

Dubbed Sonny’s Stage for Saturday only, Sonny Moore, in his guise as Skrillex, curated Saturday’s artist performances on the stage, ultimately bookending it himself with a headlining 90 minute performance, eight hours later.

Which meant a few more fans were on hand to catch Brigitte Calls Me Baby on the nearby IHG stage.

“This is our latest single,” said Leavins on stage, setting up “Too Easy,” from the group’s first full length studio album The Future Is Our Way Out, which dropped Friday on the eve of the group’s Lollapalooza debut, just a week removed from a performance on Jimmy Kimmel Live as the band’s breakout 2024 continues.

While Brigitte Calls Me Baby hails from Chicago, Leavins grew up in Texas, making Saturday his first appearance at the tastemaking festival.

“I’m enjoying every moment. I eat this up. I’m not afraid or apprehensive about any success we get. I hope we go as far as we can go and I welcome every bit of that,” said Leavins backstage following the group’s second performance of the day Saturday at Lollapalooza’s Toyota Music Den, shining a light upon the importance of a strong team for any independent musicians.

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“We’ve certainly learned as we’ve gone along,” he said. “I would say, initially, we didn’t know anything. And then we got a great manager, Phil Costello. He’s shown us the ropes. He’s been around for a long time and worked with so many great, great artists,” Leavins explained. “I think if it weren’t for him, I don’t know if we would have half of the grasp that we do on those things.”

Elsewhere on day three at Lollapalooza, the Deftones, following an intimate Thursday night aftershow in front of only about 1,000 fans at Chicago club Metro, offered up hits like “Be Quiet and Drive” early with “Change (House of Flies)” coming late.

And The Killers brought everything full circle during a headlining performance on the festival’s south main stage, putting their own spin upon “Very First Lie,” a lovely, unexpected deep cut from International Pop Overthrow, the 1991 debut by Chicago power pop pioneers Material Issue.