@colekincart

Welcome to this year’s Pitchfork Festival coverage! This weekend couldn’t have kicked off any better as my high school friend Mason came to visit and joined me for the festivities.  Due to his flight being hit by the storm of outages the night prior, we opted for a slow start, filling up on gyros to tide us over and Divvying™ straight down Halsted. We arrived at the festival grounds to Tkay Maidza’s set and perfect weather.

This year is particularly special for me because I was lucky enough to receive a photo pass—something I’ve dreamt about since middle school. In those days, I would spend my second-hour open period in the computer lab, eagerly reading the latest Pitchfork reviews. Now, as a college student working at a radio station in Chicago, being able to photograph such a festival that has meant so much to me is incredibly special. So, as you’re reading this and thinking my writing is terrible, it’s because I wasn’t paying attention in English class. Just look at the pictures instead!

But back to the music, Billy Woods and Kenny Segal delivered a premium masterclass in hip-hop that left an indelible mark on us. Next, we caught Yaeji’s set, which I was particularly excited about, having seen her close out the Blue Stage in 2021—a show that’s kept me up at night thinking about its awesomeness. Mason, though initially indifferent, was soon drawn in. The Red Stage speakers were impressively loud, setting the perfect scene for Jai Paul, the artist we were both most eager to see.

After Yaeji, we headed to the Green Stage for 100 gecs. Fans of Des Plaines (100 Gec lore drop), it only made sense for them to be greeted with a sizeable and rowdy crowd. The camo hats were a noticeable trend among the crowd, something that I would find to be even more popular as the weekend progressed. In true 100 gecs fashion, they opened with the booming THX sound before kicking off a fan-favorite, “Hand Crushed by a Mallet”—a guilty pleasure of mine thanks to my friend Mark.

The first day of any festival often involves a bit of exploration to get the lay of the land. One of my favorite parts of Pitchfork is “Flatstock,” a huge poster fair featuring Chicago-based graphic designers, tour poster artists, and general printers selling overstock tour posters, test prints, and limited runs. It’s so fascinating to see the variety in design execution and each artist’s unique perspective of what they consider a “tour poster”. As someone who loves having these as artwork for myself and the radio station, I found some great deals throughout the weekend. Safe to say, by the end of the weekend with my collective purchases I had as good as paid for a ticket.

As the sun set and anticipation for Jai Paul built, we meandered around the fairgrounds, checking out the food options for the days ahead. A notable impression from the first day, and something any Pitchfork Fest fan might recognize, is the lack of camping for artists. The meandering crowd, following the music wherever it led, created a vibe of good spirits and genuine enjoyment, free from the typically insufferable crowd of campers.

When Jai Paul hit the stage, we were set. This might have been his first show in Chicago ever, and he delivered an incredible performance. Each song felt more extended and effortless live, creating a carefree vibe. Tracks like “Zion Wolf Theme” and “Do You Love Her Now” had amazing grooves, with “Zion Wolf Theme” featuring a reggae-style staccato beat that made it tastefully bouncy. Initially surprised by the live band setup, given his electronic music style, I found it actually elevated the set. The final trio of songs—“Jasmine,” “BTSTU,” and “Straight Outta Mumbai”—filled a long-standing craving to hear them live, with the set lingering in my mind for the whole weekend.

We caught a bit of Black Pumas and Jeff Rosenstock’s sets before leaving a tad early. Staring down the weekend ahead, we wanted to play it smart and conserve our energy. Plus, I was eager to take Mason to Smoke and Mirrors for the “On the hhunt” show, our version of a Pitchfork aftershow!

Stay tuned for our Day 2 review and recap!