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1:30-2:15 Michael Kiwanuka The London-born son of two Ugandan immigrants, Michael Kiwanuka has delivered one of the strongest debut albums of the year: Home Again (Cherrytree/Interscope) is a collection of beautiful, laid-back soul and folk that sounds like a throwback to the late 60s and early 70s. When I first heard the opening track, “Tell Me a Tale,” I immediately thought of Chicago guitarist and songwriter Terry Callier—Kiwanuka braids spiritual jazz and exploratory soul into arrangements that owe a debt to Charles Stepney, one of the masterminds behind the Rotary Connection and producer of several of Callier’s records. With his strong pop leanings, Kiwanuka isn’t as deep or intense as Callier (or other obvious forebears, such as Bill Withers and Van Morrison), but his extraordinary singing is powerfully beautiful. Also Thu 8/2 at Metro with headliner Band of Horses, 18+. —Peter Margasak PlayStation stage
Black Angels2:15-3:00Bud Light stage Austin psych-drudge rockers the Black Angels can make the most paranoid of highs work, even in a setting that’s oppressively crowded and glaringly bright. I missed their Lollapalooza set in 2007, so I can’t personally vouch for how well their sound translates at such an over-the-top extravaganza, but I did see them during SXSW that year, at a daytime show on the Red Eyed Fly’s open-air stage out back—and even taking into account the home-field advantage, their set was among the weekend’s most memorable. They have a way of owning the crowd, possessing everyone with their echoing yowls and hypnotic sway. Yes, the music is basically Spacemen 3 meets the 13th Floor Elevators meets the Velvet Underground, but what the Black Angels lack in originality they make up for with skill and cunning. Their third and most recent album, 2010’s Phosphene Dream (Blue Horizon), is a little more upbeat than the previous two, so their second Lolla show ought to be better than the first. Also Fri 8/3 at Subterranean, sold out, 21+. —Mara Shalhoup
Nero7:00-8:15 Perry’s stage London EDM group Nero made an impression on the dance-music world in the mid- to late aughts with a series of highly listenable singles, first at the forefront of a drum ‘n’ bass revival and then in the shadowy depths of the UK dubstep scene. After dubstep got a neon-streaked makeover and blew up in America, the group (producers Joe Ray and Dan Stephens and vocalist Alana Watson) upped the commercial ante by adding unabashed pop melodies to the equation. The race is on to be the first dubstep act to achieve the kind of mainstream success enjoyed by club-pop genius Dr. Luke, and Nero sounds way ahead of the pack. Also Fri 8/3 at Congress Theater (DJ set) with openers Die Antwoord, 18+. —Miles Raymer
See our reviews for Saturday • Sunday
For something a little more useful, check out our list of afterparties.
We put together a Spotify playlist of our favorite Lolla acts. Have a listen!
