Just a little bit ago the official after shows for Lollapalooza were announced, and boy are they…interesting? Two years ago I saw The Vaccines and Smith Westerns at Schubas on consecutive nights. Last year I switched it up and caught Childish Gambino at The Vic and Frank Ocean at Metro. Also at Metro I saw Band Of Horses, who didn’t even play Lolla last year. They just showed up the night before it started for some reason.

This year C3 delivers an eclectic group of shows that are sure to appeal to a wide audience, though I personally will not be spending any money on anything listed below.

07/31 Wednesday 7pm: Benefitting Special Olympics Audiotree and Scion Presents NELARUSKY: Performances by Imagine Dragons, Icona Pop, Brick + Mortar, Kellen & Me @ METRO
Good cause. Can’t complain there. But I hate how Lollapalooza after shows now drift out to mid-week.

7/31 Wednesday 7:30pm: Timeflies w/ Keys N Krates @ THE VIC THEATRE
Who? Oh! That song “Turn It Up.” Actually not a bad song, but I find it hard to believe its a sellout at The Vic.

7/31 Wednesday 8pm (doors): Thievery Corporation w/ DJ Mel @ HOUSE OF BLUES
I think they played HoB last time, so this makes sense to me. I’m not going, but it makes sense.

7/31 Wednesday 9pm: Smith Westerns @ LINCOLN HALL
Guaranteed to be the best show of what’s listed here. Just saw them a few weeks ago and they just keep getting better. The only show I would recommend you pay money for.

8/01 Thursday 8pm (doors): Lana Del Rey @ HOUSE OF BLUES
Huh.

8/01 Thursday 9pm: Hot Chip w/ Bear Mountain @ THE VIC THEATRE
I like Hot Chip. If this show were 5 years ago I would totally be down with it. Unfortunately I don’t have a time machine.

8/01 Thursday 9pm: Atlas Genius w/ San Cisco @ SCHUBAS ($20)
$20 to go see the opener and then leave? I’ll pass on that one. If you’re planning on going because you like Atlas Genius, make sure you get there early. San Cisco is really good.

8/01 Thursday 9pm: Father John Misty w/ Night Moves @ LINCOLN HALL ($20)
Zzzzzzzzzz

8/01 Thursday 9pm: Hiatus Kaiyote @ SUBTERRANEAN
Had to look up this one because I’ve never heard of him/her/them. Listened to a few tracks off Tawk Tomahawk. Didn’t like it.

8/01 Thursday 9pm (doors): Wild Nothing w/ Circles @ EMTPY BOTTLE
I think Wild Nothing played EB before. I didn’t go to that one either. Definitely not bad, but not something I’m gonna head over to Ukranian Village for.

8/02 Friday 11pm: Eric Church w/ Frontier Ruckus @ METRO
If this were at a smaller venue like Lincoln Hall, I would probably go. Frontier Ruckus put out one of the best records so far this year.

8/02 Friday 10pm (doors): Local Natives w/ Wake Owl @ HOUSE OF BLUES
Are we not done with Local Natives yet? I could have sworn there was a memo.

8/02 Friday 11pm: The Mowgli’s w/ The Bright Light Social Hour @ DOUBLE DOOR
This one kinda depends on the price. $20 seems a bit steep. $15 might make me consider changing my mind. I haven’t seen The Mowgli’s live, but they seem like they’d put on a good show.

8/02 Friday 11pm: The Lumineers @ THE VIC THEATRE
Ho Hey

8/02 Friday 11pm: Foals w/ Drowners @ PARK WEST
Liked the first Foals record. Nothing since.

8/02 Friday 11pm: Little Green Cars w/ The Dunwells @ SCHUBAS ($18)
LGC were just here at Lincoln Hall, so I guess this one is for the out-of-towners.

8/02 Friday 11pm: Jessie Ware @ LINCOLN HALL ($20)
Hmmmm. I feel like this could be an interesting show-or excruciatingly boring.

8/02 Friday 10:30pm: Flux Pavilion w/ Dillon Francis, RVSB @ ARAGON BALLROOM
I’m on record as being pretty anti-Aragon. Even if I wasn’t, I’d skip this one…

8/02 Friday 10pm: SBTRKT and Disclosure @ THE MID
…Because I’d be here, checking out SBTRKT. The Mid has some weird pricing, though. I assume this one will be outrageous.

8/02 Friday 11pm: The Neighbourhood and Family of the Year @ SUBTERRANEAN
Who?

8/02 Friday 11pm: Death Grips @ BOTTOM LOUNGE
It’s like GWAR only it’s rap. Fitting that Death Grips would play at a venue in the single scariest location downtown.

8/02 Friday 10pm (doors): Heartless Bastards w/ Houndmouth @ CITY WINERY
Because after drinking Bud Light for 10 hours, who doesn’t want to kick back and fall asleep after a glass of wine while listening to Heartless Bastards.

8/02 Friday 11pm: Chance The Rapper w/ BJ The Chicago Kid @ REGGIES ($17 – $20)
Money is right considering CTR just sold out two shows at Metro last month. I saw him open for Childish Gambino and didn’t care for his music. And I listened to BJ The Chicago Kid’s record too. I’d skip this one.

8/03 Saturday 9pm (doors): DIIV @ EMPTY BOTTLE
This has some real possibilities. EB is one of the best rock clubs in the world, and DIIV couldn’t be hotter right now.

8/03 Saturday 11pm: Band Of Horses w/ Reignwolf @ METRO
Their show at Metro last year restored some of the faith I lost after seeing them play a terrible set at Riviera. No idea who Reignwolf is.

8/03 Saturday 11pm: Ghost B.C. w/ Skeltonwitch @ DOUBLE DOOR ($25)
Aggressive Swedish rock? Can’t be any worse than The Hives, right?

8/03 Saturday 11pm: Two Door Cinema Club w/ MS MR @ HOUSE OF BLUES
I’ve never been a fan of TDCC. I like the artists in the band much better separately. Still, MS MR are up-and-coming stars, so this show should be fine.

8/03 Saturday 11pm: Matt & Kim w/ Robert DeLong @ THE VIC THEATRE
How are Matt & Kim still popular enough to play The Vic?

8/03 Saturday 11pm: Frightened Rabbit w/ Wild Belle @ PARK WEST
This is easily the best match of opener, headliner, and venue. It’ll cost you, but if you dig Frightened Rabbit this is where you wanna see them.

8/03 Saturday 11pm: SKATERS and The Orwells @ SCHUBAS ($15)
Who?

8/03 Saturday 11pm: HAIM w/ St. Lucia @ LINCOLN HALL ($18)
HAIM may hold the record for going from hyped buzz band to severe backlash in the shortest amount of time. I have no problem with these sisters. And $18 feels reasonable to see them with a great sound system in a venue that they’ll easily sell out.

8/03 Saturday 10:30pm: Kendrick Lamar w/Baauer, BJ The Chicago Kid @ ARAGON BALLROOM
Because the Harlem Shake is still relevant! Another opening slot for BJ The Chicago Kid? And this time for one of the biggest rap stars in the biz. This one will sell out quick and I’m sure he’ll play all the hits-“Bitch Don’t Kill My Vibe,” “F#%k Your Ethnicity,” “Rigamortus,” and other feel good jams.

8/03 Saturday 10pm: Dada Life w/ Nathan Scott, Gus Karas @ THE MID
Local DJ Nathan Scott is also playing at the Spring Awakening Festival here in a little over a week. I’m not familiar with Dada Life, but Scott plays The Mid pretty regularly.

8/03 Saturday 11pm: Baroness w/ The Royal Thunder @ SUBTERRANEAN
ROCK!

8/04 Sunday 9pm (doors): Wavves w/ E.T. Habit @ EMPTY BOTTLE
Ugh.

8/04 Sunday 11pm: Palma Violets w/ Wild Cub @ SCHUBAS ($15)
Paste Magazine calls it the must-see show of the century.

8/04 Sunday 11pm: Alt-J w/ Guards @ LINCOLN HALL ($20)
I hate both of these bands.

And that’s it. A bit underwhelming, I know. I don’t even remember who is playing Lolla this year, so I can’t say what I would change. I’m sure Nine Inch Nails will be in Chicago again later this year. As will most of the big bands like The National (although, REALLY? The National sold out 3 or 4 shows last time they were here. Couldn’t throw the fans who couldn’t get tix to Lolla a bone?)

Anyway, tickets for all these shows go on sale Friday at 10am if you feel like wasting your money.