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Event Fri Jun 25 2010
Worth a Taste This Year
Normally I wouldn't be caught dead at the Taste of Chicago. Something about heat and humidity and crowds of sweaty people combined with food grosses me out (I was scarred a few years back during my first visit by a large sweaty man in a sleeveless shirt, with a turkey leg). But this year, the musical aspect of the fest might have me making multiple visits to Grant Park.
Don't get me wrong, normally fests of this sort have past-their-prime musical acts that I could care less about seeing (with the exception of Stevie Wonder last year), but something is telling me that I should see Spinderella "cut it up one time" at least once in my life. See the rest of my picks after the jump.
Find the full lineup on the Taste of Chicago's website, or download their comprehensive app to have the schedule at your fingertips.
Tonight, right after Salt-N-Pepa shoop, baby on the Petrillo Music Shell stage (6:20pm), stick around for Bell Biv Devoe at 7:15pm. Rob Base and DJ EZ Rock get things started there at 5:30pm, along with Doug E. Fresh at 5:45pm and Slick Rick at 6pm. It's hard to resist a trip back to the 90's and the beginning of mainstream hip hop. Go ahead, sing along, everyone else will be too!
Tomorrow, Saturday 6/26, your trip back to the 90's continues with Gavin Rossdale headlining the evening at the Petrillo Music Shell at 6:45pm. It's also worth getting there early for a couple of local, modern day rock acts: Mannequin Men at 4pm and White Mystery at 6:40pm, both on the Illinois Lottery Taste Stage.
We're big supporters of teaching kids to rock here at Transmission, and next Wednesday, 6/30, you can see some young rock students on the Family Fun Time Stage: The School of Rock at 12:30pm and Rock For Kids at 1:30pm.
The Illinois Lottery Taste Stage is rockin' (and dancing) again on Thursday, July 1, beginning with local up and coming band Skybox at 4pm (see their new music video for "In A Dream" here) and Occidental Brothers Dance Band Int'l featuring Samba Mapangala at 6:40pm.
On Saturday, July 3, leave the beach early to make your way down to the Illinois Lottery Taste Stage at 4pm to see The Heavy. You'll recognize their song "How You Like Me Now" from a recent commercial where some toys come to life and take over the town in a Kia Sorento. (You can see them again that night at Lincoln Hall.) And call it a guilty pleasure, but I'll probably stop by the Petrillo Music Shell on my way to see a little bit of Steve Miller Band beginning at 3pm. Also on the Illinois Lottery Taste Stage is recent Gapers Block Anniversary Party headliner JC Brooks & The Uptown Sound at noon.
On the final day of the fest, and the day we officially celebrate our independence, indie darlings Passion Pit break the shackles of Congress Theater and perform at the Petrillo Music Shell at 3:55pm.
Anything we missed? One band you're dying to see? Let us know in the comments!
LaShawn Williams / June 26, 2010 1:28 PM
Actually, all the acts in the Taste of Chgo hip-hop line-up began their careers in the mid 80s; however, if you mean the onset of BBD, then the 90s would be correct. :-) Speaking of BBD, those dudes are timeless, still have "it," and can dance their butts off. They could mop the floor against ANY R&B male group today--not there are any, really. And you really had to be there to witness Doug E. Fresh beatbox for what seemed like 10mins, non-stop, without taking a breath. It was AMAZING. I am still "high" from the trip back in the absolute best era of hip-hop.