Lolla Late Night Done Right
Any hardcore festie knows that all-day extravaganzas don't end with the headliner's encore. As Lolla heads navigated out of Grant Park and back toward Michigan Avenue each night, there was an electro-heavy schedule of after-hours shindigs calling out loud.
Midnight Monsters
There's much to be said about the rage crowd from Lolla (Perry's Electro Playground), and while you'd think these cats could use a few hours off their feet, rest is the last thing on a rage runt's roster. With a Fool's Gold after-hours headed by A-Trak, Nick Catchdubs and Treasure Fingers at Sonotheque versus Major Lazer, Bloody Beetroots, Simian Mobile Disco and others at Congress Theatre, it was the hidden gem that won the most underground attendance: Conspirator at Kinetic Playground.
Hot off a Camp Bisco 8 run (they played a secret VIP late-night set), and a Phish post-show at Red Rocks, Conspirator was welcomed by progressive electro heads, Biscuits and one notable Melonhead who goes by the name Steve Smitka, the dude who was responsible for putting the gig together, along with Saturday's Orchard Lounge 4 a.m. post jam. Conspirator consists of two heady Biscuits, Marc Brownstein on bass and Aron Magner on the keys. Both operating with additional technical elements to enhance the show, the boys teased with tracks like "Commercial Amen" and "Liquid Handcuffs" from 2005's The Key, in addition to an amped "Root Down" (Beastie Boys) and a nice Bisco sample of "Mirrors," to name a few. Kinetic Playground was an intimate setting for a few hundred to get up close and personal with the two fine musicians. With affordable bar tabs and more than decent acoustics, it was a great break from the crowded Lolla scene, and an invited change of sound from earlier Lolla lineups.
Saturday's a Bust
The Music Lounge at The Hard Rock was hosting the sassiest show of Saturday night. Only, if you'd stayed 'til the end of headliners like Tool, Yeah Yeah Yeahs and Bassnectar over at GP, you were screwed on entry, no matter what kind of platinum pass you were sporting. Santigold and GZA from the Wu Tang Clan were said to have thrown a massive showstopper and free drinks kept this party poppin'. Over at the House of Blues, a sold-out, four-hour STS9 set was underway, no luck on entry past midnight, without pre-purchased tickets. Bassnectar threw a secret, unannounced after-hours, and after cab-hopping from spot to spot, it seemed foot-to-coffee table and beer-in-hand action would win after another long day at Lolla, combined with Friday's full-blown fun.
Sunday's Last Hoorah
After the finale over at Grant Park, plenty of people picked up and headed out of Chi-town. Those who stayed were in for a few last treats. One show had the diehards talking, another sold-out dance party over at the Bottom Lounge featuring MSTRKRFT and LA Riots. Although local 
faves Dark Wave Disco hyped the early entries, it wasn't until LA Riots threw down some filth on the tables that had people dancing and sweat dripping. Held in a private show room, this late-night party raked in only around 200 of the luckiest patrons, leaving the beggars out in the dust over at the lounge bar - which wasn't the worst thing in the world, since you could hear plenty of the action if your eardrums weren't blown out already. MSTRKRFT threw down another impressive high-energy, hour-plus show, similar to their Lolla set, but with a few extra-dirty dubs. Although the venue was pretty chill in general, it couldn't have been any hotter if the jam was held at 2 p.m. back at Perry's. Even though the masses were jumping around and showing off their dance moves, no one seemed to complain about the sweatbox. Not even JFK, dripping from head-to-toe, shouted out a negative word. The duo was on fire, which also might've explained the furnace, but they shelled out another crazy set, with plenty of heavy metal hints, synth love and all-around upbeat action, the perfect closer to another ecstatic summer event.
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