SZA entrances fans with ethereal, passionate headlining set: Lollapalooza review
Arts Tribune
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SZA gave an ethereal, passionate performance to close out Day 2 of Lollapalooza on the T-Mobile stage.
The soulful hip-hop and rhythm and blues singer, winner of several Grammys and Billboard Women in Music awards, went 16 minutes over her set end time of 10 p.m. Friday with hit songs like “Good Days” and “Kill Bill.”
Fans gathered around the stage, covering every corner south of Balbo Drive just to catch a glimpse of the 34-year-old singer-songwriter. Some fans settled among the trees for a view obstructed by leaves and branches while others decided to sit in the grass along Columbus Drive.
She attracted one of, if not, the largest crowds of the festival weekend to that point, prompting questions about safety and capacity on social media. Her set was not streamed on Hulu, much to the disappointment of fans who couldn’t make it.
The stage featured mushroom-like sculptures and a long staircase that looked like a log. SZA performed with props both earthy and electronic — a nod to her 2017 debut album “Ctrl,” which features her sitting in the grass among a background of clunky, old computer monitors and TVs.
SZA’s otherworldly voice echoed throughout Grant Park, mesmerizing fans. Hundreds swayed and sang to the lyrics of her opening songs. At the beginning of many of her songs, like “Shirt” and her feature on Doja Cat’s “Kiss Me More,” the beat was slowed down or distorted and left attendees wanting more.
The crowd reacted well to “Kiss Me More,” a pop song that became an instant classic when it was released in 2021. The lyrics reverberated throughout the park, feeling fun and positive.
Throughout her set, SZA’s crew sampled old pop and hip-hop songs, such as The Notorious B.I.G.’s “Big Poppa” and Prince’s “Kiss.” This got fans on their feet after some of the artist’s more low-key and emotional songs.
Things got even hotter when she performed “Snooze,” off her second studio album, “SOS.” Fans screamed when they heard the sound of an alarm clock, knowing exactly what was to come.
By 10 p.m., when SZA was expected to get off the stage, she played “Saturn,” released as a single in February during the 2024 Grammys broadcast.
She noted that she “usually doesn’t play this song, but I feel very comfortable with y’all.”
The stage went black and the screen read “THE END,” but SZA wasn’t going anywhere. Aware she was at curfew, she said: “f— it, let’s play it.” Either she was allowed to go over time to allow for foot traffic to ease up as people left the festival, or she truly did not give a damn if she was going get fined.
SZA said she was “really, really nervous” to come out Friday night. “I wanna thank you so much, Chicago,” she said. “…I love you so much.”
She gave a shout-out to all attendees in their twenties before closing out with “20 Something,” during which her mic was abruptly cut off.
SZA Lollapalooza set list
Seek & Destroy
Love Galore
Broken Clocks
All the Stars
Prom
2AM
Drew Barrymore
Garden (Say It Like Dat)
F2F
Forgiveless
Ghost in the Machine
Blind
Shirt
Kiss Me More verse
I Hate U
Snooze
Kill Bill
Low
Supermodel/Special
Open Arms
Nobody Gets Me
Normal Girl
Saturn
Rich Baby Daddy cover
The Weekend
Good Days
20 Something
Lollapalooza 2024 in photos
Fans cheer as BigXThaPlug performs on IHG Hotels and Resorts stage on day one of Lollapalooza, Thursday, August 1, 2024.
| Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times
Fans arrive in Grant Park for the first day of Lollapolooza on Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024.
| Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times
Fans arrive in Grant Park for the first day of Lollapolooza on Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024.
| Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times
Fans arrive in Grant Park for the first day of Lollapolooza on Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024.
| Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times
Fans cheer as BigXThaPlug performs on IHG Hotels and Resorts stage on day one of Lollapalooza, Thursday, August 1, 2024.
| Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times
Fans cheer as BigXThaPlug performs on IHG Hotels and Resorts stage on day one of Lollapalooza, Thursday, August 1, 2024.
| Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times
Tyla performs on the first day of Lollapalooza in Grant Park, Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024.
| Peyton Reich/Sun-Times
Iverson Woods and Jade Flournoy pose for a photo on the first day of Lollapalooza in Grant Park, Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024.
Matt Hansen performs on the first day of Lollapalooza in Grant Park, Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024.
| Peyton Reich/Sun-Times
Chappell Roan performs on the T-Mobile stage on day one of Lollapalooza, Thursday, August 1, 2024.
| Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times
Fans cheer as BigXThaPlug performs on IHG Hotels and Resorts stage on day one of Lollapalooza, Thursday, August 1, 2024.
| Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times
Festival goers enjoy Lollapalooza in Grant Park, Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024.
| Peyton Reich/Sun-Times
Fans watch as Chappell Roan performs on the T-Mobile stage on day one of Lollapalooza, Thursday, August 1, 2024.
| Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times
Chappell Roan performs on the first day of Lollapalooza in Grant Park, Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024.
| Peyton Reich/Sun-Times
Fans watch as Chappell Roan performs on the T-Mobile stage on day one of Lollapalooza, Thursday, August 1, 2024.
| Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times
Chappell Roan fans wait at the barricade before her set on the first day of Lollapalooza in Grant Park, Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024.
| Peyton Reich/Sun-Times
Adan Diaz performs on the first day of Lollapalooza in Grant Park, Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024.
Kesha performs on the IHG Hotels and Resorts stage on day one of Lollapalooza, Thursday, August 1, 2024.
| Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times
Fans cheer as Kesha performs on the IHG Hotels and Resorts stage on day one of Lollapalooza, Thursday, August 1, 2024.
| Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times
A fan holds the heart that Kesha threw out into the crowd as Kesha performs on the IHG Hotels and Resorts stage on day one of Lollapalooza, Thursday, August 1, 2024.
| Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times
A fan pretends to bite the heart that Kesha threw out into the crowd as Kesha performs on the IHG Hotels and Resorts stage on day one of Lollapalooza, Thursday, August 1, 2024.
| Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times
Labrinth performs on the T-Mobile stage on day one of Lollapalooza, Thursday, August 1, 2024.
| Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times
Fans cheer as Megan Thee Stallion performs on the T-Mobile stage on day one of Lollapalooza, Thursday, August 1, 2024.
| Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times
Hozier performs to a packed crowd during the 8:30pm set on the Bud Light stage on day 1 of Lollapalooza in Chicago on Aug. 1, 2024.
| Manuel Martinez/WBEZ
Hozier performs to a packed crowd during the 8:30pm set on the Bud Light stage on day 1 of Lollapalooza in Chicago on Aug. 1, 2024.
| Manuel Martinez/WBEZ
Megan Thee Stallion performs on the T-Mobile stage on day one of Lollapalooza, Thursday, August 1, 2024.
| Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times
Stay Safe Lolla is displayed on a tower prior to Megan Thee Stallion performing on the T-Mobile stage on day one of Lollapalooza, Thursday, August 1, 2024.
| Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times
Fans cheer as Megan Thee Stallion performs on the T-Mobile stage on day one of Lollapalooza, Thursday, August 1, 2024.
| Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times
Thousands flock to Grant Park for day two of Lollapalooza, Friday, Aug. 2, 2024.
| Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
Wisp performs on the second day of Lollapalooza in Grant Park, Friday, Aug. 2, 2024.
| Peyton Reich/Sun-Times
Kids watch Taj Farrant perform at Kidzapalooza on the second day of Lollapalooza in Grant Park, Friday, Aug. 2, 2024.
| Peyton Reich/Sun-Times
Thousands flock to Grant Park for day two of Lollapalooza, Friday, Aug. 2, 2024.
| Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
Festival-goers dress up as the Power Rangers as thousands flock to Grant Park for day two of Lollapalooza, Friday, Aug. 2, 2024.
| Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
Wisp performs on the second day of Lollapalooza in Grant Park, Friday, Aug. 2, 2024.
| Peyton Reich/Sun-Times
Fans listen to Wisp on the Second day of LollaPalloza in Grant Park, Friday, Aug. 2, 2024.
| Peyton Reich/Sun-Times
Ava Maybee performs on the second day of Lollapalooza in Grant Park, Friday, Aug. 2, 2024.
| Peyton Reich/Sun-Times
Queen Herby performs on day two of Lollapalooza, Friday, Aug. 2, 2024.
| Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
Taj Farrant performs at Kidzapalooza on the second day of Lollapalooza in Grant Park, Friday, Aug. 2, 2024.
| Peyton Reich/Sun-Times
Sexyy Red performs on day two of Lollapalooza, Friday, Aug. 2, 2024.
| Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
Sexyy Red performs on day two of Lollapalooza, Friday, Aug. 2, 2024.
| Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
Festival-goers dance and cheer as Sexyy Red performs on day two of Lollapalooza, Friday, Aug. 2, 2024.
| Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
Festival-goers dance and cheer as Sexyy Red performs on day two of Lollapalooza, Friday, Aug. 2, 2024.
| Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
Festival-goers dance and cheer as Sexyy Red performs on day two of Lollapalooza, Friday, Aug. 2, 2024.
| Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
Festival-goers dance and cheer as Sexyy Red performs on day two of Lollapalooza, Friday, Aug. 2, 2024.
| Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
Laufey performs with the Chicago Philharmonic on day two of Lollapalooza in Grant Park, Friday, Aug. 2, 2024.
| Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
Victoria Monét performs on the second day of Lollapalooza in Grant Park, Friday, Aug. 2, 2024.
| Peyton Reich/Sun-Times
Victoria Monét performs on the second day of Lollapalooza in Grant Park, Friday, Aug. 2, 2024.
| Peyton Reich/Sun-Times
Festivalgoers dance at Casa Bacardí during day three of Lollapallooza at Grant Park, Saturday, Aug. 3, 2024.