You already know you're going to see Pearl Jam at Lollapalooza. But in a field crowded with bands you've never heard of and others you may not care about, who else do you look forward to?

Well, we'll tell you. Out of more than 150 acts at Chicago's massive annual music fest, these are the 15 (5 per day) that shouldn't pass you by.



Friday
Soulive
Two years ago, this high-energy funk/jazz band put on one of the best shows at Lolla. Since then, they've unfortunately added a full-time vocalist who steers the group dangerously close to elevator music. But we're still counting on them to tear the roof off of Grant Park. You know, if it had a roof.

Ted Leo + Pharmacists
Far removed from his work in '90s band Chisel, Ted Leo shows no sign of slowing down on his current band's latest, "Living with the Living." He's a never-ending reservoir of hooks, and he steamrolls his way through material in concert without ever sounding too herky-jerky. That he can pop in political ideas without sounding preachy or getting in the way of the punk energy is one more reason he's one of rock's most reliable songwriters.

The Polyphonic Spree
Even if you aren't a huge fan of this overblown musical theater act masquerading as a band, Lolla's the perfect time to take in groups like The Polyphonic Spree that work better on stage than on record. Crowding the stage with enough members to start a football team, the Spree can be kinda catchy if you don't mind all the group sing-alongs. Plus, they're more distinctive than pretty unremarkable Jack's Mannequin, who plays at the same time on the AT&T stage.

M.I.A.
We haven't yet heard "Kala," the much anticipated follow-up to British rapper/electronic artist M.I.A.'s 2005 debut, "Arular." But if her delivery is still fierce and the beats are still bangin', this set won't disappoint.

LCD Soundsystem
No standing still for this one. Playing tunes from his latest critically acclaimed album, "Sound of Silver," one-man show James Murphy is sure to whip the Lolla crowd into a sweaty, hip-shaking frenzy. Don't forget to put your dancing shoes on.

Saturday
Matt and Kim
Goofy pop duo Matt and Kim may look cute and calm, but they're really a wild, out-of-control scene waiting to happen. The pair is known for knocking stuff over on stage and just going generally nuts--much more than you'd expect from a happy-go-lucky keyboards-and-drums band. Their song, "Yea Yeah," may also set the record for the most times the word "Yeah" has ever been sung in one tune.

Cold War Kids
One of a handful of acts returning from last year's fest, these bible institute-educated Californians craft soulful, Southern-influenced tunes that consistently go to unexpected places. Whether it's unconventional time signatures, shaking percussion or plunking piano, Cold War Kids give mainstream rock a spanking. If singer-pianist Nathan Willett's wail doesn't get you, hit single "Hang Me Up to Dry" will.

The Roots
Don't quote us on the number, but this is approximately the 3,794th time that The Roots have come through Chicago. Which is all the more reason that you have no excuse not to have seen hip-hop's best live band (yes, we know there aren't a lot out there). Their latest, "Game Theory," is one of their darkest albums yet, but a Roots show is all about fun.

The Hold Steady
Sure, they sound like a bar band, but New York's The Hold Steady are professional party-starters. Singer Craig Finn has a way of slurring his words, and we don't blame him considering the band's penchant for drinking onstage. But don't worry about them being too sloppy; the band is back after rocking Lolla last summer, so they must be doing something right.

Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Some said that Yeah Yeah Yeah's latest album, "Show Your Bones," was too restrained for the group that broke onto the scene with the feisty "Fever to Tell." But we say that Karen O and co. progressed in all the right ways, staying angry but knowing when to scale back the yelps. But, for the record, we still can't get enough of her defiant bark.

Sunday
Juliette and the Licks
You know frontwoman Juliette Lewis from movies like "Natural Born Killers" and "Old School," but this is no self-indulgent diversion for a Hollywood icon with rock star dreams. Lewis sounds like a woman possessed on the band's latest, "Four on the Floor," with such a natural charisma and snarl you'd think she's been doing this her whole life. Catch her now before Tinseltown calls her away again.

The Postmarks
OK, we know that The Postmarks start in the middle of Juliette and the Licks' set. And we know that the quiet Florida pop band, led by dreamy female vocalist Tim Yehezkely, is the polar opposite of Lewis' balls-to-the-wall guitar arsenal. But once you hear The Postmarks' soothing sounds, you'll be too spellbound to care.

Lupe Fiasco
You're not going to go three days without hearing a hometown hero, are you? Since stepping into the spotlight with his single, "Kick, Push," West Side native Lupe Fiasco has shaken up the hip-hop world with his unfussy, thoughtful rhymes. Plus, he's appearing at the same time as live performance-challenged Amy Winehouse, so you better believe now's the time to show this Chicagoan some love.

!!!
We know you're wondering, so here it is: You can pronounce !!! with three identical monosyllabic sounds of your choice, like chk-chk-chk or boom-boom-boom. But these California dance-rockers aren't a gimmick. They reportedly put on one of the top sets at this year's Coachella Fest, and we can't wait to see them energize a crowd guaranteed to be more than a little worn out by this point in the weekend.

TV on the Radio
By far one of the most interesting and confusing bands on this year's lineup, TV on the Radio makes rock music that sometimes doesn't sound like rock and occasionally isn't completely classifiable as music. But they're a band that requires full attention and becomes a simultaneously intellectual and aggressive force on stage. This, we're confident, will be one to remember.

Matt Pais is the metromix music and movies producer.

mpais@tribune.com