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Built to Spill
8:40 p.m. Aluminum Stage
Built to Spill might be the only jam band laden with indie-rock cred, likely because even their rambling self-indulgence is executed with precision and purpose—catchy melodies, weighty lyrics and guitar solos weaving their way to quenching ends. Doug Martsch and company had little stage presence, treating their instruments like appendages that just happen to emit vibrant crowd favorites ("Kicked It In The Sun," "Else," "Big Dipper"), but the blissed-out fans sang along undaunted, rejoicing when raindrops fell serendipitously, as Martsch recited the lyrics to ultimate-tribute song "You Were Right" ("You were right when you said 'It's a hard rain's gonna fall.”).
-- Fauzia Arain
The Jesus Lizard
7:20 p.m. Connector Stage
After Jesus Lizard singer David Yow announced the Chicago band will end its brief 2009 tour with two Metro shows on Nov. 27-28, drummer Mac McNeilly dove into the Lizard's driving, bluesy punk set and Yow dove right into the crowd. Reeling through the band's discography of four-letter albums, Yow seemed genuinely pleased at fans' warm reception to the Lizard's first local show in more than a decade. In return, he gifted the crowd his personal brand of stage shenanigans, from shirtless hula dancing and telling lewd jokes to crowd surfing and spitting profusely (we stopped counting after 14 instances). Forty minutes in, Yow rolled up his sleeves and broke into a fit of jumping jacks and push-ups. The band's energy never let up through an hour of intense rhythms, tireless drumming and, in the end, aerobics.
Yo La Tengo
6:10 p.m. Aluminum Stage
Is it OK for Yo La Tengo to break from the all-request theme if it dedicates the offending song to Ron Santo, a Chicago Cubs fave who's perennially overlooked for the Hall of Fame? Yes it is. Too new to be requested, “Periodically Double or Triple,” from the band’s forthcoming “Popular Songs,” helped kick the band into second gear after a moody keyboard-heavy start. Closing out with classics “Tom Courtenay” and “Sugarcube” ensured all would be forgiven.
-- Matt McGuire
Tortoise
5 p.m. Connector Stage
Yes, Tortoise has a new album, “Beacons of Ancestorship.” No, the instrumental Chicago quintet didn’t play any tracks from it. The leadoff band at Pitchfork’s all-request night, Tortoise dutifully stuck to fan requests, even if it meant ignoring newer material. Never the most energetic live band, Tortoise still meticulously recreated its studio-centric songs – “Djed,” “TNT” and “Glass Museum” among the highlights – and looked like they would have preferred a studio setting while doing it.
-- MM
