Lollapalooza 2014: Lolla like a rock star

IO Echo at Lollapalooza 2013 ©Dave Meade

The 2014 installment of Lollapalooza sold out a few months ago. In fact, three-day passes were all snatched up before the headliners had even been announced. Still, there’s no denying the star power of the six acts topping the bill. Take for instance Outkast, whose last area gig was back in 2001. Andre 3000 and Big Boi are sure to draw thousands when they hit the stage at Grant Park. But where do they go after the show? We’ve put together a list of downtown hotels where these artists might crash after the gig, and where they might grab a bite or nightcap along the way. When you think about it, staking out a hotel bar wouldn’t be the worst way to snag a signature from your favorite rock star, would it? Hey, it’s easier than getting a backstage pass.

Eminem

Finding Eminem

The Detroit rapper doesn’t come cheap as far as marquee acts go. But he doesn’t blow his paychecks on Cristal—the now sober MC’s wild days are behind him. That’s why it’s easy to see Em holing up after the gig in a penthouse at the 92-story high Trump International Hotel & Tower, surrounded in five-star luxury and endless amenities. With his fat fee and all those multi-platinum records under his belt, the guy can afford it. That said, when it comes to grub, Marshall Mathers stays true to his 8 Mile Road roots, and his taste for McDonald’s is well documented. Translate: Stake out the location wedged between Trump Tower and the Wrigley Building.

Outkast

All over Outkast

Lollapalooza’s most eagerly awaited reunion, Outkast exudes class. While the Atlanta duo’s last album, Idlewild, may not have spawned any singles that could match the off-the-charts success of “Hey Ya,” it underlined the group’s appreciation for an elegant vintage aesthetic and old school jazz. That’s why we think Andre 3000 and Big Boi would snag a pair of suites at the Drake, throwing back a cocktail at the legendary Gold Coast hotel’s storied Cape Cod Room before cruising up Lake Shore Drive to former speakeasy the Green Mill for a taste of Chicago’s thriving jazz scene.

Kings of Leon

Creeping the Kings of Leon

This band of brothers (and their cousin) has the honor of shutting down the annual Grant Park rock fest, after which we predict the Followill clan will sit down for Buds and burgers with local celebrity ambassador Billy Dec at the Rockit Bar & Grill in River North. But the night doesn’t end there. No, these guys are practically guaranteed to close down the bar at—where else?—the Hard Rock Hotel. Don’t expect anything too debauched though; this is a place that caters to nursing mothers (FedEx your breast milk!) and pet lovers (check out the “Party like a Rottweiler” package). That’s not to say the band won’t toss a spare TV or sofa onto Michigan Ave.

Arctic Monkeys

Hunting Arctic Monkeys

Like a lot of England’s best-selling acts, the Arctic Monkeys’ massive success back home hasn’t exactly translated to our shores. Yet they maintain a road dog work ethic, building a grassroots following that’s earned the foursome the top slot at Lolla. They may still be young (remember their teenage breakout back in 2005?), but they’re an increasingly sophisticated bunch, which signals to us that the lads would find swank downtown hotel Public Chicago more than agreeable with its “soothing ‘no color’ color palette.” No doubt the band would be drawn to Public’s world class Pump Room. We also suggest a trek down to Bridgeport for a taste of home at Pleasant House Bakery, where they serve up scrumptious steak and ale pies, among other savory treats.

Skrillex

Seeking Skrillex

Sonny Moore, or Skrillex, is best known as the dude who brought brostep to the masses and institutionalized the bass drop. Needless to say, this guy goes big with his live show, which has won over Lolla audiences in the past. So we predict he’ll keep the party going at the MID, Chicago’s foremost EDM destination. Always one to keep things new and fresh, we wouldn’t be surprised to find Skrillex resting his signature half-shaved tresses at Hotel Lincoln, a new boutique hotel in Lincoln Park.

Calvin Harris

Catching Calvin Harris

This Scottish DJ made his mark on hits by Kylie Minogue and LMFAO before teaming up with Rihanna on the game-changing “We Found Love” in 2011. He’s a brand name on his own now, on par with any knob-twiddler who rakes it in at those fancy nightclubs in Vegas. The same decadent vibe is on tap at theWit’s rooftop lounge, and come Lolla we imagine it quickly becoming home to lots of Harris hangers-on. And RedEye gossip mongers. For Chicagoans, it’s the next best thing to Ibiza.

Tagged: Hotels, Midwest