Lollapalooza Music Festival 2013, Saturday: Faces in the crowd

RECOMMENDED: More wild crowd shots and band photos from Friday
RECOMMENDED: More wild crowd shots and band photos from Sunday
RECOMMENDED: See our complete coverage of Lollapalooza 2013.

11am The gates open to the sounds of John Williams's Star Wars theme. As always. Maybe he can headline in 2015 when Episode VII hits.—BD

11:45am Props to Lolla's hardworking cleanup crew. I don't know how they do it, but Grant Park is looking pristine this morning.—ZL

11:54am Fresh wood chips have been spread in front of the Grove stage. It will be interesting to see what the south side of the grounds look like today—the huge crowd for the Killers last night probably did a number on all that wet grass.—ZL

11:58am Bands are bringing their 'A' game in terms of onstage backdrops this year. Father John Misty's colorful banner was my favorite of yesterday's crop, Phox's giant ice cream sundae mural is the early front-runner for today.—ZL

12:10pm Madison, WI indie pop outfit Phox were a late addition to the Lolla lineup, brought on when Azealia Banks canceled her appearance. Lead singer Monica Martin has a powerful voice that effortlessly lends itself to the group's big harmonies—this probably won't be their last appearance at the festival.—ZL

12:35pm Shaggy locks. Bandanas. A penchant for wailing guitar solos. Bright Light Social Hour looks and sounds like a bunch of roadies who decided to start their own band.—ZL

12:48pm Sticking around the north side of the park to find out what Planet Hemp sounds like. Jam band? Rap group? Juggalo affiliates? Only time will tell...—ZL

12:54pm I'm hearing that Death Grips' set tonight has been canceled. Guess they didn't feel like headlining Lollapalooza (or showing up to their official aftershow last night). Snowboarder Shaun White's band Bad Things will be filling in.—ZL

1:05pm Planet Hemp is an awful funk-rap group.—ZL

1:26pm Shovels & Rope is the smallest band that will play on the Red Bull Sound Select stage this weekend. Thanks to some impressive multi-tasking, the Charleston, SC duo sound like a much larger group—a feat that the considerable crowd watching their set seems to appreciate.—ZL

2:50pm Charles Bradley is decked out in a snappy blue suit, adding some much-needed soul to the afternoon. Few performers are as genuinely gracious as this guy.—ZL

3:09pm On the el with some drunk festival-goers who just tried to start a fight. I am already regretting this.—ED

3:19pm First costume change of the set for Bradley—now he's rocking a white blazer and leading the band through "Where Do We Go From Here?"—ZL

3:29pm I bet Owl City is pretty happy about the news that the Postal Service's reunion will end in Chicago this weekend.—ZL

3:52pm Court Yard Hounds, the Dixie Chicks spinoff, makes me miss Natalie Maines. Emily Robison and Martie Maguire bring the sweet sisterly harmonies, but their country/folk tunes are underseasoned, noticeably lacking Maines' spice.—LP

3:54pm Matt & Kim are currently discussing their sex life on stage. Ugh, we get it guys, you're so in love.—ZL

4:15pm Local Natives play their Talking Heads cover. These guys could totally be the new Seals & Croft if they would seize the yacht's steering wheel. It sounds morose, but I'm aching to hear the song about the singer's mom's death. It's gutting and gorgeous.—BD

4:29pm Local Natives get the crowd to shout "Hi, Aaron," as they dedicate "Heavy Feet" to their album producer Aaron Dessner of the National, who is wandering around somewhere backstage.—BD

4:33pm Is anyone even listening to the music? Fairly certain 90 percent of the people here are just taking selfies and smoking bowls.—ED

4:34pm Ah, there it is: "Columbia." Lovely.—BD

4:40pm Baauer blasting remix of Azealia Banks's "212." Nobody here seems quite prepared to do the Harlem Shake.—BD

4:46pm Unknown Mortal Orchestra living up to their name. A sadly sparse crowd for one of he better acts today.—BD

4:53pm Shit just got really Woodstock at the Grove with an extended psych guitar freak out by Unknown Mortal Orchestra.—BD

4:57pm How weird-barassing would it be to admit that at this very moment UMO reminded me of Primus?—BD

5:09pm Ellie Goulding, the sprightly Brit who first popped up on many Americans' radar after she was the chosen entertainment for Will and Kate's private wedding reception, makes sense in a sunny afternoon fest slot. Ethereal vox over dance beats combined with boundless energy onstage. (Likely owed, at least in part, to her high-profile running regimen.) Never mind that she's been famous across the pond for a few years. The dude in the fedora and cargo shorts crooning along to her cover of "Your Song"—the spare, understated version beloved by the royal couple—is proof: Americans know her now.—LP

5:10pm Goulding covers Elton John's "Your Song." So far the crowd knows more of the words to this song than any of her originals.—ED

5:21pm Ellie Goulding is singing into a vocoder over slap bass. She should always do this.—BD

5:24pm A muscular guy with a Camelbak runs up and grabs my shoulder. "You got tickets?" He shows me his phone. "You said meet the guy with green shorts and a blue shirt at Ellie Goulding." Um, there are 40,000 people here. On a side note: Holy shit, Goulding has at least five times the fans compared to when she played here two years ago.—BD

5:25pm Crowd at Baauer is appropriately bonkers. Pretty sure I missed the actual "Harlem Shake," but he liberally peppers the titular sample throughout his set. Also, according to the screens on stage, it's spelled "Baaúer."—ZL

5:28pm Woman lying in the shade at Ellie. Reading the book, Getting to Maybe. Make of that what you will.—BD

5:47pm Confirmed: people at Lollapalooza don't really want to hear country music.—BD

5:56pm My first celeb sighting of the fest: Tim Meadows in VIP waiting in line for food just like everyone else.—ED

6:13pm "Anyone here from Ohio?" Matt Berninger asks before launching into "Bloodbuzz Ohio." The National is oddly proud of their roots for a band that has been living and working in Brooklyn for so long. (Full disclosure: I am a fellow Ohioan, so I get it—kinda.) —ZL

6:36pm Spotted Honey Boo Boo's face on a stick.—ED

6:37pm I wish I'd gotten into the business of selling fanny packs to fest-goers. The dream of the '90s is alive at Lollapalooza.—LP

6:53pm The National just broke into "Slow Show." Things are getting a little morose over here, but the crowd is eating it up.—ZL

6:55pm My colleague Brent DiCrescenzo was right-on in his Lolla preview. I miss subtle, laid-back Kendrick. Aggro fest Kendrick drains his act of its specialness. #airhorns—LP

6:56pm The strength of Kendrick's album lies in its relaxed flows and beats. And Kendrick shouting over a cheesy live band totally kills that vibe. It's two different acts. Suburban kids chanting "pussy and Patron." Sigh.—BD

7pm This is like Cookie Monster karaokeing Kendrick Lamar songs.—LP

7:01pm Rappers need to stick with a DJ rocking two turntables. We as a society have now accepted DJs as live performers. There is no need to try and prove your rock cred.—BD

7:07pm Okay, final kvetch. Kendrick tries far too hard to go hard live. And yet he's seemingly being backed by Jay Leno's band. This sounds like Body Count covering his tunes.—BD

7:08pm As usual, Matt Berninger jumps into the crowd while singing "Mr. November." He won't fuck us over.—ZL

7:12pm He's back in the crowd again for "Terrible Love." That suit is going to be wrinkled.—ZL

7:30pm I will only be satisfied if the Lumineers play the Harry Caray version of "Ho Hey."—ED

7:31pm At the Grove stage, the HAIM sister harmonies are in full effect. As is the @estebassface.—LP

7:40pm Why are there so many babies here? It's not Saturday morning at Green City Market.—ED

7:40pm Alana Haim of HAIM gets a bra thrown at her from the crowd. "Is it weird that I'm touched? What size is it? Let's see...B. It's a match!"—LP

7:53pm The accordion is being played from the top of the sound booth at the Lumineers show. It's like a second stage out in the audience.—ED

8:00pm When your girlfriend passes out, you can always just carry her to Perry's on your back.—ZL

8:04pm Smallest crowd of the day goes to Supreme Cuts. There can't be more than 100 people in front of the Petrillo Stage right now.—ZL

8:16pm Mumford is rolling video in black and white only. Fucking hipsters.—ED

8:20pm North side of the park is surprisingly empty right now. I'm guessing that the south side is SLAMMED for Gentlemen of the Road: Lolla Stopover.—ZL

8:30pm Supreme Cuts just got supremely cut off so that Postal Service could begin their set.—ZL

8:37pm Why is Ben Gibbard so wiggly? Is that just how he stays in shape?—ZL

9:01pm During Swedish house DJ Steve Angello's set, which comprises his famous "Sweet Dreams" remix, KISS-level pyrotechnics and a fireworks show—some underage kid waves his drink in the air, spraying sticky-sweet jungle juice everywhere. Can vodka give you an eye infucktion?—JM

9:08pm Postal Service is covering "Our Secret" by Beat Happening. I would have lost it if Calvin Johnson showed up onstage.—ZL

9:25pm They finally played "Such Great Heights." We can all go home and write reviews of this show on our Xangas and LiveJournals now.—ZL

Reporting by Erin Delahanty, Brent DiCrescenzo, Zach Long, Jake Malooley and Laura Pearson.