Lollapalooza 2011, Saturday: Grouplove | Photos

Since it features the son of YES guitarist Trevor Rabin, you might expect something else from Los Angeles indie outfit Grouplove—at least an "Owner of a Lonely Heart" breakbeat or two. Nope. Not unlike the Byrds, the band flirts with freak country aesthetics (beard and cowboy hat, included) without ever going too country or all that freaky. Instead, we get some very fashionable dusty sun-dappled sounds daubed with Laurel Canyon mythology. But the band peps it up quite a bit—lively tempos abound. In place of orange juice (the drink, not the Scottish band), Grouplove is a kind of optimistic pick-me-up that completely makes me forget I'm trudging through mud and kitty litter to get a good look at them. Day two feels good...for now.