WHETHER IT’S SIMPLY A BLOCKED VIEW OR BEING FAR, FAR AWAY FROM THE STAGE YOU NEED TO BE AT, SEEING EVERYTHING YOU WANT AT LOLLAPALOOZA IS NEAR IMPOSSIBLE. GRANT PARK’S VAST SPACE ALLOWS THE SOUND TO STRETCH INTO THE ATMOSPHERE WITHOUT OVERLAPPING, BUT CAN MAKE FOR A FRANTIC CONCERT-GOING EXPERIENCE.

The biggest downfall about attending Lollapalooza is simple.

You never get to see all the bands you would want to.

With eight stages spread out along the almost mile-long Grant Park, it can be difficult to get from Point A to Point B and beyond.

Add to that scheduling conflicts among favorite bands, and the choices can be hard to make.

I enjoyed most every show that I had the pleasure of seeing, but there are some that I will be sad to have missed.

Hopefully some will be back in Chicago very soon.

Here’s my Top 5 that I wish I could have experienced:

MANCHESTER ORCHESTRA: The Atlanta-based band played early during the day on Friday, before I had even made my way down to Grant Park. Recommended by my friend Kalah Sherrill, I expect this up-and-coming band to make its way back to the Windy City in the near future.

BLIND PILOT: I heard a lot of great reviews of the Portland band’s show. Instead, I was enjoying a new find, Chairlift, and British band Gomez. Hopefully the BMI artist will bring its melodic acoustic folk pop to a stage near me soon.

BAND OF SKULLS: Another BMI artist, this trio brought its mix of blues and rock to the stage early Saturday. Knowing I would be down at Grant Park until all hours of the night, I chose instead to visit with my Mom, who was here from Mississippi. Growing in popularity since their single “I Know What I Am” was featured as an iTunes Single of the Week, I expect them to make a return trip sooner or later.

PASSION PIT: I heard early Sunday morning how great they had been at a House of Blues after-party Saturday night. I wish I would have taken a friend’s advice and discovered something new, instead I found myself trying to like Vampire Weekend and later bopping along to the Cold War Kids. As I have developed a deeper love of electronica, I am sure I will see Passion Pit some time in 2009. Fingers crossed.

DEERHUNTER: The Atlanta weirdos are a new band on my musical radar, even though they released their debut album five years ago. I wish I would have made my way to the Citi stage Sunday as soon as Cold War Kids ended their set, but I chose to send updates out into the blogosphere instead. Despite the disappointment, I am sure Deerhunter will sound even better at a small venue somewhere in the city.

But missing these bands can not deminish the joy I felt at seeing others.

Thanks Bon Iver. Kudos Ben Folds. It was lovely Andrew Bird. Animal Collective, you were worth the wait. Good for you Gomez. Awesome Airborne Toxic Event.

And Dan Deacon?

The cherry on top of the sundae, in addition to the icing on the cake.

Long live Lolla.

ANNA BULBROOK OF THE AIRBORNE TOXIC EVENT GETS A MOMENT IN THE SPOTLIGHT BY HERSELF, AS SHE IS PHOTOGRAPHED AND VIDEOED BY A CREW FROM BMI. BULBROOK, WHO HAD EARLIER PLAYED THE CHICAGO 2016 STAGE, SEEMED TO ENJOY HANGING OFF THE BARRIER BESIDE COLUMBUS DRIVE.

INSTEAD OF FIGHTING THE CROWDS, MANY FANS TOOK REFUGE ON THE SIDE OF THE HILLS SURROUNDING GRANT PARK. THOSE WHO GOT AWAY FROM THE MASSES WERE TREATED TO SPORADIC BREEZES COMING OFF LAKE MICHIGAN.

CAMERAS WERE WHIPPED OUT EVERYWHERE THROUGHOUT THE WEEKEND, AS MANY WANTED TO DOCUMENT THEIR EXPERIENCE AT LOLLAPALOOZA. HERE TWO TOOL FANS HAVE A FRIEND TAKE A SHOT OF THEM BEFORE THE SHOW.

TAKING ALL MEASURES AVAILABLE TO STAY COOL IN THE MISERABLE HEAT, FANS WERE WILLING TO DO ANYTHING FOR RELIEF. ONE GOOD SAMARITAN WENT AS FAR AS TO COME LOADED WITH SQUIRT BOTTLES, SPRAYING RANDOM PEOPLE THROUGHOUT GRANT PARK.

DESPITE THE UNBEARABLE HEAT, SATURDAY AND SUNDAY WERE BOTH GORGEOUS DAYS AT THE LAKEFRONT. WITH BEAUTIFUL BLUE SKIES, AND A RANDOM BREEZE, EVEN ALL THE SWEAT WAS WORTH IT.

FANS RUSH TO JOIN THE “DANCE TUNNEL,” AS DIRECTED BY DAN DEACON, DURING THE SHOW. THE TUNNEL SPREAD OUT THROUGH THE WHOLE CROWD, IMPRESSING EVEN DEACON AT HOW WELL IT WENT.

A GLIMPSE OF THE TUNNEL FROM ONE OF THE SCREENS THAT FLANKED THE VITAMINWATER STAGE. IT WAS HONESTLY ONE OF THE MOST AMAZING THINGS I HAD EVER SEEN A CROWD DO AT A SHOW.

AT ONE POINT IN THE SHOW, THE WHOLE CROWD WAS INSTRUCTED TO BACK UP FIVE STEPS EACH SO THAT A CIRCLE COULD BE FORMED. ONE OF DEACON’S BANDMATES WENT INTO THE MIDDLE AND INSTRUCTED EVERYONE IN A DANCE. THE RESULTS WERE INCREDIBLE, AS THOUSANDS TRULY WORKED IN UNISON.

There are many things that I will remember about this weekend’s Lollapalooza, but the Dan Deacon Experience will be tops on that list.

Deacon is one of the most expressive frontmen that I have ever had the pleasure of seeing. As I said earlier, they have made a fan out of me, and I await the day that I can see them again.

Baltimore rules.

Band of Horses came out strong on the PlayStation stage Sunday evening as the sun began to fade.

The only problem? Lou Reed had taken an extra 15 minutes on the Budweiser Stage, causing the band to hold off on their set.

Now, if anyone deserved extra time, it surely would be Reed, one of the long-time greats of rock ‘n’ roll, but one of the best things about the festival is the tight schedule it adheres to.

And Band of Horses did not get its due. Holding off in respect for Reed, the group was not returned the favor 40 minutes later as Jane’s Addiction took the other stage on the north end of Grant Park.

But Band of Horses stood its ground, playing two more songs – tight and filling the air – as Perry Farrell and the boys blasted into the night as well.

Farrell, taking the stage in a gold tuxedo jacket, went as far as to bring some scantily clad women on stage to dance with the band.

As a helicopter flew above, shining its floodlights on the crowd, Jane’s Addiction put on the headlining show to end all.

At the other end of Grant Park, The Killers were the last to play the Chicago 2016 stage.

Always entertaining, the Las Vegas band is known for its fun shows.

And reports from the other side of the field confirm they did not disappoint.

One concert-goer, Jessica Morales, said the show was simply “amazing.”

Three days. Hundreds of bands. Thousands of fans.

Lollapalooza has now come and gone.

One of the best parts about walking through Lollapalooza this weekend was checking out what everyone decided to wear for the shows.

A lot of people were a little out there. I saw everything from a blue tutu – on a 6-foot-tall man, by the way – to hula skirts.

But it was a lot of T-shirts this weekend that caught my eye.

It started with a guy that had on a shirt that said “Lionel Ritchie Fan Club.” I hate I lost him in the crowd, or he would be included.

The ’80s were a popular choice for many. “The Goonies,” “The A-Team,” “Magnum P.I.” and even Rainbow Brite made an appearance on some chests.

And as I mentioned before, even Gary got its props. (And no, the guy sporting the shirt was not from the region. He was just showing the love, I guess.)

A lot of T-shirts were not clean enough to display here, so I chose the Top 10 that I found PG enough.

And yes, the guy below was No. 1 with a bullet.

He embodied the spirit of his shirt.

Lollapalooza’a final minutes are waning, but the electricity around the festival is not.

Snoop Dog is at the opposite end on the Chicago 2016 stage. Snoop was one of the few Hip-Hop acts to participate this year, and many fans came out today alone just to see him perform.

The Killers and Jane’s Addiction are yet to come.

There’s talk of a huge closing show by Perry Farrell’s band. I’ve even heard whispers of something to do with helicopters.

Let the countdown to closing begin.

WARN OUT FROM A DAY OF HEAT AND ACTS LIKE THE DAN DEACON EXPERIENCE AND VAMPIRE WEEKEND, FANS TAKE A BREAK ON THE GROUND DURING THE COLD WAR KIDS.

Cold War Kids just gave a rousing show on the vitaminwater stage.

The California band showed fans a great time – even if most were already warn out from the Dan Deacon Experience and Vampire Weekend.

The band cooled the crowd off with such hits as “Hang Me Out to Dry” from 2006′s “Robbers and Cowards.”

Vocalist Nathan Willett gave it all on the stage, showing why Cold War Kids were invited to Lollapalooza, and why the band maintains a huge American fan base – and an even larger one overseas.

Hats off to the Californians. They brought the heat.

VAMPIRE WEEKEND LEAD SINGER EZRA KOENIG ENTERTAINS THOUSANDS SUNDAY AFTERNOON ON THE CHICAGO 2016 STAGE. THE BAND WAS A HUGE DRAW FOR FANS AT LOLLAPALOOZA.

OK, I’ll admit it, Im not the biggest fan of Vampire Weekend.

The New York-based band – only around since 2006 – has found their way into the hearts of many, and have had a meteoric rise to success. Their first album, “Vampire Weekend,” has been certified Gold, and they have a new one expected to be released this year.

I understand their draw, but they have never endeared themselves to me.

Today they did take a small step forward.

But it wasn’t so much the sound as it was Ezra Koenig’s dedication on one of their tracks.

He sent a shout-out to the recently passed John Hughes, and dedicated a song to him.

Hughes’ movies in the 1980′s highlighted the angst of teens in America, something music does today.

The original emo, if you will.

It was fun to see the crowd at “Vampire Weekend,” with most dancing despite the soaring heat.

I won’t go as far as to say I understand their draw, but I can see why so many choose to listen to their music.

Simple poppy fun.

EVERYWHERE I LOOKED AROUND ME AT VAMPIRE WEEKEND, PEOPLE WERE DISPLAYING THEIR BEST CONCERT MOVES. THE NEW-YORK BASED BAND’S POPPY SOUND HAD MANY DANCING IN THE AFTERNOON HEAT.

DAN DEACON LEADS THE EXPERIENCE SUNDAY AFTERNOON ON THE VITAMINWATER STAGE AT LOLLAPALOOZA. THE BALTIMORE-BASED GROUP PROVIDED ONE OF THE GREATEST SETS I SAW ALL WEEKEND.

Score another one for the balding chubby guys.

After discovering F%@!ed Up at Pitchfork Music Festival – you know, the hard core punk band led by none-other than Pink Eyes – I never thought that new music experience could be topped.

The Dan Deacon Experience just blew my mind.

I’ve had some great concert-going times in my life, but most of them were completely expected. (Wilco’s Winter Residency, Sigor Ros at the Civic Opera House, the first time I saw Andrew Bird.)

But what I just witnessed simply blew my mind.

You know things are going to be incredible when walking across Grant Park to the beat of a xylophone, but what awaited me was nothing like I have seen this weekend.

Electronic artist Deacon, who hails from Baltimore, along with the rest of his “Experience,” blasts sound so far in the air, it could surely be heard for miles.

WHEN THE MARCHING BAND CAME OUT ON STAGE, I KNEW WE WERE ALL IN FOR A TREAT. IT’S QUITE AMAZING TO SEE SO MANY PEOPLE ON STAGE, POUNDING OUT SOUND IN GLORIOUS HARMONY.

With songs like “Woof, Woof,” Deacon leads both the band and crowd through elaborate beats, quirky dances, and he even goes so far to bring a marching band on stage.

Nothing screams Lollapalooza like tubas.

At one point, Deacon jumped off the stage into the crowd, showing fans how he wanted them to start a “dancing tunnel.”

THOUSAND OF FANS LEFT THEIR SPOT IN THE CROWD TO FORM A DANCING TUNNEL AROUND THE EDGE OF THE CROWD. THE PEOPLE DANCING THROUGH LOOKED TO BE HAVING THE TIME OF THEIR LIVES.

Stretching out around the perimeter of the crowd – which was in the thousands – many rushed toward the chain to be part of something special.

Next, Deacon had the whole crowd move back to form a circle, with one of his bandmates going into the middle to show them the moves they should be doing. Starting with everyone on their knees, the crowd slowly rose in unison, creating a wave of excitement, culminating with hundreds of bottles – mostly water – soaring over the crowd.

Hats off to Deacon and his gang.

Reckless Records, here I come. I have to get my hands on “Spiderman of the Rings” or “Bromst.”

If it can send chills up my spine, and a tear to my eye, it can only be for one reason.

I’m hooked.

DURING ONE OF THEIR SONGS, DAN DEACON LED THE CROWD IN A DANCE, ONLY TO HAVE IT END WITH HUNDREDS OF BOTTLES FLYING THROUGH THE AIR. LOOK FOR MORE PHOTOS FROM THE AMAZING SHOW LATER ON TONIGHT IN A LOLLAPALOOZA PHOTO WRAP-UP.

The Baltimore-based electronic artist can be heard through the south end of the field.

I’m looking forward to hearing some new things today, and he will be the first.

I’ve also been shooting people who had the smarts to wear some amazing – and amazingly funny T-shirts to Lollapalooza the past two days. check back later tonight to see who makes the Top 10. (Spoiler alert: The city of Gary gets a shout-out.)

Peace music fans.

I’m ready to be impressed.