Lollapalooza 2007. View more photos from last year >>

Once again, Lollapalooza is descending upon us. So is 95-degree weather.

I will be sending dispatches from the fest up until the point that my appendages start melting, and I am forced to squirrel away the laptop and seek air-conditioned shelter. Look, too, for a photos by super shooters Esther Kang and Megan Lovejoy.

My picks, for those of you still pondering the programs …

On Friday, the Brooklyn band Yeasayer; the duo The Kills; Akron, Ohio rocker The Black Keys, who were one of my standouts from last year; Cat Power because, hey, "Love and Communication" is the best song ever; The Raconteurs; and duh, Radiohead.

On Saturday, Mason Jennings—why not?; DeVotchKa—not my favorite band live, but still pretty entertaining; Okkervil River; Broken Social Scene; Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings (holla, soul fest!); Wilco.

I’m not so jazzed about Sunday, but two early bands stand out: My Southern friends can’t stop talking about Wild Sweet Orange, so I’ll make an early trip over to catch them at 12:30 on the BMI stage. I’ll stay through Amadou & Mariam, two Mali natives whose show last year at Millennium Park blew me away. I’d stay for Kanye West, but I have a feeling that, by that time, I’ll be hankering to sit under a fan and finish my Season 4 DVDs of The Wire. 

Will the "Hot, Juicy Burgers" guy make an appearance this year?

Disagree or want to pony up any recommendations? Write in and tell me why.

Until Friday, a little pre-fest reading:

What Lollapalooza’s impact on the local clubs? Chicago music contributor addresses that controversial question here.

Sun-Times music writer Jim DeRogatis previews the fest and gives the run down on pre-parties and after parties, including a cool one at the Apple Store on Thursday night at 7 p.m., featuring the Black Kids and the Kills.

Greg Kot offers a dry video preview here. He gives a shout-out to the Brooklyn band Yeasayer, which is one my picks for the fest.

Photograph: Esther Kang