Just by scanning the Day One lineup of Lollapalooza’s 10th annual edition at Chicago’s Grant Park – its 18 year as an institution – it was clear that festival organizers set out to forge a weekend that won’t soon be forgotten among the countless multi-day music events with increasingly homogenized rosters.

Even the bulk of the early afternoon acts – Temples, Lucius, Bombay Bicycle Club, Jagwar Ma – could be considered headliners in their own right. And indeed, each of them drew crowds and performed with the sort of unencumbered energy that culminated in key moments, with the latter two bands successfully galvanizing fans despite a briefly heavy downpour.

Yet, though Interpol’s show felt as celebratory as the band’s Governors Ball homecoming in June, Iggy Azalea got enough asses shaking to cause a minor earthquake, AFI rallied the faithful into a moshing, chanting frenzy, Rudimental proved that they’re ready to graduate to the main stage and Lorde sounded (and looked) spectacular, it was difficult to deny that Eminem ruled the day.

Drawing heavily from his latest disc, 'The Marshall Mathers LP 2,' the Detroit rapper reminded about two-thirds of Lolla’s population why he’s considered one of the sharpest rhyme-slingers in history. Plenty might’ve disagreed on that point, particularly those caught up in the wonderfully heavy, debaucherously sensual tour de force drummed up by Arctic Monkeys’ headlining run across the park.

But surely a good many of those still on the fence were won over by Rihanna’s surprise guest appearance for 'Love the Way You Lie,' 'Monster' and – in a particularly cool twist on an old-school favorite – 'Stan.'

It’s still too early to call, but Day One - with its robust makeup of so many from contemporary music’s ruling ranks – may come out on top as the weekend’s greatest. Still, we’ll see what Outkast has to say about that later tonight …

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Temples

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Lucius

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Bombay Bicycle Club

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Jagwar Ma

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Iggy Azalea

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Interpol

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AFI

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Rudimental

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Lorde

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The Kooks

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Arctic Monkeys

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