Q&A: Ratboys Celebrate Their Hometown Moment with Lollapalooza Debut
INTERVIEW
INTERVIEW
☆ BY KIMBERLY KAPELA ☆
Photo Credit: Audrey Hertel
FROM LOCAL STAGES TO DEBUTING AT LOLLAPALOOZA — Chicago’s beloved Ratboys made their long-awaited Lollapalooza debut this weekend on the first day, Thursday, July 31, performing with a mix of hometown pride and gratitude under the same skyline that helped shape their musical roots. It’s a landmark moment for the indie rock band, who’ve been quietly building one of the most consistent and heartfelt catalogs in independent music over the last decade.
“[There’s] such a huge pride to be able to play this festival and be associated with it,” drummer Marcus Nuccio says. “Just being on stage and seeing the skyline of the city was magical. I came to Lollapalooza as a young kid and was inspired by bands like Ben Kweller and ...And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead. When I was younger, it inspired me to start a band. If we could do that for a kid in the audience, that would just mean the world.”
The performance arrives on the heels of The Window, their acclaimed fifth studio album released in 2023. Blending daydream Americana, fuzzed-out indie rock, and heartfelt storytelling, the album feels like a culmination of their sonic evolution.
Ratboys’ Lollapalooza set leaned into honest connection, and the moment wasn’t just a milestone—it was a celebration of community and making good art for the right reasons.
Following their electric debut set at Lollapalooza, Luna had the chance to sit down with Chicago’s own Ratboys to reflect on the experience of playing one of the city’s most iconic stages. Surrounded by the buzz of Grant Park and the echo of festival energy still hanging in the air, the band spoke with warmth, humor and a deep sense of gratitude about what the moment meant to them.
Photo Credit: Audrey Hertel
LUNA: Thank you for sitting down and talking to Luna. Our readers would love to get to know you and your music more. For any readers who aren’t familiar yet, what kind of atmosphere or emotional space do you aim to create for your listeners?
JULIA: I think music of all types, loud rock n’ roll, down to acoustic, introspective songwriting, we try to run the gamut a little bit of everything, as long as it comes from the heart.
MARCUS: I love to make a record that sounds good in headphones laying in bed so you can disassociate and build your own world out of the music.
LUNA: You guys are part of Chicago’s indie and rock circuits, and for any readers who aren’t familiar with Chicago’s music scene, how has the scene and its community inspired or impacted your sound?
SEAN: We all grew up here and came up with music here. When I think of my favorite bands and favorite shows that I've ever seen, it's all house shows and shit that we've seen here in Chicago at our favorite local venues. It comes through very, very much.
JULIA: I think something that's really special from the very beginning. The very first shows that we played here when we started, are mixed genre builds, everyone's very curious, and adventurous, and the community is so welcoming here. The venues are all really great. We've had an awesome time being a band here, beautiful.
LUNA: How does it feel to be playing Lollapalooza—especially as a hometown band from Chicago? Do you feel a different kind of pressure or pride playing in front of a hometown audience?
MARCUS: Such a huge pride, to be able to play this festival and be associated with it, just being on stage and seeing the skyline of the city was just magical. I came to Lollapalooza as a young kid and was inspired by seeing bands like Ben Queller and …And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead. When I was younger, it inspired me to start a band. If we could do that for a kid in the audience, that would just mean the world.
LUNA: What’s the atmosphere like at Lollapalooza, both on stage and off? How does it compare to other shows you’ve played?
JULIA: Great so far. This is a well oiled machine. This is one of the largest and most beloved music festivals in the world, so it's just so cool that it's in our own backyard, and we feel really comfy here because it's our home turf.
DAVE: They are taking care of us.
LUNA: How do you prepare for a festival performance compared to a regular concert? Are there any differences in your approach or setlist? Did you do anything different for Lolla?
JULIA: We try to stick to songs that people might have heard before. It's nice to play the hits for the crowd, even sometimes it's nice as a fan to walk up to a stage and not realize who's playing, and then you hear a song that you already know. Festivals are always just a bit more chaotic, which can be really fun, so we just stick to what we do best and lean into the wild nature of things.
LUNA: You’ve built a solid reputation for your live shows. How do you keep your performances fresh and engaging for both longtime fans and new listeners seeing you for the first time?
JULIA: We really love playing together, and I hope it comes through every time we play. The songs themselves don't change too much as far as the structure and things, but there's always room for a little magical moment that hasn't ever happened before. I'm always excited to get back on stage to see what might happen as far as that goes.
LUNA: Looking back at your journey from local gigs to Lollapalooza, what advice would you give to young Chicago bands dreaming of this stage?
MARCUS: Always be nice and respectful to everybody you meet down the line and try to make friends and not foes, and don't burn any bridges. This sounds so basic, but do your best. Every night, every show, don't write off a show just because you feel like it's beneath you because it's always worth something.
LUNA: You are coming up on the two year anniversary since the release of your iconic album The Window. How do you feel about the impact and the evolution of the record looking back at the minestrone release?
JULIA: I'm just still so grateful that we get to play this music with people. This was our record coming out of the pandemic. It was so cathartic and felt like such a win to be able to play shows and tour again, so we're just riding the wave as long as we can.
LUNA: What’s fueling your fire right now—musically or personally—that’s pushing you into this next chapter?
DAVE: Getting more and more gear, getting louder and louder, trying to get the cops called on us from noise complaints.
JULIA: That's the fuel. The world, especially our country, feels like it's in a shit in the bed. Things are tumultuous in the world right now, and I'm just embracing the ‘life is short mentality.’ We just want to make music. We want to make and enjoy art with our friends and fans.
LUNA: How are you feeling in this current era of your career and what does the rest of the year look like for you that you would love to share with Luna?
SEAN: We’re feeling good. The rest of the year is just prep mode.
MARCUS: We’re in our little rat hole getting our next record together.
DAVE: Next year will be a busy one for sure.
MARCUS: Big rat year 2026.
Photo Credit: Audrey Hertel
