All I’m going to see of Lollapalooza this year is this pretty nifty aerial view from the 68th floor of the Aon Center (click the above photo for high res action), where I work. And that suits me just fine. In contrast to how right Pitchfork got their music festival this year, Lollapalooza offers too lackluster of a lineup for too high of a price. Plus, in contrast to Pitchfork’s Union Park, which features plenty of shade when you need it, Grant Park has, like, no shade. Enjoy the high of 89 on Saturday. The nice, cool Lake Michigan breeze mysteriously vanishes when it gets over 85 F.
Yes, Radiohead will be awesome to see, but it’s really more economical to spend $40 on their own show and see the full Radiohead experience rather than see them as part of a packaged tour with a, presumably, restricted set list. And R-head also brings along slammin’ opening acts, like Liars. The other groups worth seeing can be experienced best in small clubs for small ticket prices. There’s no justification for charging over $150 for festival tickets. I guess ‘Ye’s spaceship is a pretty penny or two. And being 25 feet away from Jason Spaceman at Pitchfork for only $30?! That’s the right price for flight. But anyway…
My top four reasons for not going are:
- * Rage
- * Against
- * The
- * Machine
This is more or less my protest. And I think it’s hilarious that they’re the Saturday headliners this year. Much like Vampire Weekend (the Gossip Girl of indie rock), I dislike RATM by associations more so than the music itself (the music is mediocre, but the tangential elements of RATM make them vile). Sure, there are a lot of people who like Rage simply on a musical basis. They like Rage because they totally rawk or whatever. That’s forgivable. However, I truly believe, based on personal experience and a general educated inference, that the majority of Rage fans like them because of, uh, what they stand for, and will certainly share that fact with you. With that breed of band, it’s nearly impossible to separate the ideas from the music. Well, their ideas are donkeydick.
You wanna rage against a machine or two? Umm, being an employee of Epic Records, a subsidiary of Sony/BMG, doesn’t bode well for that cause. I’m sure Zach’s politically scorching and scrutinizing lyrics will have great weight when spewed from the fuckin’ AT&T Stage, as well. Your world, delivered. And ya know, I really hope the irony is not totally lost on concert-goers who pass the merch booth and see the Rage shirt that featues the likeness of Che Guevara (a revolutionary who would’ve sniped you for placing his image on a T-shirt for commercial purposes) sell for $25+. Granted, having come from the music industry, I completely understand and have no issue with bands trying to make some coin or festival promoters trying to recoup production costs through advertising. But to book a band like Rage Against the Machine in the midst of all this – I mean, shit, am I the only one who finds the irony absolutely hilarious?! In summation, fuck that band, and fuck the talent buyer who booked them… and the horse they rode in on. Rage Against Lollapalooza.
For additional lulz, this blog is very well SEO’d, so I imagine this post will come up in searches for Rage, in which case, I invite Rage fans to drag me to the gallows and talk some jive in the comments below. Kenny Bloggins does not give a fuck.
Man, this post was hateful. Sorry about that. I usually think everything is awesome.
So instead, this weekend I’m going to drink some beer technology, crank a buncha Crosby Stills Nash & Young, go to the beach with my girlfriend, and post about some new Oneida joints. Have fun at Lolla, and say whuddup to Perry for me. Enjoy some waves from the most psych-oriented of the Lolla groups, Holy Fuck (who I saw open for Do Make Say Think back in March ‘07 with an intimate crowd and slayed everyone in attendance), Grizzly Bear, and Battles (who are also amazing live).
There are single day passes still available if you have a change of heart. Here’s the schedule.
MP3 :::
Battles – Leyendecker
Grizzly Bear – Alligator (Choir Version)
Holy Fuck – Super Inuit
