Not just about the music: Lollapalooza 2008
I heard from several people that Lollapalooza and other music festivals were “the best time of their lives”. But what makes this festival different from other concerts? As a twenty-year-old avid rock and indie concertgoer, I knew I had to see for myself what makes Lollapalooza so special. Could it live up to the hype?
Created by the lead singer of Jane’s Addiction, Perry Farrell; Lollapalooza first started as a tour in 1991. During the early 1990s, it drew crowds across the country, by having bands from a mixture of genres, including industrial, rap, and post-punk. Moreover, it differentiated itself from other musical tours by having non-musical features, such as a circus sideshow and tables for political and environmental non-profit groups. Farrell created the term “alternative nation” to refer to those who went, since most were not part of the dominant culture [1].
Unfortunately, as so often happens, the edgy bands that had once made this festival stand out in the early 90s, became part of the mainstream or passé quickly. In 1998, the festival disbanded as the result of not even being able to find a headliner. In 2003, Farrell brought the concept of the tour back despite weak ticket sales, and in 2005, it found its home in Grant Park, where it would stay, with increasing popularity each year to this day.
If I looked to my left, one of the main stages could barely be seen, since it was so far away. I knew, from the day before, that there were two other stages for bands that way, a stage devoted to DJ sets and dancing, a food aisle, a beer haven of sorts, and many other booths, many with an alternative flair. Close by was a shaded hammock haven, where concertgoers took a break from the hot sun. Next to the hammocks was an area (including a stage) dedicated to children younger than thirteen and their parents, called Kidzapalooza.
Kidzapalooza is just one the many ingredients that make this festival different from other shows out there; according to its website, it was started in 2005, as a “way to expose children to messages of kindness, happiness, respect, and self-discovery.” Whether or not this stage accomplishes this lofty goal, it adds to the demographics of the festival. While almost 75% of the crowd is between the ages of 18 and 34 [2], there is a definite presence of every age bracket, both older and younger. A 65-year-old man in a leather vest led what looks to be his grandson to get “tattooed” (actually face paint) at a booth at this Kidzapalooza.
Still, the majority of the festival is not at Kidzapalooza; it is at the main stages outside of this family-friendly haven. My friends and I split up at this point, and I ran over to the other side of the park to watch Does It Offend You, Yeah?, a band from the United Kingdom. They had an upbeat electro-rock sound, and with each song, the crowd seemed to get more into it, evidenced by the nodding of their heads to the beat. Whether from the heat, or something else, the band’s drummer had to leave briefly to throw up in the middle of the set. He came back, and the band continued on with just as much energy as before. I looked behind me during their last song and everyone was dancing. Most of the dance consisted of jumping up and down to the beat of the song, a few people singing along with the lyrics. Some people invoked different sweeping arm motions into their dance. Everyone looked to be having a really great time, usually with at least one companion. Lollapalooza was not simply about the music; it was about having fun and sharing the experiences with others as well. Very few appeared to have come alone.
Later that day, on the same stage, Iron & Wine played. His mellow, almost haunting melodies drifted over people as they sat on towels and blankets, smoke drifing up towards the sky. It was a completely different feel than that of Does It Offend You, Yeah?. It was here that I realized that anyone could make their experience whatever they wanted. On one hand, if they wanted it to be full of dancing, there were DJ sets and electronics bands. If they wanted more of a chill, indie flare, there were bands for that as well. Many different musical fans came all over, with at least one thing in common: they were here to have fun and listen to good music.
Note the crowd at about 3:02 in this video of DIOYY at Lollapalooza 2008:
There is also a crowd shot of Iron and Wine at 1:22 here:
Note the differences between the energies of the crowds, even though this was at the same stage (although on different days).
After many a band’s set, people took out the Lollapalooza booklet that listed the schedules and biographies of the bands, debating which bands to see and which ones they could miss. Many talked about what bands would be good at a festival, and which they should see on a separate tour, a topic I intend to discuss in a later post.
Another element of the festival that contributed to its uniqueness was the large amounts of substance use during the festival. Vendors sold beer in vast quantities, along with many bottles of wine. I was hesitant about drinking an entire bottle of wine in nearly 100 degree F weather, but others held fewer reservations. Although many concerts have alcohol and drugs, simply the length of time people had to be inebriated caused a different effect than a normal concert. In addition to these legal substances, almost any kind of drug imaginable seemed to be present. At the DJ sets, several people held signs asking “X?”, seeking or selling ecstasy to any who wanted it. Security pretended not to notice as I watched a group of twenty-somethings smoke marijuana from a bowl in the hammocks. As I previously mentioned, it was not very difficult to sneak in any sort of contraband. It was almost encouraged with this lack of actual security. The only time I saw anyone get involved was if one became sick or violent. Other music festivals, especially Bonnaroo, are noted to have the same lax policy on drug-use.
The festival appeared to be a musical vacation of sorts for those who attended. Indeed many who traveled far distances had to take time off of work and activities. Furthermore, it seemed to be a vacation from laws that normally rule society, specifically in terms of drug use. Although some people came specifically for just the music itself, most seemed to be perfectly content with the experience that comes with Lollapalooza, including the vendors, substances, and the beautiful Chicago skyline.
(Word Count: 1199)
*Names have been changed.
[1] http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lollapalooza
[2] http://www.marketwire.com/press-release/Inquisite-768503.html
No comments:
Post a Comment