tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1141139839966820748.post4349865285869546692..comments2023-10-06T06:54:22.647-05:00Comments on there's NOTHING QUITE LIKE the blinding light...: Why Are Certain Chicago Music Critics Still Whining About Lollapalooza?Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1141139839966820748.post-76787157943679811172009-08-14T22:49:48.008-05:002009-08-14T22:49:48.008-05:00Lou Reed: I wonder if I was in a different reality...Lou Reed: I wonder if I was in a different reality from Dero and Kot. They both liked his show, and I left after the third song to go see Deerhunter (I would have stayed if there wasn't a decent alternative.) Sweet Jane was awful. He wasn't trying to be in tempo and his band was professional. Too professional.<br /><br />I loved Iggy Pop last year, but Iggy cares about performing his music live. That's not the sense I got from Lou Reed. It was bizarre watching a set of young adults and old people psyched to see a sullen Lou Reed with a competent band. Apparently that set included our local music critics. <br /><br />On a side note, it was great seeing Thax open for Neko Case, even if he didn't do well thanks to microphone problems.M Meyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15100121748767524790noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1141139839966820748.post-84348526619819935822009-08-11T06:06:27.812-05:002009-08-11T06:06:27.812-05:00All valid points. I just feel like DeRo and to a ...All valid points. I just feel like DeRo and to a lesser extent, Kot, are just stirring up controversy where there really isn't any, almost tantamount to ambulance chasing or something. I still like both of those guys and their respective papers and Chicago should feel lucky to have them, but it gets old. I am not saying the festival is immune from criticism based on popularity, but I don't think DeRo and Kot are very good at analyzing the festival from the average attendees perspective, which is who the promoters should be worried about. <br /><br />I have not been to Tinley Park in years, '98 I believe for a Pumpkins show, and I don't remember much about the place other than that it was like every other single outdoor amphitheater in the nation. <br /><br />How was Lou Reed?Alexhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03622585337986072758noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1141139839966820748.post-12543304657570562142009-08-07T22:49:59.139-05:002009-08-07T22:49:59.139-05:00I agree with you in the main, though I do not thin...I agree with you in the main, though I do not think that we should ever let success and popularity cloud potential criticism. C3 (Austin-based Lolla promoters) do seem committed to doing business in Chicago. They have the Soldier Field Concession, and the Congress Theater. Should Chicago get the 2016 Olympics, C3 will be there booking bands. So, sure there's a clear business commitment to the city. Also, in my book, any promoter (see also Jam Productions) that can compete for booking against LiveNation is something we should support.<br /><br />And given the fan negative spectre of the Live Nation/Ticketmaster merger, it's difficult to criticize a promoter that provides a positive fan experience. The drink prices, for instance, are more than what you would pay at Schubas or the Empty Bottle, but have you been to the LiveNation venue Tinley Park? I have, and I can say that I hate going to shows there. I was there (Tinley Park) this year for Rock the Bells, and everything (particularly seating arrangements & concessions) outside of the artist performances sucked. The worst part of the venue is how the seating prices leave large empty sections close to the stage, which saps the energy of the artists.<br /><br />So, it's hard for me to feel negatively about Lollapalooza when I know that it could be much worse.<br /><br />And it's not a big deal if Depeche Mode, Lou Reed, Neko Case or Andrew Bird sign 90-day deals with Lolla. They can sell out mid sized to large venues. However, there are other bands like Portugal. The Man who will be little seen at Lolla, and would really benefit from a date at Schubas or the Double Door. <br /><br />I do think that Lolla could stick more local bands into those early slots, but would it really be good for them if they have to also sign that 90-day contract?<br /><br />Also, I love Pitchfork more than Lollapalooza, but it's much easier buying a beer or going to the bathroom at Lolla.<br /><br />Of course there are things I would love to change about Lollapalooza (number one: keep Perry Farrell off stage; number two: make the Foo Fighters, Sonic Youth and Steve Earle headliners; number three: healthier concessions), but I largely like the event, I'm going Sunday, and there's something really cool about seeing Lou Reed playing in front of the Chicago skyline.M Meyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15100121748767524790noreply@blogger.com