Reports from the Lollapalooza front lines

[medjay]

Three days of rain and sweltering heat with a fairly even ratio of decent bands to crap bands. As someone who was actually getting paid to be there I can offer an unbiased opinion of who rocked and who didn't on the stage I was working.

The Black Keys: Rocked pretty damn hard. Generated more sound with just one guitar and a drum kit than several of the crap bands with five or more people.

M.I.A.: I don't get the hype surrounding this chick. Granted, it's not my kind of music but she's skinny and not too cute either. Pass.

Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminals: Kind of a snoozer. Decent guitar playing from Harper but his set was about 30 mins too long.

Stephen Marley: Great doing covers of his dad's classics. His own material, not too exciting. And Damien was rumored to join him but didn't show. Oh well...

The Roots: Typical Roots show. Greatest hip hop band in the game. Anyone who hasn't seen their live show is a sucker. ?uestlove is a great band leader.

Snow Patrol: Snoozer rock. Pass.

Interpol: Godawful. They actually headlined the second day. I couldn't believe it. But a lot of people seem to like that funeral durge sounding crap. No thanks.

Amy Winehouse: Arrived late and inebriated. Stared at the floor the whole time. But sang great. Personal issues aside, she showed that it's the voice that really counts.

Iggy and the Stooges: Best show of the weekend. Iggy started a near riot. In all my years of working and attending shows I've never seen anything quite like it. Video of the melee is sure to be on Youtube by now. One of our technicians actually went down in the mob. Classic.

Modest Mouse: Underwhelming. Maybe I would have liked them better had I been more familiar with their music.

TV on the Radio: Missed them because they were on a different stage. Pissed because they're one of my favorite groups. Heard a little bit of their set from across the park though. Sounded like they were rocking pretty hard.

Pearl Jam: I was off the clock by this time. I decided a hot shower, a beer and a seat on my couch would be more enjoyable than sticking around.

 

[medjay]

I was expecting at least a couple of replies before this thread tanked.

Last chance.

 

[pretty_green_eyes]

I was expecting at least a couple of replies before this thread tanked.

Last chance.

Oh, ok.

Amy Winehouse seems to have a pattern of showing up under the influence of whatever at many of her shows...or so I have read.

You missed Pearl Jam? That's the one I would have wanted to see the most.

 

[KravMaga]

I was expecting at least a couple of replies before this thread tanked.

Last chance.

sounds like a great show but i was hoping to hear about Perry's band

 

[wizbit9]

Pearl Jam: I was off the clock by this time. I decided a hot shower, a beer and a seat on my couch would be more enjoyable than sticking around.

as someone who has never seen pearl jam im a little dissapointed at your effort sir

 

[modest mouse]

I tried to like Amy Winehouse but was deterred by her utter suckage. I like some of the horns (which is what people think is so distinct) but her album is not worth a listen.

I would have liked to see the Roots.

Snow Patrol is shit. Its chick-rock for pretenders. Sucks.

Interpol is more for a dark club than outside. I like their discs but it could obviously come off as pretty foolish in some circumstances.

 

[luxey313]

jealous of you seeing The Stooges
lucky.

 

[Killswitch]

Lollapalooza?

That line-up sounds like Lollapasnooze-fest besides iggy.

 

[medjay]

Lollapalooza?

That line-up sounds like Lollapasnooze-fest besides iggy.

Well, I can only report on the bands that were on the stage I was working, which represents maybe 1/8 of the total lineup.

But since I feel I got the best stage of the weekend, then yeah. . . It was a snoozer.

 

[Saint Peter]

What are your job responsibilities while the bands are playing? Unless that is too much persoonal info.

It sounds like you have a very cool job.

 

[Killswitch]

He does lighting or stage management or something.

 

[medjay]

What are your job responsibilities while the bands are playing? Unless that is too much persoonal info.

It sounds like you have a very cool job.

I'm a camera operator. Was shooting for the projection screens and the official webcast.

 

[medjay]

He does lighting or stage management or something.

Yeah, I do that too, sometimes.

Not this weekend though. That would have been a killer.

 

[Killswitch]

Thats a cool gig. Stationary or roaming an area of the stage.

I used to shoot stills for a few zines at some national band shows.

 

[Killswitch]

Yeah, I do that too, sometimes.

Not this weekend though. That would have been a killer.

I could see you wheeling Whinehouse out on stage on a two wheeler. Propping her up and saying ok. Sing white girl. Its your turn.

 

[Saint Peter]

I'm a camera operator. Was shooting for the projection screens and the official webcast.

Thanks.

I find your trade very interesting. Work is work, but that has to be better than many others.

 

[medjay]

Thats a cool gig. Stationary or roaming an area of the stage.

I had the hard camera in the front of house position. Not as exciting as the hand-held operators on stage, but I didn't have to end my weekend totally exhausted and with a sore back either.

 

[Killswitch]

I've been in the pit and around the stage. You had the better gig.

lol

It is cool roaming around though but that was a lengthy show.

 

[medjay]

Thanks.

I find your trade very interesting. Work is work, but that has to be better than many others.

I always try to remember that on the days when I'm loading trucks at 3 in the morning in the rain.


I've actually been thinking about writing a book or shooting a documentary about the lives of backstage technicians in film, TV and stage. We're like the invisible workers regular people never think about, but the industry is absolutely crazy and filled with oddball characters and bizarre situations.

 

[medjay]

It is cool roaming around though but that was a lengthy show.

The first year here was brutal. They had the guys working non-stop for like ten hours straight. (Luckily, I wasn't booked that year.)

They've wised up and now stagger the performances so that everyone rotates and has an hour on and an hour break between sets.

 

[Darla_Darling]

I would have liked to have seen The Roots, Iggy, TV on the Radio and Interpol.

I agree with your general assessments of the artists mentioned, except for your dismissal of Interpol. I think they create hypnotic dark layers of sound, and their lyrics are intelligent and intriguing. (They might be weird to see at a festival in the daylight, however. When I saw them it was in a huge theatre at night.)

Iggy would have been awesome.

Pray do tell us about the life of a roadie.

 

[leZilla]

I'm just shocked that Wino showed up at all.

 

[medjay]

Pray do tell us about the life of a roadie.

Actually, a roadie is a totally unique creature in the entertainment industry, easily recognizable by full body tattoos, an unshowered smell and, on occasion, a cocaine or speed habit.

I'm happy to say I've never been a roadie.

 

[medjay]

I agree with your general assessments of the artists mentioned, except for your dismissal of Interpol. I think they create hypnotic dark layers of sound, and their lyrics are intelligent and intriguing. (They might be weird to see at a festival in the daylight, however. When I saw them it was in a huge theatre at night.)

When they performed, it was after sundown and they did have a full (and impressive) light show. It was also pouring rain which added to the atmosphere.

I just don't like that kind of music.

 

[Saint Peter]

I'm just shocked that Wino showed up at all.

That is a terrible thing to say about medjay!

Even though that might be why they gave him a cam with a tripod.