Its that time of year again for Lollapalooza, but thanks to Covid-19 it is a virtual show. But this morning I decided we would try to recreate our experience, so we shall picnic on a blanket on the floor, fill the Camelbak, drink warm beer (well maybe not that far), and watch the stream on You Tube. Then we shall rememember all the experiences we have had.
Usually around this time, maybe a week or so before I start my homework and researching the bands I may want to hear. The part I love about Lolla is not so much the headliners, its those early acts I might never have heard about or paid to see since I had never heard of them before. It’s a great opportunity to expand musical interests. Usually what I do is I take the daily line up and start from the earliest acts and listen to them on Spotify. I will make a playlist by day. Ken and I will listen to the playlist on the way down, we usually take the L. Then we will flag the artists we want to see.
In recent years we also like to see the early acts at the super small stages like the BudLite Cantina or the Toyota Stage. It’s a good way to catch the early acts you might have missed. Last year one of my favorite acts was Get Loud's performance at the Toyota tent.
We come geared up and ready. Always good to be prepared. It does take some planning. I have a check list. If you forget anything you can always buy it, but some stuff is a lot more expensive when you get down there. I always have breakfast to eat before we go and have grapes for the ride down. Grapes are good for keeping you hydrated. Hydration is key. We always have sunscreen, Camelbak, Sunglasses, wipes for cleaning hands. We try to travel as light as possible. We always go cashless, it’s the best option so you have less to worry about.
Its always electric when you arrive. There is a vibe, the crowd, the sounds, security, the wonderfully decorated entrance. The line to get in. Actually if you come in at the right time, the line to get in is pretty short. Once you get through security and prove you are 21 or over, you have arrived. We generally make a bee line for the water station to fill the camelbak, waiting in line can get hot.
We have arrived and its time to find our first act grab a beer, probably use the restroom and watch the people. As if we haven't already been watching the people. One of my favorite stories is the year we were wating in the security line, it might have been on a Sunday. We were watching this group try to figure something out. We realized they were trying to hide their drugs. One of the girls, who was wearing very tiny shorts and a tiny top as the ladies of Lolla tend to do, was shoving a bag down her pants. Ken and I were mesmerized by this process. All the guys were staring at her crotch. She asks loudly, "well can you see it? Can you see it?" Ken and I look at each other and roll our eyes. All those boys staring at her crotch saying no they couldn't see it. She half turns and the top of the bag is sticking out the top of her shorts. I whispered to Ken as they got swallowed up by the crowd, "if this is the future we are doomed." and I giggled, we both giggled.
The powers of observation I highly important you might miss things along the way. Like the year that two people dressed up in blowup Pikachu's and danced with each other. The one year we watched a very loaded individual try to crawl over the sound tent fence, he got in, and couldn't figure out how to get out. Definitely important is to find the right bathrooms that have the shortest lines. Being able to grab free water from security when its super hot out. They will hand it out on occasion. If you are not observant you might miss the various food specials that pop up. The powers of observation are best used for people watching and the performances.
I have seen so many performances my first Lollapalooza was in 1994 when Smashing Pumpkins and Beastie Boys performed. We also so George Clinton that year. That was when it was a travelling tour. It would be almost 20 years before I started going back. But I did go back in 2013 from then on I was hooked. I go for the music, I go for the people watching, and I go because its what I love to do. It’s a weekend of fun and memories. Everyone I go with, we prefer to remember the memories. While me might get pretty buzzed, we never get wasted. If you get wasted you might just miss something.
Don't forget while people watching you can watch for the glitter. All the glitter, glitter everywhere. We have nicknames for the various glitter looks people do. Our favorite is the schmear on a guys chest. We always want to ask if a fair sat on his chest. We critique the glitter. Don't get me wrong we love it, we love to see what everyone tries to do with it.
I am on the older side of the crowd, but that doesn't bother me. I like live music. I enjoy being with a crowd watching a band or artist perform and if I like them, I will go buy their album. I will buy their merch. I will talk about them and listen to them incessantly.
Some other Lolla Memories: NIN 2013. Sitting at the XRT Oasis and vowing that I would come back the next year for the full thing, and I did. I treated myself to VIP and had a blast with my not friend.
The time we got caught in the middle of the Flume Performance and needed to leave to see another act, we could not see anything but people to get out. Apparently it was the largest crowd for a single act. The funny thing was we were pretty far back as we had been watching Silver Spun Pickups and the crowd just came. I remember seeing the photo that someone had taken from one of the highrises, I showed Ken, it was pretty crazy to think we had been in the middle of that crowd.
The year they added the flushing portapotties that was quite awesome! I had never been so excited about a toilet.
Sometimes you read the list of artists and it doesn't quite register who the band is. We were getting beer by the BudLite Stage and I was signing lyrics to a song. I realized I knew who the band was, it was Live. I had seen them Live many years before. I was quite buzzed and ran toward the bandshell to watch the rest of their act. We deciided we might need some food to soack up the beer after that.
The food, we always try to get the treats from Edzo’s. They always had something special. Also getting to try resturaunts you have not been too. Lolla gets a lot of local favorites for the food. They get the whole variety from snacks to desserts. We will usually try to get a sample of several places and share, its better to share.
Seeing Imagine Dragons for the first time and they were at too small a stage just like Greta Van Fleet
That year Perry did a pop up stage and while waiting we decided Perry should run for President. Because Perry knows how to run a show.
Another time, I had to go to the bathroom during a performance, and it was raining. I was walking to the bathroom and didn’t realize Perry was playing the piano at the tequila tent (yeah we were in VIP). I walked within 10 feet of him playing, and did not even realize it. But in my defense it was raining and I had to pee.
That time Kenner and I got our picture on a frozen Wine drink. Actually that was pretty awesome and remained intact for most of the drink.
The rainstorms we have sat through, and that one time we missed Lourde because we got evacuated. .
2019 and a weekend off Aperol Spritz
Whatever Toyota is giving away. I have a collection of bandanas and other Toyota giveaways.
The last 2 years in GA plus with our BudLite Clear carry pack that most bartenders would fill with ice for us.
The various sets of artists LL Cool J, Tenacious D, Shaq as DJ Disel, that was a great set.
When we caught the end of to catch that one song by Walk the Moon, 'Shut up and Dance with Me'.
Hearing so many artists for the first time that I might never have experienced here are a few that I really like:
Regrettes
Fantastic Negrito
Chance the Rapper I remember him playing at the BMI stage.
Kongos
Vance Joy
Imagine Dragons
Haim
The New Respects
The year it was the Weeknd vs Vampire Weekend playing against each other. Vampire Weekend made a comment about this. We found it funny. We were able to catch both.
When we decided to leave Tame Impala because well it was too tame. We walked down to see Childish Gambino and I was in love. We caught a great performance.
The year Bruno Mars played and everyone thought he was done and started leaving and then they came back for another 20 minutes everyone had to run back. Same thing happened at Red Hot Chili Peppers, they took a short break and people thought the show was over.
Surprise Guests are the thing: The year we saw Eminem and Rihanna was with him to perform Monster. Another surprise guest was Chance the Rapper coming out to play with Death Cab for Cute, we caught that and screamed so loud.
That fabulous Tito's Bloody Mary Bar they had back in VIP. I was in heaven that year.
We were wearing masks long before it was a requirement. (Picture)
The different experiences the vendors the marketing campaigns all unique to Lolla. For me it is one of the best ways to spend a weekend, wandering around listening to music. Live music, seeing acts you might never get to see. Really for the ticket price it’s a value if you go too a lot of shows over the course of the year. In 2019 I paid a lot of money for 2 shows of single acts: Lady Gaga and Rolling Stones. Both were unique performances, and they were fantastic to see, but you get a hundred plus acts for less than I paid for one of those tickets. Even upgrading to GA+ is still a bargain for the number of acts you can see.
We try to get there early. Occasionally it can be a challenge, like when someone jumps on the tracks and we end up sitting in the L tracks for 30 minutes. Thank goodness they moved the cars to a station so we could get out and catch a cab.
After the show ends for the night can be entertaining too like the time we walked over to the congress hotel and had some drinks to wait for the crowd to thin out before calling an Uber. We watched a guy try to pick up a girl and he was sitting on the arm of a chair, the girl would have none of it, so she got up and the chair wasn't very heavy so the guy and the chair toppled over. It was pretty funny. We couldn't laugh as they were less than 5 feet from us.
The time we got evacuated and Ken took me through lower Wacker. His knowledge of lower Wacker came in handy to escape a rainstorm and find a hotel lobby to sit in while a storm passed through. Minus the part where I had to step around sleeping homeless people, he was my hero.
This year it’s a virtual celebration, but Ken and I will watch and remember and relive all our awesome memories. All the steps (you can average 18-20k steps per day. That won't happen this year, but in my mind I will be walking from stage to stage and dancing and drinking and laughing and smiling. I will miss the people watching this year! But alas things to look forward to in 2021!