Jim DeRogatis Whines About Lollapalooza

Apparently, despite that everyone I've spoken to felt that Lollapalooza was an unqualified success, Chicago Sun Times writer Jim DeRogatis doesn't agree.

Now, I'm all for people expressing their opinions, and I don't particularly care whether he liked Lollapalooza or not, but I really don't think that any of DeRogatis' complaints has even a shred of legitimacy.

He complains that too many bands played the same sets they play in a normal concert. What exactly were they supposed to do? A set full of covers? A set of only obscure singles? That's not what a festival like this is for. This type of festival is a showcase for a band to play its best material for what is likely the biggest audience it's ever had. And, to Lollapalooza's credit, a ton of the bands that played were exciting young bands who only have a dozen songs to choose from. So, what, Midlake was supposed to learn and play a Red Red Meat cover? The Subways were supposed to play "25 or 6 to 4"?

Similarly without merit is DeRogatis' complaint (which he never really explains) that the festival wasn't "Chicago enough". I'm not sure what he wants. Mike Ditka serving hot dogs? A Blues Brothers set? A post-rock wank-a-thon stage? Disco demolition night?

If DeRogatis thinks that Lollapalooza was held in Chicago for any reason other than it was a great place to hold it, and centrally located so thousands of non-Chicagoans could attend, then he's kidding himself. This isn't a "Chicago festival" - it's a festival that happens to be held in Chicago. And, guess what? It's got bills to pay. So they add a lot of bands who are going to hopefully sell tickets. I hate to say it, but there just aren't that many Chicago bands (other than those who did play) that I'd pay $140 to see.

He also repeats a complaint I've read a couple times in Chicago papers about the price of water being $3. Seriously, get over it. There were a ton of free water fountains. And the bottles of water were huge. Considering that most corner stores, at least here in NYC, get $1 for a tiny Poland Spring, $3 ain't too bad. And considering that Webster Hall charges $5 for water, well... you get the point.

In the end, it really bothers me that one of the leading musical journalists in Chicago would be so negative about a festival which, in my opinion, was fantastic, and which I think did a lot of good for Chicago. It brought in thousands of fans, who spent money at hotels, restaurants and bars. It brought in hundreds of bands, and bolstered the town's musical profile. And, in my case at least, it made a strong case for Chicago as a town I might consider moving to at some point when my legal career is over. (Soon, baby, soon!)

Maybe he'd be happier if the festival picked a new home next summer. Or, better yet, maybe he just shouldn't go next time.