Chicagoist: Saturday Afternoon Diversions: Radiohead + Fireworks = Minds Blown and Kanye Kills

jmagic

Mon, 01 Dec 2008 16:43:16 -0600

Kanye's new album is bad ... like the dude couldn't get away from the vocoder long enough to realize that his own singing voice is flat and he sounds damn near tone deaf.

Pizza Club

Mon, 01 Dec 2008 11:05:29 -0600

Don't get me wrong, I love Radiohead, but I don't understand how the fireworks going off during their set was any more memorable then when it happened last year during an equally awesome band's set.

Marcus Gilmer

Mon, 01 Dec 2008 10:19:29 -0600

And we're not the only ones who think it's good. I can understand why people don't like Kanye's new album or that Radiohead wasn't a big deal and I understand the disagreement with my statements in the post. But the "[Band Name] Sucks! You're opinion is wrong!" thing is just so old.

Pizza Club

Mon, 01 Dec 2008 10:15:22 -0600

@Marcus Gilmer "created one of the most memorable moments not only of this year's edition of the fest, but perhaps of ANY EDITION." And I'm not the only one that thinks Kanye's new album sucks.

Marcus Gilmer

Mon, 01 Dec 2008 10:06:05 -0600

You think it's terrible, we don't.

Pizza Club

Mon, 01 Dec 2008 10:04:52 -0600

Oh, and Kanye's new album is terrible. Nice to see you can rag on Billy Corgan for being a d-bag with questionable musical output but when Kanye puts out something less than stellar, you don't call out his d-baggy-ness

Marcus Gilmer

Mon, 01 Dec 2008 10:04:26 -0600

Pizza Club - That happened in 2007. This post was about Lolla 2008.

Pizza Club

Mon, 01 Dec 2008 10:02:16 -0600

Fireworks went off during Pearl Jam last year. How is memorable for Radiohead but not for Pearl Jam?

CL

Mon, 01 Dec 2008 08:47:41 -0600

Unless you make a deal with the promoters, they're pretty damn extensive. Correct me if I'm wrong, but the only time I've seen some of the bands from Lolla play the clubs around here is if they're playing a special one-off show when they are in town (i.e. an after-fest party). Sure, the band has a reason to sign the contract....they're playing in front of a lot of people and getting paid fairly well. But when I want to see NIN come through town, I want to see them in a venue where sound bleed from Kanye West is not a problem and where they don't play a festival-friendly set. One day would be fine, three days sucks up my concert season and the venue isn't even that good. They book so many bands that there is sound bleed and it's not even that enjoyable. As for the clubs, they're doing way less business as a result. I'd rather support my local clubs than to have a three day calamity in the park.

Thunderbelly

Mon, 01 Dec 2008 00:07:02 -0600

I agree that Lolla is a good thing. I love it and go every year. There are around 150 bands, and apparently everyone of them must sign the exclusive contract. The thing is many of the bands tour extensively and if they can't play here 3 months before and after Lolla it means they don't come to Chicago for more than half a year, besides a short hour or less set at Lolla. There are obviously reasons to sign the contract, but there are also external pressures that make it a hard decision to pass up as well I am sure.

PumaConcolor

Sun, 30 Nov 2008 19:20:23 -0600

I wasn't aware of the contracts. I can see how they may be a damper. But how extensive are they? Do they apply to the headliners or everyone on the bill? Not to neglect club concerns, but if a band signs a contract they probably have a reason to do so. Regardless, how many bands play at Lolla in one weekend? A lot of people could name a lot of bands that aren't there in any given year. I still think it's probably a good thing on the whole.

Thunderbelly

Sun, 30 Nov 2008 18:54:13 -0600

Lolla has exclusive contracts. No bands that play Lolla can play here for several months before and after the festival. Does it kill the music scene? No, but it does but a big damper on it. As for bad beer. Sneak in booze dude, its real easy.

PumaConcolor

Sun, 30 Nov 2008 16:56:05 -0600

How does Lolla kill the summer season in the clubs or go on for too long? Anyone with a job will tell you that one weekend doesn't last long enough, and if Lolla really kills a summer season, I think that says more about the summer season than it does about Lolla. Come to think of it, what is the concert season and who is attending? And who attends Lolla? Chicago offers a good mix for everyone. I think it's a mistake to think Lolla takes away from that; if anything, it adds to it.

CL

Sun, 30 Nov 2008 16:36:41 -0600

Even though it kills the summer season in the clubs? I agree with DeRo's argument when it comes to Lolla. It's too long and it condenses the concert season around here to one long weekend with horrible beer and limited sets.

PumaConcolor

Sun, 30 Nov 2008 15:53:52 -0600

Come on jmagic. The Kanye thing: I'm not a fan, but he's huge - and, relevant to our discussion - from Chicago. And I haven't seen a plethora of Radiohead posts, so I don't think fellatio enters the picture; let's keep it that way. Point is, I'm also thankful for a pretty substantial music festival happening here and here alone for the foreseeable future.

jmagic

Sun, 30 Nov 2008 09:51:33 -0600

I agree with CL ... and why do folks here at the ist constantly fellate Kanye and Radiohead? seriously ... it's getting ridiculous.

CL

Sat, 29 Nov 2008 22:59:44 -0600

Nine Inch Nails were probably the best live act on that bill. Fireworks can't make Radiohead more interesting, sorry.