Beach House: the band that rocked PitchforkOn the eve of the Pitchfork Music Festival last month, I read the Chicago Tribune’s preview of the three day event. The article coded the entertainers by genre such as EDM, hip hop, indie, rock, etc. On day one, the first act was a rock band called Beach House. On day two, Brian Wilson was slated for a midday performance. I don’t even remember the lone rock band on day three. (I had to research Pitchfork’s website to come up with Beach House.) I lamented to my eldest son that only three Pitchfork performers were identified as rock bands. He replied, “Dad, rock is dead.”
Two weekends ago Lollapalooza came to town for its 25th year anniversary. Lolla has evolved from basically a summer rock tour to a behemoth, four-day festival based in Grant Park, which is a sprawling piece of land that includes Buckingham Fountain just blocks from Lake Michigan. When I attended the first ever Lollapalooza in 1991 in south suburban Tinley Park, IL, Jane’s Addiction with its Lolla creator Perry Ferrell ended the show. Other eclectic rock bands that performed during this day included Siouxsie and the Banshees (goth), Nine Inch Nails (industrial), Ice T and Body Count (hardcore rap and metal), Living Colour (rock), and Butthole Surfers (rock). Since the tour made money, it became commodified and labeled as “alternative.”
I missed the next two iterations of Lolla, but attended the fourth. Nirvana was scheduled to be the headliner, but Cobain’s suicide a couple months earlier ended that plan. Thus, The Smashing Pumpkins became the default headliner. I remember being impressed by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds and the Boredoms. George Clinton and the P-Funk All-Stars could have played for hours, but they were hampered by a midday time slot. The Beastie Boys also performed; however, rap is NOT a genre meant for a large outdoor venue.
Dmitri ShostakovichOver the years Lollapalooza left the 1990ish brand of alternative to branch out to accept a wider array of music. Another interpretation is that Lolla accepts what sells. Whatever. These days indie is widely popular as is hip hop and EDM. This century’s Lolla has clearly lost its rock roots and this year’s lineup obviously reflects that “evolution.” My taste in music has also evolved, but in ways totally different from Lolla. I have explored the many genres of jazz and have definite likes and dislikes. I now embrace Shostakovich. I think Kendrick Lamar and D’Angelo are intriguing. At the end of the day though, I still want to stain my deck with Lamb of God.
