I am officially old. Over the years my love of attending live music has centered on the performer. What a concept, right? I attended the first and third Lollapalooza concerts because of the lineups as it traveled between cities. These days a ginormous Lolla stays in Chicago’s Grant Park for several days with throngs of fans arriving from all parts and staying in hotels. My niece went to her first Lolla two years ago. I asked her what bands she intended to watch; she could list only one. Instead, she wanted to hang out at Lolla with her friends. She probably wanted to be seen and take selfies to promote her whereabouts.
This year, Lolla tickets went on sale at least two weeks before the Lolla lineup was actually announced. I shook my head in disbelief. Why would one buy an expensive ticket without knowing the performers? Then organizers announced the daily lineup that will feature bands like the awful Chainsmokers and performers known for singles and how many views a video has on YouTube.
One day while waiting for a haircut, I perused Vanity Fair. One page touted luxury goods to wear to this summer’s festivals. Here are several. A monogrammed Louis Vuitton lipstick case: $1,390. A Saint Laurent “throw shade” hat: $1,595. A Dior carry all messenger bag sells for a mere $3,200. Can’t forget the $470 “sunny daze” sunglasses by Lapima, which are available at barneys.com or the CBD “calming vape pen” for $75. I think my favorite would be the $680 pair of “shimmy and shake” earrings. WTF. I guess this old man would be an embarrassment if I showed up in my black Opeth t-shirt. That is what I would like to be seen wearing.
