Lollapalooza 2007 – Can it live up to England?

In Chicago on August 3rd 2007, Lollapalooza will kick off with a fiesta of artists, bands, groups linking 3 days of music together. Headlined by Pearl Jam and the French Electric Punk band Daft Punk.

Pearl Jam have been up there since the early 90’s. They prevailed out of the grunge era we all wore plaid shirts in. Two drummers later and a plethora of albums, Eddie Vedder seems to lead his band into every concert like it is their last. He gets lost in his songs. You can tell by the slightly stiff arm he shows whilst his eye balls roll in their sockets. It’s a refreshing site, believe it or not, to see a man generate the same passion 15 years on. Maybe the same shorts as well.

I have mentioned the Foo Fighters before on this blog. I genuinely think that they are the best live act on the planet right now. Though they only played 5 songs at Live Earth last weekend, you could tell that the ‘floor filling’ songs they have and the following they seem to pipe in front of show that they perhaps, in the words of the The Carpenters, ‘they’ve only just begun’. Can Pearl Jam do the same in Grant Park in a months time. Watch this space – literally. No… really…

A festival is not all about the main bands though. It has to be facilities, food, beer, pop and merch prices as well. Glastonbury had more toilets than ever and a new drainage system (which wasn’t porous enough this year). Reading, on the outskirts of London, boasts a solid line up but a 4.00 (Pounds) price tag for beer. The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Razorlight, Nine Inch Nails, Smashing Pumpkins and the Kings of Leon show it perhaps is a little rougher around the edges than most weekends.

The V Festival is relatively new in the festival sphere. It’s squeaky image appeals to the slightly older folk who want to live in the ‘pit’ but know they wont have to deep down inside. From the Foo’s, The Killers and Snow Patrol – they are all there to be fair.

That weekend in Chicago has Amy Winehouse. I dont think it will be set on fire like previous resurrected festivals. With Patti Smith and Modest Mouse in toe, I think the pressure is on Pearl Jam to bring some weather into the Windy City.