My Experience at Lollapalooza: The Long Way

disclaimer: since writing this article, allegations have come out against one of the mentioned bands. for this reason, their name has been redacted

History/Introduction

Jane’s Addiction was a 1985 rock band from the bustling city of Los Angeles, California. Perry Farrell, lead singer, headed the organisation of their band’s last hoorah after just six years of performances in 1991. However, Farrell didn’t want their farewell tour to be in solitude. He invited other acts to join them, with a particular desire for non-mainstream artists. Names such as Siouxsie and the Banshees, Nine Inch Nails, Ice-T’s Body Count, and more joined the band on various stages across Canada and the United States. They called this tour a ‘Lollapalooza.’ With no way of knowing that the band would reprise its stage presence in ‘97, 2001 and 2008, this was their farewell to the music industry. Since 2005, the annual multi-day festival has popularised and branched off into seven other countries such as India, Brazil, France, and Chile. However, its heart remains in Chicago, Illinois.

What draws people in about Lollapalooza, IMO, is the absurdity of its name. When you go to Cavendish Beach Festival, a large majority of us will correctly assume it’s country music. After all, things are named for what they are. But Lollapalooza? Despite my unnecessary desire to be the person always armed with fun facts in lieu of actual knowledge, I had not the faintest clue where the word originated.Without solid etymology, there was no foundation for the word to stand on, and so it became whatever the user desired it to be. Merriam-Webster Dictionary itself only reveals the definition to be ‘one that is extraordinarily impressive.’ And although Farrell credits the name to a Stooges episode, a credible source has never been brought forward. Despite my best efforts (ten minutes on Google) I couldn’t locate the actual episode. Whether Farrell was pulling our leg, or the episode was wiped from the face of the Earth, nobody can be sure. However, we bow our heads regardless. After witnessing this festival in person, I couldn’t imagine the wild, sweaty, overcrowded event to be anything other than extraordinary chaos--a Lollapalooza.

For several reasons, the largest being the weight of a ticket ($250 CAD for one day) vs the slim size of my wallet, I only attended the first day of the festival in August, 2023. I am and forever will be grateful for my time at Lollapalooza. If I’m never given the opportunity to go again, I will at least be able to say that I thoroughly enjoyed my time and made use of my tourist activities through historic Chicago streets. However… I’m also deeply grateful for the opportunity to have slightly messed up on some key details. Good, bad and questionable, I share my Lollapalooza experience below. 

Preparing for the day 

As a Canadian, the hefty mailing fee was enough for me to immediately select the ‘pick-up’ option. Only months later, when the departure date was dawning on me, did I begin to question myself. I left my east coast town before sunrise on August 2nd and arrived at O’Hare around 10:30 am local time. For reasons I will not name (but will definitely be publishing an article on soon), I only had one day to sightsee. I was stressed out, and kept thinking that I’d be rushing Chicago, and how I wished I’d just paid extra. However, I was doing this on a tight budget. Fun fact about me is that once I know something is completely out of my control, I tend to lose a bit of anxiety. I blame it on the universe, or decisions past-Cloey made that present-Cloey cannot be held accountable for. In the end, it depends on your preference, time allowance, and overall itinerary. Did mine allow me to stand in queue for an hour thirty in weather that felt like Satan breathing down my neck? No. Did my budget allow for the extra and unnecessary mailing fee? Nope. Whether you favour the necessary evil of budget or time constraints, the choice is ultimately yours. Personally, I found it to be no inconvenience. I got to stand in line, take a breath, and drink the water bottle that had gone from cold to hot in my five-minute walk from Millenium Park. 

Inside the technicolour tent, the ticket collection process was relatively easy. They advertise that you should come prepared with identification and the barcode/order number. However, I was asked for neither. I spelled my name and was promptly given my bracelet. Tip: Make sure you’re given the correct items! The staff are no-doubt beyond busy and hustling all day. It’s only human that tiny things can be forgotten. I ordered the souvenir lanyard, and I’d rather double-check in the moment than get back to the hotel and realise I forgot it with no time to collect later. Another tip? Don’t put on the bracelet until the day of the festival. Those plastic teeth that tighten the bands DO NOT loosen. Despite slamming it in doorways and taking multiple blunt force objects to it, the plastic did not even crack. Once it’s on, it’s on. Hence, a great reason to make sure you can slip it on and off, but not loose enough that it’ll fall or be ‘taken’ from your wrist during the festival. After paying 250.00 for general admission, I wasn’t very fond of throwing another 35.00 for a replacement. This meant sucking up the fact that the glittery fabric was tearing into my wrist until I could take a pair of scissors to it after.

Don’t Rush the Gates-Unless You Want Front Row

Though I may have been stressed about seeing enough Chicago, one thing I’m grateful for during my one full-ish day is the fact that it tired me out beyond comprehension. Needless to say, there wasn’t a whole lot of the city I didn’t see. I came back to my hotel and knocked out in record time. However, the exhaustion wasn’t enough. Chicago is only two hours behind me in time. My reaction to this minimal jet lag made me wary of the day I’d finally cross the Atlantic, thrust forward as much as 15 hours. Because, at 07:00, I was awake and ready for action. My problem? The gates didn’t open until 11:00. This meant I was at the security barrier at 09:00 sharp, awake and prepared to stand in various lines until my band came on at 14:00. I signed on for four flights, hundreds of dollars in trains, hotels and tickets, plus a bit of my sanity to be here. Do you really think a 5-hour wait in the blazing heat would deter me? 

From standing outside the gates, accidentally getting in the wrong line and taking a fake call to make it look purposeful, running to general admission, sprinting through security gates, then to the very back of Grant Park to the T-Mobile stage… I can confidently say I got my cardio in. I wasn’t the fastest runner, but I made the conscious choice not to take a bag, expediting my security briefing. I was fortunate to push my way to the fourth row, but at the cost of not filling up my bottle at one of the courtesy stations. If Billie Eilish hadn't been the headliner that evening, I know I would’ve been further ahead to see my British indie band play. Most of these 09:00 lineups, I found out, had no idea who the other artists even were. Another tip: If you want to make lots of friends, be the Kevin of the group, who gathered stranger’s bottles and surrendered his front row position to fill them all up. I don’t know how he pushed his way back, but we welcomed him with open arms and a mighty cheer.

When the time for music came, we opened with Matt Maltese. I had never listened to any of his works religiously, so it was refreshing to hear as he opened with each song’s backstory before swaying the crowd from behind a piano. Although slightly slower-tempo music than what I’d of expected from Lollapalooza, it was a nice way to begin the festival. Plus, a nice yet shocking surprise to find out he wrote the hit “As the World Caves In.”

As previously mentioned, Matt isn’t who prompted my decision to buy tickets to Chicago. When the clock struck 14:00, and the big screens rolled to footage of the band making their way from backstage, my body had a physical reaction; redacted. This is what I came for. Every guitar strum, drum beat, bassline and chorus vibrated outward, like I was on the stage with them. My one major regret about Lollapalooza; It was my first festival. I fear my musical standards hit the roof after just one experience. There is nothing, and I mean nothing, like the thrill of music so loud you feel it in your chest. Time comes and goes all too fast, leaving you with nothing but a body that doesn’t know how to not be jumping; an intoxicating effect. 

Festival Experience Overall

After my band performed, I walked across festival grounds with no true destination other than to experience as much as possible. I got a slice of overpriced cheesy pizza and sat in the grass of a Chri$tian Gate$ performance, stood in the shadows during half of Jessie Murph’s set and half a Brakence set, then ran to the Tito’s stage also known as the Butler field any other day of the year. What made this location specifically cool, is how two stages filled the field. I watched as Sofi Tukker wrapped up, then turned around to where Noah Kahan was beginning. 

I could write an article about Noah Kahan alone. I contribute him as one of the biggest reasons why Lollapalooza 2023 will forever remain a cherished memory. Out of all the artists who hit the stage that day, Noah was the most interactive and cheerful. He joked with us between sets, got the energy up, made it a participation heavy hour that I wanted to last forever. How Noah transitioned from sadder songs, to high energy and doing 180* kicks on stage, I will never know. His voice was as genuine as his studio albums; lyrics raw and authentic. Fans at the T-Mobile stage pushed their way to the front and sat down to ensure nobody got too close. With Noah, we automatically left gaps in the crowd for people to pass through. We shouted ‘I LOVE YOU’ to the artist, put down our phones and enjoyed the moment. It’s a very strange thing to have seen so many genres of audiences at once. Shoved-in-so-close-you-can’t-breathe at Billie, to fans practically hugging each other at Noah.

There’s a very good reason why this article feels like it’s wrapping up; it is. You may be thinking, "didn't you say Billie Eilish was headlining?” I did, and…. I have to say that I went back to my hotel before she came. One of my biggest regrets is how focused I was on getting front row, that I didn’t pack a bag. Sure, I got through security faster and didn’t have to worry about keeping track of my belongings. However, I should have packed sunscreen, sunglasses, and a couple of hydration packs. Due to the lack of water in 30 degree weather and cloudless skies, I was exhausted and burnt way too quickly. Despite missing Billie, I can’t say that I lost sleep over the decision. I went to Lollapalooza for my favourite band, and picked up a few more on the way. Maybe, in the near or distant future, I may find myself in the position to attend all four days… Future Cloey, I wish you good luck in advance. Bring water.

At the end of Lolla, I came out with a sunburn so bad everyone who walked past me visibly flinched. As I write this in early December, I still have the bra-strap outline to prove it. And… as you may read about in the coming articles…. Getting a sunburn on day two of my vacation wasn’t the best idea. Especially considering I’d be going even further south. Although I cooked under the unmasked Chicago sun for hours, I am beyond grateful that I was able to provide myself with this trip. Obrigado, Chicago. As they say in Brazil, ‘tenho saudade’.