From: mledney@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu (Michael B Ledney)
Subject: lollapalooza
Organization: The Ohio State University
Date: Mon, 7 Sep 1992 15:16:04 GMT

     I was at the festival (and I use the word because that's
exactly what it was) in Cincinnati.  There were very few skins in
sight, but the show was quite real.  My pals and I did the carnival
thing before the music started, and were wholly impressed at the
depth of the average person we met.  I'll admit that about thirty
percent of the crowd were mindless fucks who were only there
because it was cool, but most of the people I interacted with on a
personal level were genuinely friendly and open minded.  Granted
this could be due to the group I was hanging with and the type of
people we attracted, but I can't emphasise (sp?) enough how cool
and unpressured everything felt.
     As for the show, I guess it really depends on what you're
into.  As I said we did the carnival before the music started.  The
Jim Rose circus side show has to be seen to be believed.  The
reactions I encountered covered the gamut from utter revulsion to
pure fascination.  I mean, no matter how crude you think it is to
watch a man pick up cinder blocks with nipple rings, there's
something animal in us that wants to watch it.  The music was again
something that, if you were into it, it was extremely good.  The
first band; Lush, really sucked.  I watched them and even danced
strictly because I felt sorry for that poor little English girl
singing her heart out, and getting no responce.  
     The next band out was Pearl Jam, and I don't know if any of
you guys are into the heavy guitar sound they put out, but the vast
majority of the Cincinnati crowd was.  At the beginning of their
set chaos reigned as the crowd rushed the pavilion and the
overwhelmed security guards stood around with their collective
thumb up their ass.  I was down fornt in the pavilion and it was
tough to slam with the fixed chairs banging my knees, so I made my
way to the lawn and into a rather respectable pit.  This went on
for quite some time and during the last song the band's singer
joined us for some rail diving, and started a trend that endured
for the rest of the day.  He climbed up the scaffolding that
supported the pavilion and dove into the pit with some extreme
altitude.  I give the band an A for effort based soley on this
fact.  As I said it was a really cool pit but the band only played
about 45 minutes and their departure seemed a bit premature.  
     I stayed on the lawn for the next band The Jesus and Mary
Chain.  Their music was rather morbid but quite dancable (go
figger).  Although there was nothing resembling a pit at this time
I did hook up with some really cool people on the lawn and we
danced our asses off.
     Soundgarden came out next and I was wholly dissapointed in the
pit they generated.  apparantly by this time amny of the people
that started partying too early were down for the count.  They were
easy to spot snoring through 150dB of guitar rock.  The music was
also rather  boring and mundane, so I returned to the pavilion and
conserved my energy for later.  
     A rapper named Ice-Cube came on next, and although he seemed
to be on some intense power trip, I couldn't resist dancing to the
bass heavy beat.  I worked my way back to the lawn where I found my
friends from the JMC set.  I didn't care much for the music, but it
was really a good time dancing with all those folks.  
     Next up was Ministry.  I really had high hopes for this band
and had worked myself into good position in the pit befor the music
even started.  I was not dissapointed.  Immediately after the music
started I was caught up in the most intense pit I've ever been a
part of.  There was some very intense no holds barred moshing
taking place, and the soft grass underfooot made people all the
more willing to take chances.  A bit into the set two more
controlled but equally violent circles spun off the main pit, and
it was cool to work form side to side in just a total slam dance
frenzy.  At it's peak I'd say the three pits went on for about 100
yards with varying degrees of intensity.  The bands music was
extremely coarse and monotaneous (sp?), and it seemed they were
playing soley for the enjoyment of the minority of the crowd that
was slamming.  
     After Ministry I was rather spent, and went back to my seat in
the pavilion.  by the time the Red Hots came out though I was ready
to bounce.  Now let me preface this section by saying I saw the Red
Hots at a small venue in Tijuana in 1988 with Jane's Addiction
opening.  They even served bottled beer.  I've never been the same
(by the way, if anybody reading was there please e-mail me the name
of that damn club.  I can't remebber it for the life of me,
thanks).  Also if one is able to ignore the more comercial songs I
think The latest album has some pretty good music on it, so
needless to say I had high hopes for their set.  I was pretty
disappointed.  They seemed to be going through the motions.  Most
of the songs were played down tempo which took alot away right off
the top.  Also most of the stage antics that seemed so spontaneous
at other shows seemed toned down and practiced.  Maybe they're just
getting old. 
     Anyway you asked about the show and there it is.  Now
remember, we're skins and we're entidled to have whatever opinions
we want.  These are mine.  Quite possibly some of you saw the same
things I did and thought it sucked.  If so post it and say so, we'd
all be interrested in hearing form you.

LED