Lollapalooza Î97

Thereâs been stiff competition for the title of the best summer concert for Denverâs jilted generation, but the new look of Lollapalooza helped it walk away the winner.

It wasnât an easy task with such competition.

This summer brought to Denver the H.O.R.D.E. tour, featuring Neil Young and Big Head Todd, the Violent Femmesâ KTCL Adventure gig, the ska-ridden Warped Tour and the Black Crowesâ Further Festival.

Unlike the other festivals and summer concerts, Lollapalooza provided solid entertainment both afternoon and night, with hardly any lapses ÷ even for those with short attention spans.

Headliners Korn left the tour before the Aug. 10 Denver date. While this was good news for the more mature people in the crowd, some of the younger rockers, wearing their Korn shirts and vertically striped Adidas pants, were visibly disappointed. They were in mourning.

This left techno firestarters Prodigy to close the show with wild lights and the music from their latest album, The Fat of the Land. Members of the audience had an excuse to shake their asses as Prodigy helped the crowd loosen up and ãBreathe,ä as the group sings in its latest single.

MC Maxim Reality rocked the mic on ãMindfieldsä and ãFunky Shitä and poster boy Keith Flint shared the vox on ãFirestarterä and ãBreathe.ä Flint, when not singing, ran around the stage, bumping off of speakers and showing off the look that has gained the group attention and world domination in techno/electronica/whatever.

Tool, the most talented band of the day, played a mesmerizing set made up mostly of songs from their newest album, Enema. Lead guitarist Maynard James Keenan, adorned with large fake breasts, a lacy bra and a wig, was in top form, and his voice complimented the bandâs industrial sound.

Another favorite was hip-hop genius Tricky. His performance was above and beyond the understanding of most of the audience but still appreciated. His screamed vocals, plus those of Martine Topley-Bird, the mother of his daughter, were pure and authentic, cutting through the politics surrounding issues in his life.

The former member of Massive Attack seemed assured  that he is the future of music, acting as if he was wasting time touring with Lollapalooza. He had a flippant attitude that preceded everything he did.
 
Snoop Doggy Dogg,    the creator of such genius lines as: ãYou donât love me; you only love my doggy style!ä was powerful. He smoked a Denver joint and pleased the audience with his oldies-but-goodies, including ãWhatâs My Name?ä He was humorous and in good taste for the most part.

The show started in the early afternoon with half-brothers Julian and Damian Marley and their Uprising Band. They rehashed their father Bob Marleyâs songs of universal brotherhood with class and added something new to the 7-year-old festival in a I-shot-the-sheriff kind of way.

The laid-back English band James then took the stage with its mellow sounds and thoughtful lyrics. Lead singer Tim Booth belted out his lyrics wearing a silver disco shirt, a cowboy hat and a neck brace, which he wore because of damaged nerves in his neck.

The second-stage bands were mediocre, finding high points in the Les Claypool-like Skeleton Key and somewhat long-winded rap sensations Lost Boyz.

Unfortunately for Denver, special guest Devo didnât show up, and neither did some acts which played at stops in other cities, including The Orb, Orbit and Orbital.

÷ by Ricardo Baca