Lollapalooza: Bands I Will Avoid at All Costs
August 4th, 2009While there are many bands I simply must see at Lollapalooza 2009, there’s a few that I’m avoiding like the plague. I’ve been listening to a mix of the Lolla artists for the past few weeks in preparation for creating my schedule and here’s a few artists that are like nails on a blackboard whenever they come up.
Ben Folds
Words fail when it comes to describing how much I dislike the music of Ben Folds. In the past, I’ve described him as a cross between Billy Joel and Elton John – except without the edginess and fashion sense. I once taught a web design class for a week in Milwaukee and the only live music playing all week was Ben Folds – so I went. I didn’t even make it through three songs. Just the memory of this show is making me queasy.
Los Campesinos!
I think “Los Campensinos” means “the suck” in Spanish. I’ve been listening to a few songs of their this week and it’s as if a kindergarten class on crystal meth got hold of a cassette recorder. The last time I heard something this awful was when Architecture in Helsinki opened up for Clap Your Hands Say Yeah at the Vic. Architecture in Helsinki was so awful it actually made me a little angry and my friend and I nearly left in protest.
Anything Resembling Rap Music
No offense, it’s just not my thing. I respect these folks at artists but the genre just does nothing for me.
Rise Against
I like punk music, but hard rock just bores me. In my book, Rise Against falls into hard rock.
Animal Collective
This guys should be tried by a jury of their peers for the crap they put out and call it music. I saw them open for Mum a few years back and they just did a drum circle – for an hour. Faith and I were in such a sour mood by the time Mum took the stage that we only stuck around for a few songs.
Bassnectar
With a name like “Bassnectar” they have to suck. I haven’t heard them, but I’m feeling pretty confident in this prediction. Not like it matters, they’re playing against Yeah Yeah Yeahs, who are awesome.
Dan Deacon, Passion Pit
They’re both electronic, I’ve heard good things about them and I can’t seem to make it through an entire song by either of them. If I need some electronic music, I’ll see Crystal Castles.