Austinite Secretly Loathes Lollapalooza

AUSTIN, Texas (SNARKY) -- She's a gregarious and affable woman, always quick to give while expecting nothing in return. To her, life is an unending day of warm sunshine.

But rain clouds have gathered around Emma M. of late as she quietly harbors contempt for Lollapalooza, the mega-music festival to be held in Chicago later this year.

"It sort of takes a little bit of the shine off ACL," said a forlorn M, referring to the Austin City Limits Festival held in September. "To many music travelers, we're no longer the red letter date and music Mecca we once were."

Lollapalooza and ACL share the same promotion company, Charles Attal Presents. As such, the two have booked nearly identical line-ups for their respective dates six weeks apart.

"How the hell can I expect my Chicago friends to come to Texas again this year? Jesus, they'll have ACL on the lake there first."

Reinforcing M.'s viewpoint is the lack of talk amongst her friends about going to ACL this year.

"My friends and I haven't really talked about it yet," said Luke Penca, a three-time ACL attendee and one of M.'s friends from Chicago. "Probably because we know that it will be a hard sell to ourselves in light of Lolla[palooza]."

Last year's festival in Austin did little to help its case as record high temperatures descended on fans bracing for a hurricane whose relieving rains never arrived.

"It was 108 fucking degrees," said Chris T. who was at the three day ACL show. "Fahrenheit!"

The uncertainty surrounding whether her Chicago friends will still come to ACL this year is clearly taking its toll on M.

"I went to last week's flash mob pillow fight so I could beat the piss out of someone just to work out my aggression," said M. still wielding her "D" battery laced pillow.

"Whatever happens though, we'll always have SXSW."

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