Lollapalooza (abbreviated "Lala") tried something new this year. Sparked by an idea by Jenny Toomey (Tsunami, Simple Machines), the Tour of tours invited the hippest record store it could find t o come along for the ride and introduce Lala kids to grass-roots indie rock. The store was Pier Platters, the Hoboken, NJ, indie outlet known to local rockers as the place to trade in rare records.

Unfortunately, things didn't go according to plan. Lala kids weren't interested, and after a few days on the road, Pier Platters' owner Otis Ball packed for home. Despite what came as troubling news for local record enthusiasts, Otis had no ill feelings t oward the Lala people (we'll admit we think this story probably would've been better if he had!). Oh well, as one indie rocker put it, $30 is a lot to pay to shop at Pier Platters in Raleigh, anyway. (Heather)

SF!: Were people familiar with the music you were carrying?

Otis It's hard to say. People seemed to have an idea.

SF!: How did you get involved with Lala?

Otis Jenny from Tsunami had been negotiating with Lala people about the booth and one they said yeah, Tsunami needed someone to run it and (the band) called me. So I organized it from there.

SF!: What other stuff was being sold there?

Otis A lot of food, jewelry, hats, the spaceball ride, some LSD/acid-simulator thing . . .

SF!: Those things cost money. Were they financially successful?

Otis I've no idea how much anyone made. Lala took no payment or rent from us, so I donŐt know what rent on the booths was. The guy I was working with came up with the rule of thumb for these things: "If you can't eat it and you can't wear it, you ain't go nna sell it."

SF!: If you were shopping at Lollapalooza, would there be stuff you'd want to buy?

Otis No, other than food, but I'm not really big on Grateful Dead-type clothing or LSD-simulators.

SF!: How was dealing with the Lala people?

Otis They just had one rep and he was very overworked, but good at pushing things through. I don't blame any of this on Lala. They provided the free space. The rest was up to me and the kids, to see if we could get it together.

Is Lollapalooza Alernative?

Go to the next article: Royal Trux Interview

Go to Stay Free! #3 Table of Contents