"Lallapaloosa," by Harry S. Marion. New York: Sol Bloom, 1903.
The Oxford English Dictionary defines “lallapaloosa” as “something outstandingly good of its kind.” The term has its origins in American slang from the turn of the 20th century, but its most popular spelling variation is associated with a music festival of more recent vintage.
Music fans converge on Chicago this weekend for the 2012 Lollapalooza. Although I am not aware of any members of Black Sabbath appearing at the Library of Congress, at least one of the headliners of this year’s festival was an honored guest of the Coolidge Auditorium: Jack White, who appeared at the Library for the Paul McCartney spectacular, along with Lollapalooza veteran Dave Grohl of Nirvana and the Foo Fighters.
In the Muse offers this year’s festival goers a taste of lallapaloosas past with this piece by Harry S. Marion, who could not in his wildest musical dreams have imagined that the title would someday lend its name to an event hosting the dreamlike sounds of Icelandic band Sigur Rós.