Jack White, Beck, Bon Iver, Pretty Lights, Tenacious D, The Shins,
Beirut, Girl Talk, The Roots, The Head & The Heart, Portlandia,
Feist, Silversun Pickups, Metric, Explosions In The Sky, The Joy
Formidable, Mogwai, Nero (DJ), M. Ward, John Reilly & Friends,
Childish Gambino, St. Vincent, The Civil Wars, Jamey Johnson, Little
Dragon, Tune-Yards, Wild Flag, Blind Pilot, Wolfgang Gartner, Beats
Antique, Apparat, The Walkmen, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Mark Lanegan
Band, Spiritualized, Blitzen Trapper, The Cave Singers, Shabazz Palaces,
Fun., Grouplove, Tycho, SBTRKT, STRFKR, Ted Leo and the Pharmacists,
Deer Tick, Alabama Shakes, Dum Dum Girls, The Helio Sequence, Kurt Vile,
Cloud Cult, We Are Augustines, Ben Howard, Here We Go Magic, Zola
Jesus, The War On Drugs, Shearwater, Cass McCombs, Active Child,
Trampled By Turtles, Charles Bradley & His Extraordinaires,
Araabmuzik, Star Slinger, L.A. Riots, Com Truise, Unknown Mortal
Orchestra, I Break Horses, Walk The Moon, Dry The River, Allen Stone,
Pickwick, Hey Marseilles, Gary Clark Jr., Purity Ring, Electric Guest,
Yellow Ostrich, Nobody Beats The Drum, Coeur De Pirate, Lord Huron,
Sallie Ford & The Sound Outside, Beat Connection, The Sheepdogs, Hey
Rosetta!, Said The Whale, Howlin Rain, Gardens & Villa, Felix
Cartal, Craft Spells, Vintage Trouble, Poor Moon, Black Whales, Gold
Leaves, Greylag, Awesome Tapes From Africa
, Thee Satisfaction, Dyme
Def, Fresh Espresso, The Physics, Sol, Metal Chocolates, Grynch,
Spac3man, Don’t Talk To The Cops, Scribes, Fatal Lucciauno, Fly Moon
Royalty, Katie Kate, Nick Kroll, Beardyman, Todd Barry
New
Additions: Santigold, Of Monsters & Men, Graffiti6, Hospitality,
Polica, Chelsea Peretti, Little People, James Murphy, HoneyHoney, Sean
Wheeler & Zander Schloss, Reptar, The Staves, Damien Jurado, Chiddy
Bang, James McCartney, Feed Me (with Teeth), Howard Kremer, Dale
Earnhardt Jr. Jr., ReignWolf, The Sights
Removed From Lineup: Imelda May, Anthony Jeselnik
Saturday, October 20, 2012
Monday, May 21, 2012
Quadros 1: Jack White, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, The Joy Formidable, Wild Flag
I got one Quadros in before the festival. When you get married, have a child, get convicted of a felony, spend a couple months in prison, spend a couple months in rehab, lose your job, have your internet disconnected, and have to sell your Sasquatch tickets to afford paying $5.30 for a mocha to use the wi-fi at the local coffee shop, you'll understand why I couldn't write more this spring. None of this actually happened, but pretend it did for a second. I'll redeem myself next year.
We might as well start off with the top billed performer at the festival, the most well known rock god under the age of 40, and the reason the Black Keys are so gigantic. I have some serious history with the White Stripes, even though I was never a superfan. I remember the first time I heard the song "Seven Nation Army," I thought it would be the next "Smells Like Teen Spirit." I pictured children growing up idolizing this Guitar Hero and video games eventually capitalizing on his excellence. I pictured the guitar being so popular by 2009, a new genre of music called Electric Guitar Music (EGM for short) would be gigantic. There would be entire stages at major music festivals devoted to these EGM performers playing to crowds of chemically induced youngsters, complete with flashing lights, lasers, and video monitors. Everyone would be playing their air guitars, or inflatable replica guitars, and glowsticks would be everywhere. I was so close.
More history, seven years ago, I had convinced a group of friends to attend the Stripes Gorge show. Like many of you, I wasn't interested in attending shows by myself. My crew is excited, the local show sells out, then everyone bails. I couldn't afford to get to the Gorge solo, and I couldn't afford the scalper prices for the local show. It was that moment I decided I would never depend on others to accompany me to shows I want to see. Since then, I've seen almost every band I want to see, many of them by myself. I owe it all to my sketchy friends and the White Stripes.
Now that the White Stripes have call it quits, I probably won't get a chance to see them live. Although I subscribe to the theory that bands break up to make more money further down the road, I feel like this White Stripes break-up is for real. One reason, Meg has stage fright, but another is because Jack can play White Stripes songs on his own. Case in point, he is playing White Stripes songs on his current tour. I'm a bit surprised, I was expecting him to play only his new album and covers or extended jams. Doesn't it cheapen the White Stripes when he plays their tunes live? Then again, his solo album Blunderbuss is solid, and sounds just like a typical White Stripes album. I'm probably giving Meg White too much credit in that duo (I'm being nice).
I've seen Jack White perform five times, and he commands the stage like few performers I've ever seen. At the first Dead Weather show I attended, he stepped down from the drums to play one guitar solo, and it literally sent chills through my spine. That solo is one of the highlights of my live music career, and a reason Jack White is number one on my list of can't misses this Sasquatch season. When have you witnessed a live performance that gave you chills? You are missing the highlight of the weekend if you skip him. I've often said, "I love Jack White like a little brother," but that might be an understatement.
Suggested Tracks: (All White Stripes songs unless otherwise noted)
1. Seven Nation Army
2. Carolina Drama (Raconteurs: Proof he can still write a compelling song lyrically)
3. Ball And Biscuit
4. The Union Fever (his bluesy scream is on display)
5. Fell In Love With A Girl (pretty sure this song is the reason for Neon Trees, Louie 13, and other pop/indie/electro band's popularity)
6. Dead Leaves And The Dirty Ground
7. Icky Thump (before you laugh, listen to the sounds he emits from his guitar)
8. Broken Boy Soldier (Raconteurs)
9. I'm Slowly Turning Into You
10. I Want To Be The Boy To Warm Your Mother's Heart (He doesn't need a guitar, the piano works fine)
If I made a list of the top Sasquatch bands you need to see live, even if you are unfamiliar with their music, The Joy Formidable would be top ten. I caught them twice last year, and was willing to pay for round three in December, but the show sold out. This three piece rock band from across the pond can best be described as the female Foo Fighters. While dormant, the lead singer/guitar player is a tiny adorable lady, but she has the most intense (nearly psychotic) expressions when she gets going. Quite frankly, she scares me, and I'm nearly twice her size. She could easily parlay her intensity into a serial killer role in Hollywood. Thankfully, after each song, she flashes her easy going smile which lets me (and anyone else paying attention) exhale. The bassist and drummer are very animated as well, bringing a ton of energy to their set.
With only one alum and one EP so far, the Joy Formidable aren't loaded with outstanding tunes, but they rock out, which is something increasingly rare in the pop/indie music scene. They are a perfect festival band, because everyone will have a great time regardless of it they are a current fan. Blame me if you think their performance sucks.
Suggested Tracks:
1. Whirring (It's the one that gets stuck in my head)
2. Chapter 2
3. The Greatest Light Is The Greatest Shade
4. Cradle
5. Austere
The year was 2005. After living with over 40 roommates since High School, I was finally able to afford my own apartment near the action (downtown Portland). Okay, it was more like a 300 square foot studio in the basement of an apartment building, but you haven't lived until you've cooked on a stove while laying in bed. It was also the first time I could afford to buy albums, something I hadn't regularly done since BMG and Columbia House started recognizing my address. Clap Your Hands Say Yeah's self-titled debut album was one my first purchases, an album I still listen to every couple weeks.
Fast forward two years, they release their long awaited follow up which frankly stunk. It was so bad, I won't even mention the album title for fear of people googling it, and finding this blog. They even tried to incorporate static distortion, like they were trying to make it sound awful. If I hadn't paid $13 for a physical copy of the album, I would have assumed it was an illegal download, because the sound quality was that bad. I understand it's art, but I don't have to like it just because it's art.
By the time their third album Hysterical dropped last year, I had forgotten this band existed in a current form. I finally gave it a chance, and it's actually pretty great. It's a pleasant album, which is a pharase I never thought I would associate with the band after hearing their second album. But enough about me, you probably want to hear something other than my "love, hate, like" relationship, so here goes it.
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah is an artsy indie rock band from New York who helped invent the hipster movement seven years ago. It is music you would expect to hear in the dressing room at Goodwill. If you ever meet someone with a french tickler and a scarf who claims to be a painter, ask him if he likes Alec Ounsworth's solo material better than with CYHSY, and you'll have an instant friend.
Alec is the lead singer, and has a high pitched yelpy voice which can be best explained as annoying. It's so annoying, if you played 52 seconds of any CYHSY song to someone wearing a Slayer shirt, there is a 89.1 % chance you will get punched in the face. That album voice is also tough to pull off live, which has caused me to leave a couple of their shows less than impressed. I can't tell you this show will be fantastic, or it's a can't miss, but I can say you might like their music. The voice is an instrument, so when a vocalist is unique, that shouldn't be a negative, right? I never get CYHSY confused with any other band. I have nostalgia on my side, so I'll be there. I'll be the one tossing glow sticks during the first drop.
Suggested Tracks:
1. Home On Ice
2. The Skin Of My Yellow Country Teeth
3. Details of the War
4. Let The Cool Goddess Rust Away
5. Same Mistake (from the new album)
6. Adam's Plane (from the new album)
7. Heavy Metal
8. Hysterical (from the new album)
All female NW super group featuring Carrie Brownstein (Sleater-Kinney/Portlandia), Mary Timony (Helium), Janet Weiss (Sleeter-Kinney, Quasi, The Jicks), and Rebecca Cole (Minders). Their debut self-titled album was one of the better releases of 2011. I would be lying if I said I follow all four parts of this conglomerate, but Janet Weiss has controlled the sticks for several of my most memorable shows. Carrie Brownstein has flare live, so at least she's trying. She's been around, and knows a leg kick here and there get people like me excited. I'm like a baby with a rattler shaking in its face, and her leg kick is that rattler.
Their song, "Boom" is one of my favorite songs of 2011, and is worth the price of admission. It is female punk at its best. In my opinion, "Boom" is as good as any Sleater-Kinney song (the hater comments section is now open for dissenting opinions). I caught most of their set at Coachella, only because I couldn't leave. They were that fun. For only having one album, they sure jam out on their hot tracks. I believe "hot tracks" are how the EGM kids refer to them?
Suggested Tracks:
1. Boom
2. Future Crimes
3. Short Version
4. Romance
5. Racehorse (as cheezy as the lyrics and theme are, they sure do jam out. Guitar/keyboards/vocals are all highlights)
Jack White:
We might as well start off with the top billed performer at the festival, the most well known rock god under the age of 40, and the reason the Black Keys are so gigantic. I have some serious history with the White Stripes, even though I was never a superfan. I remember the first time I heard the song "Seven Nation Army," I thought it would be the next "Smells Like Teen Spirit." I pictured children growing up idolizing this Guitar Hero and video games eventually capitalizing on his excellence. I pictured the guitar being so popular by 2009, a new genre of music called Electric Guitar Music (EGM for short) would be gigantic. There would be entire stages at major music festivals devoted to these EGM performers playing to crowds of chemically induced youngsters, complete with flashing lights, lasers, and video monitors. Everyone would be playing their air guitars, or inflatable replica guitars, and glowsticks would be everywhere. I was so close.
More history, seven years ago, I had convinced a group of friends to attend the Stripes Gorge show. Like many of you, I wasn't interested in attending shows by myself. My crew is excited, the local show sells out, then everyone bails. I couldn't afford to get to the Gorge solo, and I couldn't afford the scalper prices for the local show. It was that moment I decided I would never depend on others to accompany me to shows I want to see. Since then, I've seen almost every band I want to see, many of them by myself. I owe it all to my sketchy friends and the White Stripes.
Now that the White Stripes have call it quits, I probably won't get a chance to see them live. Although I subscribe to the theory that bands break up to make more money further down the road, I feel like this White Stripes break-up is for real. One reason, Meg has stage fright, but another is because Jack can play White Stripes songs on his own. Case in point, he is playing White Stripes songs on his current tour. I'm a bit surprised, I was expecting him to play only his new album and covers or extended jams. Doesn't it cheapen the White Stripes when he plays their tunes live? Then again, his solo album Blunderbuss is solid, and sounds just like a typical White Stripes album. I'm probably giving Meg White too much credit in that duo (I'm being nice).
I've seen Jack White perform five times, and he commands the stage like few performers I've ever seen. At the first Dead Weather show I attended, he stepped down from the drums to play one guitar solo, and it literally sent chills through my spine. That solo is one of the highlights of my live music career, and a reason Jack White is number one on my list of can't misses this Sasquatch season. When have you witnessed a live performance that gave you chills? You are missing the highlight of the weekend if you skip him. I've often said, "I love Jack White like a little brother," but that might be an understatement.
Suggested Tracks: (All White Stripes songs unless otherwise noted)
1. Seven Nation Army
2. Carolina Drama (Raconteurs: Proof he can still write a compelling song lyrically)
3. Ball And Biscuit
4. The Union Fever (his bluesy scream is on display)
5. Fell In Love With A Girl (pretty sure this song is the reason for Neon Trees, Louie 13, and other pop/indie/electro band's popularity)
6. Dead Leaves And The Dirty Ground
7. Icky Thump (before you laugh, listen to the sounds he emits from his guitar)
8. Broken Boy Soldier (Raconteurs)
9. I'm Slowly Turning Into You
10. I Want To Be The Boy To Warm Your Mother's Heart (He doesn't need a guitar, the piano works fine)
The Joy Formidable:
If I made a list of the top Sasquatch bands you need to see live, even if you are unfamiliar with their music, The Joy Formidable would be top ten. I caught them twice last year, and was willing to pay for round three in December, but the show sold out. This three piece rock band from across the pond can best be described as the female Foo Fighters. While dormant, the lead singer/guitar player is a tiny adorable lady, but she has the most intense (nearly psychotic) expressions when she gets going. Quite frankly, she scares me, and I'm nearly twice her size. She could easily parlay her intensity into a serial killer role in Hollywood. Thankfully, after each song, she flashes her easy going smile which lets me (and anyone else paying attention) exhale. The bassist and drummer are very animated as well, bringing a ton of energy to their set.
With only one alum and one EP so far, the Joy Formidable aren't loaded with outstanding tunes, but they rock out, which is something increasingly rare in the pop/indie music scene. They are a perfect festival band, because everyone will have a great time regardless of it they are a current fan. Blame me if you think their performance sucks.
Suggested Tracks:
1. Whirring (It's the one that gets stuck in my head)
2. Chapter 2
3. The Greatest Light Is The Greatest Shade
4. Cradle
5. Austere
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah:
The year was 2005. After living with over 40 roommates since High School, I was finally able to afford my own apartment near the action (downtown Portland). Okay, it was more like a 300 square foot studio in the basement of an apartment building, but you haven't lived until you've cooked on a stove while laying in bed. It was also the first time I could afford to buy albums, something I hadn't regularly done since BMG and Columbia House started recognizing my address. Clap Your Hands Say Yeah's self-titled debut album was one my first purchases, an album I still listen to every couple weeks.
Fast forward two years, they release their long awaited follow up which frankly stunk. It was so bad, I won't even mention the album title for fear of people googling it, and finding this blog. They even tried to incorporate static distortion, like they were trying to make it sound awful. If I hadn't paid $13 for a physical copy of the album, I would have assumed it was an illegal download, because the sound quality was that bad. I understand it's art, but I don't have to like it just because it's art.
By the time their third album Hysterical dropped last year, I had forgotten this band existed in a current form. I finally gave it a chance, and it's actually pretty great. It's a pleasant album, which is a pharase I never thought I would associate with the band after hearing their second album. But enough about me, you probably want to hear something other than my "love, hate, like" relationship, so here goes it.
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah is an artsy indie rock band from New York who helped invent the hipster movement seven years ago. It is music you would expect to hear in the dressing room at Goodwill. If you ever meet someone with a french tickler and a scarf who claims to be a painter, ask him if he likes Alec Ounsworth's solo material better than with CYHSY, and you'll have an instant friend.
Alec is the lead singer, and has a high pitched yelpy voice which can be best explained as annoying. It's so annoying, if you played 52 seconds of any CYHSY song to someone wearing a Slayer shirt, there is a 89.1 % chance you will get punched in the face. That album voice is also tough to pull off live, which has caused me to leave a couple of their shows less than impressed. I can't tell you this show will be fantastic, or it's a can't miss, but I can say you might like their music. The voice is an instrument, so when a vocalist is unique, that shouldn't be a negative, right? I never get CYHSY confused with any other band. I have nostalgia on my side, so I'll be there. I'll be the one tossing glow sticks during the first drop.
Suggested Tracks:
1. Home On Ice
2. The Skin Of My Yellow Country Teeth
3. Details of the War
4. Let The Cool Goddess Rust Away
5. Same Mistake (from the new album)
6. Adam's Plane (from the new album)
7. Heavy Metal
8. Hysterical (from the new album)
Wild Flag:
All female NW super group featuring Carrie Brownstein (Sleater-Kinney/Portlandia), Mary Timony (Helium), Janet Weiss (Sleeter-Kinney, Quasi, The Jicks), and Rebecca Cole (Minders). Their debut self-titled album was one of the better releases of 2011. I would be lying if I said I follow all four parts of this conglomerate, but Janet Weiss has controlled the sticks for several of my most memorable shows. Carrie Brownstein has flare live, so at least she's trying. She's been around, and knows a leg kick here and there get people like me excited. I'm like a baby with a rattler shaking in its face, and her leg kick is that rattler.
Their song, "Boom" is one of my favorite songs of 2011, and is worth the price of admission. It is female punk at its best. In my opinion, "Boom" is as good as any Sleater-Kinney song (the hater comments section is now open for dissenting opinions). I caught most of their set at Coachella, only because I couldn't leave. They were that fun. For only having one album, they sure jam out on their hot tracks. I believe "hot tracks" are how the EGM kids refer to them?
Suggested Tracks:
1. Boom
2. Future Crimes
3. Short Version
4. Romance
5. Racehorse (as cheezy as the lyrics and theme are, they sure do jam out. Guitar/keyboards/vocals are all highlights)
Thursday, April 19, 2012
The 2012 Schedule Has Been Released
Yeah yeah, I'm a couple days late. I was knee deep in whiskey and Pepsi in the desert high fiving virtual Tupac when the schedule was announced, so I'm a couple days late. Since the main Sasquatch site always does their schedule in a strange linear sequence, I'm in the same boat as you. I can't see the obvious conflicts, because the bands aren't listed like a normal schedule. I spent 15 minutes unsuccessfully trying to find a side-by-side stage schedule on the Sasquatch Message Board, but no luck.
I'm working on it though. Hopefully I'll have a schedule posted here in the next couple days. If anyone wants to link their schedule in the comments section, it's much appreciated. The Coachella schedule didn't come out until the week of the festival, so we should at least be thankful we know Spiritualized will conflict with Tenacious D a full month before the festival. That conflict was expected, but it still makes me cry a bit (insert sad/crying emoticon).
I'm working on it though. Hopefully I'll have a schedule posted here in the next couple days. If anyone wants to link their schedule in the comments section, it's much appreciated. The Coachella schedule didn't come out until the week of the festival, so we should at least be thankful we know Spiritualized will conflict with Tenacious D a full month before the festival. That conflict was expected, but it still makes me cry a bit (insert sad/crying emoticon).
Monday, February 27, 2012
Sasquatch 2012, Still Not Sold Out
UPDATE: The festival finally sold out (4/5/12).
I've been waiting to post the Quadros series assuming the next newsworthy event would be Sasquatch selling out, but inexplicably it hasn't? How can Coachella sell out 130,000 weekend passes in two hours, yet Sasquatch can't sell 25,000 weekend passes in two weeks? Granted Coachella is a much bigger destination, and the second largest U.S. metro is 130 miles away, and it appeals more to the beautiful people who only care about seeing the headliners, a handful of buzz bands, and dancing to the same beat by the hottest knob twisters while ingesting popular science experiments, but aside from that, the Coachella lineup isn't THAT much better? The headliners and rarities at Coachella are a big deal, but Sasquatch has done well for itself this year comparatively speaking. So why isn't Sasquatch sold out?
I'm pretty good at predicting what makes sense for Sasquatch (business wise), which is why I get paid the big bucks here. Blogging is very lucrative you know, the reason I write two of them. However, I was incorrect when I guessed the festival would sell out the first day general passes went on sale. I need to regain my credibility, which is why I'll share with you the most logical reason the festival has yet to sell out. [drum roll] The festival capacity has been increased this year.
How would Sasquatch increase the capacity of a venue with strict land constraints? A popular suggestion over the last couple years has been to put a stage in the campground. If they kicked out the hundreds of campground attendees who don't have a festival pass, and replaced their wasted space with an official stage, what paying customer would be against the idea? With re-entry in the cards this year, it would allow the festival attendees to freely move between the main stages and the campground stage. Plus, there is already a confirmed fifth stage, the NW Hip-hop showcase otherwise known as the "Maine Stage." The Maine problems with this theory:
1. Why would a Fire Marshall increase the capacity of the main festival grounds because of a tiny stage in the campground no one will attend during the evening hours?
2. Having wristband holders freely wander between the campground and the main grounds will required increased security checkpoints, or increased campground security protecting the borders (and a big fence).
3. Who wants to walk 30+ minutes between stages?
As previously mentioned, land is at a premium, so it's difficult to convince the Fire Marshall to expand the capacity without expanding the area of the festival grounds, so let's explore the largest piece of land in the vacinity. The parking lot of course. That place is gigantic, and it's a short walk from the Wookie stage. They are practically giving away this large area to those who want to park (I've heard non-VIP parking is free). Who parks instead of camping at Sasquatch anyway? It shouldn't be allowed!
I like dreaming big, so I think a gigantic dance tent in the parking lot near the security entrance of yesteryear could increase the capacity of the grounds by 6,000 or more. Then they could move the Yeti stage to where the dance tent has been, throw the Maine stage in the food court where the Yeti was, and all would flow perfectly. They could still use the remaining area of the parking lot for VIPs, and sponsor shuttles to the nearest towns for those who used to park for free. Even if purchasing property for expansion in the immediate area isn't an option, there must be property in the surrounding areas available to divert excess campers and parked cars? After all, light sleepers, people in their forties, and pregnant women freely shuttle to the festival from the Wildhorse campground.
Eliminating the parking lot all together would free up enough land for two additional stages, and increase the festival capacity to nearly 45,000, which would give the festival more money to land the really big headliners and continue to sell out. Sasquatch could then compete with the giant festivals of the world, and make it the U.S. festival destination of choice.
I'm done dreaming big for now. Nothing this large can be in the works yet, but I refuse to believe there aren't at least a couple thousand extra passes available this year. They found a way to expand the capacity, even if the parking lot theory isn't the solution. They can easily make the dance tent much bigger, and squeeze the Maine Stage in unused space to increase the number of weekend passes without increasing the acres of land use. Maybe the solution is sending the Fire Marshall and guests on a month long all expenses paid vacation in exchange for a favorable number (wink wink)? Maybe I think this is a good idea because I know the Fire Marshall, and maybe I want a free vacation, but I'm not admitting to the former.
In other news, the Quadros series will begin shortly. For those new to this blog, I listen to a lot of music and go to a lot of live shows, so I have a lot to say about each of the bands on the lineup. Hopefully I be able to knock out ten or more Quadros before the festival starts, so stick around. Until then, if you have questions, comments, or other crazy theories, post them below.
I've been waiting to post the Quadros series assuming the next newsworthy event would be Sasquatch selling out, but inexplicably it hasn't? How can Coachella sell out 130,000 weekend passes in two hours, yet Sasquatch can't sell 25,000 weekend passes in two weeks? Granted Coachella is a much bigger destination, and the second largest U.S. metro is 130 miles away, and it appeals more to the beautiful people who only care about seeing the headliners, a handful of buzz bands, and dancing to the same beat by the hottest knob twisters while ingesting popular science experiments, but aside from that, the Coachella lineup isn't THAT much better? The headliners and rarities at Coachella are a big deal, but Sasquatch has done well for itself this year comparatively speaking. So why isn't Sasquatch sold out?
I'm pretty good at predicting what makes sense for Sasquatch (business wise), which is why I get paid the big bucks here. Blogging is very lucrative you know, the reason I write two of them. However, I was incorrect when I guessed the festival would sell out the first day general passes went on sale. I need to regain my credibility, which is why I'll share with you the most logical reason the festival has yet to sell out. [drum roll] The festival capacity has been increased this year.
How would Sasquatch increase the capacity of a venue with strict land constraints? A popular suggestion over the last couple years has been to put a stage in the campground. If they kicked out the hundreds of campground attendees who don't have a festival pass, and replaced their wasted space with an official stage, what paying customer would be against the idea? With re-entry in the cards this year, it would allow the festival attendees to freely move between the main stages and the campground stage. Plus, there is already a confirmed fifth stage, the NW Hip-hop showcase otherwise known as the "Maine Stage." The Maine problems with this theory:
1. Why would a Fire Marshall increase the capacity of the main festival grounds because of a tiny stage in the campground no one will attend during the evening hours?
2. Having wristband holders freely wander between the campground and the main grounds will required increased security checkpoints, or increased campground security protecting the borders (and a big fence).
3. Who wants to walk 30+ minutes between stages?
As previously mentioned, land is at a premium, so it's difficult to convince the Fire Marshall to expand the capacity without expanding the area of the festival grounds, so let's explore the largest piece of land in the vacinity. The parking lot of course. That place is gigantic, and it's a short walk from the Wookie stage. They are practically giving away this large area to those who want to park (I've heard non-VIP parking is free). Who parks instead of camping at Sasquatch anyway? It shouldn't be allowed!
I like dreaming big, so I think a gigantic dance tent in the parking lot near the security entrance of yesteryear could increase the capacity of the grounds by 6,000 or more. Then they could move the Yeti stage to where the dance tent has been, throw the Maine stage in the food court where the Yeti was, and all would flow perfectly. They could still use the remaining area of the parking lot for VIPs, and sponsor shuttles to the nearest towns for those who used to park for free. Even if purchasing property for expansion in the immediate area isn't an option, there must be property in the surrounding areas available to divert excess campers and parked cars? After all, light sleepers, people in their forties, and pregnant women freely shuttle to the festival from the Wildhorse campground.
Eliminating the parking lot all together would free up enough land for two additional stages, and increase the festival capacity to nearly 45,000, which would give the festival more money to land the really big headliners and continue to sell out. Sasquatch could then compete with the giant festivals of the world, and make it the U.S. festival destination of choice.
I'm done dreaming big for now. Nothing this large can be in the works yet, but I refuse to believe there aren't at least a couple thousand extra passes available this year. They found a way to expand the capacity, even if the parking lot theory isn't the solution. They can easily make the dance tent much bigger, and squeeze the Maine Stage in unused space to increase the number of weekend passes without increasing the acres of land use. Maybe the solution is sending the Fire Marshall and guests on a month long all expenses paid vacation in exchange for a favorable number (wink wink)? Maybe I think this is a good idea because I know the Fire Marshall, and maybe I want a free vacation, but I'm not admitting to the former.
In other news, the Quadros series will begin shortly. For those new to this blog, I listen to a lot of music and go to a lot of live shows, so I have a lot to say about each of the bands on the lineup. Hopefully I be able to knock out ten or more Quadros before the festival starts, so stick around. Until then, if you have questions, comments, or other crazy theories, post them below.
Thursday, February 2, 2012
Sasquatch 2012 Lineup Revealed
First glance, outstanding lineup. It will rival 2010, and a sell out is imminent. Jack White and Beck were great surprises, and it's not a secret Tenacious D is the only band on my Sasquatch wish list every year. Even the undercard is filled with lesser known bands you will eventually dig. I wasn't one of the many getting wasted tonight in celebration, so this is a mostly sober opinion.
Bands the kids won't care about: The Mark Lanegan Band (one of the greatest voices in rock), Spiritualized, Ted Leo & The Pharmacists, M. Ward. Expect tiny crowds.
Bands the kids care about (so I hear): Pretty Lights, Apparat, Tycho, Nero, Wolfgang Gartner. Expect gigantic crowds.
Acts who are outstanding live: Bon Iver, Joy Formidable, Beirut, Girl Talk, Tune-Yards, St. Vincent, Mogwai, Sallie Ford & The Sound Outside
Acts who are great on record (who I haven't seen live): The Civil Wars, The War On Drugs, The Head & The Heart, Little Dragon, The Cave Singers, SBTRKT, Kurt Vile
Tip of the hat to Adam Zacks. The undercard is slightly better than I expected, and Jack White/Beck is a duo any festival would be proud to land.
Bands the kids won't care about: The Mark Lanegan Band (one of the greatest voices in rock), Spiritualized, Ted Leo & The Pharmacists, M. Ward. Expect tiny crowds.
Bands the kids care about (so I hear): Pretty Lights, Apparat, Tycho, Nero, Wolfgang Gartner. Expect gigantic crowds.
Acts who are outstanding live: Bon Iver, Joy Formidable, Beirut, Girl Talk, Tune-Yards, St. Vincent, Mogwai, Sallie Ford & The Sound Outside
Acts who are great on record (who I haven't seen live): The Civil Wars, The War On Drugs, The Head & The Heart, Little Dragon, The Cave Singers, SBTRKT, Kurt Vile
Tip of the hat to Adam Zacks. The undercard is slightly better than I expected, and Jack White/Beck is a duo any festival would be proud to land.
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Website Malfunction Confirms Multiple Acts
The second biggest entertainment related malfunction of all-time? I fully intended to spend a couple hours writing paragraphs filled with Janet Jackson song titles and jokes until I realized two points. First, I'm the only Janet Jackson fan who reads this blog, so most wouldn't get it. Second, even though I do this "All For You," "What Have You Done For Me Lately?" See, I told you you wouldn't get it. Now I'm wondering if viewers even remember the Janet Jackson Wardrobe Malfunction? Don't google it at work.
So what happened? Shortly after noon last Saturday, a loyal Sasquatch Blog reader referring to him/herself as "anonymous" posted a link to the Sasquatch main(e) site's schedule page, which incorrectly showed names of bands on the Sasquatch lineup. Apparently, if you changed the numbers at the end of the link, it would reveal more bands. Later that afternoon, the news spread to the rest of the internet, and other interneters claim to have seen the following bands:
The Shins / Girl Talk / Beirut / St Vincent / Blitzen Trapper / Tune-Yards / Lana Del Rey / Apparat / Starfucker / Wolfgang Gartner / Active Child / Said the Whale / Black Whales / Araabmuzik / Star Slinger / Jamey Johnson / Grynch / Com Truise / Dyme Def / SPAC3MAN / Purity Ring / THEESatisfaction / Tycho / Fatal Lucciano / Fly Moon Royalty / Sol / Nobody Beats The Drum / Todd Barry / Rob Delaney / Pete Holmes
Is the list real, you bet. Is it 100% accurate, well, that's a different story. First, we are relying on random internet people to have accurately transcribed what they saw. This means, "Fly Moon Royalty," might actually be "Sky Poon Realty." That's probably a bad example, but you get the point. Second, acts cancel festivals all the time, so there is no guarantee a name or two who were on the lineup last week will still be there Thursday night. However, the collection of lesser known hip-hop acts and comedians, mixed with upper tier acts I am confident will be there (six of the biggest names were on my guess 50 already) makes this list way too credible to be fake. Plus, you know, it came from the official website.
This malfunction has also confirmed a fifth stage. Travis Hay recently wrote an article about it. Read it here.
Regarding my guess 50, I last updated it Thursday, January 26th. I won't update it again, since anyone can make a guess 50 now, and be 80% correct.
And speaking of the Jacksons, anyone anticipating a Michael Jackson, "Beat It," type showdown between SPAC3MAN (the hip-hop artist) and Spaceman (the lead singer of Spiritualized)?
So what happened? Shortly after noon last Saturday, a loyal Sasquatch Blog reader referring to him/herself as "anonymous" posted a link to the Sasquatch main(e) site's schedule page, which incorrectly showed names of bands on the Sasquatch lineup. Apparently, if you changed the numbers at the end of the link, it would reveal more bands. Later that afternoon, the news spread to the rest of the internet, and other interneters claim to have seen the following bands:
The Shins / Girl Talk / Beirut / St Vincent / Blitzen Trapper / Tune-Yards / Lana Del Rey / Apparat / Starfucker / Wolfgang Gartner / Active Child / Said the Whale / Black Whales / Araabmuzik / Star Slinger / Jamey Johnson / Grynch / Com Truise / Dyme Def / SPAC3MAN / Purity Ring / THEESatisfaction / Tycho / Fatal Lucciano / Fly Moon Royalty / Sol / Nobody Beats The Drum / Todd Barry / Rob Delaney / Pete Holmes
Is the list real, you bet. Is it 100% accurate, well, that's a different story. First, we are relying on random internet people to have accurately transcribed what they saw. This means, "Fly Moon Royalty," might actually be "Sky Poon Realty." That's probably a bad example, but you get the point. Second, acts cancel festivals all the time, so there is no guarantee a name or two who were on the lineup last week will still be there Thursday night. However, the collection of lesser known hip-hop acts and comedians, mixed with upper tier acts I am confident will be there (six of the biggest names were on my guess 50 already) makes this list way too credible to be fake. Plus, you know, it came from the official website.
This malfunction has also confirmed a fifth stage. Travis Hay recently wrote an article about it. Read it here.
Regarding my guess 50, I last updated it Thursday, January 26th. I won't update it again, since anyone can make a guess 50 now, and be 80% correct.
And speaking of the Jacksons, anyone anticipating a Michael Jackson, "Beat It," type showdown between SPAC3MAN (the hip-hop artist) and Spaceman (the lead singer of Spiritualized)?
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Predictions For Sasquatch 2012 (Guess 50)
The annual Sasquatch Blog Guess 50 is back a bit early this year. These are just my guesses based on some facts, some probability, a joke, and a lot of hunch. It is not the actual lineup!
Bon Iver, Deadmau5, Avett Brothers, MGMT, The Shins, Skrillex, At The Drive-In, Explosions in the Sky, Beirut, James Blake, Ghostland Observatory, Built to Spill, Girl Talk, Santigold, Yo La Tengo, St. Vincent, Pretty Lights, Low, Cage The Elephant, The Joy Formidable, The Head and the Heart, Portugal. The Man, Tune-Yards, M. Ward, Real Estate, Blitzen Trapper, Excision, Wild Flag, 12th Planet, The Civil Wars, Apparat, Girls, Akron/Family, Juniper, The Sheepdogs, WU LYF, The War On Drugs, Starfucker, Shearwater, Childish Gambino, EMA, Frank Turner, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Youth Lagoon, Alabama Shakes, Hey Rosetta, We Are Augustines, Sallie Ford & The Sound Outside, The Parson Red Heads, The Physics, Couer de Pirate, Dragon Boy Suede, Seattle Rock Orchestra (performing the Beatles)
I quit updating this list a week before the lineup was announced, due to the website malfunction confirming multiple bands. Therefore I wasn't able to add a couple bands who appeared highly likely a couple days before the lineup was announced (Mogwai, Feist, I Break Horses, Spiritualized, etc.).
Bon Iver, Deadmau5, Avett Brothers, MGMT, The Shins, Skrillex, At The Drive-In, Explosions in the Sky, Beirut, James Blake, Ghostland Observatory, Built to Spill, Girl Talk, Santigold, Yo La Tengo, St. Vincent, Pretty Lights, Low, Cage The Elephant, The Joy Formidable, The Head and the Heart, Portugal. The Man, Tune-Yards, M. Ward, Real Estate, Blitzen Trapper, Excision, Wild Flag, 12th Planet, The Civil Wars, Apparat, Girls, Akron/Family, Juniper, The Sheepdogs, WU LYF, The War On Drugs, Starfucker, Shearwater, Childish Gambino, EMA, Frank Turner, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Youth Lagoon, Alabama Shakes, Hey Rosetta, We Are Augustines, Sallie Ford & The Sound Outside, The Parson Red Heads, The Physics, Couer de Pirate, Dragon Boy Suede, Seattle Rock Orchestra (performing the Beatles)
I quit updating this list a week before the lineup was announced, due to the website malfunction confirming multiple bands. Therefore I wasn't able to add a couple bands who appeared highly likely a couple days before the lineup was announced (Mogwai, Feist, I Break Horses, Spiritualized, etc.).
Monday, January 9, 2012
Lineup To Be Announced February 2nd
The 2012 Sasquatch Launch Party will take place Thursday, February 2nd, at the Neptune in Seattle, WA. Performing will be Jose Gonzalez's side project Junip, Nada Surf's lead singer Matthew Caws (solo), and a band called the Physics. Jose Gonzalez is an amazing guitar player and Nada Surf is "Popular." I don't know much about the Physics, other than the energy of the crowd at their set must equal to the amount of people at the show multiplied by the square of the speed of light. It's nuclear fusion people, and it needs sunlight to function, which means the sun is now heavily rumored at Sasquatch 2012. Don't argue with science.
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