Sasquatch 2014 Pre-Sale

It's official! Sasquatch 2014 presale begins this Friday, November 29th. Passes for both weekends will be available for $325 each, or $550 if you purchase both weekend passes at once. Pretty spendy, but since I was planning on going to both weekends anyway, it's a really great deal.

The lineup will be announced in February as usual. Only a couple of months away!

Sasquatch 2014 (Enter the Geno)

How's it goin, everyone? The name's Geno, and I'll be helping out with the blog from now on. Some of you might already know me from the Sasquatch forums, but for those who don't, here's a quick introduction.

Born and raised in Vancouver, WA, which is right on the border of Portland. I spend most of my free time listening to music and gaming. Both of these are huge passions of mine, so I'm always looking to explore and expand my tastes. I always have trouble picking my absolute favorite bands, but at the top would definitely be Ween and Opeth. I go to a lot of shows in Portland, about two every month on average, so that's where a lot of my hard earned cash goes. I'm not really one to talk about myself for too long, so I think I'll just leave it at that. If you honestly want to know more about me, just hang around the Sasquatch boards for a bit. You'll most likely bump into me there. 

Anyways, on to business. Sasquatch rumor season is coming up pretty quick, and that's what I'll be updating this blog for mainly. As of now, we don't have any sort of hints as to who might be playing Sasquatch 2014, but that should change in the upcoming months. For those out of the loop, and for those who exclusively rely on this blog for Sasquatch info, the festival will be expanding into two separate 3-day weekends with two separate lineups. One taking place on Memorial Day weekend, and the other on Fourth of July weekend. How this will affect the overall lineup remains to be seen, but that just means twice the amount of Sasquatch next year. Can't argue with that!

So yeah, that's about it for now. I'll try to update this blog as frequently as I can with all the Sasquatch news and rumors. As I said earlier, it's about that time of year when the rumors start flying, most of which turn out to be true every year, so expect to see a lot of those in the next few months.

See you all soon!

Quadros 1: Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros, Alt-J, The Lumineers, Father John Misty

Before we kick off the Quadros series, a quick story about this year's Sasquatch wristbands. I have to be critical for the sake of anyone who stumbles upon this entry. A wristband is supposed to be a solid piece of cloth with some sort of lock/latch to attach it to your wrist. There should never be a seam inside the lock (a seam being a portion of the wristband where two pieces of cloth are sewn together). I'll trust a plastic lock to keep a $350 investment attached to my wrist for four days more than a tiny piece of thread attaching two portions of cloth.

Why is this relevant you might ask? Last year, that tiny piece of thread inside the lock of my wristband fell apart Saturday night during the walk back to the campground. Luckily, I was holding hands with a blog fan, and my wristband tickled her hand before plunging to earth. She thought it was a bug, and seconds later she is holding my unattached wristband. If it had hit the ground, I was going home two days early. 

To the credit of the festival, getting the wristband replaced was relatively easy, but I still wasted over an hour of my Sunday morning doing so. It was only easy because I held the defective wristband showing them the seam which came apart. I don't think, "my wristband fell off, I don't know where it went," would have worked as well. So please, keep an eye on that seam near the lock throughout the weekend, because I don't want anyone getting screwed over by faulty wristband technology.  Hopefully next year's wristbands won't be so cheaply manufactured.

Now, on to this beast of a series in which two loyal readers have frantically (ok, inquisitively) requested:


Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros
 

I don't need to tell you who this band is. Even your mom recognizes the song "Home," and I'm not one to make mom jokes (too often). They started out playing an act, that of a hippie rock band meant to capture the Volkswagen Bus riding free love style of the 60s and early 70s. It created a sound which is not only nostalgic, but catchy with the fist pumping anthems made popular by Arcade Fire. They are the reason Of Monsters and Men are so huge right now. Having caught the Zeros live a handful of times, they can be a blast. They were one of my favorite shows in 2010. I wrote a review you can read on the Cog here (back when I used to write live reviews). 

I was convinced they would eventually reach Sasquatch headliner status until their second album was released, titled Here. It's much more mellow than their debut, without the catchy songs. It's like they are looking for musical integrity now that they are famous, but they became famous by having no musical integrity to begin with. Such irony.

Their early shows were analogous to performing after six shots of whiskey,  but their recent shows have unfortunately been more like performing the morning after those shots. It is still great seeing such a large band perform, and everyone loves a trumpet live. I hope they bring their A game this year, because seeing a large group of musicians performing catchy songs on the Sasquatch main stage will be much more entertaining than watching a DJ with a play button pumping their fist. Maybe I'm just "jaded" because of my fond memories of their earlier shows. I believe this band leads the league in songs featured in commercials. I know of at least four commercials featuring their songs ("Home" twice, "Janglin" and "Om Nashi Me").

Suggested Tracks:

1. 40 Day Dream - Yeah, I know "Home" is their hit, but this is the song that gets me pumped up.
2. Janglin - I still pump my fist, "We want to feel ya, HEY!"
3. Home - Why not?
4. Om Nashi Me
5. Fiya Wata - I loved this song the first time I heard it live, and it's still one of my favorites.
6. Up From Below
7. Man On Fire


Alt-J
 

I like Alt-J a lot. They have one of the most unique sounds of an up-and-coming "indie" band. If you hear an Alt-J song, you don't confuse their sound with The Lumineers. It's distinct, and that is as nice as I'll be. I play the role of cheerleader when writing the Quadros, so I typically only write about the bands I think you should see at Sasquatch. However, unless there is a long line at the Honey Bucket, this is a band I just can't stand behind.

So what's the reason this post isn't full of praise exclusively? They bored me to near sleep at Coachella.  The lead singer/guitar player looks like a better looking version of the FreeCreditReport.com guy, but seems to bask in his curly haired cuteness rather than show any signs of being entertaining or having fun. At least their drummer displayed some energy, but that is part of the job requirement. My favorite part of their set was when they went silent between songs, then played the opening note of the next song causing the crowd to cheer loudly. The crowd figured out a couple seconds later that they either don't like that song, or didn't realize how bored they were, and the cheering disappeared.

It's obvious Alt-J are hugely popular based on the enormity of their crowd at Coachella, so their wallets care very little about my opinion. If you are a fan of The Lumineers and have never listened to Alt-J, I highly suggest you ignore my suggested tracks below. One less Sasquatch conflict.

Suggested Tracks:

1. Breezeblocks - Such a fun song. Did you happen to notice the "hey" shout halfway through the song? Totally trying to be like The Lumineers.
2. Matilda - I wake up with this song stuck in my head. I'm not sure why. I don't think it's their best song, but it caught my ear.
3. Fitzpleasure - I'm pretty sure this song is just baby talk with a heavy bass-line.
4. Tessellate
5. Something Good - Fact: Any song with the lyrics "get high" is going to be a crowd favorite at a music festival.


The Lumineers
 

The Lumineers ya'll. They sound like fun, am I right? Millions of radio listeners and VH1 viewers can't be wrong, can they?

Seriously though, the Lumineers rise to fame occurred during my music black period (which ended a couple months ago), so I don't know anything about them. I don't listen to the radio, and I rarely get anything regarding modern music from TV.  I heard they have a song called "Hey Ho." I bet they shout it out too? Isn't a folk-rock band shouting a song called "Hey Ho" like Skrillex playing a song called, "Womp, Womp?"

If you are one who dislikes The Lumineers because of their popularity, I'm telling you that you take yourself way too serious. It's also likely your friends don't like you as much as you think they do. I've listened to their self-titled debut album enough to form an opinion of only their music, and it's a positive one. They sound like a blast live. After the first several listens, I don't remember any "Hey Ho," but I do remember digging the heck out of the Submarine song. When I gave this record one more spin while writing this post, I'm reminded that I like pretty much every song. What is not to like except their popularity?

Suggested Tracks:

1. Submarines - SUBMARINE! SUBMARINE! SUBMARINE! Yes, I'll be the guy in the campground screaming SUBMARINE! all weekend.
2. Stubborn Love - Classic sing-a-long folk song. It doesn't even sound original (don't shoot me if it's a remake, I already warned you I know very little about this band)
3. Classy Girls
4. Dead Sea
5. Big Parade
6. Morning Song
7. Ho Hey - I barely recall this song from when I listed to this album last year. I can see how hearing it five times a day could be, um, taxing.


Father John Misty
 

After seeing his recent performance (also at Coachella), this is one act I will beg you not to skip.  Father John Misty is the alter-ego of solo artist J. Tillman, who performed at Sasquatch in 2009. He is also the drummer for the now defunct Fleet Foxes. One reason I enjoyed the Fleet Foxes live so much is because of how entertaining their interaction with the crowd was, especially Josh Tillman. He is a naturally funny guy, full of improv jokes relevant to the situation. At Coachella, a festival filled with DJ's mixing other people's music, he made it a point to tell the audience he writes all of his songs, while poking fun at the EDM artists for their antics and lack of creativity. He danced around on stage like a male stripper, rolling around, screaming, and creating a enthusiastic energetic show.

One of my favorite albums of 2013 was his debut album, Fear Fun. It's full of love songs and has an alt-country sound, so it doesn't feel like it will translate well live. He's been in the industry long enough that he knows how to work it. He often added extra versus to his songs, so don't expect to hear only the album versions. I'm a sucker for different version of songs live. In one added verse at Coachella, he poked fun at his new name (Father John Misty) in the song "Every Man Needs a Companion." After the line "I never liked the name Joshua, I got tired of J," he screamed, "WHO WAS THAT GUY?" When his time ran out, he told the crowd he wanted to play one more song (something frowned upon at Coachella with their strict time limits), then said, "but first, I'm going to drink this beer." You'll laugh at least once per song, or your money back. I will pay to see Father John Misty every chance I get.

1. Nancy From Now On - This song has a very Hall & Oates early 80s vibe, even though the theme is very dirty.
2. Only Son of the Ladiesman
3. Now I'm Learning To Love The War - A song about science, logistics, and being relevant.
4. Hollywood Forever Cemetery Sings
5 . Funtimes in Babylon
6 . Tee Pees 1-12 - The most country song on the album

As always, feel free to add any thoughts about these four acts, including disagreements, your favorite songs, or your impression of them live. I'll try to get Quadros 2 up next week.

Schedule Is Out

If you don't see the schedule at the main Sasquatch home page (link to the right), check the same page on your phone.

Sasquatch! 2013 Is Officially Sold Out

It appears the festival is already sold out, within an hour of the passes going on sale.  That's the quickest sell-out I recall.  It's not surprising, as mentioned in the previous post, "never underestimate the power of the radio." There's always a chance the website malfunctioned, so until you hear official word in a press release, it doesn't hurt to keep trying.

UPDATE: As noted in the comments section, Sasquatch! is officially sold out. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO BUY TICKETS FROM SCALPERS. Scalpers take advantage of people freaking out about not getting a ticket, so this is the worst time to attempt to purchase a pass on craigslist. Be patient. There are plenty of good people out there who are not looking to screw you over to make a couple bucks.

Sasquatch! 2013 Lineup Revealed

Several good points made in the comments section, and I agree with almost everything said, good and bad. 

First, the bad. The top nine billed acts are as unspectacular as any Sasquatch I've been to, and this will be my nineth. It's not unspectacular because the bands suck, they don't. It's unspectacular because most of the bands haven't been around very long, and have been actively touring. The only real "gets" are the Postal Service and Sigur Ros, but the Postal Service are going to be absolutely everywhere this year (including NW shows later this fall I'm sure), and Sigur Ros hit the NW last August.

I like the top nine bands, at least the ones I can listen to for three minutes without falling asleep, and several are great live. However, I wouldn't pay $50 to see any of them (again), and that's my only beef with the lineup. Would you believe the top nine acts collectively have 21 proper albums? "Now That Is What I Call Music" is up to Volume 45, and the Residents have put out 21 albums since this festival was born.

Most proper albums by the noxious nine:

6-Sigur Ros
4-Arctic Monkeys
2-Mumford & Sons
2-Vampire Weekend
2-Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros
2-The xx
1-The Postal Service
1-Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
1-The Lumineers

Moving on to the best part of the lineup, the next two highest billed acts, Cake and Primus.  Each band has also toured extensively in the last couple years, but are both worth the admission price. It's not often a festival features two musicians who are the best in the world at their chosen craft.  Les Claypool is hands down the best bass player alive, and John McCrea playing the vibraslap has no equal. Primus is already the most exciting act on the lineup without their 3D doodad (there are three Ds in the word doodad) they've been hauling across the country since early 2012. One cautionary note, after seeing the Flaming Lips set in 2011, I'm not completely sold "Cake" being on the lineup is actually referring to the band.

After the top 11, most festivals start falling flat on their pony tails, while Adam Zacks continually delivers with up-and-comers, and/or bands who are outstanding live. This is what makes a music festival.  More on this in the comings weeks when I start the Quadros series.  This year, I plan to at least double the amount of Quadros I wrote last year. 

There is a hidden genius in the construction of this lineup, and it goes like this. In order to make this easy to understand, I'll classify music listeners in the following five levels:

1. I don't listen to music because it sucks.
2. I like pop and/or country because silence sucks.
3. I listen to the alternative radio because hearing the same songs every 24 minutes sucks.
4. I'm a music hipster and the radio sucks.
5. I'm a music nerd and music hipsters suck.

Ideally, a festival lineup will have something for each level of music listeners. Now, let me throw out a couple names on the Sasquatch lineup. Mumford & Sons, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, The xx, Vampire Weekend, and Edward Sharp & The Magnetic Zeros. These acts appeal specifically to those level three music fans who listen to a lot of radio. These are gateway bands, designed to give the curious a reason to dive deeper into music nerdery if they choose to do the research, and this year's undercard is stacked and waiting.  I envy those who are fans of these gateway bands who are attending Sasquatch for the first time. You'll be foaming at the mouth shortly, and your friends will no longer recognize you. This is why I wouldn't be surprised if the festival sells out quickly this year.  Never underestimate the power of the radio. 

It's not my favorite lineup, and Primus (or any form of Les Claypool) is my only can't miss when I usually have a handful of can't misses each year. I have a reason to be underwhelmed, but it's still going to be one of the greatest weekends of the year, and just being at the Gorge watching live music will make up for any lineup dissapointments. I really like a bunch of bands on the lineup, but I wouldn't fly across the country for this lineup. If the gateway bands mentioned earlier end up being the flash-in-the-pan 2009 Kings Of Leon, we'll be laughing about how awful this lineup is two years from now.

Post your reactions and opinions in the comments section.

Sasquatch! 2013 Confirmations/Rumors

Sasquatch! 2013 Confirmations:

Ron Swanson

Sasquatch! 2013 Rumors:

Deadmau5, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Knife Party, DIIV, Disclosure, Atlas Genius, The xx, Cody ChesnuTT, Imagine Dragons, Mother Mother, Father John Misty, Vampire Weekend, Foals

Predictions For Sasquatch! 2013 (Top 50)

These are my guesses based on some facts, some probability, and a lot of hunch/wishlist. It is not the actual lineup! For those who know how to count, you are correct, this isn't 50 acts.  I'll add more in the next couple days. It's a rough draft, so changes will be made. Typically I avoid predicting comedians, so I'm not going to use Nick Offerman to pad my stats. 

NOTE: Regarding Primavera, the festivals share acts every year.  Yes, Primavera was a different weekend than Sasquatch last year, but it was the same weekend the previous years, and they still shared a handful of bands. If you've ever flown from the east coast to the west coast, you know with the time change, you land only a couple hours later.  It's similar flying from Europe. Primavera also is a Thursday-Saturday festival, while Sasquatch is Friday-Monday.  A band playing Thursday at Primavera could fly from Europe to Seattle, continue flying west, fly around the world back to Europe, then on to Seattle for a second time, and still make it in time for a Monday Sasquatch set.

Mumford & Sons / Deadmau5 / Sigur Ros / The Knife / Knife Party / Every Other Band Containing the Word Knife / The xx / Vampire Weekend / Postal Service / Bassnectar / Kendrick Lamar / Hot Chip / Yo La Tengo / Macklemore & Ryan Lewis / Arctic Monkeys / Built to Spill / Foals / Empire of the Sun / Beach House / Tame Impala / Tegan & Sara / Flying Lotus / Japandroids / Dinosaur Jr. / The Lumineers / Franz Ferdinand / Infected Mushroom / Amon Tobin / Father John Misty / Black Rebel Motorcycle Club / Portugal. The Man / Akron/Family / A DJ With a Neat Light Show / Solange / Surfer Blood / The Cults / Grimes / Menomena / Atlas Genius / Deerhoof / Disclosure / Dillon Francis / Imagine Dragons / Wild Nothing / Gold Panda / Theophilus London / DIIV / A Guy With A Mustache / Cody ChesnuTT / Blondfire / Seattle Rock Orchestra performing the songs of Mother Mother / Suuns / Mother Mother

Post your top 50 guesses in the comments, if you dare...

2013 Sasquatch Launch Party Monday, February 4th

Built to Spill and Cody Chesnutt are set to perform.  The Sasquatch! 2013 lineup will be announced. Don't assume everyone playing the Launch Party will be at the Gorge. History has shown not every act playing the Launch Party will be on the bill. There is still a decent chance Built To Spill and Cody ChesnuTT will be there

.