"Where is our headliner?" As previously mentioned, just because they announced a headliner early the last two years, doesn't mean they will this year. Since tickets have been on sale for a couple weeks, the organizer now know how many people will attend Sasquatch regardless of the lineup or a headliner. That's pretty powerful information moving forward. Because there isn't much to talk about right now, and you are all getting the fever, I'll offer my 2012 Sasquatch headliner predictions, otherwise known as the likelihood the likeliest headliners will likely headline Sasquatch 2012. I did correctly predict the four headliners (and top subheadliner) last year before the lineup was announced, one being a band I predicted over a year before the festival (Wilco). Believe what you will, but my predictions are at least better than randomly throwing darts at a list of possibilities.
Bon Iver (83.2%) - A Sasquatch vet who has blown up recently. Singer/songwriters rarely reach headliner status with a couple good albums and fantastic live shows. They need to crossover into "popular" music to reach this lofty status. I don't care what anyone thinks about Bon Iver's lack of popularity, or how much any of you hate Kanye West. Fact is, Kanye West made Bon Iver a star by introducing him to a new crowd, the 19-23 year olds who spend a lot of time listening to the radio, and who make up half of the Sasquatch attendees. His most recent album spent time in the top 40, which shows how popular he is. I don't base my opinions on who I like, most of what you are reading is based on ticket sales. Bon Iver was recently selling out 3,000 capacity venues in a day. He's much bigger than you think, is still up and coming, and is my most likely choice for Sasquatch 2012 headliner. Sasquatch has recently landed the soon to be headliners at larger festivals, so this is a perfect match.
Deadmau5 (31.4%) - I'm not sure he'll ever stop touring, but he does have upcoming dates, including Europe in June, so he's available. He's about as much of a Sasquatch vet as there is, being a relative unknown in the dance tent in 2009, then playing the late night second stage slot in 2010. It seems like a natural progression to make headlining the main stage the next stop. He's already headlined Lollapalooza, although their split headliner formula made him more like a subheadliner. A real headlining gig which doesn't end at 10 p.m. has to be tempting. I predicted an EDM headlining act earlier this summer, and the mouse is the most likely. Plus, Sasquatch has had a mouse band on their lineup four years straight. The streak cannot end now.
Mumford & Sons (24.5%) - Another Sasquatch vet who has blown up recently, and that is an understatement. They went from playing the second stage at Sasquatch 2010 early in the day to selling out 1,500 capacity venues in minutes a couple months later. They were a sub/sub at Coachella 2011, had a huge crowd, and put on a solid show. They are now playing arenas, and are still gaining popularity. It's amazing to me a band with one album would blow up like this, but they have, and you are kidding yourself if you think they are not big enough to headline Sasquatch. They are not yet big enough to headline the biggest U.S. Festivals, so again, they fit the recent Sasquatch headliner trend.
Primus (15.4%) - They played the NW in 2010, but ended their 2011 tour in California without making it back up north. They have a couple shows in California at the end of the month, and shows in Europe in March/April. They've never played Sasquatch, so I'll give the Black Keys warning I offered earlier. The only reason their percentage is so low is because they really aren't big enough to headline Sasquatch. They might be huge in California, but they aren't a huge draw in the NW. It could happen, but a subheadliner slot on loud Friday seems more fitting.
Portishead (15.3%) - They played in Seattle this fall. Does this make them more likely or less likely to headline Sasquatch? In this case, much more likely. They rarely tour, and have a hell of a light/monitor show they obviously spent a lot of time and money on. It would look great on the main stage at Sasquatch, similar to Massive Attack's headlining set two years ago.
Sigur Ros (8.2%) - Sigur Ros might be active in 2012, which is why they are included here. They fit the sub-headliner mold of the biggest festivals, which is about right for a Sasquatch headliner. Bands want to be headliners. If Sigur Ros has to choose between a headliner set at Sasquatch, or a subheadliner set at a different large festival, Sasquatch would be more lucrative and attractive. I don't think they will be on the lineup, but as far as, "wow, I never thought they would be there," bands go, Sigur Ros would surprise me the least. Yes, I just said the most likely of the least likely. That's still something.
Skrillex (7.7%) - Like him or not, he is gigantic these days, and has a pretty amazing light show in tote. He is touring through June of 2012 with a giant gap in May, so he is also available. Remember when he used to open for Deadmau5? Wouldn't that be an interesting headliner/sub. EDM Friday anyone?
Red Hot Chili Peppers (3.6%) - RHCP will be everyone in 2012. They have also announced tour dates excluding the NW. Headliners year to year can be a small pool to choose from. It's not like every band big enough to headline is available every year. The Peppers will play major festivals in the United States and Europe. With the chances of them headlining Coachella appearing less likely, that only makes their chances of headlining Sasquatch more likely. They are the Foo Fighters of last year, and will help guarantee another sell out in 2012. Remember Jane's Addiction's first U.S. festival headlining set was Sasquatch, even though Perry Farrell founded Lollapalooza, and often plays Coachella in some form. Sasquatch isn't too small for the Hots. UPDATE: Recently recent tour dates put the Peppers in the midwest during Sasquatch with dates booked on three of the four days of the festival. They drop from a 30.1% chance.
Black Keys (1.4%) - They have been the most obvious choice since the conclusion of Sasquatch 2011. They finally reached the masses with the crossover success of their 2010 album Brothers. They also aren't big enough to headline the biggest festivals, but the pending success of their newest album released last week should change that. The Black Keys are on the verge of being the biggest non-Legend rock band in the world. Their possibility is strengthened by the fact they recently announced tour dates with the NW missing. Knowing the Sasquatch headliners are likely aleady booked, 2012 is the best chance Sasquatch has to land them. However, the only reason I don't think they are a lock is because they have been rumored every year recently, but are never on the lineup. Some bands are less likely because of behind the scene interactions we don't know about. Sasquatch is practically run by Ticketmaster, so there are a lot of reasons huge bands would turn their nose. UPDATE: Recently released NW tour dates indicates the Black Keys are highly unlikely. They drop from a 68.2% chance.
Radiohead (1.3%) - I discussed the Radiohead possibilities last month. They are on tour next spring, and still have no NW dates. I still give them a 1/10 chance of being there, which is much higher than I have ever given them, and likely much higher than I will ever get them. If you're going to blow a huge chunk of change on the Red Hots, why not up the ante and get Radiohead instead? UPDATE: Recently released NW tour dates indicates Radiohead is highly unlikely. They drop from a 9.6% chance.
Pearl Jam (0.1%) - As mentioned in the comments section, Pearl Jam is back. They have a couple festival gigs booked in Europe in June, so there is no reason to believe they won't be ready for Sasquatch. Is this finally the year for Pearl Jam? Probably not. I'll keep wishing. Again, if you're going to spend the bank on the Hot Chilies, why not pay more for Pearl Jam instead? UPDATE: I created the dots last night, but didn't connect them until this morning. Pearl Jam hates Ticketmaster. They've been involved in a lawsuit in the past. Since Ticketmaster is tight with Livenation (who runs Sasquatch) you'll probably never see them on the lineup. I'm downgrading them from a 4.3% chance to a 0.1% chance.
Fleet Foxes (0.1%) - The are only rated so low because they are the perfect subheadliner for Bon Iver (or Mumford & Sons). Their Sasquatch probability is much higher, but I'm not convinced they are headliner status unless a large chunk of the budget is spent on Radiohead or Pearl Jam. They have the local love, and have played the festival twice, so that might push them over the edge. UPDATE: Per Robin Pecknold's twitter, the band has no upcoming shows booked. They drop from a 14.1% chance.
If you agree, or think other headliner predictions are missing, let me know in the comments section. If you think my predictions are synonymous to a Sasquatch campground honey bucket which hasn't been emptied in four days, you are welcome to state that as well.
Monday, December 12, 2011
Monday, November 21, 2011
Sasquatch 2012 Four Day Passes On Sale This Friday
Presale Sasquatch 2012 four day passes go on sale Friday, November 25th, at 10:00 a.m. The presale ends at the stroke of midnight as 2011 comes to a close. General tickets go on sale Saturday, February 11th (2012) at 10:00 a.m., so expect the lineup to be announced Sunday, February 5th. The four day pass will cost $290. As mentioned in the previous post, the festival will take place May 25th to May 28th.
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Sasquatch 2012 Season Is Underway
Alright, Halloween has come and gone, November is here, and that means Sasquatch season has officially started.
Dates: The dates have yet to be confirmed, but the festival always takes place over Memorial Day Weekend. The fourth day was a let down last year, so it's 50/50 it will be back. We can safely say the festival will be held at least May 26th to 28th. UPDATE: The festival will again be four days in 2012, and will include re-entry for wristband holders. Dates will be May 25th to May 29th.
Tickets: Last year tickets went on sale November 20th, two days after the Foo Fighters were announced as a headliner. The previous year, tickets went on sale November 7th, when Pavement was announced as a (sort of) headliner. Massive Attack ended up headlining that day. Previous years, tickets went on sale after the lineup was announced in late February. Even when the Cure were announced as the 2008 headliner near Halloween the previous year, tickets didn't go on sale early.
Lineup: The lineup was announced February 7th last year. In previous years, it was announced the day after Presidents Day, which is February 20th next year. If you put a squirt gun to my head, I would bet my dryness the lineup will be announced in February 2012.
Headliners: While Sasquatch used to rely on giant headliners and a below average undercard, the recent trend has been picking headliners who aren't big enough to headline the biggest festivals in the States (aside from the Foo Fighters), giving the subheadliner type of bands their name in lights. I see the 2012 headliners going one of two directions.
Scenario 1: Bands who can sell (+/-) 6,000 tickets headlining each night. The most likely would be The Black Keys, Sigur Ros, Bon Iver, Portishead, MGMT, Mumford & Sons, Skrillex, and Cake.
Scenario 2: One gigantic headliner, with the other headliners being bands who could sell (+/-) 3,000 tickets, then not selling single day passes. Under this scenario, there would be one giant headliner, with the others being bands like Band of Horses, Fleet Foxes, Vampire Weekend, Primus, Foster The People, and Justice. If you want to see the huge draw, you have to buy a full festival pass, which would guarantee the off days will sell at the same rate.
I think the second scenario is the way to go next year, so here is where we talk about Radiohead and Pearl Jam. Pearl Jam is working on a new album, which makes it likely they will tour after it's released. It's doubtful, but possible. Radiohead is touring next spring, and are a favorite of Adam Zacks based on Guerilla Candy's interview several years ago. Radiohead will play a NW show next year, and played the White River Amphitheater last time through, which isn't that neat of a venue. They could play there again, pick a giant arena, or play the Gorge. Festivals make a lot more money than individual shows, so paying Radiohead or Pearl Jam roughly the same amount they would make playing their own show at the Gorge makes sense for both sides. Radiohead/Pearl Jam would reach an audience they otherwise wouldn't at their own show, and the festival will make more money on the off days forcing more people to pay to attend. The underdog "huge draw" would be the Red Hot Chili Peppers.
Sell Out?: No, I mean will tickets for the festival sell out. Sorry for the confusion. Many feel Sasquatch 2012 will sell out regardless of the lineup. I disagree. Yes, the festival sold out early again this year, but those crafty folks at Ticketmaster kept a handful of passes on their sister site, TicketsNow, which is basically them scalping their own tickets for increased profit. When those tickets didn't sell out, they put the passes back on sale for regular price on their main site a couple weeks before the festival. Those paying attention could have bought a four day pass for nearly $100 less than face value, because the market was saturated with more tickets than people wanting to change their holiday plans. Conclusion, the festival will need a much better lineup, or a giant headliner to guarantee a sell out in 2012.
11th Anniversary: Guess what? Sasquatch is celebrating another birthday this year. Who wants birthday cake?
Rumors/Confirmations: These will be updated at the top of this blog, so it's easy to find. We'll only have a couple in the next month, but they should start rolling in rather frequently starting in mid December.
Who do you think will headline Sasquatch 2012? Do you think there will be a giant headliner? Post your early predictions in the comments below.
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Dates: The dates have yet to be confirmed, but the festival always takes place over Memorial Day Weekend. The fourth day was a let down last year, so it's 50/50 it will be back. We can safely say the festival will be held at least May 26th to 28th. UPDATE: The festival will again be four days in 2012, and will include re-entry for wristband holders. Dates will be May 25th to May 29th.
Tickets: Last year tickets went on sale November 20th, two days after the Foo Fighters were announced as a headliner. The previous year, tickets went on sale November 7th, when Pavement was announced as a (sort of) headliner. Massive Attack ended up headlining that day. Previous years, tickets went on sale after the lineup was announced in late February. Even when the Cure were announced as the 2008 headliner near Halloween the previous year, tickets didn't go on sale early.
Lineup: The lineup was announced February 7th last year. In previous years, it was announced the day after Presidents Day, which is February 20th next year. If you put a squirt gun to my head, I would bet my dryness the lineup will be announced in February 2012.
Headliners: While Sasquatch used to rely on giant headliners and a below average undercard, the recent trend has been picking headliners who aren't big enough to headline the biggest festivals in the States (aside from the Foo Fighters), giving the subheadliner type of bands their name in lights. I see the 2012 headliners going one of two directions.
Scenario 1: Bands who can sell (+/-) 6,000 tickets headlining each night. The most likely would be The Black Keys, Sigur Ros, Bon Iver, Portishead, MGMT, Mumford & Sons, Skrillex, and Cake.
Scenario 2: One gigantic headliner, with the other headliners being bands who could sell (+/-) 3,000 tickets, then not selling single day passes. Under this scenario, there would be one giant headliner, with the others being bands like Band of Horses, Fleet Foxes, Vampire Weekend, Primus, Foster The People, and Justice. If you want to see the huge draw, you have to buy a full festival pass, which would guarantee the off days will sell at the same rate.
I think the second scenario is the way to go next year, so here is where we talk about Radiohead and Pearl Jam. Pearl Jam is working on a new album, which makes it likely they will tour after it's released. It's doubtful, but possible. Radiohead is touring next spring, and are a favorite of Adam Zacks based on Guerilla Candy's interview several years ago. Radiohead will play a NW show next year, and played the White River Amphitheater last time through, which isn't that neat of a venue. They could play there again, pick a giant arena, or play the Gorge. Festivals make a lot more money than individual shows, so paying Radiohead or Pearl Jam roughly the same amount they would make playing their own show at the Gorge makes sense for both sides. Radiohead/Pearl Jam would reach an audience they otherwise wouldn't at their own show, and the festival will make more money on the off days forcing more people to pay to attend. The underdog "huge draw" would be the Red Hot Chili Peppers.
Sell Out?: No, I mean will tickets for the festival sell out. Sorry for the confusion. Many feel Sasquatch 2012 will sell out regardless of the lineup. I disagree. Yes, the festival sold out early again this year, but those crafty folks at Ticketmaster kept a handful of passes on their sister site, TicketsNow, which is basically them scalping their own tickets for increased profit. When those tickets didn't sell out, they put the passes back on sale for regular price on their main site a couple weeks before the festival. Those paying attention could have bought a four day pass for nearly $100 less than face value, because the market was saturated with more tickets than people wanting to change their holiday plans. Conclusion, the festival will need a much better lineup, or a giant headliner to guarantee a sell out in 2012.
11th Anniversary: Guess what? Sasquatch is celebrating another birthday this year. Who wants birthday cake?
Rumors/Confirmations: These will be updated at the top of this blog, so it's easy to find. We'll only have a couple in the next month, but they should start rolling in rather frequently starting in mid December.
Who do you think will headline Sasquatch 2012? Do you think there will be a giant headliner? Post your early predictions in the comments below.
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Saturday, August 27, 2011
Sasquatch 2011 Review
Death From Above 1979 – One of the most perfectly average shows of the festival. They did absolutely nothing to ruin the show, but absolutely nothing to make it a great. They played their songs, which sounded very similar to album versions, then they left. There were no antics, and the energy level was somewhere between lethargic and slightly pumped. I’m not sure I understand the hype surrounding this band. Are they a huge draw only because no one thought they would get back together? I’m no hater, I enjoy their material, but I chose to skip ten minutes of their set to take in the view of the Gorge to the left of the stage. DFA, perfectly average.
Foo Fighters – I feel like I was telling everyone who would listen that the Foo Fighters would be one of the highlights of the weekend. And it was. [Open invitation for those who thought DFA was the greatest show ever, and hated the Foo Fighters to discontinue reading]. Dave Grohl’s stage presence is (fill in the blank cliché, I’m going with) “larger than life.” He didn’t need to scream on most songs, yet he did it anyway, almost bragging that his yelling skills are top tier.
Grohl asked the crowd who had seen them live before, and most of the pit screamed and raised their hands. He then asked how many saw them live on their first tour 15 years ago, aaaaand there were about four others screaming along with me. Yeah, now I feel old. Then I nearly lost my mind when they played “This is a Call,” off their debut album.
Before the Foos started, an enormous man wearing dark clothing and a pissed off expression was standing near me with an unlit cigarette in his hand. A patron offered him a light, to which he accepted while barely acknowledging the kind gesture. He was 6’7, 250+ pounds, sporting a Mohawk haircut. His appearance screamed, “don’t mess with me,” and when he bounced around when the music started, the crowd hustled to get out of his way. After a couple songs he became thirsty and reached for his drink. What was this beastly biker’s drink of choice? It was one of those pink slushy daiquiri drinks in the tall plastic cups (the pinkie may or may not have been extended while grasping the straw). Way to kill an almost flawless stereotype, princess.
Between the above average light show, Grohl screaming, a Bob Mould guest appearance, and extremely large men with girl drinks, there were many highlights. But THE highlight was drummer Taylor Hawkins. I have to make a basketball analogy to describe his skills. I’ve seen drummers labor through shows before, the power forward type, battling in the post, leaving the game exhausted and battered. Taylor is like the short and thin point guard who is so quick, he fools you with his first move, then makes three other moves while you are still reacting to his first while he drifts by you. He looks like he is floating, and his speed is effortless. On the walk home after the show, I had a short conversation with a guy staggering near me. “That drummer,” he said in amazement. Well put.
Wolf Parade – I was briefly upset when I realized they were closing with "California Dreamer," instead of "Kissing the Beehive," but it’s still one of their better tunes. While most of the band remained stoic (as rock stars do), guitarist Dan Boeckner seemed to really be enjoying himself, showing a huge smile throughout the performance. I wish that set would have been two hours, because it ended way too quick. Where is it written in the rules of festivals that bands get 30-45 minutes unless they are headliners? Wouldn’t giving extended sets to the bigger undercard draws create a bit of separation from the other festivals? This was supposed to be their last show ever (they added a second last show ever the following night in Vancouver), so 45 minutes felt like a disappointment.
Speaking of last show ever, how long do we wait until we see Wolf Parade reunite? I’ll just throw out my guess, and say spring 2014. We can make this happen quicker if everyone subscribes to my “Reunite Wolf Parade” initiative. All we need to do is stop supporting the boy's other musical endeavors. No buying their albums, no going to their shows, no purchasing their action figures. Eventually they will run out of money, and have to get back together. "Reunite Wolf Parade," starts now.
Pink Martini – Why were they on the lineup? This is a question even the band leader asked leading off the show, before making an announcement that literally made my festival. Their usual lead female vocalist had a vocal injury, so she was being replaced by Storm Large! I’m not sure many know who Storm Large is, but she is huge in Portland, both figuratively and literally (she is over 6 feet tall). I’m going to fall flat on my face describing her performance, so I’ll just say "sexy" is a word that had no definition before this day.
At the end of one song when she was standing in the back near the orchestra (a song she wasn’t leading) we made eye contact. I quickly looked away, then looked back and she was still staring me down. After looking away a second time, I thought, “wait a second, I’m not that shy, what am I doing?” So I stared her down. A couple seconds later, she smiled, mouthed the digits of her phone number to me, then broke the stare. What? Okay, the phone number part didn’t happen, but the rest is accurate. I know people always think they are making eye contact with the performers, so I’m probably full of (sh)it in some of your minds, but the pit area was barely half full, and I was a head higher than everyone standing near me, so it’s not unfathomable she would spot me in the crowd. When I tell this story at next year’s festival, there will be an open mouth kiss involved.
Bright Eyes – Every child under the age of 19 who wasn’t blazed out of their minds was in the pit for this show. So was the bald heavy-set guy in his mid 40s, who described his location to a friend on the phone by saying, “I’m at the only band that matters.” Bright Eyes fans really like Conor Oberst, like really really really like him. Before the show, and in between songs, people were talking endlessly about how great he is. It was rather disgusting, but not as disgusting as Conor hiding behind his hood for the first four songs. I know he is an emo god, but come on? The hood angered me to the point that I wanted to pull it off his head, mess up his hair, and maybe give him a wedgie for being so pretentious. All the Bright Eyes love mixed with the ultra sensitive showmanship made me cringe. Other than that, it was a surprisingly good show.
Robyn – Having caught part of her set at Coachella, I knew there was no way I was missing a second this time. Everything about Robyn makes me smile. If I’m having a rough afternoon, I play Robyn, bam, instant smile. She was acting a bit more lewd than than she was at Coachella, to the point that when she pulled out that banana, I wasn’t totally convinced she was just going to eat it.
Bassnectar – Glowpocalypse! Okay, it was crazy, it was great, but I have a slightly dissenting opinion on the glow stick war. The glow sticks hit flight during the first (bass) drop, and continued flying during each subsequent drop throughout the show. My complaint, the drops are also when the stage lights are at their brightest. It was cool seeing all the sticks flying through the air, but they looked more like pencils in the bright lights. What would have been spectacular is if the stage lights turned off during the drops. Too much to ask, I know.
Cold War Kids - Talk about boring. I saw this band in 2006, and wasn't too impressed. A couple years later, they reached radio, and "oh he's so cute," status, and they were everywhere. I was hanging out with some folks after a Cold War Kids show a couple years ago (a show I didn't attend), and they were beaming about how great it was. I kept asking them, "were they really that great, or was it that you have all of their songs memorized and don't go to live shows very often?" That is a bit snobby, but I got the answer at Sasquatch. I don't hate bands on principal, which is why I watched part of there set. I feel sorry for those who were there instead of at Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears, which was a blast.
Archers of Loaf - One of the smallest crowds I saw all weekend, and they tore it up. The kids at Sasquatch could care less about reunion bands who last played when they were still pooping in their diapers. They want the (fill in the blank) terrible DJ bringing the bass. More on this later.
Das Racist - I heard so many terrible reviews of their recent performances, but they were absolutely killing it. The horn section from the Seattle Rock Orchestra really added the extra oomph, but they still sounded great lyrically. We probably witnessed their best performance to date, because I can see how they could give a half-hearted performance when the professionalism of the horn section isn't around. I wish I didn't leave early for...
The Flaming Lips - The biggest disappointment of the festival. Three words I never thought I would utter in regards to a Flaming Lips show, "I left early." They were billed as playing "The Soft Bulletin, and more." After I left, I heard they didn't even finish the album. When the music was actually playing, it was spectacular, but it started late, and Wayne decided to tell massively long stories between the songs. Imagine sitting down on the couch to watch your favorite movie. Now imagine watching that same movie on network television, commercials and all. You don't zone into it, the commercials ruin the mood. You end up wanting to do something else. And why did we really need a second birthday cake celebration for Sasquatch's big ten year celebration? Guess what, Sasquatch had a birthday last year, and the year before that, and they will have another birthday next year.
The argument can be made that I am the biggest Sasquatch cheerleader on the internet, but this was completely unacceptable. We deserve an apology for that monstrosity.
Modest Mouse - I put my credibility on the line a couple months ago, raving about how great they were the last time I saw them, and how great they would be at Sasquatch. They knew headlining a festival in the northwest is a big deal, and knew the crowd would be more appreciative hearing the older/rarer/classic-er songs rather than a set heavy with new material. The NW is filled with Modest Mouse die hards, more than any other region, so it made sense. They delivered. I rest my case. (High fives?)
Black Mountain - I can't wait to see them live again. They were phenomenal. If you still haven't heard of this band, check out my suggested tracks in the Quadros. You are missing out.
Guided By Voices - I was one of the 38 people enjoying the hell out of this set, but where was everyone else? I've never seen crowd surfing in such a small crowd, but the only reason it worked is because a guy grabbed the surfer by the waste, and ran around in mini circles with him on his shoulder. From a far, it must have looked like it was actual crowd surfing, but for the most part, they could have replicated that in an empty room.
For those who don't know, lead singer Robert Pollard is notorious for getting really drunk and talking smack about whatever comes to mind. The crowd is supposed to play along and get wasted as well. Cheers to the guy who snuck in a fifth of Makers Mark. One person in my crew was basically told to bend over and cough while getting checked by security at the entrance, so I'm not sure how an entire fifth made it in. It was nice you were willing to share with everyone around, and even nicer the security didn't see it. The security almost outnumbered those of us watching the show, so I'm not sure how they missed the bottle getting passed around. When Robert Pollard finally had enough tequila in his system, he made a statement about how shitty the previous band was (Chromeo), wondering why everyone left before GBV started. Again, more on this later (shaking head).
Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings - What a great performer she is. I was blown away by her stage presence, and since I grew up listening to jazz, I loved the backing band. Props to Patrick, the dude she called up on stage to dance with her. Even if some thought you suck at dancing, you still did it, in front of thousands of people no less. I thought you rocked it.
Rodrigo Y Gabriela - I hope those unfamiliar with this duo gave them a chance, because they so much fun live. Even though rain was in the forecast the entire weekend, this was the only set it actually rained at. It was nice seeing thousands rush for shelter while the duo spanked their guitars into oblivion. That was really cool. Props to the guy repeatedly sliding down the "dancing guy" hill on his belly during the end of their set. The kids were loving that.
!!! - One of the highlights of the weekend. I caught part of their set at Coachella, where they had more people on stage, but this performance was much better. I loved the lead singers dance moves, and how he jumped in the crowd multiple times. After he acted like an absolute madman, he ran back on stage, and pronounced, "you guys are crazy." Perfect.
One of the coolest things I saw at Sasquatch 2011 was the middle aged slightly overweight dude getting his freak on to the left of the sound stage. I was in a funk during the beginning of this set, working on a four day hangover, slowly wandering around trying to get my energy back, and he snapped me out of it. He was probably early 40s, bald, and appeared to be somewhat albino. He had his shirt unbuttoned showing off his not so small belly, and was seriously getting down. There were a couple young attractive women rushing to dance with him, and he was eating it up. After every song, he said something along the lines of, "this is the most I've ever danced," then tapped his heart like he was exhausted, and couldn't continue. Then the next song started, and he warped back into dancing queen. It was my favorite moment of the festival (except Storm Large, of course).
Wilco - What is better than a lightning storm in the distance leading up to a headlining performance at the Gorge? It was surreal. Then Wilco came on, and bored most of the naysayers out of the venue with their first six songs, which I'll admit bored me as well. I understand if you think Wilco is boring, I found them boring when I first started listening to them as well. I now understand how the Death Cab For Cutie fans defend them so passionately, who I personally find boring. You have to really like their music to realize how technically proficient and catchy they can be (no, there are no Cold War Kids comments allowed here, shut up).
After they scared off the riff raff, they show picked up steam. Nels Cline dominated the stage during "Impossible Germany" and Jeff Tweedy entertained the crowd in between songs, as usual. Dude is a comedian who happens to write great songs. My favorite part of the set was near the end, when Tweedy was almost hit in the face by a thrown glow stick. He then encouraged anyone who could hit him with a glow stick to try. Many were thrown, but not a single battleship was sunk. He was obviously miffed by the fist glow stick, so he was smack talking the crowd to keep it coming. Seriously though, why the hell would you ever throw something at a performer, especially a headliner at a major festival? Props to Tweedy for being a good sport. He later poked fun at the northwest crowd for having no aim, and comparing it to how terrible the Seattle Mariners pitchers are for the same reason. Gold.
Weather - I don't know about you all, but this was about as perfect as festival weather gets. Sure it got cold at night, really cold, I even had numb toes wandering through the campground. But the cold weather meant you were able to sleep in as long as you wanted, rather than getting heat stroke in your tent around 8 a.m. As I mentioned earlier, rain was in the forecast for the entire weekend, but it only rained once during festival hours. There were giant rain clouds surrounding the festival all weekend, but almost all of them passed right by.
Conclusion - As previously mentioned, the crowds for the reunion bands (Archers of Loaf, Guided By Voices) were so tiny, I am wondering out loud if they even fit at Sasquatch anymore? Last year's festival appealed to the music fans all across the nation, and many older folks flew in for their first taste of Sasquatch. This year, however, was all about the kids who live in the Pacific Northwest. It makes me sad knowing the festival will sell out just as easily if it was 80% EDM. Let's face it, the festival organizers have one goal, to sell as many tickets as possible. If that means less bands that appeal to the older folks, and more that appeal to the kids, that is what will eventually happen. I hope it doesn't, because I've always loved Sasquatch for its diversity. Knowing the Chromeo mainstage mid afternoon crowd was one of the biggest in recent history, it does beg the question, why are the bands the kids want to see stuck in the dance tent or on the back stages. This is why I believe there will be more EDM acts on the mainstage next year, and the Guided By Voices type will be relegated to the back stages. This also leads me to believe we will see our first EDM headliner at Sasquatch 2012. Times are a changing, and so is Sasquatch. We might never see the greatness of the 2010 lineup again.
Talk to you soon,
know ID yuh
knowidyuh@gmail.com
Read more from know ID yuh at The Cog.
.
.
Foo Fighters – I feel like I was telling everyone who would listen that the Foo Fighters would be one of the highlights of the weekend. And it was. [Open invitation for those who thought DFA was the greatest show ever, and hated the Foo Fighters to discontinue reading]. Dave Grohl’s stage presence is (fill in the blank cliché, I’m going with) “larger than life.” He didn’t need to scream on most songs, yet he did it anyway, almost bragging that his yelling skills are top tier.
Grohl asked the crowd who had seen them live before, and most of the pit screamed and raised their hands. He then asked how many saw them live on their first tour 15 years ago, aaaaand there were about four others screaming along with me. Yeah, now I feel old. Then I nearly lost my mind when they played “This is a Call,” off their debut album.
Before the Foos started, an enormous man wearing dark clothing and a pissed off expression was standing near me with an unlit cigarette in his hand. A patron offered him a light, to which he accepted while barely acknowledging the kind gesture. He was 6’7, 250+ pounds, sporting a Mohawk haircut. His appearance screamed, “don’t mess with me,” and when he bounced around when the music started, the crowd hustled to get out of his way. After a couple songs he became thirsty and reached for his drink. What was this beastly biker’s drink of choice? It was one of those pink slushy daiquiri drinks in the tall plastic cups (the pinkie may or may not have been extended while grasping the straw). Way to kill an almost flawless stereotype, princess.
Between the above average light show, Grohl screaming, a Bob Mould guest appearance, and extremely large men with girl drinks, there were many highlights. But THE highlight was drummer Taylor Hawkins. I have to make a basketball analogy to describe his skills. I’ve seen drummers labor through shows before, the power forward type, battling in the post, leaving the game exhausted and battered. Taylor is like the short and thin point guard who is so quick, he fools you with his first move, then makes three other moves while you are still reacting to his first while he drifts by you. He looks like he is floating, and his speed is effortless. On the walk home after the show, I had a short conversation with a guy staggering near me. “That drummer,” he said in amazement. Well put.
Wolf Parade – I was briefly upset when I realized they were closing with "California Dreamer," instead of "Kissing the Beehive," but it’s still one of their better tunes. While most of the band remained stoic (as rock stars do), guitarist Dan Boeckner seemed to really be enjoying himself, showing a huge smile throughout the performance. I wish that set would have been two hours, because it ended way too quick. Where is it written in the rules of festivals that bands get 30-45 minutes unless they are headliners? Wouldn’t giving extended sets to the bigger undercard draws create a bit of separation from the other festivals? This was supposed to be their last show ever (they added a second last show ever the following night in Vancouver), so 45 minutes felt like a disappointment.
Speaking of last show ever, how long do we wait until we see Wolf Parade reunite? I’ll just throw out my guess, and say spring 2014. We can make this happen quicker if everyone subscribes to my “Reunite Wolf Parade” initiative. All we need to do is stop supporting the boy's other musical endeavors. No buying their albums, no going to their shows, no purchasing their action figures. Eventually they will run out of money, and have to get back together. "Reunite Wolf Parade," starts now.
Pink Martini – Why were they on the lineup? This is a question even the band leader asked leading off the show, before making an announcement that literally made my festival. Their usual lead female vocalist had a vocal injury, so she was being replaced by Storm Large! I’m not sure many know who Storm Large is, but she is huge in Portland, both figuratively and literally (she is over 6 feet tall). I’m going to fall flat on my face describing her performance, so I’ll just say "sexy" is a word that had no definition before this day.
At the end of one song when she was standing in the back near the orchestra (a song she wasn’t leading) we made eye contact. I quickly looked away, then looked back and she was still staring me down. After looking away a second time, I thought, “wait a second, I’m not that shy, what am I doing?” So I stared her down. A couple seconds later, she smiled, mouthed the digits of her phone number to me, then broke the stare. What? Okay, the phone number part didn’t happen, but the rest is accurate. I know people always think they are making eye contact with the performers, so I’m probably full of (sh)it in some of your minds, but the pit area was barely half full, and I was a head higher than everyone standing near me, so it’s not unfathomable she would spot me in the crowd. When I tell this story at next year’s festival, there will be an open mouth kiss involved.
Bright Eyes – Every child under the age of 19 who wasn’t blazed out of their minds was in the pit for this show. So was the bald heavy-set guy in his mid 40s, who described his location to a friend on the phone by saying, “I’m at the only band that matters.” Bright Eyes fans really like Conor Oberst, like really really really like him. Before the show, and in between songs, people were talking endlessly about how great he is. It was rather disgusting, but not as disgusting as Conor hiding behind his hood for the first four songs. I know he is an emo god, but come on? The hood angered me to the point that I wanted to pull it off his head, mess up his hair, and maybe give him a wedgie for being so pretentious. All the Bright Eyes love mixed with the ultra sensitive showmanship made me cringe. Other than that, it was a surprisingly good show.
Robyn – Having caught part of her set at Coachella, I knew there was no way I was missing a second this time. Everything about Robyn makes me smile. If I’m having a rough afternoon, I play Robyn, bam, instant smile. She was acting a bit more lewd than than she was at Coachella, to the point that when she pulled out that banana, I wasn’t totally convinced she was just going to eat it.
Bassnectar – Glowpocalypse! Okay, it was crazy, it was great, but I have a slightly dissenting opinion on the glow stick war. The glow sticks hit flight during the first (bass) drop, and continued flying during each subsequent drop throughout the show. My complaint, the drops are also when the stage lights are at their brightest. It was cool seeing all the sticks flying through the air, but they looked more like pencils in the bright lights. What would have been spectacular is if the stage lights turned off during the drops. Too much to ask, I know.
Cold War Kids - Talk about boring. I saw this band in 2006, and wasn't too impressed. A couple years later, they reached radio, and "oh he's so cute," status, and they were everywhere. I was hanging out with some folks after a Cold War Kids show a couple years ago (a show I didn't attend), and they were beaming about how great it was. I kept asking them, "were they really that great, or was it that you have all of their songs memorized and don't go to live shows very often?" That is a bit snobby, but I got the answer at Sasquatch. I don't hate bands on principal, which is why I watched part of there set. I feel sorry for those who were there instead of at Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears, which was a blast.
Archers of Loaf - One of the smallest crowds I saw all weekend, and they tore it up. The kids at Sasquatch could care less about reunion bands who last played when they were still pooping in their diapers. They want the (fill in the blank) terrible DJ bringing the bass. More on this later.
Das Racist - I heard so many terrible reviews of their recent performances, but they were absolutely killing it. The horn section from the Seattle Rock Orchestra really added the extra oomph, but they still sounded great lyrically. We probably witnessed their best performance to date, because I can see how they could give a half-hearted performance when the professionalism of the horn section isn't around. I wish I didn't leave early for...
The Flaming Lips - The biggest disappointment of the festival. Three words I never thought I would utter in regards to a Flaming Lips show, "I left early." They were billed as playing "The Soft Bulletin, and more." After I left, I heard they didn't even finish the album. When the music was actually playing, it was spectacular, but it started late, and Wayne decided to tell massively long stories between the songs. Imagine sitting down on the couch to watch your favorite movie. Now imagine watching that same movie on network television, commercials and all. You don't zone into it, the commercials ruin the mood. You end up wanting to do something else. And why did we really need a second birthday cake celebration for Sasquatch's big ten year celebration? Guess what, Sasquatch had a birthday last year, and the year before that, and they will have another birthday next year.
The argument can be made that I am the biggest Sasquatch cheerleader on the internet, but this was completely unacceptable. We deserve an apology for that monstrosity.
Modest Mouse - I put my credibility on the line a couple months ago, raving about how great they were the last time I saw them, and how great they would be at Sasquatch. They knew headlining a festival in the northwest is a big deal, and knew the crowd would be more appreciative hearing the older/rarer/classic-er songs rather than a set heavy with new material. The NW is filled with Modest Mouse die hards, more than any other region, so it made sense. They delivered. I rest my case. (High fives?)
Black Mountain - I can't wait to see them live again. They were phenomenal. If you still haven't heard of this band, check out my suggested tracks in the Quadros. You are missing out.
Guided By Voices - I was one of the 38 people enjoying the hell out of this set, but where was everyone else? I've never seen crowd surfing in such a small crowd, but the only reason it worked is because a guy grabbed the surfer by the waste, and ran around in mini circles with him on his shoulder. From a far, it must have looked like it was actual crowd surfing, but for the most part, they could have replicated that in an empty room.
For those who don't know, lead singer Robert Pollard is notorious for getting really drunk and talking smack about whatever comes to mind. The crowd is supposed to play along and get wasted as well. Cheers to the guy who snuck in a fifth of Makers Mark. One person in my crew was basically told to bend over and cough while getting checked by security at the entrance, so I'm not sure how an entire fifth made it in. It was nice you were willing to share with everyone around, and even nicer the security didn't see it. The security almost outnumbered those of us watching the show, so I'm not sure how they missed the bottle getting passed around. When Robert Pollard finally had enough tequila in his system, he made a statement about how shitty the previous band was (Chromeo), wondering why everyone left before GBV started. Again, more on this later (shaking head).
Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings - What a great performer she is. I was blown away by her stage presence, and since I grew up listening to jazz, I loved the backing band. Props to Patrick, the dude she called up on stage to dance with her. Even if some thought you suck at dancing, you still did it, in front of thousands of people no less. I thought you rocked it.
Rodrigo Y Gabriela - I hope those unfamiliar with this duo gave them a chance, because they so much fun live. Even though rain was in the forecast the entire weekend, this was the only set it actually rained at. It was nice seeing thousands rush for shelter while the duo spanked their guitars into oblivion. That was really cool. Props to the guy repeatedly sliding down the "dancing guy" hill on his belly during the end of their set. The kids were loving that.
!!! - One of the highlights of the weekend. I caught part of their set at Coachella, where they had more people on stage, but this performance was much better. I loved the lead singers dance moves, and how he jumped in the crowd multiple times. After he acted like an absolute madman, he ran back on stage, and pronounced, "you guys are crazy." Perfect.
One of the coolest things I saw at Sasquatch 2011 was the middle aged slightly overweight dude getting his freak on to the left of the sound stage. I was in a funk during the beginning of this set, working on a four day hangover, slowly wandering around trying to get my energy back, and he snapped me out of it. He was probably early 40s, bald, and appeared to be somewhat albino. He had his shirt unbuttoned showing off his not so small belly, and was seriously getting down. There were a couple young attractive women rushing to dance with him, and he was eating it up. After every song, he said something along the lines of, "this is the most I've ever danced," then tapped his heart like he was exhausted, and couldn't continue. Then the next song started, and he warped back into dancing queen. It was my favorite moment of the festival (except Storm Large, of course).
Wilco - What is better than a lightning storm in the distance leading up to a headlining performance at the Gorge? It was surreal. Then Wilco came on, and bored most of the naysayers out of the venue with their first six songs, which I'll admit bored me as well. I understand if you think Wilco is boring, I found them boring when I first started listening to them as well. I now understand how the Death Cab For Cutie fans defend them so passionately, who I personally find boring. You have to really like their music to realize how technically proficient and catchy they can be (no, there are no Cold War Kids comments allowed here, shut up).
After they scared off the riff raff, they show picked up steam. Nels Cline dominated the stage during "Impossible Germany" and Jeff Tweedy entertained the crowd in between songs, as usual. Dude is a comedian who happens to write great songs. My favorite part of the set was near the end, when Tweedy was almost hit in the face by a thrown glow stick. He then encouraged anyone who could hit him with a glow stick to try. Many were thrown, but not a single battleship was sunk. He was obviously miffed by the fist glow stick, so he was smack talking the crowd to keep it coming. Seriously though, why the hell would you ever throw something at a performer, especially a headliner at a major festival? Props to Tweedy for being a good sport. He later poked fun at the northwest crowd for having no aim, and comparing it to how terrible the Seattle Mariners pitchers are for the same reason. Gold.
Weather - I don't know about you all, but this was about as perfect as festival weather gets. Sure it got cold at night, really cold, I even had numb toes wandering through the campground. But the cold weather meant you were able to sleep in as long as you wanted, rather than getting heat stroke in your tent around 8 a.m. As I mentioned earlier, rain was in the forecast for the entire weekend, but it only rained once during festival hours. There were giant rain clouds surrounding the festival all weekend, but almost all of them passed right by.
Conclusion - As previously mentioned, the crowds for the reunion bands (Archers of Loaf, Guided By Voices) were so tiny, I am wondering out loud if they even fit at Sasquatch anymore? Last year's festival appealed to the music fans all across the nation, and many older folks flew in for their first taste of Sasquatch. This year, however, was all about the kids who live in the Pacific Northwest. It makes me sad knowing the festival will sell out just as easily if it was 80% EDM. Let's face it, the festival organizers have one goal, to sell as many tickets as possible. If that means less bands that appeal to the older folks, and more that appeal to the kids, that is what will eventually happen. I hope it doesn't, because I've always loved Sasquatch for its diversity. Knowing the Chromeo mainstage mid afternoon crowd was one of the biggest in recent history, it does beg the question, why are the bands the kids want to see stuck in the dance tent or on the back stages. This is why I believe there will be more EDM acts on the mainstage next year, and the Guided By Voices type will be relegated to the back stages. This also leads me to believe we will see our first EDM headliner at Sasquatch 2012. Times are a changing, and so is Sasquatch. We might never see the greatness of the 2010 lineup again.
Talk to you soon,
know ID yuh
knowidyuh@gmail.com
Read more from know ID yuh at The Cog.
.
.
Saturday, June 25, 2011
2011 Lineup/Links
Friday, May 27th
Foo Fighters, Death From Above 1979, Against Me!, Biffy Clyro, Rival Schools, The Bronx, Bob Mould, Mariachi El Bronx, DJ Anjali & The Incredible Kid
Saturday, May 28th
Death Cab For Cutie, Bright Eyes, Iron & Wine, Bassnectar, Robyn, Pink Martini, Wolf Parade, Local Natives, Matt & Kim, Trailer Park Boys, Sleigh Bells, The Thermals, Jenny & Johnny, The Head & The Heart, K-os, The Radio Dept., The Antlers, Sharon Van Etten, Aloe Blacc, The Secret Sisters, Wye Oak, J. Mascis, Tig Notaro, Alberta Cross, Seattle Rock Orchestra, Washed Out, Dan Mangan, The Globes, Rebecca Gates & The Consortium, Pepper Rabbit, DJ Anjali & The Incredible Kid, Matt McCarthy, The Glitch Mob
Sunday, May 29th
Modest Mouse, The Flaming Lips, Flogging Molly, Cold War Kids, Ratatat, MSTRKRFT, Yeasayer, Beach House, Flying Lotus, Tokyo Police Club, Fitz & The Tantrums, Archers of Loaf, City and Colour, Reggie Watts, Gayngs, Tim Minchin, The Drums, S. Carey, Sam Roberts Band, The Moondoggies, Smith Westerns, Das Racist, Wheedle's Groove, Black Joe Lewis & the Honeybears, Typhoon, Gold Panda, Cotton Jones, Mad Rad, Basia Bulat, Other Lives, Talkdemonic, DJ Anjali & The Incredible Kid, Hari Kondabolu,
Monday, May 30th
Wilco, The Decemberists, Rodrigo Y Gabriela, Old 97s, Chromeo, Guided By Voices, Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings, Deerhunter, Major Lazer, Skrillex, The Scott Aukerman & Paul F. Tompkins Show, !!!, Best Coast, Surfer Blood, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Bonobo (DJ Set), Young the Giant, Stornoway, Black Mountain, Noah & The Whale, Wavves, Givers, Twin Shadow, Foster the People, White Denim, Axis of Awesome, Jaill, White Arrows, Head Like A Kite, The Young Evils, DJ Anjali & The Incredible Kid
Foo Fighters, Death From Above 1979, Against Me!, Biffy Clyro, Rival Schools, The Bronx, Bob Mould, Mariachi El Bronx, DJ Anjali & The Incredible Kid
Saturday, May 28th
Death Cab For Cutie, Bright Eyes, Iron & Wine, Bassnectar, Robyn, Pink Martini, Wolf Parade, Local Natives, Matt & Kim, Trailer Park Boys, Sleigh Bells, The Thermals, Jenny & Johnny, The Head & The Heart, K-os, The Radio Dept., The Antlers, Sharon Van Etten, Aloe Blacc, The Secret Sisters, Wye Oak, J. Mascis, Tig Notaro, Alberta Cross, Seattle Rock Orchestra, Washed Out, Dan Mangan, The Globes, Rebecca Gates & The Consortium, Pepper Rabbit, DJ Anjali & The Incredible Kid, Matt McCarthy, The Glitch Mob
Sunday, May 29th
Modest Mouse, The Flaming Lips, Flogging Molly, Cold War Kids, Ratatat, MSTRKRFT, Yeasayer, Beach House, Flying Lotus, Tokyo Police Club, Fitz & The Tantrums, Archers of Loaf, City and Colour, Reggie Watts, Gayngs, Tim Minchin, The Drums, S. Carey, Sam Roberts Band, The Moondoggies, Smith Westerns, Das Racist, Wheedle's Groove, Black Joe Lewis & the Honeybears, Typhoon, Gold Panda, Cotton Jones, Mad Rad, Basia Bulat, Other Lives, Talkdemonic, DJ Anjali & The Incredible Kid, Hari Kondabolu,
Monday, May 30th
Wilco, The Decemberists, Rodrigo Y Gabriela, Old 97s, Chromeo, Guided By Voices, Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings, Deerhunter, Major Lazer, Skrillex, The Scott Aukerman & Paul F. Tompkins Show, !!!, Best Coast, Surfer Blood, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Bonobo (DJ Set), Young the Giant, Stornoway, Black Mountain, Noah & The Whale, Wavves, Givers, Twin Shadow, Foster the People, White Denim, Axis of Awesome, Jaill, White Arrows, Head Like A Kite, The Young Evils, DJ Anjali & The Incredible Kid
Friday, May 20, 2011
Quadros 8: Sleigh Bells, Skrillex, The Antlers, Talkdemonic
Sleigh Bells
So what did it take to make the Quadros cut? It’s pretty simple, I have to like the act’s music. The more positive things I can write about, the better chance they will end up here. Sure, I’ve added a couple bands I’m not too thrilled with, just because I knew their material well, but as we’re counting down the days until the festival, there are several bands I really enjoy who I haven’t written about yet.
Enter Sleigh Bells, who created one of my favorite albums from last year, Treats. You’ve probably already heard it, and formed an opinion of the band, but at least you can agree/disagree with the ordering of my suggested tracks. If you haven’t heard Treats, you must lead a very busy life. The best part about this album is the unique sound. Who else sounds like Sleigh Bells? The album has so far held up over time, meaning a lot of my favorites from 2010 have already been forgotten, yet I still find time to listen to Treats occasionally.
So what’s their live performance like? First off, it’s hard to imagine a woman with a mic, and a man with a guitar, can pull off all the different sounds you hear on the album, because, well, they can’t. One good thing about this fact, it’s (nearly) impossible for the show to be a true train wreck, since so much of the music is prerecorded. Wouldn’t it be cool to see five or six musicians on stage recreating the album live? While I didn’t care for their performance last fall, I still appreciated hearing their music being played so darn loud. I’m getting amped to see them again. And since the question was asked 43 times on the Sasquatch Message Board, Sleigh Bells set time is so short because Treats is their only album, and is 32 minutes long.
Suggested Tracks:
1. Crown on the Ground
2. Infinity Guitars
3. Rill Rill
4. Tell ‘Em
5. Treats
6. Straight A’S
Skrillex
I caught Skrillex at Coachella last month, and wrote four paragraphs in my Day 1 Coachella review, which can be read here. I doubt you’ll see Korn, and the light show in the Banana Shack will be elementary compared to the insanity of the Sahara at Coachella, but it should be a fun show.
Suggested Tracks:
1/2. Do Da Oliphant (into) ---> With Your Friends
3. Reptile’s Theme (from Mortal Kombat)
4. Rock ‘N’ Roll
5. My Name Is Skrillex
6. Fucking Die 2 (I really enjoy a good love song)
7. Kill Everybody (sexy, seductive)
The Antlers
The Antlers are an indie rock band from Brooklyn. They burst on the scene following the strength of their 2009 album, Hospice, which received critical acclaim. I don’t really know anything about this band, but I know once Hospice caught my ear after about three listens, I wanted to hear it every morning for two weeks. I saw them live, before I became obsessed with Hospice, but they didn’t keep my attention. Maybe it was the most spectacularly beautiful performance of their career, but after Phantogram got my dancing shoes twitching, the Antlers didn’t match my mood.
Their songs are pretty mellow, actually, very depressing is a better description. The phrase “hospice” doesn’t exactly conjure up swell thoughts. You won’t pass crowds of people blaring the Antlers in the campground while shotgunning beers, and Foo Fighters fans need not apply. If you walk by their performance, you might not even want to stay. If their music has clicked with you though, you’re going to appreciate the slightly smaller crowd, and the beauty theses songs can offer. Their new album Burst Apart is as lovely as Hospice.
Suggested Tracks:
1. Sylvia
2. Every Night My Teeth Are Falling Out
3. Two
4. Parentheses
5. No Widows
6. The Universe Is Going To Catch You
7. Bear
8. Putting The Dog To Sleep
Talkdemonic
Talkdemonic is a duo with a cute chick playing the viola, and her dad who mostly plays the drums. What? Okay, that was a joke, it's not really her dad on the drums, He might not be that much older than her either. Speaking of jokes, I caught the National a couple times last fall, the
second of which, Talkdemonic was an opener. Front man for the National, Matt Berninger, is pretty much a character, so he cracks a lot of jokes. Bands are basically required to thank their
opening band(s), and talk about how much they like hanging out with them and touring with them, and that sort of thing. So when one of the guitar players was thanking the openers, Matt followed it up with, "except Talkdemonic," joking about how much they don't get along. The thank yous came up again near the end of show, and again Matt pointed out, "except Talkdemonic." It was pretty obvious he was joking, but even more obvious to me because he used the same crack against a different opener the night before in Seattle. Hopefully they have a sense of humor.
Truth is, outside of their friends and family, I'm one of the biggest Talkdemonic fans attending the festival. I actually own three of their albums. Yeah, they have that many. There are no vocals, so it's just whatever they can play live on top of studio recorded material. It's great music to work to, lyrics being occasionally distracting. If you happen to catch their set at Sasquatch, tell the old dude I'm sorry.
Suggested Tracks:
1. Hillside Monarch
2. Ending The Orange Glow
3. Manhattan '81
4. Black Wood Crimson
5. Bering
So what did it take to make the Quadros cut? It’s pretty simple, I have to like the act’s music. The more positive things I can write about, the better chance they will end up here. Sure, I’ve added a couple bands I’m not too thrilled with, just because I knew their material well, but as we’re counting down the days until the festival, there are several bands I really enjoy who I haven’t written about yet.
Enter Sleigh Bells, who created one of my favorite albums from last year, Treats. You’ve probably already heard it, and formed an opinion of the band, but at least you can agree/disagree with the ordering of my suggested tracks. If you haven’t heard Treats, you must lead a very busy life. The best part about this album is the unique sound. Who else sounds like Sleigh Bells? The album has so far held up over time, meaning a lot of my favorites from 2010 have already been forgotten, yet I still find time to listen to Treats occasionally.
So what’s their live performance like? First off, it’s hard to imagine a woman with a mic, and a man with a guitar, can pull off all the different sounds you hear on the album, because, well, they can’t. One good thing about this fact, it’s (nearly) impossible for the show to be a true train wreck, since so much of the music is prerecorded. Wouldn’t it be cool to see five or six musicians on stage recreating the album live? While I didn’t care for their performance last fall, I still appreciated hearing their music being played so darn loud. I’m getting amped to see them again. And since the question was asked 43 times on the Sasquatch Message Board, Sleigh Bells set time is so short because Treats is their only album, and is 32 minutes long.
Suggested Tracks:
1. Crown on the Ground
2. Infinity Guitars
3. Rill Rill
4. Tell ‘Em
5. Treats
6. Straight A’S
Skrillex
I caught Skrillex at Coachella last month, and wrote four paragraphs in my Day 1 Coachella review, which can be read here. I doubt you’ll see Korn, and the light show in the Banana Shack will be elementary compared to the insanity of the Sahara at Coachella, but it should be a fun show.
Suggested Tracks:
1/2. Do Da Oliphant (into) ---> With Your Friends
3. Reptile’s Theme (from Mortal Kombat)
4. Rock ‘N’ Roll
5. My Name Is Skrillex
6. Fucking Die 2 (I really enjoy a good love song)
7. Kill Everybody (sexy, seductive)
The Antlers
The Antlers are an indie rock band from Brooklyn. They burst on the scene following the strength of their 2009 album, Hospice, which received critical acclaim. I don’t really know anything about this band, but I know once Hospice caught my ear after about three listens, I wanted to hear it every morning for two weeks. I saw them live, before I became obsessed with Hospice, but they didn’t keep my attention. Maybe it was the most spectacularly beautiful performance of their career, but after Phantogram got my dancing shoes twitching, the Antlers didn’t match my mood.
Their songs are pretty mellow, actually, very depressing is a better description. The phrase “hospice” doesn’t exactly conjure up swell thoughts. You won’t pass crowds of people blaring the Antlers in the campground while shotgunning beers, and Foo Fighters fans need not apply. If you walk by their performance, you might not even want to stay. If their music has clicked with you though, you’re going to appreciate the slightly smaller crowd, and the beauty theses songs can offer. Their new album Burst Apart is as lovely as Hospice.
Suggested Tracks:
1. Sylvia
2. Every Night My Teeth Are Falling Out
3. Two
4. Parentheses
5. No Widows
6. The Universe Is Going To Catch You
7. Bear
8. Putting The Dog To Sleep
Talkdemonic
Talkdemonic is a duo with a cute chick playing the viola, and her dad who mostly plays the drums. What? Okay, that was a joke, it's not really her dad on the drums, He might not be that much older than her either. Speaking of jokes, I caught the National a couple times last fall, the
second of which, Talkdemonic was an opener. Front man for the National, Matt Berninger, is pretty much a character, so he cracks a lot of jokes. Bands are basically required to thank their
opening band(s), and talk about how much they like hanging out with them and touring with them, and that sort of thing. So when one of the guitar players was thanking the openers, Matt followed it up with, "except Talkdemonic," joking about how much they don't get along. The thank yous came up again near the end of show, and again Matt pointed out, "except Talkdemonic." It was pretty obvious he was joking, but even more obvious to me because he used the same crack against a different opener the night before in Seattle. Hopefully they have a sense of humor.
Truth is, outside of their friends and family, I'm one of the biggest Talkdemonic fans attending the festival. I actually own three of their albums. Yeah, they have that many. There are no vocals, so it's just whatever they can play live on top of studio recorded material. It's great music to work to, lyrics being occasionally distracting. If you happen to catch their set at Sasquatch, tell the old dude I'm sorry.
Suggested Tracks:
1. Hillside Monarch
2. Ending The Orange Glow
3. Manhattan '81
4. Black Wood Crimson
5. Bering
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Quadros 7: Modest Mouse, Beach House, Black Mountain, Black Joe Lewis & the Honeybears
Modest Mouse
The band I've seen live the most. If you are an Internet nerd, you know Modest Mouse is a gigantic hit or miss live, and it usually had to do with Isaac Brock's level of energy/sanity. I saw their Portland residency in the fall of 2009, and every show was outstanding. The band went from a wall of anxiety to a group of professional musicians playing stellar music. One of my friends was so impressed, he accidentally included one of their 2009 shows in his top ten shows of 2010. He's old, poor guy.
I've seen Modest Mouse at their worst as well. In fact, every festival show I've seen of theirs has been awful to average. I've said in the past they don't care about the festival shows, but really care about their fans who pay $30 to see them locally. I think finally headlining Sasquatch will be different. I'm giving my personal guarantee that Modest Mouse will put on a hell of a show. Those of you skipping their set are going to miss something great.
If you are new to the band, I have one question, who are you? There are two schools of thought when it comes to Modest Mouse's music. There is the, "they used to be so good before they sold out," and the, "who is this band I've never heard of before the song Float On?" If you stray away from what is popular, the album you want to check out first is The Moon and Antarctica. If you are new to the band, and wear cologne, you want to check out Good News For People Who Love Bad News. They are both great in their own ways, but if you are undecided about which profile you fit, definitely go with The Moon and Antarctica first. One of the greatest qualities of Modest Mouse that still holds true to this day is they have an original sound. No one sounds like Modest Mouse.
Suggested Tracks:
1. Tiny Cities Made Of Ashes
2. Float On (haha, die hards now hate me for including this near the top, and by the way, get over yourself, it's a great song)
3. 3rd Planet
4. Never Ending Math Equation
5. Gravity Rides Everything
6. All Nite Diner
7. Dramamine
8. Paper Thin Walls
9. Ocean Breathes Salty
10. I Came As A Rat
11. Spitting Venom (they have closed with this song many times in the last couple years. They obviously like it)
12. King Rat (this song kind of sucks, but no other band can create a song sounding like this. It's also a blast live)
Beach House
Do you want to know what gets me excited? As I write this, I get to listen to Teen Dream to pick my favorite tracks. It was one of my top five albums from last year. It gets me as excited as listening to Kanye West's latest, and I'm a huge Kanye fan. I like to give every album five listens before I form an opinion, because it usually takes that long before the catchy/impressive stick out, but I recognized virtually every song on Teen Dream after three listens. It is pure pop gold, and anyone who doesn't list in their top 20 albums for 2010 either hates pop music, won't listen to it, or has terrible taste in music.
If you want a comparison, the lead singer sounds a lot like Stevie Nicks. It's nice they landed a main stage spot on the Sasquatch lineup, since they were victims of sound issues at Sasquatch 2009. Not only was the sound at the Yeti Stage a recurring issue, but the wind was blowing perfectly from the main stage where the Silversun Pickups were playing. At one point, I could hear Silversun more than Beach House. So sad. They are back though, and I'm glad I get the chance to see them with the beauty of the Gorge in the background. You won't be dancing, and you'll probably prefer this show from the hill, but it will be Gorge-ous.
Suggested Tracks:
1. Zebra
2. Norway
3. Take Care (if you want to sing me this song when I'm under the weather, I might fall in love)
4. Walk in the Park
5. Wedding Bells
6. Used To Be
7. Silver Soul
8. Apple Orchard
9. Gila
Black Mountain
A friend turned me onto Black Mountain a couple years ago. I was working when I first listened to them, so I wasn't giving the album my full undivided attention, but I formed an opinion based on the general sound. The email I sent him read something like this, "It sounds like a dude started a metal band that couldn't hit it big, then he started dating a chick who wants to sing in a band. She then convinces him that they need to add her and become more indie, because that's what is popular these days, but the rest of the band doesn't like her and is revolting." For those who know the band, this statement is probably funny for its inaccuracy, but there is an underlying truth to it. The band has metal-like tendencies, but are very much indie-rock. It's like if you crossed Arcade Fire with Type O Negative, but a lot less excruciating.
Black Mountain hails from Vancouver, so all the Canadians who read this will be stoked. Sasquatch will be my first time seeing them, and I'm pretty darn excited. They are in my top ten even. I hope no one is keeping track of how many top ten acts I have, because it's probably close to eighteen.
Suggested Tracks:
1. Tyrants
2. Stormy High
3. Don't Run Our Hearts Around
4. Faulty Times
5. The Hair Song
6. Druganaut
7. Old Fangs
8. Wilderness Heart
9. Stay Free
Black Joe Lewis and the Honeybears
If you happen to catch this band, I believe they will be one your top ten highlights of the festival. I'm not really into their recorded material, but they are so much fun live. Therefore, I'll keep the suggested tracks short. Everything you need to know about this band live I stated in my review of their recent Portland show.
Suggested Tracks:
1. Get Yo Shit
2. Gunpowder
3. Big Booty Woman
4. Bitch, I Love You
The band I've seen live the most. If you are an Internet nerd, you know Modest Mouse is a gigantic hit or miss live, and it usually had to do with Isaac Brock's level of energy/sanity. I saw their Portland residency in the fall of 2009, and every show was outstanding. The band went from a wall of anxiety to a group of professional musicians playing stellar music. One of my friends was so impressed, he accidentally included one of their 2009 shows in his top ten shows of 2010. He's old, poor guy.
I've seen Modest Mouse at their worst as well. In fact, every festival show I've seen of theirs has been awful to average. I've said in the past they don't care about the festival shows, but really care about their fans who pay $30 to see them locally. I think finally headlining Sasquatch will be different. I'm giving my personal guarantee that Modest Mouse will put on a hell of a show. Those of you skipping their set are going to miss something great.
If you are new to the band, I have one question, who are you? There are two schools of thought when it comes to Modest Mouse's music. There is the, "they used to be so good before they sold out," and the, "who is this band I've never heard of before the song Float On?" If you stray away from what is popular, the album you want to check out first is The Moon and Antarctica. If you are new to the band, and wear cologne, you want to check out Good News For People Who Love Bad News. They are both great in their own ways, but if you are undecided about which profile you fit, definitely go with The Moon and Antarctica first. One of the greatest qualities of Modest Mouse that still holds true to this day is they have an original sound. No one sounds like Modest Mouse.
Suggested Tracks:
1. Tiny Cities Made Of Ashes
2. Float On (haha, die hards now hate me for including this near the top, and by the way, get over yourself, it's a great song)
3. 3rd Planet
4. Never Ending Math Equation
5. Gravity Rides Everything
6. All Nite Diner
7. Dramamine
8. Paper Thin Walls
9. Ocean Breathes Salty
10. I Came As A Rat
11. Spitting Venom (they have closed with this song many times in the last couple years. They obviously like it)
12. King Rat (this song kind of sucks, but no other band can create a song sounding like this. It's also a blast live)
Beach House
Do you want to know what gets me excited? As I write this, I get to listen to Teen Dream to pick my favorite tracks. It was one of my top five albums from last year. It gets me as excited as listening to Kanye West's latest, and I'm a huge Kanye fan. I like to give every album five listens before I form an opinion, because it usually takes that long before the catchy/impressive stick out, but I recognized virtually every song on Teen Dream after three listens. It is pure pop gold, and anyone who doesn't list in their top 20 albums for 2010 either hates pop music, won't listen to it, or has terrible taste in music.
If you want a comparison, the lead singer sounds a lot like Stevie Nicks. It's nice they landed a main stage spot on the Sasquatch lineup, since they were victims of sound issues at Sasquatch 2009. Not only was the sound at the Yeti Stage a recurring issue, but the wind was blowing perfectly from the main stage where the Silversun Pickups were playing. At one point, I could hear Silversun more than Beach House. So sad. They are back though, and I'm glad I get the chance to see them with the beauty of the Gorge in the background. You won't be dancing, and you'll probably prefer this show from the hill, but it will be Gorge-ous.
Suggested Tracks:
1. Zebra
2. Norway
3. Take Care (if you want to sing me this song when I'm under the weather, I might fall in love)
4. Walk in the Park
5. Wedding Bells
6. Used To Be
7. Silver Soul
8. Apple Orchard
9. Gila
Black Mountain
A friend turned me onto Black Mountain a couple years ago. I was working when I first listened to them, so I wasn't giving the album my full undivided attention, but I formed an opinion based on the general sound. The email I sent him read something like this, "It sounds like a dude started a metal band that couldn't hit it big, then he started dating a chick who wants to sing in a band. She then convinces him that they need to add her and become more indie, because that's what is popular these days, but the rest of the band doesn't like her and is revolting." For those who know the band, this statement is probably funny for its inaccuracy, but there is an underlying truth to it. The band has metal-like tendencies, but are very much indie-rock. It's like if you crossed Arcade Fire with Type O Negative, but a lot less excruciating.
Black Mountain hails from Vancouver, so all the Canadians who read this will be stoked. Sasquatch will be my first time seeing them, and I'm pretty darn excited. They are in my top ten even. I hope no one is keeping track of how many top ten acts I have, because it's probably close to eighteen.
Suggested Tracks:
1. Tyrants
2. Stormy High
3. Don't Run Our Hearts Around
4. Faulty Times
5. The Hair Song
6. Druganaut
7. Old Fangs
8. Wilderness Heart
9. Stay Free
Black Joe Lewis and the Honeybears
If you happen to catch this band, I believe they will be one your top ten highlights of the festival. I'm not really into their recorded material, but they are so much fun live. Therefore, I'll keep the suggested tracks short. Everything you need to know about this band live I stated in my review of their recent Portland show.
Suggested Tracks:
1. Get Yo Shit
2. Gunpowder
3. Big Booty Woman
4. Bitch, I Love You
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