The Flaming Lips
Everyone has a story about the first time they saw the Flaming Lips live, but I believe my first experience rivals the best. Somehow I let this band slip through the cracks for the years leading up to Sasquatch 2006. The only Lips album I had listened to was the Soft Bulletin, and I new nothing about their lives shows. I heard so many people in the campground buzzing about how great they are live, so I had a mental note, “Do not miss the Flaming Lips.”
That afternoon, god (while chuckling about how moronic it was that I was wearing only sandals, shorts, and a thin button up shirt over a tee shirt) decided to empty out his ice machine on my face. At least that is what it felt like. I’m sure there were 20,000 other people that felt like they were also being picked on when the hail storm hit. I’m not sure what was more torturous, being pelted by giant balls of ice, or being greeted by a Tragically Hip set an hour later when the music resumed? My Canadian friends, stand in front of the mirror and say out loud, "I like the Hip because they play great music." Then take a deep breath, and say it again. Repeat four more times. Now be honest here, how many of you maintained eye contact with yourself the entire time? It's okay, I like Bryan Adams, we can still be friends.
Back to the story, apparently the festival was allowing re-entry because of the storm, but I didn’t get the memo. I was prepared to be cold, wet, and miserable the rest of the day, and seeing the Flaming Lips was my only motivation. My clothes were so drenched that I stripped down naked in a honey bucket to wring them out. I may or may not have spent ten minutes longer than needed there, because it was about 10 degrees warmer than being out in the cold breeze. Willingly standing next to a pile of human refuge with only a small piece of plastic separating us, just to stay warm, is about all I need to say. I really didn't want to miss the Flaming Lips.
Sometime briefly after it got dark, the announcement came which proved to be the nail in the coffin for my friend. The Flaming Lips, who were scheduled to play before Ben Harper, had agreed to play after, so the Harpers could play their regularly scheduled slot. I was digging the first 30 minutes of Benji’s two hour set, but then he took the pace down a couple notches and played his softer hits for the remaining 90 minutes. That nearly put me to sleep, and caused my friend to bail.
The Lips came on sometime after 12:30 a.m., which led to about an hour of my shivering jaw dropped while I stared in amazement trying to figure out what in the hell I was witnessing. The show will forever remain in my top five greatest concert experiences, and I have not missed a chance to see them live since. If this will be your first time seeing the Flaming Lips, I'm confident they will provide you a memorable experience you will be telling people about five years from now, especially if you are a democrat.
Because they are playing the Soft Bulletin all the way through, I'll keep the suggested tracks short. I'll also recommend you check out "Do You Realize," since they will likely play that tune near the end. This will be THE highlight of the festival, so you don't want to miss it.
1. Race For The Prize (The song they typically open their shows with)
2. Waitin’ For A Superman
3. The Gash
4. Do You Realize
Wye Oak
I didn't get into Wye Oak until a couple months before the lineup was released, but I've spent 15+ hours listening to their catalog, so my opinion is educated, if not somewhat dissenting. I have no interest in their first album, If Children. They were still trying to find their style, and to be brutally honest, the duets did not work. Their next album, The Knot, was a giant step forward, which is why I spend so much time listening to them. Personally, I think their best songs reside on this album. Their EP, My Neighbor/My Creator, is pretty fun, and signalled another leap forward for what was to come. Then Civilian came out last month. Maybe I'll eat these words in the future, but it isn't as good as The Knot. It does sound like their sound has evolved like I thought it would, but the really catchy songs aren't there. I like those tunes that stick to your brain, which should mean my suggested tracks will be accurate.
This duo (yes, they are only a duo) consists of Jenn Wasner on vocals and guitar, and Andy Stack on drums and keyboards, which he allegedly plays simultaneously. Jenn's vocals are very calm and effortless, bringing a very soothing sound to most of their songs. They still rock out, so don't think this will be a boring live act in which you really need to like their music to get it. The band I would most compare them to is the Cranberries, some mellow female vocal ditties mixed with upbeat rock songs. Wasner's voice reminds me of the Cranberries singer on a couple songs. I'm excited to see how their tunes translate live. You should be too.
Suggested Tracks:
1. That I Do
2. I Hope You Die (it's morbid, but it's the song I think of first when thinking of Wye Oak)
3. Civilian (title track from their new album, this track should show off the best each has to offer musically)
4. Tattoo
5. If Children Were Wishes
6. Mary Is Mary (eight minute epic)
7. Holy Holy (sounds like it will be a really fun song live)
8. For Prayer
9. The Alter
Das Racist
To really get Das Racist, you have to listen to more than just a couple songs, but I'll try to give you the cream of the crop. It's tough though, because they put out two mix tapes last year, totaling nearly three hours worth of music, so with the good, there is a lot of bad. Since I like math, I'll just estimate their output to be something like this:
11% is "holy shit" brilliant
12% is amazing
19% is great
39% is pretty good
19% is annoying
Then they take these five categories, throw them in a blender, and spit them out on literally every song. If you are looking for the annoying, you'll find it. If you are looking for the brilliant, you'll find it. If you want to experience all of their "amazing" and "holy shit brilliance," you should just listen to their mix tapes. You might not even catch it the first listen. It's some of the best hip-hop I've heard in years, and is loaded with clever rhymes on current events and pop culture.
Just think, if they wanted to trim out that extra two hours, and make one album, it might be the greatest album of 2010. They chose not to do that, instead saying, "this is who we are, take the good with the bad." It's witty, funny, and entertaining, everything knowidyuh strives to be. I've never referred to myself in the third person, but I feel it's very hip hop, thus appropriate. Although the Sasquatch blog does not endorse illegal activities, Das Racist smokes more weed than there's food at the store. They said so.
1. Amazing (their best straight up rap song)
2. Nutmeg
3. hahahaha jk?
4. Don Dada
5. Rooftop
6. You Oughta Know (start here if you want a ridiculous fun song)
7. All Tan Everything
8. Rainbow in the Dark
9. Return To Innocence
9. Puerto Rican Cousins
10. Coochie Dip City (let's get stoopid and dance)
Givers
I had my Villagers write up all prepared, then they cancelled yesterday right before I posted this Quadros. Add a one day delay, and I'm somewhat cheating by writing about a band with only one EP in existence.
Givers made a name for themselves opening for Ra Ra Riot and the Dirty Projectors. They have a very earthy reggae type sound, with catchy pop vocals and duets from the male and female lead singers. Their only EP came out in 2009, and their debut full length is due out any day now. Those who have seen them live seem to really dig them, so while I haven't seen them yet, I feel safe including them in my recommendations. Drums, bongos, piano, harmonies, horns, electronics, guitar solos, they have everything working, and can go any direction with their debut. If they have even two or three songs with a similar catchy vibe as "Up Up Up," their debut will be huge. I'm merely passing on the Internet hype to you. If they blow up, you can say you saw them when. If they flop, forget I said anything, kay?
1. Up Up Up
2. Meantime
3. Ceiling of Plankton
4. Saw You First
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Monday, April 4, 2011
Quadros 4: Bassnectar, Wolf Parade, The Head & The Heart, Foster The People
Bassnectar
Bassnectar will be serious entertainment, and may be remembered as the highlight of the festival. I don't spend much time listening to him, so I'm not going to suggest tracks. You don't need to listen to his albums to know what he is all about. It's electronic dance music, and if you are smarter than I, you already guessed his music is heavy in bass. The first time I bought a ticket to his show, I didn't know how to pronounce the name of the band, so I incorrectly pronounced the first part like the fish (bass). It was a hippie friend who talked me into going, so why would I guess he likes bass beats more than nature's fish (which he may or may not smell like)? He's also a big Phish fan, go figure.
The friendly folks on the Sasquatch Message Board have organized "Glowpocalypse" for this set. That means there will be a lot of glow sticks bouncing around, or something like that. I'm not talking about people bringing 20 glow sticks, I'm talking about people literally bringing 1,000 glow sticks. They should be unleashed in unison near the beginning of the set, so you don't want to miss that. Bassnectar also has a crazy visual show with giant monitors displaying weird stuff. If glow sticks wars aren't your thing, you'll still have plenty to see.
Wolf Parade
When festival lineups come out, there are always four or five highlights that stand out for the die hard music fan. Wolf Parade's final show is one of those highlights for Sasquatch 2011. As strange as it sounds, sometimes "I was there," is much cooler than seeing a band you might be more interested in. Shoot, I prefer weather in the mid 80s with sunshine, but the hail storm at Sasquatch 2006 will always be one of the most memorable moments of my life. "I was there."
It can be tough connecting the dots to who is who in the music world, so I'll fill you in. Wolf Parade has two lead singers, Spencer Krug on keyboards, and Dan Boeckner on the guitar. Krug also fronts Sunset Rubdown, and is a member of Frog Eyes. His lesser known solo project is called Moonface. Boeckner, along with his wife, comprise the Handsome Furs. Guitar/Bass player Dante DeCaro started out in Hot Hot Heat.
Just writing this short piece made me realize how excited I am for this. It won't be like the hail storm (it should be much more comfortable) but if they never get back together, I'll be bragging about how "I was there." Live review of their show in Portland last summer here.
Suggested Tracks:
1. Shine A Light
2. California Dreamer
3. You Are A Runner And I Am My Father's Son
4. Kissing the Beehive (Probably their best song, but not the best introduction if you are new to the band. It's really long, but potentially the last song they will ever play live.)
5. This Heart's On Fire (the sensitive song, "You're my favorite thing, I tell it everywhere I go.")
6. Cave-o-sapien (A lot going on in this song)
7. I'll Believe In Anything
8. Ghost Pressure (They'll turn the synth up loud for this one)
9. Cloud Shadow on the Mountain
The Head & The Heart
This sextet includes a male vocalist with a guitar, another male vocalist with a guitar, a female vocalist, bass, drums, and piano. The female vocalist also plays violin. The three singers create some pretty rad harmonies. The heart of the band is the lead vocals, which has a singer/songwriter feel to most of their songs. I meant the head of the band is the lead vocals which stand out. Wait, did I just say the heart of this band is the head? Or is the head the heart? Now I'm confused.
Their self-titled debut will officially be released April 19th. I had a tough time picking my favorites, but had a tougher time eliminating the songs I didn't like. It's a really solid album album top to bottom. A couple of the songs near the beginning show off their folky zany side (Ghosts, Cats And Dogs), while the rest of the album is much mellower. This album will make my year end top 50.
Suggested Tracks:
1. Rivers And Roads
2. Down In The Valley
3. Lost In My Mind
4. Cats And Dogs
5. Ghosts
6. Sound Like Hallelujah
Foster The People
Where did this band came from? Oh, L.A., thanks smart-ass. They played in town recently, so I was planning on strolling up to the venue the night of the show to pick up a ticket. Ten days prior, I noticed on the venue's website the show was sold out. The venue hasn't been around long, but I don't recall a show selling out there (capacity 300). Checking Foster the People's upcoming schedule, their next six shows are all sold out.
The main reason I wanted to go was to see how they would fill their set. They only have three songs in existence, under 12 minutes worth of music. Were they going to play the same three songs four times each? Were they going to do an extended 15 minute jam for each one? Were they going to play 30 minutes worth of covers? Maybe they just play for 12 minutes, then leave? I need to know the answer to this?
Their debut album is set to be released May 24th, a couple days before the festival. I guess that means they play a lot of new material live, which is less exciting than my earlier speculation. They are currently listed as playing the Yeti stage, but I wouldn't be surprised if they are playing the Bigfoot when the schedule is officially released. They are going to have a huge crowd. Whenever I think of Foster The People, I think "the next MGMT."
Suggested Tracks:
1. Pumped Up Kicks (Where all the hype starts)
2. Houdini (I actually dig this song more, but it's not their hit)
3. Helena Beat
4. (yet to exist)
Bassnectar will be serious entertainment, and may be remembered as the highlight of the festival. I don't spend much time listening to him, so I'm not going to suggest tracks. You don't need to listen to his albums to know what he is all about. It's electronic dance music, and if you are smarter than I, you already guessed his music is heavy in bass. The first time I bought a ticket to his show, I didn't know how to pronounce the name of the band, so I incorrectly pronounced the first part like the fish (bass). It was a hippie friend who talked me into going, so why would I guess he likes bass beats more than nature's fish (which he may or may not smell like)? He's also a big Phish fan, go figure.
The friendly folks on the Sasquatch Message Board have organized "Glowpocalypse" for this set. That means there will be a lot of glow sticks bouncing around, or something like that. I'm not talking about people bringing 20 glow sticks, I'm talking about people literally bringing 1,000 glow sticks. They should be unleashed in unison near the beginning of the set, so you don't want to miss that. Bassnectar also has a crazy visual show with giant monitors displaying weird stuff. If glow sticks wars aren't your thing, you'll still have plenty to see.
Wolf Parade
When festival lineups come out, there are always four or five highlights that stand out for the die hard music fan. Wolf Parade's final show is one of those highlights for Sasquatch 2011. As strange as it sounds, sometimes "I was there," is much cooler than seeing a band you might be more interested in. Shoot, I prefer weather in the mid 80s with sunshine, but the hail storm at Sasquatch 2006 will always be one of the most memorable moments of my life. "I was there."
It can be tough connecting the dots to who is who in the music world, so I'll fill you in. Wolf Parade has two lead singers, Spencer Krug on keyboards, and Dan Boeckner on the guitar. Krug also fronts Sunset Rubdown, and is a member of Frog Eyes. His lesser known solo project is called Moonface. Boeckner, along with his wife, comprise the Handsome Furs. Guitar/Bass player Dante DeCaro started out in Hot Hot Heat.
Just writing this short piece made me realize how excited I am for this. It won't be like the hail storm (it should be much more comfortable) but if they never get back together, I'll be bragging about how "I was there." Live review of their show in Portland last summer here.
Suggested Tracks:
1. Shine A Light
2. California Dreamer
3. You Are A Runner And I Am My Father's Son
4. Kissing the Beehive (Probably their best song, but not the best introduction if you are new to the band. It's really long, but potentially the last song they will ever play live.)
5. This Heart's On Fire (the sensitive song, "You're my favorite thing, I tell it everywhere I go.")
6. Cave-o-sapien (A lot going on in this song)
7. I'll Believe In Anything
8. Ghost Pressure (They'll turn the synth up loud for this one)
9. Cloud Shadow on the Mountain
The Head & The Heart
This sextet includes a male vocalist with a guitar, another male vocalist with a guitar, a female vocalist, bass, drums, and piano. The female vocalist also plays violin. The three singers create some pretty rad harmonies. The heart of the band is the lead vocals, which has a singer/songwriter feel to most of their songs. I meant the head of the band is the lead vocals which stand out. Wait, did I just say the heart of this band is the head? Or is the head the heart? Now I'm confused.
Their self-titled debut will officially be released April 19th. I had a tough time picking my favorites, but had a tougher time eliminating the songs I didn't like. It's a really solid album album top to bottom. A couple of the songs near the beginning show off their folky zany side (Ghosts, Cats And Dogs), while the rest of the album is much mellower. This album will make my year end top 50.
Suggested Tracks:
1. Rivers And Roads
2. Down In The Valley
3. Lost In My Mind
4. Cats And Dogs
5. Ghosts
6. Sound Like Hallelujah
Foster The People
Where did this band came from? Oh, L.A., thanks smart-ass. They played in town recently, so I was planning on strolling up to the venue the night of the show to pick up a ticket. Ten days prior, I noticed on the venue's website the show was sold out. The venue hasn't been around long, but I don't recall a show selling out there (capacity 300). Checking Foster the People's upcoming schedule, their next six shows are all sold out.
The main reason I wanted to go was to see how they would fill their set. They only have three songs in existence, under 12 minutes worth of music. Were they going to play the same three songs four times each? Were they going to do an extended 15 minute jam for each one? Were they going to play 30 minutes worth of covers? Maybe they just play for 12 minutes, then leave? I need to know the answer to this?
Their debut album is set to be released May 24th, a couple days before the festival. I guess that means they play a lot of new material live, which is less exciting than my earlier speculation. They are currently listed as playing the Yeti stage, but I wouldn't be surprised if they are playing the Bigfoot when the schedule is officially released. They are going to have a huge crowd. Whenever I think of Foster The People, I think "the next MGMT."
Suggested Tracks:
1. Pumped Up Kicks (Where all the hype starts)
2. Houdini (I actually dig this song more, but it's not their hit)
3. Helena Beat
4. (yet to exist)
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Quadros 3: Local Natives, Fitz & The Tantrums, Surfer Blood, Young The Giant
Local Natives
Local Natives sound like a more guitar driven version of the Fleet Foxes. That is about the biggest compliment I can give them. Personally, I don't need another Fleet Foxes in my life, so maybe that is why I've tried and tried (nearly fifteen listens), but their album Gorilla Manor won't stick.
To be fair, they were pretty good live, so if you dig their music, they should be up there on your can't miss list. You'll get your harmonies, you'll get your mustaches, and you'll get pretty much every song off their only album. The setlist last time I saw them consisted of exactly that, every song on Gorilla Manor. I sure dig the use of the drum stick hitting the drum's rim, which they use extensively, so that always gets me. Hopefully they've been working on some new material by now.
Suggested Tracks:
1. Airplanes (My least favorite song, but it seems to be the favorite of the superfans, so you'll probably like it)
2. Sun Hands (My favorite song live)
3. Warning Signs (Talking Heads cover)
4. World News
5. Wide Eyes
Fitz & The Tantrums
This year's Mayor Hawthorne & The County, this old school 50's style soul band features a horn section, piano, percussion, and no guitar? They are one of the bands on the Sasquatch lineup I fell for the hardest.
A friend of mine caught them live recently and said back-up vocalist Noelle Scaggs is "Honestly Overly Talented," and spoke highly of their performance. I'm confident a couple of the songs below will convince you their music is tons of fun. They are one of my top ten can't misses.
Suggested Tracks:
1. MoneyGrabber
2. Dear Mr. President
3. Tighter (This love song is straight up Doo-Wop, and might be my overall favorite)
4. Breakin' The Chains of Love
5. Don't Gotta Work It Out
6. News 4 U
Surfer Blood
I wrote about this band a lot last year, including three paragraphs in my MusicFestNW 2010 live review. Read that here (use the control + F to find their band name, it's a rather long and boring review). They were also number 46 on my top 50 albums of 2010. Read the album review here.
Suggested Tracks:
1. Swim (I had to stop what I was listening to earlier today to play this song, I missed it so much)
2. Anchorage
3. Twin Peaks (great song live with the louder vocals)
4. Floating Vibes
5. Neighbour Riffs (instrumental)
Young The Giant
One hit wonder, the next band hitting it big you will eventually hate, or somewhere in between? After the first time I heard "My Body," I had to play it again, and again. That song has money written all over it. I don't listen to the radio, but I knew that was going to be a hit. After doing a bit of internet research, it's indeed getting heavy radio play. So there you go, you already knew more about this band than I if you frequent the frequencies.
The rest of the album is pretty tough to pin down. There are some catchy moments, a lot of cheesy pop (effective nonetheless), and a couple dull songs. Their style reminds me a lot of Maroon 5, sorry to say. I doubt I'll be revisiting the album much in the future, but I do love a good pop song, and they have a couple.
Suggested Tracks:
1. My Body
2. Strings
3. 12 Fingers
4. Apartment
5. Guns Out
Local Natives sound like a more guitar driven version of the Fleet Foxes. That is about the biggest compliment I can give them. Personally, I don't need another Fleet Foxes in my life, so maybe that is why I've tried and tried (nearly fifteen listens), but their album Gorilla Manor won't stick.
To be fair, they were pretty good live, so if you dig their music, they should be up there on your can't miss list. You'll get your harmonies, you'll get your mustaches, and you'll get pretty much every song off their only album. The setlist last time I saw them consisted of exactly that, every song on Gorilla Manor. I sure dig the use of the drum stick hitting the drum's rim, which they use extensively, so that always gets me. Hopefully they've been working on some new material by now.
Suggested Tracks:
1. Airplanes (My least favorite song, but it seems to be the favorite of the superfans, so you'll probably like it)
2. Sun Hands (My favorite song live)
3. Warning Signs (Talking Heads cover)
4. World News
5. Wide Eyes
Fitz & The Tantrums
This year's Mayor Hawthorne & The County, this old school 50's style soul band features a horn section, piano, percussion, and no guitar? They are one of the bands on the Sasquatch lineup I fell for the hardest.
A friend of mine caught them live recently and said back-up vocalist Noelle Scaggs is "Honestly Overly Talented," and spoke highly of their performance. I'm confident a couple of the songs below will convince you their music is tons of fun. They are one of my top ten can't misses.
Suggested Tracks:
1. MoneyGrabber
2. Dear Mr. President
3. Tighter (This love song is straight up Doo-Wop, and might be my overall favorite)
4. Breakin' The Chains of Love
5. Don't Gotta Work It Out
6. News 4 U
Surfer Blood
I wrote about this band a lot last year, including three paragraphs in my MusicFestNW 2010 live review. Read that here (use the control + F to find their band name, it's a rather long and boring review). They were also number 46 on my top 50 albums of 2010. Read the album review here.
Suggested Tracks:
1. Swim (I had to stop what I was listening to earlier today to play this song, I missed it so much)
2. Anchorage
3. Twin Peaks (great song live with the louder vocals)
4. Floating Vibes
5. Neighbour Riffs (instrumental)
Young The Giant
One hit wonder, the next band hitting it big you will eventually hate, or somewhere in between? After the first time I heard "My Body," I had to play it again, and again. That song has money written all over it. I don't listen to the radio, but I knew that was going to be a hit. After doing a bit of internet research, it's indeed getting heavy radio play. So there you go, you already knew more about this band than I if you frequent the frequencies.
The rest of the album is pretty tough to pin down. There are some catchy moments, a lot of cheesy pop (effective nonetheless), and a couple dull songs. Their style reminds me a lot of Maroon 5, sorry to say. I doubt I'll be revisiting the album much in the future, but I do love a good pop song, and they have a couple.
Suggested Tracks:
1. My Body
2. Strings
3. 12 Fingers
4. Apartment
5. Guns Out
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Quadros 2: Chromeo, Aloe Blacc, Gayngs, Smith Westerns
Chromeo
Chromeo is the definition of cool. You know that one friend who has family in show biz, or knows a lot of famous people, or is really good at making up stories, or is so crazy they do off the wall things? You know how for some stupid reason, you feel really cool hanging out with that person? That is what seeing Chromeo is like, you just feel cool, and not in a hipster sort of way.
A not so brief review of my introduction to Chromeo; I was at some no name awkward warehouse type venue drinking Sparks (that caffeine/alcohol horrible drink) with two wasted friends. We were closing out our tabs right when Chromeo took the stage, with one friend running out the door. My remaining buddy said, "come on, let's get out of here," but I told him I wanted to check out a song or two first. About 60 seconds later, he was puking in a trash can, but soon after, he yells, "these guys are awesome!" We were raging on the dance floor for the rest of their set. Their name was still unknown to me until six months later when I saw their album in the new release section at Everyday Music. They were easy to spot based on the album cover.
I'm glad they are playing the main stage during the day. They deserve it. They don't need, nor do they have much of a light show. There will be many main stage campers leaving the festival huge Chromeo fans, and I'm talking about the people who have never heard of them. You will be chanting along with thousands of others at the beginning of their set, I guarantee it.
Suggested Tracks:
1. Tenderoni (easily their most popular)
2. My Girl Is Calling Me A Liar (I don't care, this is my favorite, the last 35 seconds are so funny)
3. Bonafied Lovin
4. Hot Mess
5. Fancy Footwork
6. Outta Sight
7. Night By Night
Aloe Blacc
This dude sounds just like Bill Withers, especially on the song, "I Need A Dollar." Even the background lyric of "hey hey," is Bill Withers' style. So who is Bill Withers? He sang, "Lean on Me," and "Ain't No Sunshine." It's old school soul/R&B. Aloe Blacc's style is similar on his latest album Good Things, however his first album, Shine Through, is all over the place. It has the Soul/R&B aspect, but he also raps, and has tracks that would be classified as world beats or Latin music. He even sings in Spanish on a couple songs, complete with horns and bongos. It sounds like he was trying to find his style, before realizing his soulful voice is his greatest asset.
There a couple handfuls of bands/acts on the Sasquatch lineup I knew nothing about three weeks ago, and having listened to most of them since, Aloe Blacc stands out as one of my favorites. Then again, I dig soul/R&B, and Bill Withers. All the tracks listed below are on his most recent album, Good Things. This album is more of what you should expect during his Sasquatch performance, but don't be surprised if he starts rapping, or sings a song in Spanish.
Suggested Tracks:
1. Femme Fatale (it is unlike me to place a remake of a classic as the top track, but he makes this version of the Velvet Underground classic his own).
2. I Need A Dollar
3. Life So Hard (he sounds like Curtis Mayfield at the beginning of this song).
4. Hey Brother (sounds like a song straight out of a Shaft movie).
5. You Make Me Smile
Gayngs
Relayted, their debut album, was my 50th favorite album of 2010. Read my opinions on the band and that album here. It is important to point out there are 20+ musicians who contributed to that album, and one is Bon Iver's Justin Vernon. Who knows how many of those musicians will be at Sasquatch? It was really hard to come up with a list of top songs, because the album is so diverse in styles, which should be expected with so many contributing musicians.
Suggested Tracks:
1. Cry (another remake, but the original is obscure)
2. No Sweat
3. Gaudy Side of Town
4. Spanish Platinum
Smith Westerns
Listening to their self-titled debut didn't exactly having me calling home. It's sloppy, European type rock with a decent dose of punk. They recently released Dye It Blonde, which is getting great reviews by seemingly everyone. The album isn't quiet worth the critic acclaim it is getting, in my opinion, but it is MUCH sharper than their debut. Their slightly high pitched fuzzy guitar sound appearing on most of their newer songs is a tribute to their developing sound. I could pick that guitar sound out of a lineup.
Suggested Tracks:
1. Dye The World (easily my favorite)
2. Smile (catchy chorus)
3. Weekend
4. Only One (probably their most Beatles sounding tune)
Other favorite songs, other recommendations, other live experiences, post them in the comments section.
.
Chromeo is the definition of cool. You know that one friend who has family in show biz, or knows a lot of famous people, or is really good at making up stories, or is so crazy they do off the wall things? You know how for some stupid reason, you feel really cool hanging out with that person? That is what seeing Chromeo is like, you just feel cool, and not in a hipster sort of way.
A not so brief review of my introduction to Chromeo; I was at some no name awkward warehouse type venue drinking Sparks (that caffeine/alcohol horrible drink) with two wasted friends. We were closing out our tabs right when Chromeo took the stage, with one friend running out the door. My remaining buddy said, "come on, let's get out of here," but I told him I wanted to check out a song or two first. About 60 seconds later, he was puking in a trash can, but soon after, he yells, "these guys are awesome!" We were raging on the dance floor for the rest of their set. Their name was still unknown to me until six months later when I saw their album in the new release section at Everyday Music. They were easy to spot based on the album cover.
I'm glad they are playing the main stage during the day. They deserve it. They don't need, nor do they have much of a light show. There will be many main stage campers leaving the festival huge Chromeo fans, and I'm talking about the people who have never heard of them. You will be chanting along with thousands of others at the beginning of their set, I guarantee it.
Suggested Tracks:
1. Tenderoni (easily their most popular)
2. My Girl Is Calling Me A Liar (I don't care, this is my favorite, the last 35 seconds are so funny)
3. Bonafied Lovin
4. Hot Mess
5. Fancy Footwork
6. Outta Sight
7. Night By Night
Aloe Blacc
This dude sounds just like Bill Withers, especially on the song, "I Need A Dollar." Even the background lyric of "hey hey," is Bill Withers' style. So who is Bill Withers? He sang, "Lean on Me," and "Ain't No Sunshine." It's old school soul/R&B. Aloe Blacc's style is similar on his latest album Good Things, however his first album, Shine Through, is all over the place. It has the Soul/R&B aspect, but he also raps, and has tracks that would be classified as world beats or Latin music. He even sings in Spanish on a couple songs, complete with horns and bongos. It sounds like he was trying to find his style, before realizing his soulful voice is his greatest asset.
There a couple handfuls of bands/acts on the Sasquatch lineup I knew nothing about three weeks ago, and having listened to most of them since, Aloe Blacc stands out as one of my favorites. Then again, I dig soul/R&B, and Bill Withers. All the tracks listed below are on his most recent album, Good Things. This album is more of what you should expect during his Sasquatch performance, but don't be surprised if he starts rapping, or sings a song in Spanish.
Suggested Tracks:
1. Femme Fatale (it is unlike me to place a remake of a classic as the top track, but he makes this version of the Velvet Underground classic his own).
2. I Need A Dollar
3. Life So Hard (he sounds like Curtis Mayfield at the beginning of this song).
4. Hey Brother (sounds like a song straight out of a Shaft movie).
5. You Make Me Smile
Gayngs
Relayted, their debut album, was my 50th favorite album of 2010. Read my opinions on the band and that album here. It is important to point out there are 20+ musicians who contributed to that album, and one is Bon Iver's Justin Vernon. Who knows how many of those musicians will be at Sasquatch? It was really hard to come up with a list of top songs, because the album is so diverse in styles, which should be expected with so many contributing musicians.
Suggested Tracks:
1. Cry (another remake, but the original is obscure)
2. No Sweat
3. Gaudy Side of Town
4. Spanish Platinum
Smith Westerns
Listening to their self-titled debut didn't exactly having me calling home. It's sloppy, European type rock with a decent dose of punk. They recently released Dye It Blonde, which is getting great reviews by seemingly everyone. The album isn't quiet worth the critic acclaim it is getting, in my opinion, but it is MUCH sharper than their debut. Their slightly high pitched fuzzy guitar sound appearing on most of their newer songs is a tribute to their developing sound. I could pick that guitar sound out of a lineup.
Suggested Tracks:
1. Dye The World (easily my favorite)
2. Smile (catchy chorus)
3. Weekend
4. Only One (probably their most Beatles sounding tune)
Other favorite songs, other recommendations, other live experiences, post them in the comments section.
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Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Quadros 1: Wilco, Yeasayer, Alberta Cross, Twin Shadow
Between now and the festival, the only thing we have to talk about is the pending schedule, lineup adjustments, and the lineup itself. Rather than saying, "I like this band a lot," why not dive in depth into each band? Tonight starts the weekly feature, "Quadros," where I will tell you what I know about four bands, and give you a couple songs (or albums) to get you started if you are unfamiliar. Yes, I made up the word "Quadros." I'm not going to be suggesting obscure and rare tracks trying to prove an elitist grasp of music, just the better or catchier tunes. I'll be spending three plus hours listening to each act on the lineup, if I haven't already, so I'm not guessing here.
Not everyone visiting this site is an Internet nerd with hours a day available for listening to music, so this should help some of you get familiar with the lineup. I'll also tell you my experiences seeing these bands live, or the opinions of trusted friends if I haven't seen them. I'm not a youtuber, nor do I promote illegally downloading music, so I'll leave the research of my suggestions up to you. Feel free to agree, disagree, or provide additional song/album suggestions in the comments section, as well as providing your live experiences and opinions.
Wilco
It took me a while to get into Wilco too. I even skipped most of their set at Sasquatch 2005 for relaxation and shade (it was 98 degrees that year). I'm still kicking myself for that, because I have since become a huge Wilco fan, and seeing them live for the first (second) time in 2008 sold me. Nels Cline shreds on the guitar, and Tweedy is such a comedian addressing the crowd. They were number 13 on my top 20 shows of 2010. Most of why I like Wilco live is addressed there, so read it if you are curious.
If you are new to the band, you should start with the album Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, which is generally accepted as their best. Personally, Summerteeth is my favorite. If you are going to Monday's show, check out both of those albums. My suggested tracks below are by no means the best Wilco songs, and will likely be ridiculed by devoted Wilco fans, but I feel it is a diverse start. They have a ton of material after all. "Wilco will love you baby."
Suggested Tracks:
1. War On War (their catchiest tune)
2. A Shot In The Arm
3. Casino Queen (a fun song)
4. Spiders (Kidsmoke) (the stoner jam)
5. Impossible Germany (listen to the guitar solo(s) at the end)
6. Passenger Side (you like road sodas?)
7. Hate It Here (a fun sad song about no longer having your lady around).
Yeasayer
Yeasayer is experimental rock with extensive harmonies. Truth be told, I think All Hour Cymbals was an outstanding album, and I think Odd Blood was way too much. It sounds like a completely different band. I tried really hard to add a couple Odd Blood track selections below, but my real top six would all be All Hours Cymbals songs. I saw Yeasayer live a couple years ago, and I thought it was a below average performance. The bass player mostly sang with a bass around his neck, and when he did play, I couldn't hear it (like it wasn't plugged in). The main lead singer appeared to be mimicking Avey Tare (of Animal Collective), so he didn't grab my attention either. Anand Wilder, the guitar/electronics dude, stole the show. I kept thinking, "he needs to form his own band." Their light show was minimal, and they had cheesy white bulbs placed ten feet off the ground throughout the stage which occasionally changed colors (very unoriginal).
To be fair, I've heard outstanding things about Yeasayer live, and I've been looking forward to seeing them a second time. Maybe I was having a bad day when I saw them the first time? They've been known to have visuals projected on a screen behind the band, which they didn't have when I saw them, so that would've created a much better experience. It appears they will be playing an evening set Sunday on the Bigfoot stage, so hopefully they bring their best, including those visuals.
Suggested Tracks:
1. Wait For The Wintertime
2. Sunrise
3. Rome (grooooovy beat)
4. Red Cave
5. Ambling Alp
6. 2080
Alberta Cross
Alberta Cross' 2007 debut EP, Thief and Heartbreaker, has five songs that could have made my top 20 for the year. Their lead singer looks and acts like a rock star, even if he sounds a bit like a choir girl. Their bluesy rock sound landed them on the Dave Matthews Band fall 2010 tour, opening with Ben Harper, so it's obvious some people like them. One would think that break would vault them to popularity, but that remains to be seen.
I spent so much time listening to the Thief and Hearbreaker, I actually had to force myself to quit listening to it. I can't think of another album/EP I can say this about, I was that obsessed. It still has their greatest songs, a couple of which appeared on their first full length album, Broken Side of Time. Having seen them live a couple times, I can say they are very tight. They sound pretty much like their albums, which is a compliment in this case, but they do put a spin on a couple of their bigger songs. "Old Man Chicago" is classic.
Suggested Tracks:
1. Old Man Chicago (great great song, I prefer the EP version)
2. The Thief & The Heartbreaker
3. I've Known For Long
4. Rise From The Shadows (they typically end their shows with this chant-a-long)
5. Devil's All You've Ever Had
6. Low Man
7. Atx (much more rockin' than their EP)
Twin Shadow
I mistakenly assumed Twin Shadow was a dance act when I first read about him last fall. There are some good beats on his album Forget, but it doesn't make me want to dance. It's more like 80's new wave music than dance music. If 80's new wave makes you dance, that's cool. I keep thinking of Depeche Mode whenever I listen to Twin Shadow. Depeche Mode doesn't make me dance though. I've heard very few testimonies on what his live shows are like, so listen to the suggested tracks, and see if he fits your likings.
1. For Now (by far the best)
2. When We're Dancing
3. Slow
4. Shooting Holes At The Moon
Not everyone visiting this site is an Internet nerd with hours a day available for listening to music, so this should help some of you get familiar with the lineup. I'll also tell you my experiences seeing these bands live, or the opinions of trusted friends if I haven't seen them. I'm not a youtuber, nor do I promote illegally downloading music, so I'll leave the research of my suggestions up to you. Feel free to agree, disagree, or provide additional song/album suggestions in the comments section, as well as providing your live experiences and opinions.
Wilco
It took me a while to get into Wilco too. I even skipped most of their set at Sasquatch 2005 for relaxation and shade (it was 98 degrees that year). I'm still kicking myself for that, because I have since become a huge Wilco fan, and seeing them live for the first (second) time in 2008 sold me. Nels Cline shreds on the guitar, and Tweedy is such a comedian addressing the crowd. They were number 13 on my top 20 shows of 2010. Most of why I like Wilco live is addressed there, so read it if you are curious.
If you are new to the band, you should start with the album Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, which is generally accepted as their best. Personally, Summerteeth is my favorite. If you are going to Monday's show, check out both of those albums. My suggested tracks below are by no means the best Wilco songs, and will likely be ridiculed by devoted Wilco fans, but I feel it is a diverse start. They have a ton of material after all. "Wilco will love you baby."
Suggested Tracks:
1. War On War (their catchiest tune)
2. A Shot In The Arm
3. Casino Queen (a fun song)
4. Spiders (Kidsmoke) (the stoner jam)
5. Impossible Germany (listen to the guitar solo(s) at the end)
6. Passenger Side (you like road sodas?)
7. Hate It Here (a fun sad song about no longer having your lady around).
Yeasayer
Yeasayer is experimental rock with extensive harmonies. Truth be told, I think All Hour Cymbals was an outstanding album, and I think Odd Blood was way too much. It sounds like a completely different band. I tried really hard to add a couple Odd Blood track selections below, but my real top six would all be All Hours Cymbals songs. I saw Yeasayer live a couple years ago, and I thought it was a below average performance. The bass player mostly sang with a bass around his neck, and when he did play, I couldn't hear it (like it wasn't plugged in). The main lead singer appeared to be mimicking Avey Tare (of Animal Collective), so he didn't grab my attention either. Anand Wilder, the guitar/electronics dude, stole the show. I kept thinking, "he needs to form his own band." Their light show was minimal, and they had cheesy white bulbs placed ten feet off the ground throughout the stage which occasionally changed colors (very unoriginal).
To be fair, I've heard outstanding things about Yeasayer live, and I've been looking forward to seeing them a second time. Maybe I was having a bad day when I saw them the first time? They've been known to have visuals projected on a screen behind the band, which they didn't have when I saw them, so that would've created a much better experience. It appears they will be playing an evening set Sunday on the Bigfoot stage, so hopefully they bring their best, including those visuals.
Suggested Tracks:
1. Wait For The Wintertime
2. Sunrise
3. Rome (grooooovy beat)
4. Red Cave
5. Ambling Alp
6. 2080
Alberta Cross
Alberta Cross' 2007 debut EP, Thief and Heartbreaker, has five songs that could have made my top 20 for the year. Their lead singer looks and acts like a rock star, even if he sounds a bit like a choir girl. Their bluesy rock sound landed them on the Dave Matthews Band fall 2010 tour, opening with Ben Harper, so it's obvious some people like them. One would think that break would vault them to popularity, but that remains to be seen.
I spent so much time listening to the Thief and Hearbreaker, I actually had to force myself to quit listening to it. I can't think of another album/EP I can say this about, I was that obsessed. It still has their greatest songs, a couple of which appeared on their first full length album, Broken Side of Time. Having seen them live a couple times, I can say they are very tight. They sound pretty much like their albums, which is a compliment in this case, but they do put a spin on a couple of their bigger songs. "Old Man Chicago" is classic.
Suggested Tracks:
1. Old Man Chicago (great great song, I prefer the EP version)
2. The Thief & The Heartbreaker
3. I've Known For Long
4. Rise From The Shadows (they typically end their shows with this chant-a-long)
5. Devil's All You've Ever Had
6. Low Man
7. Atx (much more rockin' than their EP)
Twin Shadow
I mistakenly assumed Twin Shadow was a dance act when I first read about him last fall. There are some good beats on his album Forget, but it doesn't make me want to dance. It's more like 80's new wave music than dance music. If 80's new wave makes you dance, that's cool. I keep thinking of Depeche Mode whenever I listen to Twin Shadow. Depeche Mode doesn't make me dance though. I've heard very few testimonies on what his live shows are like, so listen to the suggested tracks, and see if he fits your likings.
1. For Now (by far the best)
2. When We're Dancing
3. Slow
4. Shooting Holes At The Moon
Thursday, February 10, 2011
How About That Lineup, Eh?
We have plenty of time to digest the lineup over the next couple months, so I'll start by giving my opinion on the top tier, and discuss another couple highlights. Feel free to give your opinion on the lineup (or your opinion on my opinion) in the comments section.
Top Tier: At first glance, this is the only disappointment of the lineup. 2010 was too good to be true, and the headliners (Massive Attack, Ween, My Morning Jacket) were three of the best shows I saw all year. Those headliners, along with Pavement and a stacked undercard, is why so many people living outside of the Pacific NW chose to make Sasquatch 2010 their first. It's also why the festival sold out in record time. That was last year though, so comparing this year's lineup isn't exactly fair. If we must compare the two, this year we get a fourth day to hang out with our friends at one of the biggest/friendliest parties on the planet, discussion over.
It's a bit of a shame Arcade Fire isn't on the lineup. Word is they were in discussions, but something happened at the last minute. Whatever happened occurred within the last two weeks, so the lineup probably looks much different than expected. Does that mean we can expect a giant addition, not really, especially since the festival might be sold out by the time you read this. It would suggest there is some extra money laying around. Death From Above 1979 might have gathered that extra cash, since a month ago, no one knew they were getting back together, and they are a HUGE addition (they weren't on the original poster).
I'm completely down with Wilco, they are a huge draw in the NW, and the Flaming Lips playing the Soft Bulletin is gigantic. I follow the music scene pretty close, and I don't recall the last time they did this album live. It is one of my favorite albums of all time. I'm one of those people who have seen the Lips enough times to think, "maybe I don't need to see them again." I've seen them indoors and outdoors, during daylight and while dark, with the UFO and without, with the hamster ball and without, with naked women on stage and without, but I never thought I'd have a chance to see the Soft Bulletin live. That is THE highlight.
Death Cab For Cutie isn't really my bag, but they also have a huge following in the NW, and the dance tent lineup this year is stacked. Relatively smaller headliners isn't that big of a deal when you have other grand alternatives. I'm somewhat disappointed I've missed so many EDM acts the past two years, because I've spent so much time on the main stage. I've seen some below average Modest Mouse shows (the band I've seen live the most), but the last time I caught them 18 months ago, it was pretty great. And the Foo Fighters might be the second most entertaining main stage act of the weekend (behind the Flaming Lips). I've written much about the Foos on this blog already.
Other highlights include Wolf Parade's first ever last show ever, Rodrigo Y Gabriella (I'm not sure why more people aren't talking about this), Bassnectar, Guided By Voices, Archers of Loaf, and an undercard stacked as usual. Speaking of Guided By Voices, they have not played too many shows since their recent reunion, but I was lucky enough to catch one of them last fall, and wrote a review. It's a fair assessment of what you might expect. I should warn you, I'm very PG-13 on this blog, but I can get a bit adult oriented on the Cog. You'll see what I mean reading the intro of this review. Read it here.
Much more to come over the next couple weeks. I've seen many of the bands on the lineup live, or listened to them extensively, so I have a lot of opinions. In time, I'll see if I can get a mini review of every act on the lineup. However, sometimes it's just really tough to say anything good about certain acts.
What do you think about the lineup?
.
Top Tier: At first glance, this is the only disappointment of the lineup. 2010 was too good to be true, and the headliners (Massive Attack, Ween, My Morning Jacket) were three of the best shows I saw all year. Those headliners, along with Pavement and a stacked undercard, is why so many people living outside of the Pacific NW chose to make Sasquatch 2010 their first. It's also why the festival sold out in record time. That was last year though, so comparing this year's lineup isn't exactly fair. If we must compare the two, this year we get a fourth day to hang out with our friends at one of the biggest/friendliest parties on the planet, discussion over.
It's a bit of a shame Arcade Fire isn't on the lineup. Word is they were in discussions, but something happened at the last minute. Whatever happened occurred within the last two weeks, so the lineup probably looks much different than expected. Does that mean we can expect a giant addition, not really, especially since the festival might be sold out by the time you read this. It would suggest there is some extra money laying around. Death From Above 1979 might have gathered that extra cash, since a month ago, no one knew they were getting back together, and they are a HUGE addition (they weren't on the original poster).
I'm completely down with Wilco, they are a huge draw in the NW, and the Flaming Lips playing the Soft Bulletin is gigantic. I follow the music scene pretty close, and I don't recall the last time they did this album live. It is one of my favorite albums of all time. I'm one of those people who have seen the Lips enough times to think, "maybe I don't need to see them again." I've seen them indoors and outdoors, during daylight and while dark, with the UFO and without, with the hamster ball and without, with naked women on stage and without, but I never thought I'd have a chance to see the Soft Bulletin live. That is THE highlight.
Death Cab For Cutie isn't really my bag, but they also have a huge following in the NW, and the dance tent lineup this year is stacked. Relatively smaller headliners isn't that big of a deal when you have other grand alternatives. I'm somewhat disappointed I've missed so many EDM acts the past two years, because I've spent so much time on the main stage. I've seen some below average Modest Mouse shows (the band I've seen live the most), but the last time I caught them 18 months ago, it was pretty great. And the Foo Fighters might be the second most entertaining main stage act of the weekend (behind the Flaming Lips). I've written much about the Foos on this blog already.
Other highlights include Wolf Parade's first ever last show ever, Rodrigo Y Gabriella (I'm not sure why more people aren't talking about this), Bassnectar, Guided By Voices, Archers of Loaf, and an undercard stacked as usual. Speaking of Guided By Voices, they have not played too many shows since their recent reunion, but I was lucky enough to catch one of them last fall, and wrote a review. It's a fair assessment of what you might expect. I should warn you, I'm very PG-13 on this blog, but I can get a bit adult oriented on the Cog. You'll see what I mean reading the intro of this review. Read it here.
Much more to come over the next couple weeks. I've seen many of the bands on the lineup live, or listened to them extensively, so I have a lot of opinions. In time, I'll see if I can get a mini review of every act on the lineup. However, sometimes it's just really tough to say anything good about certain acts.
What do you think about the lineup?
.
Saturday, February 5, 2011
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