I'm trying to include more of these random lists I keep coming up with. So today, I am giving you an impromptu list that I came up with last night. These are songs that beat me down. Some of them I used to like, but I just have heard them too many times and I cannot take it anymore.
1. Sweet Caroline by Neil Diamond. I love many of Neil Diamond's other songs, particularly Love on the Rocks, but this one has beaten me to a bloody pulp. It's probably the most overplayed song ever and everybody sings it in bars.
2. Sweet Home Alabama by Lynyrd Skynyrd. It's the ultimate Freedom Rock song and it's annoying. It needs to be put to rest. Lynyrd Skynyrd has beaten us down for too long now. Please go away.
3. You Never Call Me By My Name by David Allen Coe. Northerns may not know this song, at least judging by the lack of enthusiam last fall when it was played by Band of Horses at a show at the Bowery in NYC. But everyone in the south sings this song to irritation every time it is played in a bar.
4. Anything by the band The Cult. I particularly can't stand anything off of the Sonic Temple album. But every bar I go into, some jerk has to play a song by this horrible band to drag down the energy in the bar. Why, I ask you? Why?
5. Stranglehold by Ted Nugent. Really, I could point to any song by Ted Nugent. Not only is the man a moron, but his music gives me multiple headaches at once. I won't put down his guitar skills though.
6. Sexyback by Justin Timberlake. Will people please stop overrating this song? I'll admit that the new JT* is talented, but this song is vomitous. He has songs that are infinately better than this but for some reason this one is horribly overplayed.
* "JT" will always be James Taylor to me.
Saturday, June 30, 2007
Thursday, June 28, 2007
Reach for the Sun
Saturday was my first experience in seeing the glorious Dallas band The Polyphonic Spree. I could only describe their music as joyously uplifting. I have enjoyed the band's music for years, but somehow I have managed to missed them all this time. I recently picked up their latest release called The Fragile Army, which I have come to love.
For the first set, the entire band of twenty-something members came out dressed in their black, army-like suits with hearts and crosses on them. They played mostly songs from the new album. I especially loved them opening with Running Away and shooting the confetti and streamers. It was a great way to start the show. However, I think the encore was the best part of the show as the band came out in their traditional robes to play songs from older albums, including my favorite Light & Day. I was also quite impressed with their cover of Lithium, perhaps my favorite song by the nineties band Nirvana.
It is hard to describe my feelings during this show. I was there with a good friend who loves the band and the music more than I do and it was great to be with her as we have not spent much time together. It was nice to find something we could share. I found myself wearing a huge smile and dancing. Their music illicits a certain emotion in me that makes me happy to be alive. I've often played it on days when I am very happy in joy and days when I am very sad to bring me joy. It was great to see them live and find out that they are every bit as great as I imagined. I cannot recommend seeing this band enough to all the readers out there.
For the first set, the entire band of twenty-something members came out dressed in their black, army-like suits with hearts and crosses on them. They played mostly songs from the new album. I especially loved them opening with Running Away and shooting the confetti and streamers. It was a great way to start the show. However, I think the encore was the best part of the show as the band came out in their traditional robes to play songs from older albums, including my favorite Light & Day. I was also quite impressed with their cover of Lithium, perhaps my favorite song by the nineties band Nirvana.
It is hard to describe my feelings during this show. I was there with a good friend who loves the band and the music more than I do and it was great to be with her as we have not spent much time together. It was nice to find something we could share. I found myself wearing a huge smile and dancing. Their music illicits a certain emotion in me that makes me happy to be alive. I've often played it on days when I am very happy in joy and days when I am very sad to bring me joy. It was great to see them live and find out that they are every bit as great as I imagined. I cannot recommend seeing this band enough to all the readers out there.
Sunday, June 24, 2007
Perfect From Now On
Since discovering (as well as admiring) the writing style of Chuck Klosterman, I’ve been trying to find more writers like him. One day, while perusing the aisles of The Strand Bookstore, I came across the book Perfect From Now On: How Indie Rock Saved My Life by John Sellers. The title, while piquing my interest, did give me a bit of chuckle in a nerdy sort of way. How Indie Rock Saved My Life? It sounds a bit contrived. But in reading the inside sleeve, I got the impression that Sellers and I share a passion for indie music.
I read the entire book over my recent vacation to Mexico. I could hardly put it down as I enjoyed each page of Sellers mixing a witty criticism for his favorite bands with his overwhelming desire to meet them and attend their shows. He describes his journey from listening to pop music to discovering such indie bands of eighties and ninties as Joy Division, The Smiths, The Replacements, and Pavement.
A good portion of the book is devoted to the discovery and love of his favorite band, Guided By Voices. I find it the story nothing short of fateful as he is introduced to them toward the end of band’s career by his then girlfriend. He then proceeds to validate his obsession by traveling to the band’s hometown of Dayton, OH to meet and party with the band and their charismatic leader, Robert Pollard. His admiration of Pollard is that probably that which I would equate to mine for such musicians as Wayne Coyne, Jeff Tweedy, and Thom Yorke. I can only imagine if I were in Sellers’s situation where he meets his unapproachable indie rock idol and can hardly speak to him. I meet some of my favorite musicians all the time, but I have yet come across one that I put on that pedestal like Ben Gibbard or Colin Meloy and have no idea just how I might react in such a situation.
I felt like I could identify with a lot of what Sellers writes in his book though I cannot say that I am terribly familiar with many of the bands that he admires. The appendices of the book include several lists (what is the deal with us indie nerds and lists?) and clever ideas such as a formula for calculating music preference. While I haven’t used the formula to quantify just how much I love my favorite bands, I find the idea amusing. My only criticism of the book is the (at times) overwhelmingly long footnotes. The quality of them is not bad, they are just too long.
I’d recommend this book for anyone who, well, enjoys reading this blog and has a passion for music. It is just a tad over 200-pages in its hardback form and a great read.
I read the entire book over my recent vacation to Mexico. I could hardly put it down as I enjoyed each page of Sellers mixing a witty criticism for his favorite bands with his overwhelming desire to meet them and attend their shows. He describes his journey from listening to pop music to discovering such indie bands of eighties and ninties as Joy Division, The Smiths, The Replacements, and Pavement.
A good portion of the book is devoted to the discovery and love of his favorite band, Guided By Voices. I find it the story nothing short of fateful as he is introduced to them toward the end of band’s career by his then girlfriend. He then proceeds to validate his obsession by traveling to the band’s hometown of Dayton, OH to meet and party with the band and their charismatic leader, Robert Pollard. His admiration of Pollard is that probably that which I would equate to mine for such musicians as Wayne Coyne, Jeff Tweedy, and Thom Yorke. I can only imagine if I were in Sellers’s situation where he meets his unapproachable indie rock idol and can hardly speak to him. I meet some of my favorite musicians all the time, but I have yet come across one that I put on that pedestal like Ben Gibbard or Colin Meloy and have no idea just how I might react in such a situation.
I felt like I could identify with a lot of what Sellers writes in his book though I cannot say that I am terribly familiar with many of the bands that he admires. The appendices of the book include several lists (what is the deal with us indie nerds and lists?) and clever ideas such as a formula for calculating music preference. While I haven’t used the formula to quantify just how much I love my favorite bands, I find the idea amusing. My only criticism of the book is the (at times) overwhelmingly long footnotes. The quality of them is not bad, they are just too long.
I’d recommend this book for anyone who, well, enjoys reading this blog and has a passion for music. It is just a tad over 200-pages in its hardback form and a great read.
Thursday, June 21, 2007
Infected: 28 Weeks Later
Horror movies are for the most part pretty lame these days. It's a genre littered with endless and unwanted sequels (another Halloween film later this year?!?), torture porn like Saw and Hostel, or unnecessary remakes like Black Christmas and The Hills Have Eyes. It's a relief and a surprise when a horror film comes out that to me is actually well made and worth watching. The recently released 28 Weeks Later fits the bill for me. It's a sequel, but one that works and builds on the original and isn't just a re-hash of the previous film.
Personally, I've always had a weak spot for zombie films especially George Romero's classic trilogy (the fourth film Land of the Dead wasn't that great). He brought a deft mix of social commentary and brutal gore together to make a thoughtful satire of our society. Through most of the 1980's and 1990's the zombie film genre suffered through a stretch of bad movies. It was quite a surprise when Danny Boyle's 28 Days Later was released in the U.S. in 2003. Director Danny Boyle and writer Alex Garland reworked the zombie tradition making it a disease spread through blood that causes an insatiable rage in those infected. The jarring, hand-held digital camera work added to the shocking brutality of the film.
When I first heard that there would be a sequel and that Boyle and Garland would only be producers, I was wary. However, director Juan Carlos Fresnadillo has put together a direct follow-up that uses the same style of film making but adds a whole new political commentary into the mix. Twenty-eight weeks after the end of the first film, the U.S. military has occupied London and blocked off a portion as a safe zone to start the re-building process. There are plenty of parallels to the Iraqi conflict in the film. And of course, things go horribly wrong when the infection is released back into the safe zone. Soon a small group of survivors are on the run not only from the infected, but also the military who will do anything to stop the infection from spreading. The eerie deserted location shooting in London makes a return here and just as before adds to the apocalyptic, desolate feel of the film. Granted, as in many horror films, there are some plot holes (like one zombie that keeps reappearing), but overall the film's mix of socio-politcal commentary, action, and location shooting make it well worth the viewing especially for fans of zombie films. A-
Personally, I've always had a weak spot for zombie films especially George Romero's classic trilogy (the fourth film Land of the Dead wasn't that great). He brought a deft mix of social commentary and brutal gore together to make a thoughtful satire of our society. Through most of the 1980's and 1990's the zombie film genre suffered through a stretch of bad movies. It was quite a surprise when Danny Boyle's 28 Days Later was released in the U.S. in 2003. Director Danny Boyle and writer Alex Garland reworked the zombie tradition making it a disease spread through blood that causes an insatiable rage in those infected. The jarring, hand-held digital camera work added to the shocking brutality of the film.
When I first heard that there would be a sequel and that Boyle and Garland would only be producers, I was wary. However, director Juan Carlos Fresnadillo has put together a direct follow-up that uses the same style of film making but adds a whole new political commentary into the mix. Twenty-eight weeks after the end of the first film, the U.S. military has occupied London and blocked off a portion as a safe zone to start the re-building process. There are plenty of parallels to the Iraqi conflict in the film. And of course, things go horribly wrong when the infection is released back into the safe zone. Soon a small group of survivors are on the run not only from the infected, but also the military who will do anything to stop the infection from spreading. The eerie deserted location shooting in London makes a return here and just as before adds to the apocalyptic, desolate feel of the film. Granted, as in many horror films, there are some plot holes (like one zombie that keeps reappearing), but overall the film's mix of socio-politcal commentary, action, and location shooting make it well worth the viewing especially for fans of zombie films. A-
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
I Was in a Hurry When the Lights Went Dim
I was eagerly awaiting the start of The Rosebuds show on Tuesday night at The Cavern in Dallas, TX. I was a big fan of their 2005 CD, Birds Make Good Neighbors, which was one of my favorite releases of that year. This year saw the release of their just as good third full length CD, Night of the Furies. I had never heard opening band Land of Talk, but I enjoyed their music. Lead singer Elizabeth Powell provides solid indie rock vocals and displays a hint of PJ Harvey influence.
After Land of Talk played, I briefly talked to Rosebuds vocalist and keyboardist Kelly Crisp. The band had put together special tour CDs, and she created unique hand-made covers for each. I picked one she had made with flowers and fishing lures, and she signed it for me. I also asked her if they would be playing my favorite song from Birds Make Good Neighbors which is called Four-Track Love Song. Unfortunately she said no as the band didn't want to be held responsible for the crowd breaking into baby making.
For the new CD, the band was basically down to the duo of Kelly Crisp and Ivan Howard. For the tour they've beefed up to a five piece band and sounded fantastic. After some microphone difficulties at the beginning, they rolled through some songs off the new CD like Cemetery Lawn, When the Lights Went Dim, and Silja Line. The synth pop sound of their new songs really got the crowd into the show with many people dancing along (yeah even me a little). I really enjoyed the beats and sing alongs of Get Up Get Out and Night of the Furies. They played a large portion of songs on the new CD, but also kicked in a few solid numbers off the previous release like Hold Hands and Fight, Leaves Do Fall, and Boxcar.
The encore was really fun as Ivan and Kelly came right down into the crowd and played acoustic versions of I Better Run and Shake Our Tree. I briefly chatted with Kelly and Ivan again to wrap up the night and to thank them for a great show. Two very nice people and a band that deserves much more recognition.
After Land of Talk played, I briefly talked to Rosebuds vocalist and keyboardist Kelly Crisp. The band had put together special tour CDs, and she created unique hand-made covers for each. I picked one she had made with flowers and fishing lures, and she signed it for me. I also asked her if they would be playing my favorite song from Birds Make Good Neighbors which is called Four-Track Love Song. Unfortunately she said no as the band didn't want to be held responsible for the crowd breaking into baby making.
For the new CD, the band was basically down to the duo of Kelly Crisp and Ivan Howard. For the tour they've beefed up to a five piece band and sounded fantastic. After some microphone difficulties at the beginning, they rolled through some songs off the new CD like Cemetery Lawn, When the Lights Went Dim, and Silja Line. The synth pop sound of their new songs really got the crowd into the show with many people dancing along (yeah even me a little). I really enjoyed the beats and sing alongs of Get Up Get Out and Night of the Furies. They played a large portion of songs on the new CD, but also kicked in a few solid numbers off the previous release like Hold Hands and Fight, Leaves Do Fall, and Boxcar.
The encore was really fun as Ivan and Kelly came right down into the crowd and played acoustic versions of I Better Run and Shake Our Tree. I briefly chatted with Kelly and Ivan again to wrap up the night and to thank them for a great show. Two very nice people and a band that deserves much more recognition.
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
Lollapalooza 2007 Schedule Released
I am excited that I will get to attend the third Lollapalooza Music Festival this year. I've been with Lollapalooza since it switched to the festival format in 2005. I am very excited about the trip this year as it promises good times and good music.
On Friday, if we get there early enough, I'd like to see the UK band The Fratelli's. I've heard a few songs here and there and they sound pretty good to me. Next, I cannot miss one of my favorite Austin bands, Ghostland Observatory. I wish they were playing later in the day though. It's been a while since I've seen alt-country geniuses Son Volt, but I think I will probably see them next. And after the short performance at Sasquatch, I must finally a full show from the Dallas band The Polyphonic Spree. There is no question that after then I will catch Sparklehorse. I really enjoy seeing them each time they play and they have been playing mostly older material. My biggest conflict of the day comes next as Silversun Pickups overlap with Blonde Redhead. I have been a fan of Silversun Pickups, but have yet to see them play. However, Blonde Redhead has put out one of my favorite albums of this year, 23. I'll probably catch most of both of them. I consistently miss The Black Keys on every occasion, but I am sure I'll catch them this time. I might require a break following all of this and the bands playing don't really do much for me. I have been a somewhat moderate fan of Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminals in the past. Instead, I will probably go see Daft Punk to close out the night.
Saturday starts with a Swedish band I know very little of but I am interested in called I'm From Barcelona. I've been rather high on Swedish bands of late and am anxious to see what they have to bring. Next, I might try to check out Fields. They're another I know very little about but have heard a fair bit of buzz regarding them. Next, I might try to see indie rocker Pete Yorn, whom I have not seen in years, and catch a little of Minneapolis's Tapes N' Tapes. I'll probably take a little time to rest and then go check out Cold War Kids. I saw them a bit at SXSW but was not impressed. I seem to like their studio recordings, so this show will be the test. It is tempting for me skip Clap Your Hands Say Yeah since I just recently saw them to go check out The Roots, whom I have not seen since 2003. I'm not sure which one I'll catch during this hour. There is nothing that could stop from seeing the lovely Regina Spektor next. I have really taken to her latest album, Begin to Hope. I've been itching for years to see Karen O and Yeah Yeah Yeahs. Next up will no doubt be perhaps my favorite Austin band of all time, Spoon. Interpol is one of my favorite bands to see, though I have heard marvelous things about the fine work of Muse on stage. This will definitely be the most difficult decision of the day.
Saturday starts with a Swedish band I know very little of but I am interested in called I'm From Barcelona. I've been rather high on Swedish bands of late and am anxious to see what they have to bring. Next, I might try to check out Fields. They're another I know very little about but have heard a fair bit of buzz regarding them. Next, I might try to see indie rocker Pete Yorn, whom I have not seen in years, and catch a little of Minneapolis's Tapes N' Tapes. I'll probably take a little time to rest and then go check out Cold War Kids. I saw them a bit at SXSW but was not impressed. I seem to like their studio recordings, so this show will be the test. It is tempting for me skip Clap Your Hands Say Yeah since I just recently saw them to go check out The Roots, whom I have not seen since 2003. I'm not sure which one I'll catch during this hour. There is nothing that could stop from seeing the lovely Regina Spektor next. I have really taken to her latest album, Begin to Hope. I've been itching for years to see Karen O and Yeah Yeah Yeahs. Next up will no doubt be perhaps my favorite Austin band of all time, Spoon. Interpol is one of my favorite bands to see, though I have heard marvelous things about the fine work of Muse on stage. This will definitely be the most difficult decision of the day.
I would love to kick things off on Sunday with The Postmarks, who are a friend of this blog. Next, I'll take a break before I see the Heartless Bastards. My first conflict of the day comes up when another favorite Austin band, The Black Angels, play opposite a band a have a moderate to high interest in, Los Campesinos! I may go see either Annuals or Apostle of Hustle after that. I know very little of either, but recall Annuals being pretty good opening up for Blonde Redhead earlier this year. Following that, I can't wait to see the Swedish trio Peter Bjornand John again. The biggest conflict, perhaps of the festival, follows as both My Morning Jacket and Modest Mouse play opposite each other. I've seen both several times and Modest Mouse more recently. I'll probably end up seeing them because MMJ will play Austin City Limits this year. I'll probably pass on TV on the Radio as they have never done much for me. I, despite being at the tail end of Gen X, have never seen Pearl Jam. I haven't listened to album of theirs in almost ten years, but am mildly excited to see them as they were one of my favorites in the early nineties.
So, thats it. I imagine I'll hear some bands here and there that will only make this more complicated. I am very much looking forward to this trip as I am every year. It was one of my favorite weekends from last year.
So, thats it. I imagine I'll hear some bands here and there that will only make this more complicated. I am very much looking forward to this trip as I am every year. It was one of my favorite weekends from last year.
Sunday, June 10, 2007
Sasquatch 2007
It's been nearly two weeks since I returned from the 2007 Sasquatch Music Festival in George, WA. This year's festival promised much entertainment in a wonderfully scenic area and it certainly delivered. Some friends of mine (including B) and I boarded a plane from DFW Airport the day before the festival and flew to Seattle. From there, we drove cars through the beautiful Cascade Mountains until we reached The Gorge, where we set up camp for the weekend. The scenery in Washington state this time of year is absolutely gorgeous. In fact, the drive to/from George was perhaps the most scenic I have ever taken. The view overlooking the Columbia River and surrounding area was quite breathtaking.
The featured acts this year were the main attraction for us. As I looked over the handy fold out schedule that they distributed, I recognized very few conflicts. Most of the bands that I saw were bands that I had seen before. Here is a breakdown of what I liked and didn't like from the bands.
Loney, Dear (Wookie Stage, Saturday 12:00) - The Swedish band that I have recently grown to love kicked off the festival in a wonderful fashion. They sounded crisp as they reeled off song after song from this years Loney, Noir album as well as a few others from past albums.
The Blow (Yeti Stage, Saturday 2:10) - I was quite amused by this Portland-based duo. Singer Khaela Maricich brought her awkward demeanor and unfortunate storytelling in a most entertaining way.
Neko Case (Sasquatch Mainstage, Saturday 3:40) - Neko and her voice are still as beautiful as I remember them. I was glad to hear some old favorites and some new favorites from last year's Fox Confessor Brings The Flood.
Ghostland Observatory (Wookie Stage, Saturday 4:40) - I had such an awesome time bringing in the new year with this Austin-based duo that I just had to see them again. They were as great as I remembered. And as my buddy Jim says, "It's like they play the same song over and over again, but it's the same bad ass song." I couldn't agree more.
The Long Winters (Sasquatch Mainstage, Saturday 6:10) - I was glad they took the spot of M.I.A., who couldn't make it. I'm not sure who they are, but I definitely know and love the Long Winters. It had been years since I saw them open for the Decemberists and fell in love with their sound. I was glad to hear them play my two favorites of theirs, The Commander Thinks Aloud and Pushover.
Manu Chao (Sasquatch Mainstage, Saturday 7:35) - I didn't know who they were, but I swear they played the same song at least four times within their set. It was rather annoying. I didn't enjoy this band much.
Arcade Fire (Sasquatch Mainstage, Saturday 9:15) - The band that has defined music this decade for me was nothing short of stellar on the mainstage. They mixed songs from their two full-length albums, entertaining a very large crowd.
Minus the Bear (Yeti Stage, Sunday 2:10) - I had heard Minus the Bear's music before and liked it. But I had never seen them live. I was impressed and will be checking out more of their music in the coming months. They were fantastic.
Helio Sequence (Yeti Stage, Sunday 3:15) - I wasn't sure I had heard of this band before, but I certainly know of them now. I really enjoyed their sound.
The Polyphonic Spree (Sasquatch Mainstage, Sunday 4:20) - I had never seen them before but have been a fan for quite a while. They had to stop early because the ridiculous wind posed a safety threat to them. It was too bad because I was enjoying their show.
The Black Angels (Wookie Stage, Sunday 6:10) - They were much like I remember them from SXSW - a bunch of rock stars. I love how well they take their late-sixties Jefferson Airplane-like sound and are able to really portray the essence of it on stage. They were one of my favorites of this festival.
Jesse Sykes (Yeti Stage, Sunday 6:30) - I only caught a little of her show, but I enjoyed what I heard. I love her soulful voice and bluesy sound.
Spoon (Sasquatch Mainstage, 8:00) - They were delayed and cut short because of the fierce wind, but in what little time they had, they rocked. You can always count on a band like Spoon to put on a great show.
Interpol (Sasquatch Mainstage, 9:30) - They too were delayed and cut short because of the wind. It's too bad because this were probably the my favorite show of the festival. In case I had forgotten, the guys of Interpol proved they are still, indeed, great musicians and awesome performers. They didn't play much from their forthcoming album except for The Heinrich Manuever. I was quite excited to hear all of their songs, particularly the opening riffs of Slow Hands. These guys are getting better and better.
Beastie Boys (Sasquatch Mainstage, 10:30) - I only caught the first few songs because the cold wind had beaten me and made me want to go back to the campsite. But what I heard and saw was great. They (the Beastie Boys) have been one of my favorites since I was a nine years old. But since I had seen them before, I decided to call it a day.
Overall, I enjoyed the festival and the entire trip. I do have some criticism of it. For one, it is ridiculous that there is only a single admittance throughout the day. Most, if not all, music festivals distribute wristbands and allow you to go in and out throught the day. Also, the slow lines to get in to the festival were unacceptable. I also found the food options to be rather poor. Being a vegetarian, I have a pickier diet than most. I have found that in such an environment as a music festival that I have little trouble finding items. I am surprised that this festival of all of them had such poor choices. They also ran out of several items that they did offer. And last, but not least, the host of the festival, Sarah Silverman, was hardly to be seen. I think she introduced one, maybe two, bands. I did see her running around the festival grounds at one point. It was disappointing that she did not do more. She was definately one of the selling points for coming to this festival.
The verdict is still out on a return visit. I suppose that the list of acts will be a strong factor in my return to Sasquatch. But I consider this a really nice trip for anyone to make. The Pacific Northwest is a wonderful part of our country.
The featured acts this year were the main attraction for us. As I looked over the handy fold out schedule that they distributed, I recognized very few conflicts. Most of the bands that I saw were bands that I had seen before. Here is a breakdown of what I liked and didn't like from the bands.
Loney, Dear (Wookie Stage, Saturday 12:00) - The Swedish band that I have recently grown to love kicked off the festival in a wonderful fashion. They sounded crisp as they reeled off song after song from this years Loney, Noir album as well as a few others from past albums.
The Blow (Yeti Stage, Saturday 2:10) - I was quite amused by this Portland-based duo. Singer Khaela Maricich brought her awkward demeanor and unfortunate storytelling in a most entertaining way.
Neko Case (Sasquatch Mainstage, Saturday 3:40) - Neko and her voice are still as beautiful as I remember them. I was glad to hear some old favorites and some new favorites from last year's Fox Confessor Brings The Flood.
Ghostland Observatory (Wookie Stage, Saturday 4:40) - I had such an awesome time bringing in the new year with this Austin-based duo that I just had to see them again. They were as great as I remembered. And as my buddy Jim says, "It's like they play the same song over and over again, but it's the same bad ass song." I couldn't agree more.
The Long Winters (Sasquatch Mainstage, Saturday 6:10) - I was glad they took the spot of M.I.A., who couldn't make it. I'm not sure who they are, but I definitely know and love the Long Winters. It had been years since I saw them open for the Decemberists and fell in love with their sound. I was glad to hear them play my two favorites of theirs, The Commander Thinks Aloud and Pushover.
Manu Chao (Sasquatch Mainstage, Saturday 7:35) - I didn't know who they were, but I swear they played the same song at least four times within their set. It was rather annoying. I didn't enjoy this band much.
Arcade Fire (Sasquatch Mainstage, Saturday 9:15) - The band that has defined music this decade for me was nothing short of stellar on the mainstage. They mixed songs from their two full-length albums, entertaining a very large crowd.
Minus the Bear (Yeti Stage, Sunday 2:10) - I had heard Minus the Bear's music before and liked it. But I had never seen them live. I was impressed and will be checking out more of their music in the coming months. They were fantastic.
Helio Sequence (Yeti Stage, Sunday 3:15) - I wasn't sure I had heard of this band before, but I certainly know of them now. I really enjoyed their sound.
The Polyphonic Spree (Sasquatch Mainstage, Sunday 4:20) - I had never seen them before but have been a fan for quite a while. They had to stop early because the ridiculous wind posed a safety threat to them. It was too bad because I was enjoying their show.
The Black Angels (Wookie Stage, Sunday 6:10) - They were much like I remember them from SXSW - a bunch of rock stars. I love how well they take their late-sixties Jefferson Airplane-like sound and are able to really portray the essence of it on stage. They were one of my favorites of this festival.
Jesse Sykes (Yeti Stage, Sunday 6:30) - I only caught a little of her show, but I enjoyed what I heard. I love her soulful voice and bluesy sound.
Spoon (Sasquatch Mainstage, 8:00) - They were delayed and cut short because of the fierce wind, but in what little time they had, they rocked. You can always count on a band like Spoon to put on a great show.
Interpol (Sasquatch Mainstage, 9:30) - They too were delayed and cut short because of the wind. It's too bad because this were probably the my favorite show of the festival. In case I had forgotten, the guys of Interpol proved they are still, indeed, great musicians and awesome performers. They didn't play much from their forthcoming album except for The Heinrich Manuever. I was quite excited to hear all of their songs, particularly the opening riffs of Slow Hands. These guys are getting better and better.
Beastie Boys (Sasquatch Mainstage, 10:30) - I only caught the first few songs because the cold wind had beaten me and made me want to go back to the campsite. But what I heard and saw was great. They (the Beastie Boys) have been one of my favorites since I was a nine years old. But since I had seen them before, I decided to call it a day.
Overall, I enjoyed the festival and the entire trip. I do have some criticism of it. For one, it is ridiculous that there is only a single admittance throughout the day. Most, if not all, music festivals distribute wristbands and allow you to go in and out throught the day. Also, the slow lines to get in to the festival were unacceptable. I also found the food options to be rather poor. Being a vegetarian, I have a pickier diet than most. I have found that in such an environment as a music festival that I have little trouble finding items. I am surprised that this festival of all of them had such poor choices. They also ran out of several items that they did offer. And last, but not least, the host of the festival, Sarah Silverman, was hardly to be seen. I think she introduced one, maybe two, bands. I did see her running around the festival grounds at one point. It was disappointing that she did not do more. She was definately one of the selling points for coming to this festival.
The verdict is still out on a return visit. I suppose that the list of acts will be a strong factor in my return to Sasquatch. But I consider this a really nice trip for anyone to make. The Pacific Northwest is a wonderful part of our country.
