Desert Trip Weekend 1, Night 3
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Desert Trip Weekend 1, Night 3
Desert Trip Weekend 1, Night 2
Desert Trip Weekend 1, Night 1
Desert Trip Weekend 1 Recap: The Good, The Bad, and The Old
Last year when I caught wind of the “Super Show” coming to the Coachella fairgrounds I was almost in disbelief. Bob Dylan, The Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney, Neil Young, Roger Waters and The Who ALL in ONE place? Sign me up! This was definitely going to be a once in a lifetime opportunity (mostly because of how old all these legends are getting) and I had to be there!
Luckily, when ticket sales came around it was just before my college graduation so I was able to ask for a pair of tickets in the reserved floor area as my gift, thank you Nana and Boompa! Even though the price for a couple tickets was more than a couple month’s rent at my apartment I thought this would undeniably be worth it, and it kind of was and kind of wasn't. Here’s my recap of Desert Trip Weekend 1; the good, the bad and the oldies.
Friday night came up really fast. When I first put Desert Trip into the countdown app on my phone it was over 150 days away. So when October 7th rolled around I couldn’t believe it, the waiting was over and opening night with Bob Dylan and The Rolling Stones was here. Unlike Coachella that I have been to a handful of times, the shows weren't starting until sunset so I wasn't sure about how to time getting there, through security and finding our seats. So the was kind of a mess -- logistics wise.
We ordered an Uber a little after 5:30pm to travel around 3 miles to the venue. Unfortunately everyone else thought that was the best time to get going too. As the sun moved behind the picturesque mountains, I started getting anxious about getting through security and to our seats before Bob Dylan started. My boyfriend and I hopped out of the Uber that was inching through gridlock traffic to the venue and walked through the campground security. This was definitely not the best scenario considering my over the knee boots I was wearing weren't made for walking the next couple of miles. Lesson learned.
(On a side note, the fashion scene was really not a big deal here. The shows start after sunset so no one is even paying attention to what you're wearing, which is refreshing considering Coachella has turned into it’s own fashion week and style reviews are easier to find than anything written about the music. Let’s just say the next two days I wore my boyfriend’s black Teva sandals that were more than a few sizes too big on me because I was way more about comfort and being able to walk around and enjoy the scene, but the boot addict in me didn’t pack any other shoes that weren’t leather and Frye).
We got in, grabbed a few beers and made our way to through the many levels of security and seating until we find ourselves in the Floor 1 Sections with about ten minutes to spare before Bob Dylan came on around 7pm. I saw Bob Dylan headline three summers ago at Americanarama with Wilco, My Morning Jacket and a few special guests and sadly he was definitely not strong enough to support the act. He seemed weak and his voice was fading so I was pleasantly surprised with how he did at Desert Trip.
His voice was much stronger than before and he sounded pretty darn good, focusing on blues and not straying from his spot at the piano with his harmonica close by. He wasn’t very engaging throughout the performance though, and his set kind of ran together like one big song with just his bigger hit lines distinguishing each song. It was bluesy and soulful nonetheless but he left me, and a lot of other concert attendees, wishing he did some more of his hits, maybe “Like a Rolling Stone” with Mick Jagger and company who were performing just after.
During the hour or so break after Dylan’s performance, my boyfriend and I braved the line at the Mac & Cheese stand in the VIP area only to get to the front and them be out of mac and cheese...the first night, within the first act. So I got a gross $19 lobster roll that kept surprising me with sandy bites and some of the Monster Fries that weren't much better. For being touted as a culinary festival as well, I was pretty disappointed with the food options that were in the “Platinum Lounge” (if you can even call it a lounge) and eventually wished I had splurged on the $500 culinary experience rather than the tickets. Although we were pretty much in front of the stage we could hardly see the performers and instead watched a screen for the majority of the weekend and there were screens at all levels of seating.
Next up were The Rolling Stones and I had pretty high expectations after seeing them perform in 2013. They still had as much energy and stage presence as they did then and throughout the videos I have seen of their career, but man were they looking frail up there. Nonetheless, their skinny jean clad legs still worked themselves around the stage and they did a very satisfactory performance. My one complaint about the Stones was that their set list was pretty predictable and with the immense discography that this band boasts I didn’t get to hear a single one of my favorites. They even did a cover of The Beatles “Come Together” which was fine and all, and a nice homage to Paul McCartney being there as well, but they have so many of their own songs that I would have much rather heard. It was great to hear some of their blues songs that they have been working on for a new album though and I very much look forward to the release of Blue & Lonesome.
Around 11:30 towards the later half of their set, we decided to beat some of the rush and get headed out to find an Uber home. We found ourselves pointed in the direction of the Uber/Taxi lot and since we were in the beginning of the exiting crowd we figured we be home in no time. We were wrong. This was a definite mess on the vendor's behalf and we had no idea what we were getting ourselves into. As we snaked around a line for about 30 minutes we were able to hear the rest of The Rolling Stones and even see the firework show that lit up their finale. We then were told to board a bus that would be taking us to a remote parking lot where we would be able to get an Uber. About 15 minutes later we piled out of the shuttles to find ourselves in a huge lot with tons of people running around scrambling to get an Uber on their dying Iphones and get a text from their driver saying where in this enormous lot to meet them. $78 and an hour later we were 3 miles back to home already dreading the transportation set up for the next day but incredibly excited for Neil Young and Paul McCartney.
We later found out we had it easy compared to another bus that left the venue for the Uber lot and went about 20 miles in the wrong direction before passengers starting yelling at the driver demanding he pull over for the majority of them to get off and hope to get an Uber in the middle of nowhere. Yikes.
Day 2: Having learned from the rush of getting there on the first night we left around 3:45 with a Lyft who was able to drop us off at the friends and family pick up, we walked through the venue and through security with no hassle and with plenty of time to explore the grounds. I was really impressed with the general admission area. There were a few really nice bars that were covered and had small lines, a lot more tables and sitting than in the VIP areas and such better food! We ended up coming back out to this area the rest of the festival to get food and walk around in between sets.
My boyfriend was most excited about Neil Young all weekend and I kept trying to warn him not to get his hopes up. When I saw Young perform in San Francisco in 2012 it took about 30 minutes of him facing away from the audience and strumming against his amps before he even spoke or sang a word. But once he got into “Cinnamon Girl” his performances picked up. My brother also went to see him at Red Rocks in Colorado, which makes any show amazing with the venue alone, and actually left early extremely disappointed with the performance. All of that changed on Saturday night though and I was eating my words as he came on playing “After the Gold Rush” and nailing song after song getting to my favorites off of Harvest.
I couldn’t believe how amazing he sounded and what a great job he did engaging with the audience. “Heart of Gold” and “Harvest Moon” were highlights for me but every song he sang was incredible and you could tell how impressed everyone was. His stamina was another thing that blew everyone away, he rocked “Down By The River” for 22 minutes and then fit in “Rockin’ in A Free World” for an impressive finale that he joked he would perform in about 45 seconds, give or take.
With such an amazing performance to start off the night I wasn’t as dependent on Paul McCartney giving a great performance, although he definitely did. I saw him at Bonnaroo and was very impressed then and he did as great of a show on Saturday. Was I appreciated most was how he really took the time to talk to the audience and “drink in” the experience and thank his everlasting fan base. I enjoyed his stories about John Lennon and Jimi Hendrix as much as the music he played and “Let Me Roll It” and “1985” were two songs I was very excited to hear. His tribute to his wife Nancy was beautiful as well as the song “Maybe I’m Amazed” he wrote for his late wife Linda. He even brought out Neil Young later into his performance which was the kind of collaboration I think everyone was hoping for with all of these amazing musicians being together for the weekend.
Getting home was also much easier when we went to lot 13 and were met by a couple dozen drivers who offer rides and such an affordable rate. 20 bucks to get home seemed like the best deal of the weekend and it was so much easier than the Uber set up. I would definitely recommend people going next weekend to take a Lyft there and go to the friends family lot to leave with one of the drivers that are waiting.
Day 3: By Sunday afternoon we had the interworking of the festival area down and were ready to enjoy The Who and Roger Waters. With about an hour to kill before the shows started we waited in the huge line to get into the Photo Exhibit boasting over 200 unseen photographs of the bands. It was pretty nice in there, mainly because of the AC and bar, but maybe not worth the wait in the mile long line that wrapped around the building all weekend. Still it was neat to get a look at some of these images and have a more behind the scenes feel with the musicians.
The Who was the only band that I hadn’t seen before so I was excited to see them perform and had nothing to compare it to. When they took to the stage and let out a few guitar riffs my ears were shocked. They were by far the loudest band all weekend. They did a really good job and people were standing and dancing the whole set. They even played my two favorite Who songs “I Can See For Miles” and “Eminence Front” but it was so hot in the seats that night, and the sound was so loud, that we decided to walk around and get some food where we could listen more comfortably. To be honest, Pete Townshend seemed kind of like a jerk bashing on former bandmates calling them names instead of memorializing their legacy and even addressing the pit with some pretty derogatory language but they sounded good and did a great performance, I’m just not the biggest Who fan?
But I was stoked to see Roger Waters again. I saw him on his Wall tour in 2012 and was enthralled with the production and how awesome he sounded. The visuals definitely didn’t disappoint on Sunday night either and I think everyone kept busting out their phones to capture the incredible psychedelic images cast over the screens including multicolor tie-dye swirls overlaying live images of Roger singing and playing guitar. There were also space scenes that had the audience feeling as though they were standing on the moon. “Time” was amazing with thousands of clocks moving across the screen and “Have A Cigar” was a lot of fun to hear live. The female vocalists performing with him did an awesome job during “Mother” but they weren’t so great with “The Great Gig in The Sky.” No complaints there though.
What really did rub me the wrong way was once the show shifted into Animals and “Pigs (Three Different Ones)”. While the British performer is known for his political activism and voicing his opinion, this was just too much for me. Several performers joked about the dismal prospects in the upcoming election, Neil Young referencing Roger and his Wall to “make Mexico Great Again” but this just took over the entire end of the show. Seeing Trump's face over Hitler’s body and pictures of the KKK and Trump and the multitude of other crude images shifted the whole amazing feeling of the concert into a totally creepy and uncomfortable setting.
My boyfriend reminded me that he used to do this with George Bush too and I knew that, but I actually got so uncomfortable during this that I had to put my head down and wait for the song to end. A new level of anxiety came over me as the giant inflatable pig made its way down the aisle and hovered about 20 feet above my head. It could have been images of Trump or Clinton or anyone and made me just as uneasy. The whole vibe just got out of hand and while a ton of people cheered at him comparing the Republican nominee to Hitler and posting his head with projectile vomit coming out of it on screen, many others were put off by the whole charade. It just got too scary for me and the surround sound speakers of guns going off made me incredibly uneasy so I left a couple songs later.
I was still able to hear “Comfortably Numb,” his final act, as we neared the parking lot but the mood I entered the show with was completely different. It seemed so propagandized and overdone to me and he isn’t even an American who will be voting in our election. Yes, he was using his platform and prowess to get out his political agenda and views but that’s not what I was looking forward to. After that I couldn’t get too into the rest of the show. Seeing Pink Floyd: The Wall when I was about 12 wasn’t enough to get me ready for the way this performance ended, but even with this he was still one of the best acts of the weekend.
Overall the performances were amazing across the board and I would definitely recommend people going next weekend. Now that prices have dropped so much it is definitely worth it to go if you have the chance. I would say major highlights were Neil Young and Roger Waters music wise, The Asian BBQ Bowls and Afters Ice Cream for the food and the Friend and Family lot for getting to and from the show. More pictures to come in a following post.
-REF
Eden
Best Underplayed Rolling Stones Songs
In honor of Desert Trip kicking off tomorrow, here’s my top Stones songs that we just don’t hear enough. With a band who has held rank for over 50 years and boasts such an extensive discography, there’s so many gems that don’t get quite enough air time as “Start Me Up”, “Sympathy For The Devil”, “Get Off of My Cloud” and the like. Check out some of my favorite picks and get stoked for tomorrow night’s show!
1. “Monkey Man” - Let it Bleed, 1969
2. “Title 5″ & “Plundered My Soul” - Exile On Main St. Disc 2, 1972
3. “Don’t Tear Me Up” (Mick Jagger solo) - Wandering Spirit
4. “Think” - Aftermath, 1966
5. “Jigsaw Puzzle” - Beggars Banquet, 1968
6. “100 Years Ago” - Goats Head Soup, 1973
7. “Memo From Turner” - Metamorphosis, 1975
8. “Moonlight Mile” - Sticky Fingers, 1971
9. “Worried About You” - Tattoo You, 1981
10. “Luxury” - It’s Only Rock n’ Roll, 1974
-REF
Irvine meadows 7/26/16
Irvine Meadows Dead and Company concert review. 7/26/16 The massive crowd at last night's Dead and Company show proves how the bands's appeal will never die. I remember one of my first Further shows that I went to and seeing a shirt that said " dead fans never die, they just go further" which couldn't be more true as the band transitions into their newest rendition of Dead and Company featuring John Mayer on guitar and vocals. Mickey Hart, Bob Weir and Bill Kruetzmann have moved into a new generation with John Mayer joining them on stage alongside Jeff Chimenti and Oteil Burbridge. One of the best parts about The Dead and Further concerts I've gone to over the last 9 years or so has been the people. The first time I got to see Phil Lesh and Bob Weir playing with Waren Haynes in 2008 I was hooked. I had finally seen the music I grew up hearing play from my dad's speakers live and I loved it. All the Further shows that I went to after The Dead definitely lived up to my first experience and after last night, so did Dead and Company. I love to hear my parents and other concert attendees reminisce about seeing the original lineup with Jerry Garcia and being able to live through so many forms of the band. Last night was no different, as my mom and people dancing around us talked about seeing the Grateful Dead playing right where we were, at Irvine Meadows, in the mid and late 80s. What was different about last nights crowd though, was the noticeable amount of younger fans. Teens and twenty-somethings were all around enjoying the music which shows how smart it was for Bob Weir to bring on John Mayer and keep the band's legacy moving into a new direction. Now let's get to the music. By the time I was close enough to hear the music, the band was playing "Jack Straw". We were surprised that their 7pm start time had actually meant 7pm since it was 7:30 when they were already through their opening and well into their set. The music had a slower arrangement and vocal leading with Mayer than many people were used to, but sounded amazing once we got used to the slower sing along. Next they went into "Bertha" which picked things up. John Mayer definitely did Jerry proud with his guitar skills and also had all the women in the audience swooning for him, especially my mother. I will admit I definitely have a newfound respect for him as a musician with those guitar skills after being skeptical about this new partnership with one of my favorite bands. My favorite part of the show was when they went into "Mississippi Half Step Uptown Toodleloo". The guitar and piano was unreal on this rendition and the light show that reflected onto the audience matched the energy on and off stage. I won't lie, they kind of lost me a bit after that. The bands intermission, although well deserved, seem to be longer than the first half of the show that I caught. Still "Scarlet Begonias" was a blast to dance and sing along to and so was "Fire on The Mountain". The end of the show sounded pretty unfamiliar to the Grateful Dead sound the people around me, and I, were used to. While all the songs were technically covers the whole show since Dead & Co. is a mix of the original Grateful Dead members and new blood, this was definitely different. We started the long walk out of the venue and down the road to our cars having thoroughly enjoyed what Dead and Company is bringing to the original 'dead' and new fans and even though I didn't get to hear my favorites "Box of Rain" and "Shakedown Street" I'm lucky to have seen them preformed before given the extensive discography of this legendary group. The band will be playing in Chula Vista tonight before heading up to Northern California to celebrate the in between week of Jerry Garcia's birth and death. If you get the chance, definitely get out to see them and celebrate the legacy of such an incredible band. -Eden
Dreams do come true! Super show in the desert this October 7,8,9th.
I’ll stick with you baby for a thousand years. Nothing’s gonna touch you in these golden years…
Rest in Peace, David Bowie. (1947-2016). The world is a sadder place having lost such a unique and creative mind full of imagination and eccentricities. May you live on, pain free, and know the love and support you and your art will always have from your fans.
-REF
Oh, Spirit - “Blue Blood”
Don’t miss San Diego band Oh, Spirit this weekend at the San Diego House of Blues. These guys will be playing with The Verigolds, Grizzly Business and Spero.
While I haven’t had the chance to hear the other three acts in person, I’ve checked them out online and this sounds like it is going to be an awesome Saturday night. As for Oh, Spirit, who I first saw playing at the Soda Bar in September, you don’t want to miss them!
I saw them opening for one of my favorite local bands, The Donkeys, a few months ago and picked up their album in between sets. As I listened to them play, and then again in my car on repeat for the following week, I kept thinking they sounded somewhat familiar. It hit me that with their songs like they sound a bit reminiscent of Wilco when it comes to their instrumentals in songs like “Future Looks Easy” with a bit more of a twist and some more surfy vibes like “Mothers Only Daughter”.
Posted above is my favorite track, “Blue Bloods”, that has such an addictive opening riff, I find myself starting it over before the song has even played out.
If you’re in the area, don’t miss out! And if you aren’t, check them out online.
https://www.facebook.com/Ohspirit/
-REF
My Morning Jacket Red Rocks Amphitheater CO August 14, 2015 Wow! What a show! Let me start by saying that if you have never been to Red Rocks, you have got to put seeing a show here on your bucket list. And let me follow that up with a warning to be prepared for a serious uphill climb to reach the venue. While I’ve seen MMJ a handful of times, this was my first time seeing a concert here and I can not wait to go back. This place takes their music to a whole other level. As we settled into our seats amidst the canyon landscape surrounded by a natural and unreal acoustic set up, Sylvan Esso started to play their electric poppy tunes for the opening. I have to admit that at first I wasn’t really feeling their music and definitely wouldn’t have chosen them for an opening act for The Jacket. Sounding a bit like Little Dragon and Phantogram they didn’t quite thrill the crowd who was waiting to see Jim James kill it on stage with the rest of the band. I’d peg them for playing at the Sahara Tent at Coachella instead of for this crowd. Still, the overall reaction was mixed. People around us complained that they needed to stop while others threw glow sticks and were really feeling the music. For me, as the set went on (or perhaps as I had a few beers) I started to get more into their funky electro vibe. Their song “Hey Mami” was one of my favorites towards the end of their set. The sky darkened and the lighting in the amphitheater set a glow on the canyon walls that surrounded us. It was almost time for My Morning Jacket to hit the stage when an introduction video started to play on the side screens. Soon the band emerged and everyone started cheering as they went into “Wordless Chorus”. The biggest smile stretched across my face when I could hear Jim James’ voice echoing off the surroundings. Everyone was in this experience feeling the music move around them and bounce off the backdrop. No other venue I have been to has given me this effect (except maybe a little at the Greek theater in LA). “Off The Record” was when everything really started to take off. Everyone was dancing and smiling and singing along with the echoing vocals. I had a feeling my favorite song, “Circuital” would come on next and as my luck would have it, it did just as I was headed to the bathroom. Thankfully I could hear every word and made it back for a powerful end to the song. It wasn’t long after this that Jim took a moment to talk to all of us in the crowd asking us to conjure up this energy to accept people for who they are and that “love is love” as the band went into “Bermuda Highway.” I’m not sure if it was what was just said or if it was the song, but as I swayed next to my boyfriend and heard him singing along to every word I just felt perfectly and magically happy. Who knew it was even possible to fall even more in love with someone in a single minute.
When I stopped to look around and grasp the moment, I began to feel incredibly insignificant looking around at the mass of the crowd and seeing our shadows look like ants on the sides on the engulfing canyon walls. The amphitheater has been around for over 100 years (opened in 1906) and to be standing there at such a sight with so many wonderful people (including my father and boyfriend) a strange perspective took hold of me. I felt calm, excited, and strange all at once. It was almost eerie as the band started to play "Dondante” and the lyrics “in a dream I saw you walking” spilled out of the microphone. The power really built up with this song as it went on and the ending was unreal with the guitar and closing lyrics “You had me worried, so worried that this would last. But now I’m learning, learning that this will pass…” The second half of the set kept going strong with my highlights being “Gideon” and “Steam Engine.” I was lost in conversation for several songs off their newest album "Waterfalls” but they were a perfect backdrop for my memories that were taking shape. The band ended with another one of my favorite songs, the upbeat and catchy tune “Mahgeeta” before heading into their encore set of seven songs. “Wonderful” played as we started making our way back down the long hill that we had climbed up hours before. Now about 12:30 in the morning, I could hear “Victory” and both “Touch Me” parts 1 & 2 as we found the car. The whole night ended with “One Big Holiday” which I have seen them open with in the past. I was completely in awe and so thankful for such an incredible show. This was their last show in the US before heading into their European Tour. They couldn’t have gone out on a better note. Keep on rocking, My Morning Jacket!!
-Eden
Houndmouth Concert Review : Little Neon Limelight Tour
Eden Frost
Houndmouth and Banta The Great American Music Hall, San Francisco and The Troubadour, Los Angeles June 23 and 25, 2015
This past week I was able to kick off the official start of summer by seeing Houndmouth perform two concerts -- and what a way to celebrate some summer fun. The first show was at The Great American Music Hall in San Francisco and two days later I saw them at The Troubador in Los Angeles. Both sold out shows were great and featured the same setlist but their performance in SF was definitely my favorite.
San Francisco June 23
I was absolutely blown away with this show from start to finish. From the venue, to the opening act and of course the main attraction, I was in for a great night. My boyfriend and I ventured upstairs and found seats right above the stage on the right side, which gave us a perfect view of the band’s eccentric stage presence and especially of drummer Shane Cody who proved to be one of the most entertaining parts of the night!
As we waited for the opening act to take the stage, I could hear My Morning Jacket playing in the background as we sipped on some drinks. Soon enough, the Los Angeles based band Banta emerged and started off with some energetic instrumentals, including a keyboard and tambourines, accompanied by some pretty strong female vocals. While I wouldn’t necessarily be able to pull this band’s sound out of a lineup, they sounded good and did a really rad cover of The Velvet Underground song “Pale Blue Eyes”, which was one of two covers we got to hear that night.
The crowd was warmed up and ready for Houndmouth to come on out and no one was disappointed when they emerged. The three guys donned some awesome flared pants that were most likely Katie’s, and had everyone laughing as they strutted on, ready to play. Before the show started, my boyfriend and I guessed what they would open with and thought maybe “Black Gold” since that’s the song we usually open with when we show people their music. Sure enough, the opening chords started to play and they went into “Black Gold”. They moved through their album, Little Neon Limelight, and let out a ton of energy with “15 Years” sung by bassist Zak Appleby.
The band joked around and changed the lyrics in “Comin’ Round Again” from their first album to suit the San Francisco area by singing “Had a couple of drinks in the Tenderloin” instead of in Memphis, and went into an incredibly beautiful version of “Palmyra” off that same album and “Casino (Bad Things)”. Katie drummed along with Shane at the beginning of the song before taking the mic to sing cheeky and rhythmic lyrics.
They went back to Little Neon Limelight playing “Honey Slider” (one of my favorite tracks), and their hit “Sedona” that had the entire crowd singing along before skipping back to some of their older songs. They went into “Hey Rose” that showcased more of their raw, country-blues sound and did a cool slowed down version of the chorus cutting the music and focussing on the vocals before bursting back into the rest of the sound.
They slowed things down with “Darlin” that Shane takes lead vocals on. Katie explained that he writes all the romantic songs when they did this song in Los Angeles two days later, which explains why he sounds so good singing it. The band didn’t keep mellow for long as they went into “Say It” which was such a fun song to sing and dance along to. “Penitentiary” was another treat and Mat Myers explained how it was the first song that the band wrote and recorded.
Everyone quieted when they saw Katie take center stage for “Gasoline”. Her voice was just as haunting and beautiful in this performance as it is on the album. They closed their set with “My Cousin Greg” which we found out in LA is actually written about Matt’s cousin Greg (a rather original title, they jokingly admit). They left us with the reminder that “if you wanna live the good life, you better stay away from the limelight” but I think that might be hard for these four to do as they headed down for their second appearance on the Conan show the next night.
The clapping and cheering didn’t stop from the time they left the stage till the time they came back for their encore. Matt Myers showed off his vocal talent with “For No One” which I had been waiting to hear for most of the night and he changed the lyrics on this one too, from the original “black dawn off in the midnight skies” to “black birds in the pale moon light” which he changed back for the show in LA. They went into “Houston Train” and finished with a cover of the 1961 Dion song “Runaround Sue.” Ordinarily I’m not a big fan of band’s ending on a cover but they totally killed it with this one and still delivered it their signature sound. Overall it was an incredible show and I was excited to see them again in LA two nights later.
Los Angeles June 25
Houndmouth did the same setlist at The Troubadour as they did in San Francisco and though it was still a really good show, I think their performance in SF was the winner. Granted, it was their third night in a row performing and as they mentioned in SF, they had the day off before to drink and play and rest up for the show.
All the spontaneous looking mannerisms they had with jumping onto the drums, shaking into each other, and slowed down improvised singing wasn’t as exciting the second time around because I could tell they had it all pretty rehearsed. But I guess there's nothing wrong with getting a great show figured out and doing it time after time. And, if I hadn’t seen them earlier in the week I wouldn’t have the comparison to know. They had solid audience engagement both nights but joked around a bit more in LA and were even celebrating Katie’s birthday.
The band has another show in Orange County this weekend at the Observatory in Santa Ana before they get headed back to the Mid West and East Coast for their fall tour. I am looking forward to seeing where these guys go and wouldn’t be surprised to see them at Coachella next year. Keep it up, Houndmouth!
-REF
BottleRock 2015 Review (Friday & Saturday)
Sunshine, food, wine and brew. What more could you want at a music festival? This year’s BottleRock Napa Valley boasted some great bands as well as some great food at the annual event that started in 2013. The three day fest spanning from Friday May 29th through Sunday the 31st had headliners such as Robert Plant, Portugal. The Man, No Doubt and The Chris Robinson Brotherhood as well as culinary showcases from some of Napa’s greatest chefs. There were even cooking demos by Flavor Flav and Snoop Dogg who also performed on the musical stages throughout the weekend. After many beers, a couple orders of the garlic and crab fries and lots of dancing, my two days at the festival came to an end and I was left with a pretty good weekend of fun and music to remember. This year definitely topped my first BottleRock two years ago and I was excited to see where the festival has grown and improved with another year of experience.
Day one:
My Friday lineup started with a band that I have grown quite fond of over the last year. Kopecky (formerly known as Kopecky Family Band) took the Jam Cellars stage and I got to hear some of my favorite tracks "Are You Listening" and "Heartbeat" as well as some songs off their new album Drug For the Modern Age, that the band has spent many years putting together. Aside from some evident tension between female vocalist Kelsey Kopecky and the band’s other founder and vocalist Gabe Simon, they put on a great show and sounded really amazing. They had a ton of energy and did a good job engaging with the audience, be it popping champagne into the crowd or calling people out for their energetic dancing and even getting off the stage and playing as they walked toward the people. The weekend was off to a good start after their set and I was excited for the rest of the acts to come.
The sun was pounding down and many $10 beers were consumed to stay cool as my boyfriend and I made our way around the festival. We took a stop at the culinary stage which would be our go-to spot in between musical acts. We could hear Courtney Barnett in the distance and I wasn't quite sure whether I was a fan of her sing-song fast-talking and odd melodies or not, but we went over for a listen anyways. The main stage went empty after Barnett to prepare for headliner Cage The Elephant and a majority of the festival attendees made their way over to the large field for the band.
Cage The Elephant’s lead singer Matt Shultz, whose brother Dave is also in the band, definitely has a very...energetic...stage presence. Bordering on aggressive and showcasing some slightly wanna-be Iggy Pop antics, Schultz undeniably gets the crowd riled up and excited. They played their most recognizable hit "Ain’t No Rest for the Wicked" before going into some of their more mellow songs from their last album Melophobia. They played my favorite song of theirs, "Cigarette Daydreams" and also “Come a Little Closer”. I’m a much bigger fan of their later sound compared to the louder and more punk/rap rock songs from their first album Cage The Elephant, but still enjoyed singing along to "Back Against The Wall" from Cage The Elephant.
In between acts, we made our way back over to the culinary stage to see some rather odd culinary expertise coming from none other than Public Enemy’s Flavor Flav. Watching him cook his famous fried chicken was definitely one of Friday's highlights and seemed more like a scene out of a weird dream. (Sort of like "I had a dream I saw Flavor Flav cooking chicken at a music festival last night..oh wait this is really happening.") The hip hop star wore his signature clock around his neck and was sharing hugs and even a kiss with people watching but wouldn’t give up the ingredients in his secret chicken coating. He just referred to it as his secret flavor crystals which was a little questionable but also very humorous.
Foster the People was another highlight for me and hearing songs from Torches took me back to the summer going into my senior year of high school. It could have been the nostalgia kicking in but I really had a good time listening to this group play again and as always, “Pumped Up Kicks” was a real crowd pleaser with everyone singing along to the chorus. However, as they went into the top track off of their second album Supermodel I realized I am not that into “Coming of Age” and that it was likely my fond memories of the band that have me thinking they are a bit better than they really are. Overall, a good show when they stuck to their older stuff!
Day two:
Saturday's sun was strong as we made our way to the Anchor Steam Brewing stand and plopped down in some nearby chairs awaiting the bands to come on. Of the three days, I was most excited for Saturday's line up with two of my favorites: Portugal. The Man and Robert Plant both performing on the main stage. Portugal’s performance was solid, just like every other one of their shoes I have been to. I always love when they play Always Sunny in Phildelphia’s song “Dayman” which I first heard them do at Bonnaroo 2013, and was happy to hear it again this weekend in Napa . Another highlight was when they started in with another cover. The band used Pink Floyd's "Another Brick In the Wall" to lead into their song "Purple Yellow Red and Blue" off their Evil Friends album.
I wasn't too impressed with the following act, Young The Giant as they sounded like just about any other indie band out there. They still pulled a pretty large crown and people were happy to hear them but they weren’t too special, especially compared to another main stage act, the Avett Brothers. The Avett Brothers brought it down with a ton of raw energy and a unique country twang to perform their second year in a row at the festival.
My Saturday lineup continued at the other side of the festival to catch some of the Capital Cities set and we were treated to a cover of Sinead O'Connor's "Nothing Compares to You". The sun was setting and the night’s lineup was coming to a close. My last act for the day was the one and only Robert Plant. Ever since falling in love with Led Zeppelin when I was 11, I have been obsessed with Robert Plant’s voice. No one carries the power and presence that the long haired vocal God has fostered for nearly 50 years. He did a mix of classic Zeppelin hits like "Going to California" and “Black Dog” as well as his own music like the song "Rainbow" off of his latest album. Plant has been smart with his voice as he's aged, knowing his limits and also his reputation. Where he can't shriek up as loud or high as he once did, he adds in some narrative or different vocal runs. He lost some of the crowd to Passion Pit at another stage and started to lose people as he started talking for a good bit in between sets. He went into something that was partly a tribute to the late BB King, partly paying honor to the history of rock and roll in African American culture and the rest was a bit hard to follow. I joked that his rambling was just a clever prelude to another Zeppelin song "Ramble On" but no such luck. Still, I enjoyed listening to his sultry british voice and was happy to hear sim say or sing whatever while I could. I had to leave shortly after his ramble to get on the bus back to St. Helena, but the day was definitely a success.
Unfortunately I didn't make it to Sunday's performances but I was filled in by friends and family and heard that Snoop Dogg rolling sushi at the culinary stage, and the final act of The Chris Robinson Brotherhood stole the day’s shows. I was looking forward to listening to Trampled by Turtles, and seeing Gwen Stefani’s onstage fashion but there are always more shows and festivals to come.
Thanks for another great year, BottleRock!
-REF
Sedona by Houndmouth
Little Neon Limelight
Houndmouth
March 2015
If you haven't heard of Houndmouth yet, it's time to check out some serious talent. Formed in 2011, the Indiana based band just released their second album Little Neon Limelight last week and I haven’t been this excited about new music in a long time. Houndmouth is described as an alternative country band, but their sound ranges song to song showcasing unique vocals that blend and harmonize seamlessly with the instrumentals, all while incorporating extremely clever and well written, catchy lyrics. These guys are definitely on the cusp of breaking through to a bigger fan base and I can’t wait for their talent to be recognized by more people.
Houndmouth members Matt Myers, Katie Toupin, Zak Appleby, and Shane Cody made some serious magic with Little Neon Limelight. This album boasts 11 great tracks that range from pop to folk and pack in raw grit and soul in between. The opening track, “Sedona” is one of my favorites, and I look forward to this one being overplayed on the radio once they take off. Mellow and poppy, you’ll feel a smile stretch across your face with the chorus and you can feel the band’s energy and happiness through the music and see it in the music video.
Watching them play in any YouTube video not only shows how much fun they all have together and that they have an undeniable love for each other and their music, but affirms how talented they are. They sound just as good in a little venue playing live as they do on the recorded tracks. (Which is how I’ve been listening to them before last week’s album launch.)
I get excited about each track on Little Neon Limelight because there is so much to love. Songs like “Otis” and “Gasoline” really showcase singer Katie Toupin’s incredible voice that goes high and low, soft and strong and pulls you into the story of each song. The way that they layer the male vocals with hers adds such a depth to their sound. She comes in perfectly to give another dimension of vocals to each of the songs. The four of them work so well together and know how to highlight and showcase each other’s talents when it comes to the vocals and building up to a great sound. It’s also really neat to hear them trade off the singing, like “By God” where Zak Appleby takes lead with a deeper, yet equally amazing voice, and “Gasoline” that lets you hear how enchanting Toupin’s voice is on its own. Thier flexibility allows them to change up their sound among their songs but still keep a signature Houndmouth vibe to throughout their tracks.
The album works, moving track to track even though there isn’t a perfect flow or structure moving from the pop to the rock to the soulful bluesy sounds. You get a taste of their multifaceted talent within a single track and when it switches to the next and you hear a completely different sound it is exciting to see how the same group of people can put together such a rich collection of songs.
“15 Years” and “By God” offer more of an up-tempo bluesy rock sound with some country twang. I can hear a little bit of Bob Dylan circa Highway 61 Revisited in the beginning of songs like “Say It” and in some of the instrumentals throughout the album using a little tambourine. To balance out the faster tracks, there’s songs like “Honey Slider” and “Darlin’” that slow things down like another one of my favorites, “For No One.” The band takes it down and focuses on an acoustic guitar sound leaving the words to really sink it with just Matt Myers singing and the rest of the band adding in occasional echoes that haunt each verse. The lyrics in this one really hit you and you can feel the passion and depth of emotions behind the vocals as he belts out my favorite lyric “I sing a song for you, but I sing for no one.”
Luckily, they’re singing for us and I can’t wait to see where this band goes. They just played at South by Southwest and will be headed to Bonnaroo in the summer. Overall, there isn’t a track on this list that I skip over and don’t like. The range of sounds that Houndmouth puts out leaves something for every taste in music to latch onto. I dare you not to have at least one of their songs stuck in your head after checking out Little Neon Limelight. Don’t forget to go back and give their first album, From the Hills Below the City, a listen too since it is equally as amazing.
Check out their website and take a listen!
http://houndmouth.com/
-REF (Eden Frost)
Recommended if you like: Sheepdogs, Grouplove, Bob Dylan, The Middle East, Alabama Shakes, The Lumineers
Album Highlights: Sedona, For No One, Honey Slider
Track Listing:
Sedona
Otis
15 Years
For No One
Black Gold
Honey Slider
My Cousin Greg
Gasoline
By God
Say It
Darlin’
Happy Christmas!!
Tom Petty
The Black Keys and Jake Bugg at The Forum
November 6, 2014
The Black Keys killed it last night in Los Angeles playing to a completely packed crowd at the Forum on their Torn Blue tour. Playing a solid 18 song set and finishing with 3 more in an encore, they more than delivered.
Opener Jake Bugg got things going with an incredibly powerful set showcasing this young artist’s talent for belting out some strong vocals and quick guitar skills. Bugg played some songs from his first album ,Jake Bugg, such as “Seen it All”, my personal favorite “Two Fingers” and saved his biggest hit “Lightning Bolt” for the end. He mixed in some new music he has been working on and songs from his second album Shangri La and changed up some of his originals with longer and slower introductions and drawn out guitar riffs. I can’t wait to see what Bugg’s future holds as he has come a long ways from when I saw him playing at the SD House of Blues last year where he nervously took the stage and played for a much smaller crowd than the huge stadium that was filling up for headliner, The Black Keys.
A hypnotic swirl of black and white appeared on the many screens along the stage and a voice commanded the audience to look in and get lost before the show started. The audience was ecstatic and screaming when Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney took the stage. The duo was joined by touring artists John Wood and Richard Swift who helped the Keys amplify their tunes to the next level.
They started their set with “Dead and Gone” and went into “Next Girl”. Some highlights from the show were when the band went into “Strange Times” from their 2008 album Attack & Release and when they did a cover of Edwyn Collins’ “Girl Like You.” They brought a new element of raw energy and power to the song, and Auerbach’s vocals rivaled the smooth sound that Collins put out in the original, made popular in the movie Empire Records.
While I wished they had played more of their older music and some more of the slower tracks off of their album Brothers, it was still an incredible show and the encore set that included their hit “Little Black Submarine” satisfied my craving for a slow and soulful song. The stage took on black and white lights and the floating screens behind the band projected black and white footage of Auerbach singing and close ups of the instrumentals. Everyone sang along and left the Forum feeling stoked on the night of incredible music that had just happened.
The Black Keys’ Torn Blue tour continues with a show in San Diego this weekend at the Viejas Arena.
-REF
Eden Frost