We are never going to have our own Woodstock. We’ve fragmented our musical tastes, we’re too interested in gasoline and Blackberries to pay attention to daisies, we don’t like rolling in mud unless there’s free beer and a child’s swimming pool involved.
But the closest we’re probably going to get in the Pacific Northwest is this year’s Sasquatch musical festival. It’s the tenth one, so you know it’s going to be good. There will be camping—so probably also muddy people, electronically karaoked songs around the campfire and a lack of iPhone connectivity, so that’s probably as ‘60’s we’re going to get. Aside from Jenny and Johnny, that is.
Seattle-based concert promoter Adam Zacks started the musical festival ten years, well aware of the regional tastes of concertgoers that increased the popularity of weekend -only type festivals like Coachella and Bonnaroo, along with the declining interest in touring festivals like Lilith Faire and Lollapalooza. The festival isn’t extremely Pacific Northwest heavy, but the line-up is still great—if you could score tickets (they sold out fast this year). Here are some of the highlights:
Friday, May 27
Foo Fighters—I didn’t even know that the Foo Fighters were still together, but I was misinformed. Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl started the band in 1994, but they just released a new album, Wasting Light, this year. They’ve also been traveling around Washington and returning to their roots—playing unannounced and un-promoted garages to support the release of their latest album.
Saturday, May 28
Jenny and Johnny—Jenny Lewis was the lead singer of Rilo Kiley and also produces solo material and Jonathon Rice is her boyfriend. Jenny Lewis has one of the sweetest voices and creates some of the gentlest melodies of anyone in music and together they make sweet, nostalgic sounding duets.
Wolf Parade—This electronic group will hopefully start a mosh-pit and/ (hopefully) or a dance party. Their latest album made a bunch of top ten lists last year, but I hope they do more than stand behind a DJ’s turn-table and throw toilet paper rolls out into the audience (I’m looking at you, Girl Talk).
Iron & Wine—Coming from Austin, Samuel Beam will bring the summertime with his ethereal voice (surprising, coming from a big and bearded dude), sweet melodies and thought-provoking lyrics.
Bright Eyes—The emo darling is sure to please Northwest audiences with his emotionally unstable singing and trend-setting hair. Oberst’s maturing sound is apparent in recent years with more instrumental layering and sophisticated and controlled song lyrics.
Sunday, May 29
Flogging Molly—The Los Angeles-based Celtic band has such a widespread appeal with its punk-influenced Celtic ballads. The lead singer, Dublin-born Dave King has such a massive stage presence that the Gorge better be rollicking with his huge voice.
Monday, May 30
The Decemberists—The Portland-based group will surely play to a repeat crowd from its Seattle show at the Pararmount in February, but hopefully some Canadians will be in attendance as well. The group really knows how to enliven the audience and their theatricality is only that much more heightened at a live show—with amusing instruments, witty stage banter and even-more-raucous-live songs.
Sources and further reading:
Printer-friendly version