After the torrential rains of Day One at Governor’s Ball, Day Two was all about mud and overcrowding. In what must have seemed like a fine idea at the time, the management invited Friday’s ticket holders to the already sold out Saturday event. The result was predictable: by 5pm you were slogging through miles of mud to reach a stage so crowded it took 15 minutes to reach the VIP section. I had been there since one-ish and was completely exhausted. I hit the road and bought new sneakers in Manhattan and headed to Barclay Center for Paul McCartney’s concert.
I missed Guns N Roses, Kings Of Leon, Kendrick and Azealia, Thievery Corporation, Nas, but some of what I saw was excellent… It was like being saved twenty trips to Webster Hall… well, except for Icona Pop who I must see again!
Robert Delong is the L.A. based electronic whiz kid who uses midi and PCs as well as conventional instruments to perform new songs as well as brilliant reconsideration’s of classic rock songs, Talking Heads “Once In A Lifetime” was quoted more than aptly as we slipped knee deep in the primal ooze and the Honda Stage, where all the best shows I saw happened to be performed. Robert was a winning, energetic performer with bass aplenty on an early set “Global Considerations” though the highlight was a rip roaring “Miss You – Grade: A-
Wild Nothing have their best recorded work just released, the EP Empty Estate, and played their moody and beautiful ambient indie pop with a pleasant easygoing veneer a long way from the somewhat boring band Jack Tatum lead when I saw them back in 2010. Wild Nothing performed a tightly focused set of synth pop, all sway and soar from early “Confirmation” through hit “Nocturne” – Grade: B
Icona Pop were at #9 on Billboards Hot 100 last time I looked and the realization seems to have just dawned on them at their frothy, crowd pleasing, electro pop. The Swedish duo, have two PCs on a table and two microphones and they were a dance machine. Playing smash hit “I Love You”, as well as choice tracks off their Iconic EP and a superb cover of “It’s My Party”. Caroline Hjelt and Aino Jawo met at a wild party in 2009 and decided to form a band. The Swedish duo haven’t really looked back and if their intense and eager set is anything to go by it is easy to see why. Caroline shaked and rattled, Aino kept her own, and they played with happiness and self-confidence and a little amazement. Is there anything better than seeing a band at the first flush of success? “Thank you, we’re gonna keep on meeting guys who break our hearts and sing about it”, they promised. And we will be here. Grade: A
I had been looking forward to Japandroids. I’d plan to catch em every time they place the City last year but keep missing em. Celebration Rock was a huge breakthrough for them and with that in their pocket the Vancouver duo played a dynamic little hard rocking set with Brian King a sarcastic and smart front man and David Prowse a powerhouse drummer. The band dedicated their best song “The House That Heaven Built” to Tommy Stinson though I kinda doubt Tommy returned the favor when played with GNR later in the night.Brian is a good frontman in a Clash t shirt, a knee bucking way with a solo and lots of evil sway – B
I saw Dirty Projectors perform a game changing set at Music Hall Of Williamsburg last July in support of their poppiest album to date. They were excellent then, but despite a simply lovely “Swing Lo, Magellan” and a smashing “Cannibal Resources”, their worst song ever, the horrible “Gun Has No Trigger” had me crossing the Ganges. Grade: B
So since I didn’t really dislike Dirty Projectors, what sent me across Randall’s Island? Fucked Up did!!! I have been ambivalent when it comes to Fucked Up in the past. Damian Abraham’s act can get old, the big guy jumps off the stage and never goes back. He interrupts his set to ramble on anything that catches his attention and he is a little self-serving. But, the man is for real and so is the band and if you can get past all the otherness, Fucked Up are the definition of Joe Strummer’s punk “we are all in this together” ethos. His fans adore him, hug him, kiss him, and he hugs em all right back. So you take a rambling story about Hulk Hogan contacting Biggie Smalls during a seance because, hey, “The Other Shoe” is coming up soon. Fucked Up perform “I Hate Summer” and then have the audience sing along to a new song, “It’s the privilege of masturbation”??? I couldn’t put it better myself – A
Have you ever seen a set you’ve hated so much you figure it has to be you. By the time Alt-J it is five and I am filthy, caked in mud so I know I’m gonna have to get some new boots, and Gov’s Ball is so packed it isn’t fun any more. Alt J are English art rockers who have been working at it at it for five years before last years breakthrough An Awesome Wave. I’ve seen Randall’s Island busy over the years, Sinead O’Connor opening for Van Morrison in the 1990s was pretty busy, and Pearl Jam’s ill fated attempt to not use Ticketmaster was pretty drastic. But Alt-J was insane and annoying and to be perfectly Alt-J’s set was at least the latter. I couldn’t bear em the twee dipsters, all clangy drums and synths awash in PC effects. They were probably a “B” but I thought they were a Grade: D
Kanye in 12 hours time from this posting!!!