Day One of The Hang Out could not have been more of a success. Amazing music, better people, I spent the better half of the night on the beach watching my new friends spin fire, or spin poi, which was an incredible and new experience. I knew it was little to re-charge, as I had two more days of this to go.I started day two with a 11am dose of Rich Aucoin, whom I had never heard of, but highly enjoyed. His very experimental sound mixing pop and electro with the trumpets, trombones, drums, bass, among many others. Their use of visuals, and a projection screen were very interesting and unique.
Rich had so much energy, it was contagious. Remind you it was 11am, and everyone was aching from last night, but in no time he had everyone ready to dance and jump around again.
He said:
"We're at war with the cynics! Syncing to classic films from our child..
Personal Publication EP, was recorded over a year with one microphone and holds more than 25 instruments on its soundwaves. It was written to sync with Dr. Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas (1966) in the same manner as Pink Floyd's famous sync with The Wizard of Oz. "
Very cool Rich, you rock!
After seeing Rich in the Boom Boom Tent, and catching some rays on the sand, it was back to the Boom Tent for Aussie Xavier Rudd.
Let me begin my Xavier Rudd rant, (not really a rant b/c a LOVE the guy) by saying he is one of my new FAVORITE musicians. Not only does he play every instruments including the didgeridoo and lapsteel, ( a guitar that is played on your lap), two VERY cool sounds, he is also from Australia which is one of the most unique place on earth.
His set was like none other I have ever heard, at first he is very reminiscent of Jack Johnson and Ben Harpers; chilled out beach vibes; but with his additions of the didgeridoo, lapsteep, banjo, stomp boxes, and djembe drums, it took over and transformed into his very unique music. Groovy enough to dance to, but also laid back enough not to. Some of his songs with a very heavy use of the didgeridoo were also "organic dubstep" in my mind, a true crowd pleaser.
Look out for Mr. Rudd at festivals all over the world, I sure hope our paths cross again soon.
The next events that took place, I basically called play by play hour before it happened, b/c I know that what people do once, they will surely never do again, but what they do twice, they will most certainly do again.
I was excited to see Cee Lo, I never have, and his voice and entire style as a musician is very neat and appealing to me. "It makes me craaazy", as Cee Lo would say.
Buut, just as I predicted based off Cee Lo ditching out on his SXSW set b/c "his hotel was too far from the venue", and pissing off fans in Coachella by showing up fashionable late for his set. Not cool bro.
He was late again. I was pissed. "Fuck You Cee Loo. Fuck you too"
Luckily Dave Grohl form the Foo Fights is a fucking awesome dude, got a lifetime supply of Cobain swagger to take everywhere. They swiftly came on stage and rocked 20 minutes of covers, which were awesome! As he stated, "This is the BEST festival ever! I woke up ate some lobster. Took a nap. Went for a swim in the ocean. Some guy with a walkie-talkie said Cee Lo was late and if we could play something until the Avett Brothers come on. I said sounds fun. And here we are! The world is going to end tomorrow, but I couldn't enter an eternity of hell in a better place. HANGOUT!!" What a swell chap.
Again, Cee Lo showed up fashionable late, played his two hits, and left. Whoopdy doo for cee loo.
We were torn between our awesome spot in the sand at the Hangout Stage, where Cee Lo was, the Avett brothers were, and Foo Fighters were going to be.. but something about those Flaming Lips gave me choice but to travel to the other beach stage. And not without catching the end of Pretty Lights day time set, of course.
We got his stupendous grand finally of "Finally Moving", "Up&DownIGo", and "Keep em Bouncin" Ahhhh what a tease! Very pumped for his late night madness later that night. A Flaming Lips concert is ranked as a top 10 thing to do before you die in esquire mag, so we kinda had to check them out. Again, a Flaming Lips newbie, they were incredible!!! So amazing. Back to Hang Out Stage for Fooo.
We were Hanging Out, and received one of the best live shows of the weekend. The Foo Fighters came back again to rock us with their original stuff, and yes after 15ish years they still got it. They rocked! Like one of the only remaining awesome live rock bands. Like real rock. Two and half hour set later, maybe even more, I couldn't believe it was already over. I wanted more, we wanted more. And I wasn't even sure I was into live rock at that particular point in time, but regardless of my feelings; an amazing show, made my night. I am a fan.
Day Two at Hangout was the best day of my life; between Xavier Rudd, Flaming Lips, and Foo Fighters, I didn't think life could get much better. Oh yea, a late night Pretty Lights show, that Big Gigantic was opening for!! SCORE! WHAT?! You need to buy an extra ticket to get in?! You're kidding me right?! Nope. I didn't have one. FUCK! But I WAS GOING to that show..