As a frequent festival/concert goer, you tend to see many of the same bands perform.
This is equally a good and bad thing; you get to repeatedly witness the greatest music in the world, but also might stumble upon a repeat set or two.
Wakarusa featured many artists whom I have seen live before, from My Morning Jacket, to Big Gigantic, to Bassnectar, to Two Fresh, to DSO. This is in no way, shape or form any sort of complaint, because they are all awesome. Just my thoughts about some of these guys..
Bassnectar- I have womped out to some Nectar 4-6 times before in the past.. again it all starts to seem like one seamless bass drop. Each time I do enjoy the show, however, I know exactly what I am going to get each time, lots and lots of bass, hopefully some good build ups to that bass, and more bass, if that is what you're looking for, you will LOVE this show. And that is exactly what I was in the mood for at the time, however by mid set, I get the feeling that Lorin was tired of just being "The Bass Guy," because he started spicing up his set a little bit. Getting more "creative" with his beats, a little more dancy, a little less wompy. I wasnt really diggin it. Your name is BassNectar, play me some Bass, if you dont like it, change your name.
Big Gigantic- I don't think I could ever muster up anything negative to say about these guys. The first Big G show I saw was in SC in front of less than 200 people, this weekend there were thousands! Been a fan since day one, when I was mesmerized by the funky fresh sounds of the sax mixed with electro heavy drums. Love at first sight. Their Wakarusa set was no exception. The Revival Tent was jam packed, no room for sitting, plenty of room to make a dance partner friend or 2 or 3 or 4… the crowd was spewing out of the tent, and some were lucky just to see the silhouette of Dom and his sax over the vicious light show. A+++++++ Check it out for yourself!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YNfMboT8-xY YOO Wakarusa, you better put my dudes on the mainstage next year too! They deserve it!
Thievery Corp.-
DAM! SHIT! THIS WAS SOO GOOD!! Still one of the best live shows I have ever seen. I feel like they have over 20 people in their band that filter on and off stage throughout their set, which makes it all the more interesting. Great for dancing, grooving, jamming, and everything in between. I was once told, "they are only good the first time," well I beg to differ Mr. Henry, their show was just as good this time, ( my 4th) as it was my first at Bisco '10. Kudos my friends.
Beats Antique. Whom are my new fav group after catching them at Hang Out, really didnt do much to affect their stock after their Waka show. Now dont get me wrong, they are awesome, and I really had a great time at each of their shows. But as Grace Potter of The Norturals said during a press conference on Thursday,
"As you get more famous and get more fans, they expect more from you each time. You have to continuously step up your game"
I am pretty sure they played the exact same set, not cool, I want change. They did however do a bitchin' job jamming with Eoto in Waka's finale, late Sunday night. Bonnaroo, are you ready for these guys?
Lotus. They forever changed my life at All Good '10with their electro jam, that I never knew existed. And again, they stole my face late-night my very first Thursday at Waka. They will be rocking mucho festivals for the remainder of he summer; fingers crossed I can score an interview w/ them at Bisco, and they are playing my dream venue, (Red Rocks in CO.) in early July.
And last but most certainly not least, Papadosio. Went from almost an unknown at last years All Good and Camp Bisco, with very few in attendance, to a nearly packed house at the outside tent. I wouldn't be surprised if these cats move their way closer and closer to a late-night show as time progresses. And with Electric Forest, Bisco, and AllGood sets, they are sure to grab some new fans, and be forced to step up their onstage performance with each show. I'm pumped to Papadosio with them again.
PEACE