The day started beautifully with sunshine and just a few clouds. If you've ever been to the south entrance of the Merriweather, then you know being in line before the bridge is doing pretty good. By the time of my arrival (around 10:30am) the line wound well up the hill to the parking lot and divided in two. One line extended towards the lot for the Free Ticket holders and the other for the Fan-E Pack Tickets (pronounced fanny-pack). Free is awesome but if you can swing it the Fan-E Pack gets you a t-shirt, a poster, a cup and a few other goodies all tucked in a florescent green bag. Much to the dismay of the "free" crowd, it also gets you early entry ... or at least entry before the "free" crowd.
Every now and again I get the chance to see a band not yet polished to a pristine shine, not yet seamless, not yet performing by the set list pulled from a file of possibilities. Alberta Cross brought a refreshing reminder of how it feels to be almost famous. No "guitar guy" on the side to tune up for the next song. No perfectly lined pedals for sound changes at just the right time. The performance itself poured from every member with intent to be heard but more importantly remembered. Singer, Petter Ericson Stakee, seemed to be forcing the lyrics through the mic like tangible matter during Rise from the Shadows. Tambourine in hand, Petter walked the rows of speakers in front of the stage and begged to know "... do you feel it?..." while the music whined across the people. Thief and the Heartbreaker, Lay Down, and Money for the Weekend woke up the lunch crowd and pulled us through to the hard hitting ATX ending the show. Watch out for these guys.. I smell longevity or maybe it was mud under the thickening crowd of humans.
The dance forest was definitely the place to be from the start of the day through the end. Porter Robinson hit the decks and dropped the beats we all wanted to hear for an exhausting 90 minute set. You know those moments you wait for when the music slows or stops completely and then BOOM! The bass drops and beats hit hard. Porter left everything on the stage and we left everything in the mud. He waved his arms with the rhythm of the unified crowd and we waved everything from giant flowers to multicolored feather dusters. If you missed this show, you missed a dance party and the chance to boogie before 90% of the dancers were too intoxicated to keep a firm grasp on their drinks. I kid, I kid. But really.
What I was expecting from this band was folk music to catch my breath in the covered pavilion after writhing in the dance forest. What I got was more reason to dance. Okkervil River exploded with Black and For Real from their 2005 release Black Sheep Boy, and Rider from their latest album I Am Very Far released in May 2011. If you get the chance to see this band live, do it. Take at least three other people and be ready to see more than "another folk band."
I'd caught a little of Cut Copy on satellite radio, so I decided to check them out. I followed the herd of gradually tiring people to the festival stage in the late day sun. The crowd for Cut Copy filled the muddy field patched with scattered hay. The band wasted no time warming up the synthesizers for what could only be compared to my pre-teen 80's world colliding with my middle-aged new millennium. While the crowd of fans stayed, I wandered off for something a little more up my alley. I did however snag this picture later in the day of Tim Hoey while he was checking out Patti Smith.With a name like !!! who wouldn't want to see what they're about? Within the first 5 minutes, I was wishing I'd given Cut Copy just a bit more of my time. Imagine the moves of Mick Jagger with just a bit more flair for exhibitionism. The crowd watched with wonder or confusion as Nic thrust his hips about while standing on a side speaker wearing cut off short shorts. He gyrated to the beat of the tunes as if trying to move only the property beneath said shorts. Made me glad I didn't opt for the rail this time. And we're walking... we're walking...
***this is also where my phone died (suggest back up battery if you use your phone often)
Patti Smith
Back at the pavilion stage, Patti Smith continued the folk rock flow with a touch of political upheaval. She reminded everyone to fight injustice and those that intrude on our freedoms. One point she made that stuck with me.. and I'm paraphrasing here.. A lot of people died September 11 and a lot of people have died since then. We should remember them all. But the day to remember is September 10 because that is the day we were still ourselves. That is the day we were not intruded upon by cameras and body checks in the name of security. While waiting in the line to get on the floor, Hunter commented he was a bit disappointed in her choice of songs. He was happy to hear Free Money but wanted to hear more from her first album Horses. Patti finished the set with Because the Night and a tribute to Amy Winehouse.
TV on the Radio
TVOTR opened the show with Young Liars and Halfway Home. The audience sang along through most songs and really seemed to enjoy the show. Jaleel Bunton (piano) tried to help out David Sitek (guitar) with a shout out to some or a group of someones but I don't think he got the name right. Kyp Malone (vocals) even tried to help out but it just became a random shout out to random names. That aside, TVOTR did not disappoint. The Wrong Way, Dancing Choose and Will Do easily pleased the fans. Even the newer songs from their latest album Nine Types of Light kept the crowd in a sway of hands and bopping heads. Tunde Adebimpe and Kyp Malone meld vocally like sugar in lemonade. Separately both are great but when they come together... refreshing! Can't wait to see you again!**this is where my camera died (putting extra batteries in the car is not the same as putting them in the bag you intend to take into the venue).
Empire of the Sun
The electronica theme of the evening definitely won over the tired crowd. Empire of the Sun presented a feast for the eyes as well as upbeat rhythms for tired feet. Girls dressed in different full piece body suits, make-up and head covers danced in unison across the stage while Luke Steele fondled the synth in his elaborate costume. He wore a headdress with a large gem in the center and silver fronds reaching high above him. With his painted face and silver costume, he reminded me of kings of the past.. or at least the pictures I've seen of them. This band is worth the Google.
Teddybears
Night fell on the festival as Teddybears pulsed out electronic vibes through the dance forest. These guys have a 10 year history with music and are now out promoting their 2010 album Devil's Music. The screens behind them flashed what would be cuddly teddy-bear heads revolving and pulsing to the beats were it not for the glowing red eyes. The repetitive mixes satiated the crowd for a while. Three very well dressed guys disguised with large mascot-like brown bear heads somehow managed to still see the stage, press buttons and not trip over the giant disco ball center stage... and yes, it too was shaped like a teddy-bear head with red glowing eyes.
Ghostland Observatory
SET LIST
Finally, the last show of the night. I was lucky enough to squeeze up on the rail to the far left of the stage; however, I was a bit unlucky to have been surrounded by very intoxicated "festivalians". No matter. Once the show started, all I could see were lasers and fog, perhaps a bit too much fog. Aaron and Thomas kicked off the show with Glitter, Piano Man, and Ghetto Magnet. The lasers bounced off the trees in a dizzy array of dots and flashes of color. Aaron pepped up the crowd with his stage interaction walking back and forth on the edge. Feeling the distance between us, Aaron jumped down from the stage and stood against the rail. He sang with the crowd and smothered the girl next to me while he tried not to fall backwards. I don't think she minded in the least. Aaron moved to the other end of the rail giving hand slaps all the way down. He stood up at the rail for a few seconds before rolling back on the stage. As always, Sad Sad City raised the intensity. He sang, we sang... it was a beautiful moment. Ghostland finished out the evening with Dancing on my Grave, Kick Clap Speaker, and a new song for which I cannot find a name. The lyrics are "Everyone wants to be the life of the party..." so feel free to let me know if you find the song. No encore, but I wasn't surprised. This venue has a strict 11pm curfew.
All in all this day couldn't have been better musically. I saw most of what I wanted to see and had fun doing it. I think the key to having fun at the Free Fest is to have an idea of who you want to see and understand that your favorite bands are likely to overlap. You'll need to make some choices and plan appropriately. Keeping a relaxed state of mind helps to keep the evening fun.
Things I learned and you should know:
- You will get dirty, but after about 7pm you'll stop caring.
- You will get doused with beer or any number of mixed drinks.
- You will wait to use the bathroom and/or buy more drinks. However, if you think smart you will not wait nearly as long as most. Go to the area where the "favorite" band is not playing to get your drinks. You'll be back well before those standing in the long line.
- You will be ushered out of the pit after EVERY band in the main pavilion. You'll need to make a plan for who you really want to be on the floor to see. Last year, this process upset me a bit but this year it made sense and I saw a lot more than I would have had I been glued to one rail all night. Just before the end of the current band on stage, a line will for either to the right or left of the pit. This line will be let into the pit after it is cleared from the previous band.
- Wear comfortable shoes. No really. The flip-flops you adore will not be well loved once they get wet (see #2) and your feet slide to and fro while walking or dancing. Wanna look cute in heels? I hope you wanna stand still, too. The property at the Merriweather covers enough room for three stages far enough apart that you can't hear the other bands playing. You are sure to walk a few miles before the night is over. Oh and 90% of the property is grass, dirt or mud.
- It's ok to come later. Many (including myself) want to be there when the doors open. This makes for a 12 hour day of walking, dancing and just a little sitting. Unless you really want to see the first band of the day, you can come later and you'll still be a part of all the fun. I was a bit jealous of all the new people coming through the gate around 7pm looking refreshed and ready to party while I sat all but passed out on the side of the walkway.
- Have fun. Take it all in. The music, the atmosphere, the people .. it's all there for you. Go with it. This year Kyrocera set up stages in a circle. Each stage had a device that could sense a patterned paper in front of it. The movement of the patterned paper caused the music emanating from the speakers to change. You became the music maker along with the people on the other stages. Pretty neat. Get your name written in Chinese character on a shirt. Paint something beautiful on a wall ... or yourself. Recycle a water bottle and get a refillable water pouch (they refill it free). Have FUN!
More pics from this show (warning: a photographer I am not!)
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