Posts tagged Festivals

Photo Credit: Emily Dyan Ibarra We’re previewing the best + brightest Lollapalooza acts. Get the scoop here! Artist: Portugal. The ManLollapalooza Set: Sunday, August 7th @ 5:00 PM at SonyProof: This 13-minute video combines two of In The Mountain In The Cloud’s most delightful tracks, “Sleep Forever” and “Got It All (This Can’t Be Living Now)” It feels like the perfect time to talk about another favorite Lollapalooza act, Portugal, The Man, because I’ve just finished listening to their new album In the Mountain In The Cloud (you can too via Paste here), which is due out July 19th. This album joins five other albums released since 2006 but we all know quantity does not equal quality, especially in music. However, this is a band that is just as talented as they are busy. Their drippy, dreamy rock sound led by lead singer John Gourley leaves little to be desired. They are a sweet, easy treat to listen to in almost any setting and also put on an unbelievable live show. Their set at Bonnaroo was spectacular: the kind of show that even in 100 degree heat (with minor sound issues), you feel like you could happily watch another five hours of it. Gourley is often cited as the enigmatic front man, but it’s really the honest on stage connection and charm of the entire group that makes this band so special. Though a recognizable name, Portugal. The Man hasn’t quite reached the amount of indie success their music garners. They are the type of group that I’m often surprised to learn people don’t know much about. But then again, people do seem to know a lot about girls who are 16 & Pregnant so perhaps Portugal. The Man is just doing something right. Either way, if you are going to be at Lollapalooza, this is a set not to miss. It’s inevitable that this lingering middle lane success will explode to world domination soon enough and it very likely may happen with next week’s release. And as always, I only ask one thing in return for this generous sharing of my fabulous music tastes: money. Access my paypal account here. Just kidding. Apparently that’s of “poor taste”. So just email me a compliment or something. Stream the album from the link above, be sure to watch the beautiful posted video and check my interview with drummer Jason Sechrist below. You’re welcome, | N Which Lollapalooza act are you most looking forward to seeing?I am excited to see Ween, Phantogram, and Lykke Li  Cubs or Sox?Honestly I am into The Bulls,  Basketball is our game. But if I had to say it i would pick Sox because you can color in part of the O and make it say sex. Describe your live act in five words:Who, What, When, Where, Why?    What are the top five songs in your current iTunes 25 most played list?Dandy Warhols ”Sleep,” DJ Shadow Blood ”On The Motorway,” AIR ”Universal Traveler,” The Knife From ”Off To On,” Pixies ”River Euphrates“  How do you feel about blaming the O’Leary cow for the Chicago fire?Response:  www.coasttocoastam.com  What will you drink onstage?Water with a vitamin packet inside, and hopefully an ice cold beer next to it.  I hear Duvel is the beer on tap at this thing…?  What is your favorite festival memory?Bonnaroo 2009,  We had our show in That tent and the sky dropped and the thunder and lightning moved in over the festival on everyone, some people took shelter from the storm there and we plugged in and went for it.  What three emotions are the audience members guaranteed to feel at your show?Anxiety, Understanding, Community.  

Photo Credit: Emily Dyan Ibarra

We’re previewing the best + brightest Lollapalooza acts. Get the scoop here!

Artist: Portugal. The Man
Lollapalooza Set: Sunday, August 7th @ 5:00 PM at Sony
Proof: This 13-minute video combines two of In The Mountain In The Cloud’s most delightful tracks, “Sleep Forever” and “Got It All (This Can’t Be Living Now)”

It feels like the perfect time to talk about another favorite Lollapalooza act, Portugal, The Man, because I’ve just finished listening to their new album In the Mountain In The Cloud (you can too via Paste here), which is due out July 19th. This album joins five other albums released since 2006 but we all know quantity does not equal quality, especially in music.
However, this is a band that is just as talented as they are busy. Their drippy, dreamy rock sound led by lead singer John Gourley leaves little to be desired. They are a sweet, easy treat to listen to in almost any setting and also put on an unbelievable live show. Their set at Bonnaroo was spectacular: the kind of show that even in 100 degree heat (with minor sound issues), you feel like you could happily watch another five hours of it. Gourley is often cited as the enigmatic front man, but it’s really the honest on stage connection and charm of the entire group that makes this band so special.
Though a recognizable name, Portugal. The Man hasn’t quite reached the amount of indie success their music garners. They are the type of group that I’m often surprised to learn people don’t know much about. But then again, people do seem to know a lot about girls who are 16 & Pregnant so perhaps Portugal. The Man is just doing something right. Either way, if you are going to be at Lollapalooza, this is a set not to miss. It’s inevitable that this lingering middle lane success will explode to world domination soon enough and it very likely may happen with next week’s release. And as always, I only ask one thing in return for this generous sharing of my fabulous music tastes: money. Access my paypal account here.
Just kidding. Apparently that’s of “poor taste”. So just email me a compliment or something.
Stream the album from the link above, be sure to watch the beautiful posted video and check my interview with drummer Jason Sechrist below.

You’re welcome,

| N

Which Lollapalooza act are you most looking forward to seeing?
I am excited to see Ween, Phantogram, and Lykke Li 

Cubs or Sox?
Honestly I am into The Bulls,  Basketball is our game. But if I had to say it i would pick Sox because you can color in part of the O and make it say sex.

Describe your live act in five words:
Who, What, When, Where, Why?   

What are the top five songs in your current iTunes 25 most played list?
Dandy Warhols ”Sleep,” DJ Shadow Blood ”On The Motorway,” AIR ”Universal Traveler,” The Knife From ”Off To On,” Pixies ”River Euphrates“ 

How do you feel about blaming the O’Leary cow for the Chicago fire?
Response:  www.coasttocoastam.com
 
What will you drink onstage?
Water with a vitamin packet inside, and hopefully an ice cold beer next to it.  I hear Duvel is the beer on tap at this thing…? 

What is your favorite festival memory?
Bonnaroo 2009,  We had our show in That tent and the sky dropped and the thunder and lightning moved in over the festival on everyone, some people took shelter from the storm there and we plugged in and went for it. 

What three emotions are the audience members guaranteed to feel at your show?
Anxiety, Understanding, Community.  

We’re going to give you our top 15 picks for can’t miss shows at Bonnaroo (which is really hard with a lineup like that), in no particular order. And yeah, you should see Arcade Fire and Lil Wayne, but these are some others.

Aunt Martha/ Sunday, June 12th @ 12:30 Sonic Stage & Sunday, June 12th @ 2:40 On Tap Stage
Jessica Lea Mayfield/ Friday June 10th @ 12:15 This Tent

Some of you may call it cheating to cover two artists by posting a video of one of the artist covering the second artist. Well, some of you are assholes and a bit bossy. I prefer the people who will look at this at think, “my, that’s efficient,” because that’s what it is.
Aunt Martha and Jessica Lea Mayfield are similar in a lot of ways: two emerging artists with folksy sounds and an impeccable ability to story tell through their songs. I love this cover Aunt Martha did of Mayfield’s “Sometimes at Night,” so I thought I’d kill two birds with one post.
My brother encouraged me to listen to Jessica’s stuff about a year or so ago when he befriended her while living with her brother. I listened to one of her bigger singles, “For Today” and just didn’t buy it. For days after that, I found myself singing that song and finally listened to it again. I dove a little deeper into her stuff and I can’t tell you quite what made me fall in love with her, but something did, I encourage you to seek that “something” out as well.
Aunt Martha is a little more fresh to the scene than the well-seasoned (albeit only 22 years old) Mayfield, but they have a world and a half of potential. And I’m 94% positive my adoration of them has nothing (or very little) to do with one of their members wearing what looks to be a San Francisco Giants hat in their press photos.
It’s the type of music with lyrics such as, “I wanted to crash your party, but I couldn’t find your house,” but it’s easy to listen to in a really compelling way. I saw about 15 seconds of a video of them performing and knew they were a band to watch.

Enjoy this cover and check out both group’s original stuff before Bonnaroo to prepare for all the greatness.

| N