music-festival - All Comments

Amanda Q — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 18:52:48 GMT

This year’s 94.9 Independence Jam ventured into North County for the first time and set up shop next to the Oceanside Pier with two stages – the headliner and the Casbah stage featuring local bands – and an sustainability savvy Eco Village featuring plantable water bottles with tree seeds, Honest Tea organic teas, and various other booths including one dedicated to education about the Municipal Water District.

But, I digress. After all, it’s about the music, right? This year the main stage featured Dead Confederate, Metric, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, and The Black Keys. Dead Confederate sheepishly took to the stage promptly at 5:00 to a crowd that mostly seemed unaware of who they were. What they may have lacked in stage confidence they immediately made up for with a cleanly executed set with only minor technical hiccups. The lead singer, Hardy Morris, was mixed a little low and so his powerful, screeching vocals were unfortunately lost in the midst of the driving music. The keyboard work of John Watkins was lost almost completely and both bassist Brantley Senn and guitarist Walker Howle adjusted their own equipment during the show to try and compensate for some losses. An accidental hit on the guitar while he was adjusting his pedals left Walker with a momentary sheepish grin, but it was an element of reality that made the band all the more loveable. Aside from those issues, the set was tight, powerful, and thoroughly engaging. The few diehard fans that were singing along and jumping from the start were soon joined by the crowd in a rhythmic, bouncing appreciation. Certainly new fans were formed, and towards the end of the set when they got around to playing The Rat, the pier was shaking.

They left the stage with little ceremony and crews immediately began to break down the set and prepare for Metric. Considering the constraints provided by Oceanside for the use of the venue and the unpredictability of moving around the individual equipment for four bands in a five hour block, the sound techs and crews worked incredibly well together. Again, despite the best intentions, there were some technical difficulties at the beginning of Metric’s set with the bass player’s equipment, but the mesmerizing presence of Emily Haines’ bleach blonde hair, cut off shorts, and white rimmed sunglasses directed all attention to her. The set continued uninterrupted while a diligent (and very disconcerted) roadie fixed the issues, and by the second song, the set went off without a hitch. Despite the impressions left by Dead Confederate, the Oceanside Pier venue can be mixed incredibly well, as was seen with the entirety of Metric’s set. The vocals and music were perfectly blended and managed to keep up with Haines’ switching mikes, running, dancing, running, and jumping all over the stage. She was a wonderful mix of the rockstar diva and the sweet Canadian, owning the stage with her undeniable presence and talent while also genuinely thanking 94.9 and the audience for the invitation to the show. The music was as engaging as she was, and by the end of the set the throng of viewers was eagerly pushing towards the stage to be closer to the experience. Haines and company seemed delighted by the response and left the stage to a roar of cheers and applause. In my opinion, it was the best mixed and most entertaining of the sets of the day, and it seemed to serve the greater purpose of getting the crowd ready and willing for the second female superstar to take the stage with the Yeah Yeah Yeahs.

As amazing as Metric was and as much as their music was appreciated, based on the reaction of the crowd, they were there to see the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. Swarms of them, pushing and clawing to scrape an inch of concrete that much closer to rock star Karen O. And rock star she is, in the truest sense of the word. She effortlessly worked the crowd and with a mere gesture hands would fly into the air to clap or feet would leap off the ground to jump, anything to be in time, to be in proximity with Karen O. The music was also well mixed, though I doubt it would have mattered. They were playing to their audience, the rest of the music was icing to some, distraction to others. The music was tight, sing-along friendly, but Karen O also took the opportunity to add her own, unique flare to some of the lyrics or notes, which riled up the fans all the more. Gifts were thrown on stage, and Karen O even took a pinwheel from an audience member and used it to coax the masses to sway in time with the throbbing rhythms. It was a short set, as they all were, but it was full of spit and vinegar and the pure, rock and roll nature of the band. Everyone on stage, everyone in the audience, probably everyone in Oceanside was sweaty and spent at the end of it, despite the growing breeze off of the oceanic backdrop to the stage. It was as monumental as the venue could get, while also maintaining that intimacy and “I was there” feel that 94.9 shows are known for. Based on the crowd response, though, it would have been a shame to miss it, because they are on the rise and I doubt a small venue will hold them much longer.

The unfortunate thing about having two big names like the Yeah Yeah Yeahs and the Black Keys is that one of them has to go first, and the other gets the end of the show, the real feel of the “headliner.” In this case, that was a disservice to The Black Keys. After the Yeah Yeah Yeahs departed the stage, so did two thirds of the audience that had been patiently growing around the stage, in the stands, and in the concrete courtyard separating the two. To be in the pit next to the stage had been a grueling task up until that point, and the throngs of fans for the Yeah Yeah Yeahs pushed their way to clean air and better footing, being replaced by a fraction of fans that had come to see The Black Keys. Their troubles did not end there. They were plagued by technical difficulties ten times worse than the other bands, including some tremendously bad feedback that ended up being a blown amp. The difficulties, the exhaustion of the previously elated fans, the time it took to fix the issues and move on lost more and more interest as the night progressed. Some fans left the stadium seating, opening up spaces for some of the footsore fans to move to higher ground, but many just left – perhaps to beat the traffic out, or perhaps just because they were tired. The set was not mixed terribly well and what normally is riveting music seemed somehow contrived and repetitive. It wasn’t the show stopper ending that would have been hoped for after the brilliant start from Dead Confederate that just grew with Metric and climaxed with the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. It didn’t help that the otherwise perfectly-timed execution of the whole day was slowed during The Black Keys’ set so that their closing number was interrupted by the house lights, indicating that 10:00 had been reached and it was time to quiet down and go home.

Overall, 94.9 did another amazing job of putting together a fantastic Independence Jam, though it was plagued with equipment issues. Some of the bands they may never be able to get again, though all the bands, with the possible exception of The Black Keys, seemed genuinely happy to be there. The setting was stunning, and the short breaks between sets could be spent watching the ocean or counting the pelicans flying by. As for the second stage, they may have been less loved, but certainly entertained the guests in the Eco Village and kept music filling the air during the main stage set breaks. What I heard of them sounded great, but alas, I can’t be in two places at once. Looking forward to next year!

Ashlie Rodriguez — Mon, 04 May 2009 18:22:50 GMT

The festival is worth going to. With the help of nice weather, Elemental Experience had an amazing line up, lots of artisans, and a bounty of activities. One could either watch muralists simultaneously spray paint their hearts away on a huge, white canvas, go to the 21+ section, groove to the electic DJs and enjoy drunken games, or just sit on the grass all day and listen to the live music. The downside was that there was no reentry, forcing you to choose between a full 10 hour day, or missing some incredible acts. Not to mention that no food or drinks were allowed in. I had to either suffer an entire day without food or alcohol, or commit to paying for over-priced, unsavory food, and $9 cocktails with barely any alcohol. I chose both, but to if I wanted to completely enjoy myself, I wouldn't have been able to get by without spending at least $50.

Overall, I had fun, the people were diverse and plentiful, and although it started as a family event, later in the night it turned you average outdoor music festival -- wildly insane.

Nicho — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 23:29:25 GMT

Having only attended one Coachella weekend, keep in mind all my opinion is based only on those three days. I did the camping onsite thing and I am not sure if it was just me, but things were so loose that I could have camped for free. Oh well. I never kept anything valuable in my tent, but no one ever messed with it. (I know because I set up things to tell me if there were any intrusions). Seeing a security guard get thrown out by another security guard did not make me feel safe though. Sometimes the bag searches were quick, but often it was thorough enough to be at least a little annoying. Regarding sleep, the music going on in the Dome sometimes even goes past 2 AM and is super loud, no matter how far you are from it. The shower lines were never horrible, but not always worth the wait for me personally.

For the festival itself: Be prepared. Dress appropriately, have earplugs, sunscreen and plenty of water. I am not sure if this was the first time but there was a plastic water bottle that was 10 dollars that could be refilled for free all weekend at a few water stations. A little electric fan would have been nice but is not required for survival. People pass out. A girl did right next to me and she was alone, but luckily security got her out. I wish I had brought a straw hat of some sorts to give me more shade, but I was avoiding trapping heat in the place it escapes the most, but I think I should have made an exception.

Sometimes there are tough choices to make and you will have to miss some or all of a band you like, but this is the least of your worries. There are always interesting things around to see, whether it be art or people. The food is overpriced, but there are some things that are in a relatively decent range. One example is a very large slice of pizza for six dollars. It is everything people say in general: drugs, heat and good music (at one stage if not another). It is an experience, but not for everyone. If you are not sure if it is your thing, going one day might be a safer bet. Just be safe and watch out for snakes on the way out. Almost stepped on one. Also, try parking near an exit if you can and goodluck getting out of there through the insane traffic if you stay all day.

Ashlie Rodriguez — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 15:01:27 GMT

The San Diego IndieFest was great. Lots of political energy backed by a sundry of musical talent. No matter where you went there was something to enjoy (or witness). 85 artists, constantly playing, were separated by theme, and you could either choose the stage of choice or just walk to every stage and try to get a taste of everything. The Main, Green, Women's, Acoustic, and Mature Audiences Stages were all really good, but my favorite was the movie theater they offered. Between shows I found myself venturing in the theater to cool down and rest my feet. They showed politically charged documentaries, some that peeled the scales from my eyes, others that put them right back on. Except for the IndieFest Crew, most of which were ridiculously annoying and needlessly controlling, it was a fun event that brought the San Diego community together while introducing us to some of the hottest local talent.

bands1 — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 05:20:07 GMT

I was very excited when I first heard about Outside Lands Music Festival. After all, it's in beautiful Golden Gate park. You get to spend a weekend in San Francisco(instead of, oh, Indio). And you know you won't melt in the usual summer heat most festivals are plagued with.

I believe the organizers are the same group that do Bonnaroo each year. You would think they have enough experience to put on a good show...not so. While the artists who participated were first rate, the event was so poorly planned it really put a damper on the experience.

Let's start with the layout. Because GG park is so narrow, the event and its six stages were spread in a very strange configuration. The main stage and Twin peaks stage were so far apart, it almost felt like two separate festivals. To get to the Sutro Stage, you had to walk through one of two narrow passages--can you say 'bottleneck'?? Not surprisingly, several fences were knocked down as the night wore on--people get cranky.

Next--bathrooms and concessions. Not enough of either. Bathroom lines were continuously 20+ minutes as were beer lines. Once the sun went down, everyone was watering the trees.

And probably my biggest gripe: transportation. Being San Francisco, the organizers made it a big point to "use public transportation". I am a firm believer in PT myself...until you bring 60 thousand people into the equation. There simply were not enough busses to service everyone. Going to the event, my cousin and I were fortunate enough to catch a bus. We were packed like sardines! What was sad was driving past all the other bus stops on the way to the park because the bus was full. You'd see 10-20 kids at each stop with this dejected look on their faces as the bus rode on by...

Now, going there was bad, but at least the people were staggered--some people left early...some left on time...some left late. But when the show was over, EVERYONE filed out of the park looking for a way back to their hotels, most staying downtown(about 8 miles away).

I won't go into the details, but I will say we left GG Park at around 10pm when the show ended. After failed attempts with seven cab companies and most buses going "Out of Service" at 11pm, life was not looking good. We did make it back...at about 1am.

On a side note, Radiohead(despite two complete sound outages) was great...as usual.

CCMC — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 03:45:10 GMT

This Benefit/Festival is to raise money for injured Oklahoma soldiers. Local entertainment throughout the day and evening.

In conert: John Michael Montgomrey and Ricochet. After the concerts, a vigil to honor the fallen soldiers.

bands1 — Fri, 02 May 2008 04:21:54 GMT

Why I hate Coachella -- TRAFFIC, CROWDS, and HEAT. Driving to the venue can be a nightmare. Despite seven years of practice, planners have not been able to tame the bottleneck of traffic coming into or out of the venue. I don't know what happened Friday night, but I was stuck in the parking lot for over 45 minutes waiting to get out. Of course, you could get around traffic by arriving or leaving early, but if you leave early, you miss the headliners. If you arrive early, you have to suffer in the heat longer! It doesn't matter what the forecast for Indio is--somehow it ALWAYS manages to top 90 degrees. This year it got into triple digits on Saturday! Now imagine the oppressive heat, only to be compounded with enormous crowds... Sound like fun yet? Coachella is set up on a huge patch of grass with 5 stages. The first couple of years, it was pretty easy to travel from stage to stage. Now, it's like a slow moving herd of cattle. Quick RECAP: We're stuck with painful traffic, oppressive heat and crowds that slow everything to a crawl. So why go?!?! Well, the music... I've said this before, and I'll say it again--Coachella is like childbirth. You know, when you ask a mother how childbirth was, they invariably say something like, "It wasn't too bad..." or "Oh, you forget the pain." The same applies to Coachella. Despite all of the drawbacks, I somehow only remember the good times each year when I decide to go or not. I remember sitting on the grass people watching with a cold beer. I remember walking from one end of the polo field to the other, and catching an incredible band I'm unfamiliar with on the way. I remember the sunsets--the beauty, the cool breeze. And of course, I remember the music. Line-ups at Coachella vary from good to great each year, but they are rarely bad. If you enjoy live music you won't leave feeling like you didn't catch any good performances. Each year I tell myself this is the last Coachella I will ever go to. But damn those promoters at Goldenvoice...you see, they have mastered a simple formula to suck me in each year. It goes something like this: Mix Headliner A, with Reunion Band B, throw in some hot Newcomer C and there you go! This IS my last Coachella...(**disclaimer: all bets are off if the Smiths or Stone Roses reunite**)

Breezy — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 22:16:30 GMT

Coachella is SO excellent. I Have been two years in a row, and both were amazing experiences. The heat can be rough, but it's part of the atmosphere and vibe of coachella. Everyone is really well behaved and excited to be there. Also, the heat cuts down on the drinking levels, so there's less rowdiness on that tip.The line-ups are always stellar, from top to bottom. A great mix of old and new. At coachella I have seen some of my classic favorites from years back, and also seen bands I've never heard of that absolutely blew my mind. The art is interesting and amazing, and coachella at night is ABSOLUTELY beautiful. Everyone...GO, please. You wont regret it.

Alyssa — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 05:21:07 GMT

I've been disappointed in the lineups that past couple years. That being said, the set up is pretty good. There is a main stage, a side stage, and a few tents with smaller stages. There is also a "pod" that has ongoing DJ/trance/electronic music. There is always a good variety of different types/genres of music. However, be prepared for the desert heat. It can be pretty unbearable. And like every other festival there are major crowds - which adds to the heat. Once the sun goes down, it feels great though.

laura — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 02:02:01 GMT

bonnaroo is a great festival. good music, good times. you should be prepared for the heat though, since this festival is in the middle of june. i prepare by bringing a mister and a battery operated fan. camping is on site. there are portapotties and a few communal showers. plenty of good food and i have never heard a bad band. also other interesting things to check out like the silent disco, the comedy tent, and centaroo. check it out!

Zatzbatz — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 15:56:01 GMT

This was the first year (2008) that Langerado was held at Big Cypress, and I feel they did a good job. I came on the second day, and was able to park easily enough. By then available parking was rather far from the actual festival. After getting to our campsite (friends had come the day before) and unpacking, we enjoyed the festivities. I felt the swamp was a perfect place for this show and that the organizers did a fantastic job. There was very adequate port-o-potties and food/drinks. Prices were not too bad considering we were utterly captive.

The weather was very intense and unpredictable. It rained heavily on two days, was extremely hot on one day, and was HORRIFICALLY cold another day. Between the sogginess, sunburn, and freezing cold, we got somewhat burnt out and left early on the last day. I feel that if I had planned better myself, this could have been avoided. Bring a jacket, use more sunscreen, and make sure the tent is secure and leak free before venturing out. All common sense.

The lineup was fantastic I thought. There was almost always something awesome going on, and the variety was great. I was introduced to a lot of great music, and the festival atmosphere was wonderful. The art and designs by LEBO were cool and I loved the Ferris Wheel. All in all, if you are well prepared for camping and festival craziness and like the bands on the lineup, then you will be pleased with Langerado. I had a blast and am planning on going again next year.