independent thoughts on indie rock, alternative, and indie pop music
Sometimes the most memorable shows from a festival are the ones that offer an unexpected surprise--not to imply a lack of high expectations going into Cage The Elephant’s 2017 Bonnaroo set. Being a Cage live show veteran, I thought I knew what to expect, but Cage muscled out a new level of energy for their... Continue Reading →
It was a sultry night last Saturday, as the temps climbed into the upper 90s, unusual for those of us here in Portland, Oregon--but unbeknownst to the passersby, the Doug Fir Lounge was hot inside as well – not for lack of A/C, but because Seattle’s Pickwick played a show that set us all on... Continue Reading →
It was Friday afternoon at the 2017 Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival and the field at the Which Stage was filled with a crowd fit for an evening headliner. Well before the start of The Strumbellas’ show, there had been a steady flow of people approaching the stage and staking out the best spots to... Continue Reading →
Sunday morning at Bonnaroo always brings a conflict of emotions--it’s when you realize that there is only one more day on The Farm and the real world is waiting on the other side. However, that feeling is quickly pushed aside by the realization that there are still hours of music to be heard, and this... Continue Reading →
After ending Friday night with the rocking spectacle of U2, I was ready to start Saturday with something a bit more mellow, and found what I was looking for on the Who Stage with Nashville rockicana artist Reuben Bidez. Leading with his acoustic guitar and soulful voice, Bidez ranged from melancholy to wistful while getting... Continue Reading →
Rising early on Friday morning, there was already an air of anticipation buzzing in the campsites. With a stellar Thursday of music still echoing in our heads, I carefully mapped out the schedule--even knowing that it was futile to plan too much at Bonnaroo. There's simply too much to see to be confined to a... Continue Reading →
At the risk of sounding cliché, the best word to describe Bonnaroo is “magical.” There are many ways people try to define what makes it so-- hugs, high-fives, and cool vibes are usually mentioned—but for factual proof, look no further than the hordes of people that flood The Farm each year in Manchester, Tennessee. The... Continue Reading →
Michael Kiwanuka has a powerful voice and an unmistakable sound; since the 2012 release of his breakthrough debut, Home Again, he has become one of the most prominent and inspirational singer/songwriters of the past decade. Home Again was a masterpiece of soulful folk blues, but since then, his sound has developed into a blend of... Continue Reading →
The night was cool, but the vibes were psychedelic and warm--the fractured alt-pop beats of Motopony carried the last show of their tour into history at The Goodfoot in Portland Sunday night. After three openers roused the intimate crowd and riled them up for their headliner, Daniel Blue and his eclectic group stole the night;... Continue Reading →
After two full days of music and exuberance, the final day of this year’s Shaky Knees Music Festival came, and it ended up being the hottest, as well as my favorite day of the three. We began our Sunday at the Piedmont Stage to catch Whitney, a band that wowed audiences and critics alike with... Continue Reading →
