After an eventful day one, Pitchfork Fest day two promised an even more saturated schedule. And it certainly delivered on that promise: first of all, with A Tribe Called Quest headlining, all the other bands could have tanked and this day still would have been certifiably historical. Fortunately, however, we were lucky enough that not a single one of the other acts disappointed.
Friday’s lineup promised an electric start to an action-packed festival weekend. Nashville’s own William Tyler played at 4 PM on Friday, followed immediately by Frankie Cosmos and Thurston Moore. The three of these provided a perfectly well-rounded, balanced trio of acts to precede the contrastingly high-energy Danny Brown, who flawlessly delivered intensity and famously rapid rap. Dirty Projectors’ intimidating, otherworldly sounds set a new kind of mood, one that held the audience rapt for a night that culminated in an impossibly fantastic performance by LCD Soundsystem.
Pitchfork Music Festival boasts an impressive lineup that is as eclectic and genre-spanning a collection as it is all-encompassing. Just as it has in past years, Pitchfork delivered a list that truly has something for everyone without relying on superfluous bill-filling bands or kitsch or campiness. Here’s what to look forward to…
Last weekend I packed two t-shirts, a pair of tennis shoes, and a few extra socks and jumped on a plane bound for Burbank, California for my inaugural weekend at Joshua Tree’s Indian Cove.
PURE SUGARY TWEE POP BEAUTY. 1990s Seattle birthed one of the world’s greatest pop bands, and almost 20 years later they’re still (tully)crafting some of the best stuff out there. …
Damn, Bastille rocks! Giving a unique British soul twist on a rather familiar electronic-alt-rock format, frontman Dan Smith and company blow the doors down with a set of songs from…
Boards of Canada is a legendary Scottish electronic duo. Tomorrow’s Harvest is their long-awaited return, and it does not disappoint. This is an album of brooding, minimal instrumentals of the…
The Baptist Generals make unique indie rock with folk influences, reminiscent of the band Califone. The vocalist has a powerful, distinctive voice that sells lyrics that are nothing to rave…
Volcano Choir is a project featuring Justin Vernon from Bon Iver and the members of experimental rock group Collections of Colonies and Bees. Sonically, the album is not too much…
Mackenzie Scott is an exemplar of the Nashville music scene. Her voice warbles with the sincerest emotion–verging on despair–and her lyricism is an incredible force with which to be reckoned.…
Austra absolutely kills it on this album. As a long time fan, perhaps I am biased in favor of Katie Stelmanis’s ethereal vocals and the almost unintelligible lyrics, but this…
Frank Turner’s fifth album is a thing of raw, pathetic beauty stemming from a devastating heartbreak and a harrowing descent into addiction. The tracks have a bit of a formulaic…
DISC 1 This is one of the seminal indie album of the past 15 years. It’s influence is everywhere: The Postal Service led the charge of proto-chillwave, bringing back 80s…
Promises is comprised of solid, laid-back indie electro-rock. Extremely catchy, a little predictable, but very good stuff. Fits well into any indie-sound show, very radio friendly. K. Koschewa, 8/24/13
I dare you to find a more enlightening, uplifting, and enjoyable socially critical album released in the last 5 years. There’s and old school R&B vibe to many of the…
Mother Falcon is an 18-piece orchestral indie rock band, complete with horns and strings. The sound is oftentimes slow and melodious, always epic. Both male and female vocalists are ok,…
Diamond Carter is a local rock artist originally from Southern California. Inspired by sixties bands like the Grateful Dead, the music could be appropriately described as groovy, funky, and a…
Upbeat/catchy indie pop! If you like bands like Vampire Weekend and The Drums (and who doesn’t?) this CD will be right up your alley. Running through the album is a…
Brilliant. Jim James, leader of My Morning Jacket, nails is on this, not his first, solo release. Imaginative syncopation behind his nuanced but powerful vocals drive each song to make…
Delta Spirit is a straightforward rock ballad type of band. They craft guitar driven epics with soaring vocals and pounding drums, but the album’s strong first few songs are followed…
This is the is local mainstay’s debut album, filled with moody arena rock anthems that wouldn’t have been out of place on alternative rock radio last decade (with shades of…