To quote local rocker Andrew Kling’s Facebook status — this might very well be the best week for music ever in this town. It has a lot to do with the CU Folk and Roots Festival and Bobby Rush’s local appearance this coming Sunday, but the biggest reason is this year’s Pygmalion Music Festival, which has its best lineup yet. It all starts tonight.
Before we get into the nitty gritty, here are a few friendly tips: bring some earplugs, don’t drink too much booze (until Saturday), don’t wear white pants (it’s after Labor Day people) and PLEASE, PLEASE make sure to see some of the great local acts performing over the next four days.
WEDNESDAY
Toughest Choice: Built to Spill vs. Of Montreal
A lot has been already been written and said about this opening night scheduling conflict, but I am pretty satisfied with organizer Seth Fein’s “it was this or nothing” explanation. Regardless, this remains a really difficult choice as both bands have added so much to the indie rock landscape over the last fifteen years. But as far as particulars go, the choice could hardly be any starker: on the one hand you’ve got a meat and potatoes band whose show is their musicianship — at any given moment they could be playing any one of dozens of certified rock ‘n roll gems.
On the other hand you’ve got the over-the-top, anything-goes extravaganza that is a modern Of Montreal show. They’ve become a can’t-miss act for thousands of people who love the SHOW. Expect the middle-aged hipsters to do BtS and the youngsters to go for spectacle. Everybody wins.
Easiest Choice: Janelle Monae
This festival might just kick off with its strongest act — no offense to the excellent local duo Common Loon, but I’m not talking about them. If I could only go to one set all week, Janelle Monae would win hands down. I could go on and on about her futuristic android-as-minority-Metropolis concept, her Wondaland Arts creative or her distinctive style. But none of it would matter if her album didn’t deliver, and boy does it deliver. And word is that she’s been delivering live too. The only question is how anyone can possibly follow this act.
Most Inessential: Revolt Revolt
I’m sure they have a lot of fans, but unfortunately, they’re going up against three monsters and one well-liked local act. Their music seems vaguely nineties and eighties influenced, but it just doesn’t draw me in.
LOCAL SPOTLIGHT
Common LoonCommon Loon recently finished their tour around the country in support of The Long Dream of Birds and are currently refreshing before the next steps. We spoke with drummer Matthew Campbell (he’s on the left at right).
How’s it feel to be opening up for Built to Spill (and playing at the same time as Janelle Monae)?
Has Built to Spill ever played here before? I’m not certain, but I don’t believe they have. Obviously, they’re great, and we’re excited to take part in what may well be their first C-U show.
As for Janelle, I’m a little bummed that I won’t get to catch her this time. But I’m sure there’ll be other times.
Rumor has it that you guys have been recording new songs, any update on that?
We have a huge amount of stuff ready to record, and we want to employ several different methods and venues. We’re currently measuring the logistics of it all. I should mention that we’ve been preparing new songs for our live set, and we’ll debut a few of them on Wednesday night.
What performance are you most looking forward to this week?
I’m most looking forward to seeing Caribou. No doubt about that.
THURSDAY
Toughest Choice: Surfer Blood vs. Plastician
I saw Surfer Blood this summer at Pitchfork and I was underwelmed, but I left early and heard their set built to a big finish. Also, their sound seems very well-suited for a Canopy Club show. They have continued to play more and more high profile shows, so I expect an improved stage presence. On the other hand, Plastician is one of the world’s best-known grime and dubstep DJ’s. He’s been at this for a while now, and it will be great to see him perform in our little dubstep hamlet.
Easiest Choice: Those Darlins
This band is riding a lot of buzz right now and from all accounts they are a really incredible live act. Modern rockabilly/country-punk fusion, whatever you want to call it, it should make for compelling listening. And by going to this show, you support Pygmalion, Krannert and The CU Folk and Roots Festival. That’s pretty awesome.
Worth Checking Out: Fang Island
Here’s a band whose sound just screams fun — it’s pretty much their modus operandi. I have a really hard time believing that this show will be anything less than a blast of pure energy from start to finish — almost all of their songs soar to anthemic highs. For evidence, check out this video for their song “Daisy.”
Electronic Dickery of the Day: Dubstep Massacre
Local mainstay Dubstep Massacre takes place this year during Pygmalion. That’s a neat little bit of synergy right there. With Plastician coming in and Belly coming off his recent North Coast Festival victory and sets from Wompstars, Solo and Nameloc, expect an exceedingly energetic crowd.
Most Inessential: Cults
A two-piece NYC buzz band known for their dreamy throwback sound? You don’t say? My goodness, how refreshing in this day and age of every buzz band coming from NYC with a throwback dreamy sound. zzzzzzzzzzzzzz
LOCAL SPOTLIGHT
Psychic TwinIt should be no surprise that any band featuring Erin Fein (Headlights, Absinthe Blind) will get our attention. The new band plays its first show this Thursday night, playing right before Surfer Blood. We recently spoke with Fein about what to expect from her new project.
Is Psychic Twin a “side project” or a new focus? Are Headlights currently inactive?
Psychic Twin is closer to a new focus than a side project at this time. Headlights isn’t inactive, but we’ll be playing much less frequently for now. I’ve wanted to develop a project based on some songs I’ve been writing for a little while now. I knew they weren’t Headlights songs and it seemed like a good time to try something new.
What kind of sound can we expect from Psychic Twin? Is there a particular reference point for the music? What instruments will we see in the live setting?
There is a mixture of electronic and live beats, with the focus on the electronic beats. It’s very keyboard heavy music with awesome little guitar moments. lots of layered vocals and reverb…my favorite. My cousin called it ‘supersad dance party’ so I’ll go with that.
For this Pygmalion show I’m playing two Casiotone keyboards and singing. [Headlights guitarist] Tristan [Wraight] is playing guitar, drums, percussion, and singing back ups. [Headlights drummer] Brett is controlling/playing all of the samples and beats, playing an awesome old juno keyboard, drums, percussion…I’ve been calling him the human octopus. My brother Adam [Fein] is playing another Casiotone keyboard and percussion.
What other band playing the festival are you most interested in seeing?
There are many bands I’m excited to see this year. Janelle Monae, Built to Spill, Cults, and Surfer Blood are my top four.
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DJ BellyDJ Belly is one of the hardest working musicians in the local music scene. And all his hard work paid off when he recently won the play-in competition at the North Coast Music Festival. He has a new mix of mashups available for download here.
You recently won the play-in competition for the North Coast Music Festival. Were you surprised? How was playing on the big stage?
I was amazingly surprised to win. I entered it on a whim and didn’t think I had a chance in hell in going all the way. When I saw I was holding in the top 20 I decided to really give it a push and the response was amazing. It was awesome seeing how much the community came out for the help with that. It was amazing playing on the Coast Stage at North Coast. Great beautiful day, awesome people, met some great musicians. It was really a fun show, and interesting playing a bass heavy set at 1pm on a Saturday.
You obviously DJ a lot around town and you’re constantly putting up new mixes and/or original music. How do you stay so prolific?
Well I wouldn’t say I am “prolific” lol. I definitely have my own style when it comes to the music I play on my regular gigs. Since I started playing records (yes I actually started on vinyl) I have constantly been honing the sound and style of my music into something that really speaks to what I think is good music. I guess my style is hugely influenced by hip hop. I love the mid ’90s style of hip hop, and I love where the genre is going now. If you listen to the mash-ups and tracks I have been making you can totally hear that influence working its way in. Think of it as future hip hop.
What other band/artist playing the festival are you most interested in seeing?
Gotta say I’m so so so so excited to see Cut Chemist. That dude is O.G. in the dj world. I mean the man can rock a set with one turntable??? I’m quite excited to see one of the masters work out three turntables at once on Friday, and to those who have no idea who he is, you should be there, the man is amazing. Not just a guy playing records by any means.
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We’ll have Friday and Saturday previews in the next couple of days. The full Pygmalion schedule is available here.