The clouds opened up for the Foo Fighters to grace the Peachtree stage with a 2 hour and 15 minute set. Dave Grohl boasted the band would play until they were kicked off the stage. The Foo Fighters opened with “All My Life” to immediately get the crowd rocking and singing along. When the band played “The Pretender,” and several other songs, the band would either jam at length during the solo section or Dave Grohl would speak to the crowd to fire them up before returning to the chorus. Both were welcome to separate the live experience from well-worn tracks in everyone’s memory.
Introducing the band, each member got a moment to shine and played short covers of “Sabotage”, “Blitzkrieg Bop” and “Whip It” (the dummer played for Devo). The band also displayed how tight they were with synchronized stop starts to bring the crowd back in on their songs. If nothing else, the Foo Fighters demonstrated that they were masters of working the crowd and keeping anyone in hearing distance rocking. Of course, they’re that and more, a grand finale to 2024’s Shaky Knees!
The rain calmed by the time Billy Idol stormed the Peachtree stage. You don’t really have to think much about what you’re going to get with a Billy Idol concert. He’s a rock icon, with a catalog of rock classics. You’re going to get the hits, and Billy Idol being Billy Idol. And if you missed the iconic poses, it’s your fault!
With a rebel yell, long live rock and roll!
The Ponce stage was a mud pit with pools of water 5 inches deep in some places. Billy Idol played his hits like “White Wedding” and “Rebel Yell” that got the crowd singing along and excited about music again after the storm. Billy Idol took off his shirt and received a loud cheer to prove he’s still got it.
Concert photographers are usually given the first three songs to shoot the artist. On the fourth, Matt & Kim played “Cameras” with a line “no time for cameras.” Coincidence? Given their extraverted emphasis on humor, I think not.
First time seeing this indie-electro duo, and the “word on the street” as a great live act nailed it. Live music. Matt and Kim are where it’s at.
Portugal. The Man played their songs that ranged from their newer poppier albums to their early-era psychedelic albums. From the newer albums, the band played “Grim Generation,” the anthemic “Feel It Still” and “Live in the Moment” from the Woodstock album. For fans of their early material, the band played the laid back groove of “Purple Yellow Red and Blue” from Evil Friends and even the bluesy singalong “People Say” from the Satanic Satanist.
Men I Trust played on the Peachtree stage to cool off the crowd from the blistering The Struts set that preceded it. with their laid back dream pop. The band’s laid back dream pop doesn’t require stage and the atmospheric feel of songs like “Numb” and “Show Me How” washed over the crowd. It was a very enjoyable set to chill and appreciate, which many elected to do relaxing under trees or on blankets… until the monsoon rain came at the conclusion of the set. Then… people and things got very, very wet, the first Shaky Knees deluge in many years.
The Struts suffered the mid-afternoon heat of the Piedmont Stage to play their anthemic / tongue-in-cheek rock revival tunes to an immense crowd. True to their name, singer Luke Spiller strutted around the stage, encouraging the crowd to sing and clap along with all the gusto of a classic rock band.
The band played hits “Could Have Been Me” and “Body Talks” with a surprise cover of “Royals” by Lorde that brought the crowd to maximum sing-a-long participation.
The Struts always bring a fun, rocking set!
Nova Twins. Festival stealers!
Now on tour opening for Foo Fighters, the U.K. combo of vocalist/guitarist Amy Love and bassist Georgia South laid a big happy smile on the Shaky crowd. The Guardian describes their music as a “bass-heavy duo fusing grime and punk.”
I say, the pictures tell the story. But you should give them a listen, too. Fun, fun, fun!
The New York foursome comes to Shaky after a full 2023 with over 70 shows, including Bonnaroo and Lollapalooza. After an EP, the group is soon to release their first album. “Time Shrinks” begs a well done but too-obvious Lumineers comparison, but opener “Wicked Styley” speaks to a broader range. The band included three new songs in the set that beg they’re a band to keep an ear open to when their next album arrives.
This New Zealand artist gained fans for her self-recorded music through YouTube and other social media, had a big hit with “Lucky Girl” and afterwards took a hiatus from both the demands of emerging success and other issues. Five years later, she returned with an EP in 2022 that shifted her initial dreampop style to electronica and other styles. It was a very good show, but one that would be more fitting away from the bright sun and into the dimmer reaches of a club environment.
benches (sic) is a SoCal band with shimmering guitars and driving bass powering infectious indie rock tunes. 2020’s “Monodrama” is a great entry to the band – great tune, production, and vocals, and 2024’s “Naive” shows the band is adding layers musically. It’s not that they’re an emerging talent but rather searching for their audience.
