Sunday at Shaky Knees started with grounds that were in surprisingly good shape. Evidence of the storm remained, but low-lying areas had been filled with mulch and the drainage overnight was excellent. As the crowds became larger, though, the wetter spots became muddy but were easy enough to walk around if shoes were an issue.
The Merch line? Still 100 deep. Lots of SK apparel being worn throughout the festival. The graphic designers upped their game, plus there were a lot more options.
It would be another hot day, but thankfully without storms.
Maybe when the festival was booked, someone thought having this band play on Sunday was a good pun. It wasn’t a mournful experience, though singer Quinn Robinson was understandably aggravated that his guitar was lost by the airline. Fortunately, he was able to borrow one.
That, the sun, a small arriving crowd and a short set didn’t make for the most exciting start of the day, and maybe post-punk suffers without a crowd vibe. Still, the band played some great songs, including “Darling” and “When Dreams Come True.”
Cardinals blend melodic rock and emotional storytelling, and an Indie sound that is unusual in that it is most expressive when the accordion is raging. That’s a festival highlight when you hear an accordion ringing out across the field. The group from Cork, Ireland nevertheless laid out a great set, including opener “Twist and Turn,” “Masquerade,” “Unreal” and others. Expect to hear a lot more from this group.
Violet Grohl, daughter of Dave Grohl from Foo Fighters, is unapologetic on her advantages of entering the music business. It’s there, but she signed her own record deal with her dad completely unaware. She’s faced the current of criticism and insisted that she be judged by her music.
She started off with “Bug in the Cage” and “THUM,” and we’re off to a great start. They also played “Mobile Star” for its first festival appearance.
She and her band delivered a good performance and her music holds up. But her two-handed affair with the microphone stand kept her rooted in place throughout the show. Even with some verbal engagement with her audience, her stage presence doesn’t insist that she’s an artist you need to see live.
Coheed and Cambria exploded onto the stage for a midday set. The veteran progressive rock band leans more towards post-hardcore or post-punk, but either way it was a full-on rock show that more rightly belonged an evening slot. On top of a a masterclass in musicianship and massive sonic presence, Claudio Sanchex’s soaring, instantly recognizable vocals shift effortlessly from piercing falsettos to intense, emotive roars. SK is largely known as a festival featuring indie or alternative rock, and that’s served Atlanta fans well. Still, it was great to hear an arena style rock onslaught. More please.
OK Go is probably best known for their wildly inventive, complex and viral one-shot music videos. Taking an afternoon outdoor stage, how would that work out?
With technical difficulties.
After continuing befuddlement with his microphone during the first two songs, singer Damian Kulash grabbed his acoustic guitar, hopped into the pit and raced out the aisle dividing aisle between general admission and VIP. With helping hands holding him steady, he performed “Last Leaf,” to a crowd that embraced the moment, and that knew that lyrics.
This set did not rely on their video background at all. The band played at The Eastern last year, but I hope they’ll return soon where we can enjoy the full show. Kulash was an unexpectedly great frontman, entertaining and engaging.
American Hi-Fi shared a slot with Santigold, who drew a massive crowd to the Peachtree Stage. The band is best known for their 2001 hit “Flavor of the Week,” and although their other songs feature sharp guitar riffs and solid songwriting, there wasn’t much of an alt-rock or pop-punk edge the performance. They weren’t going through the motions, but.
I hadn’t seen Modest Mouse before, and this was absolutely a draw when the festival was announced. After the first song, leader Isaac Brock asked the audience if anyone knew how to turn that thing off, meaning the sun. It was certainly not a “no sweat” show for the band. He tried wearing a bandana, threw a beer can at the sun, flipped off the sun, commented more about the heat, and did not play “Float On.”
Why? How?
He did take an audience request for “Satellite Skin,” so he didn’t take his aggravation out on the crowd. The band is touring their June release, An Eraser and a Maze, and included three songs from that set, even including one, “Third Side of the Moon” to close it out. Excuse me, but “Float On” belongs in that spot. I’ll hope for better next time.
Wu-Tang Clan is three decades plus into their career and currently on their “Wu-Tang Forever: The Final Chamber” farewell tour. Hip-hop isn’t my “thing,” but when you have the chance to try something new, go for it! The crowd was worth of a headliner, with fans all-in on the opportunity to sing along with songs they’ve known for decades and to dance and gyrate more than a little bit. This is a band, and a style of music, that demands audience participation and was a lot of fun to witness.
A humorous comment was “The only kind of smoke we want is the type you roll.” And my personal experience was “this bass can rattle my camera” standing in the pit. BOOM!
Hopefully the pix are enjoyable for their many fans.
James Murphy and company transformed the Piedmont audience into a massive dance party, blending the group’s meticulous electronic precision with waves of danceable beats. “All My Friends” and “Dance Yourself Clean” were definitely highlights. It could easily be said that they made a case to be a Shaky headliner. Gorillaz are great, but the audience didn’t need anything more after this set.
“Kids With Guns.” “Last Living Souls.” “Delirium.” “Dirty Harry.” Some great experiences there, and as good as the set progressed, the closing sequence of songs was killer. Toss in 6Lac, DRAM, EarthGang, BootieBrown, Kara Jackson and Del the Funky Homosapien, and this was clearly a “winner takes all” performance. Sorry, LCD.
So many people had been on the rails for this show all day, and this was the type of performance that makes that commitment worth it.
