Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Sasquatch 2008: Just Another Big Concert
What attracted me to the Sasquatch festivals of 05, 06. and 07 was the diversity in the programming that the House of Blues brought to an alt-rock base. I remember an interview with a promoter a few years ago where he was having a difficult time defining what a Sasquatch band was. That was a very good sign to me that this was something interesting and that organizers were trusting programmatic instincts as well as obvious commercial potential when they made their selections.
This year, to my mind, Live Nation is promoting and they are playing it pretty safe with a line up that seems basically designed to get the Seattle area burb kids over the pass for the Memorial Day Festival. Examples: REM, Death Cab, Modest Mouse, etc. Lots of acts have been there before. And other than Rodrigo y Gabriela, Ozomatli, and Michael Franti, all or almost all are categorically and directly part of the alt rock landscape. Flaming Lips was presumably going to bring their space ship two years ago. This time they supposedly are for sure. Wayne Coyne is a kick in the butt, but neither a mothership or Flight of the Conchords are enough to attract me to the great backdrop this year.
So maybe I am old cranky guy who needs seasoning like Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings or Gogol Bordello (both are playing Coachella) to down my alt-rock. And three years is pretty good run for a Memorial Day tradition. But still I was looking forward to the mystery weather (heat, rain and hail, or wind--who knows?) and coming home with at least two or three bands that no one in my circle knew about. Maybe 2009 will connect better.
posted by well-executed buffet at 7:11 AM
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