Sunday @ Pitchfork

Sunday at Pfork starts for me around 1:45pm for Frightened Rabbit and Blitzen Trapper. This was the time period I took care of all needs so I wasn't completely watching but I did end up watching a good chunk of Blitzen Trapper and they were perfect for a sunny afternoon in the park. Today was all about getting a good spot for The Walkmen, which led me to stage C for Pharoah Monch. I knew a bit about this rapper from Queens, NY and had liked all that I heard but hadn't pursued much. He was off the hook! He had the crowd jumping, some even tried to mosh but they were repulsed and kind of stared at as if they were loony. I really enjoyed this show.



Simon Says - Pharaohe Monch mp3


Got just about to the very front (which can be verified if you look close at the video on Pfork TV). I worked hard and waited long but I knew it would be worth it. The Walkmen 15 ft away from me about to rock out. While I waited I made friends and also listened to the Thermals show which sounded great. They played quite a few covers that I recognized. Green Day, mabye Hole?, some others.

Finally the wait was over and they were awesome!!! The lead singer shreds his vocals but at the same time sounds cool and detached. Yet he poured every ounce of himself into the mike onstage. Seeing "The Rat" live was so cool. So were so many others. They brought a horn section out for several songs. They didn't look like your typical rockers but they brought the goods. All the musicians were very talented and the bass and piano players switched places often. The drummer was a pulsing live-wire driving the band onward. The only slight drawback is that I got so close that I got in back of the two huge audience speakers and so had a bit of a drowning out effect on the vocals. Not terrible but I won't make that mistake again.


Hang On Siobhan - The Walkmen mp3


I had picked up a t-shirt of The Walkmen earlier and now I wore it proudly on my chest. The next while was spent meeting up and hanging out with Mauricio and crew. I listened to M83 and they sounded awesome. Big and large for a big, large space. I listened to Grizzly Bear, who I am not 100% behind but they have several songs that I dig. And then we decided to go check out The Very Best at the dance stage first. I felt bad for these guys because they were going up against The Flaming Lips, the headliners. They were unphased though and it was bangin'!!! I got my groove on and it was really, really difficult to pull myself away, but I had never seen the lips and how could I ever live with myself if I had the chance and didn't take it. So I ripped myself away from Esau and crew and got up as close as I could without incurring any stressful feelings and thoroughly enjoyed The Lips' set. Wayne Coyne was quite a showman, they had a lot of big giant balls bouncing around, a special set, light show,he had some giant air gun that filled a balloon at one point so large that it blew up as the climax of "Do You Realize" (the set closer) happened, shooting confetti everywhere in the sky. It was quite a spectacle but really fun, a giant sing-along. And it was over just like that, back home, next day walked to the El, took it to the airport and was back home. I got to see five of my very favorite contemporary musicians all in one weekend and I feel so lucky for the opportunity. Thanks to Mauricio for once again puttin me up/up with me. And thanks to my family for sending me off with blessings to a fun weekend of music.

The Flaming Lips - Do You Realize


Peace!