Not on the Guest List

Picture of a Postcard: Au Revoir Simone

Look what the trio of lovely ladies that are Au Revoir Simone have sent in - and fittingly from France! Sent in April, it has only just now arrived! Have a look:


(click to enlarge)

'Lark' Au Revoir Simone MP3

They'll be touring Japan with Jona in July and will be back touring the US later in the summer - in Portland on August 23rd. You best be seeing them then - maybe they'll play their Rod Stewart cover!

Au Revoir Simone myspace

The Newspapers cover 'German Love'

(Yet another capture of Amanda Luna's)

Billy of the Newspapers alerted me to this when we were at a party at the Green House a few weeks ago and I overheard him talking about the house show he played on Clinton with Starfucker.
The Newspapers have just finished holing up in a studio for a few days recording their 5 track debut EP made up of their faster paced songs. Their mellower tunes should surface next year on a full-length after they finish touring in support of the EP.

So here is their cover - a sweet acoustic track recorded in GarageBand. Enjoy!:

'German Love' (Starfucker cover) The Newspapers MP3

The original:
'German Love' Starfucker MP3

You may notice their cover is a bit shorter than the original. Coincidentally, Josh aka Starfucker has done a reedit and the latest version of 'German Love' is of a similar length.

The Newspapers myspace

Happy Birthday!

(me stepping on Weezer)

Happy Birthday to Rivers Cuomo (who WILL marry me if he ever gets divorced), ETHAN EMBRY (same for him), the Olsen Twins, and a guy named Patrick who I used to call Patrick Seastar in homage to Sponge Bob.
I'm pretty sure June 13th is officially my favorite birthday
I totally got a piece of cake today at Whole Foods.

My all time FAVORITE Weezer song!:

'My Name is Jonas' Weezer MP3

Making noise, making noise

CSS Suxxx

Even though they self-proclaim it, CSS obviously don't - they're quite the opposite, but certain members of their audience? That's a different matter entirely. . .

After waiting in the longest un-moving line I have ever seen in the history of Doug Fir's box office, we found out it was for people who were ticketless and waiting to see if people who had tickets wouldn't show so that they could get in. Even after confirming my plus one with Sub Pop that afternoon, when I stepped up to the booth it was only my name.
"This always happens with you," replied the agent who was also present last Saturday when Chris Funk left me off the guest list for Flash Hawk Parlour Ensemble.
Once we both successfully made our way in, Beyonda was just finishing up her set and soon Bus Driver strutted out for his set.

I hadn't seen him since Islands at Loveland as I missed him opening for Coco Rosie in May. Here is some of his "Black Magic(k)" that he treated the audience to:

Then came CSS. I think I was the only one who didn't have fun. Luciana had fun. On behalf of the audience, I was expecting fervent dancing. I wasn't expecting violence.
I got punched in the eye twice and due to constant hitting, I temporarily lost use of my right arm for the two days after. I couldn't hold open doors with it, it was difficult to put on my clothes, etc. At a house show this Saturday - the next night, I was able to hold a medium size milkshake with my right hand which I consider an accomplishment. At work on Sunday, Maria noticed how I was shaking while applying white-out with my right hand.
I enjoy how Doug Fir's security waited to start throwing people out until half-way through, and then it was only when they turned on the security - one girl who had been hitting me on the head socked one of the security guards in the face which resulted in her being removed for the rest of the night.
It was the most aggression fueled, brutal show I have ever been to and I used to go to a lot of punk shows when I was younger. To be honest I don't know if I'll ever see them again because while CSS were AMAZING and full of positivity, I really don't know if I'll ever be able to disassociate the audience and negativity of that night from them.

I have no idea why those drunken people would choose to come to a CSS show seemingly with the intention to hurt other people. I have no idea. I actually had a dream last night that one of the particularly violent audience members issued an apology. I think I'm scarred (only semi-kidding)
I also have psychological issues with the term "Everybody's Birthday Party," which you would know if you knew me when I moved to London in 2004 and promoted a party under the same theme.
For my quick recap of the show less about the hurt, more about the happy, head on over to Pitchfork.

'Alala' (Bonde de Role Remix) CSS MP3

So anyway, I had been beaming with excitement about the aftershow, but once the concert was through all my enthusiasm was gone, but I still felt the need to attend since I was on the list.
The atmosphere at Branx was great - the music, the people, but I was in no mood for it so I stood and watched others having the time of their lives. I conceded I'd dance only if Uffie was played, but I had no desire to request it. Then my fair Andrea put on 'Hot Chick' and instantly the night was much better for me!
The DJing alternated between Linoleum who had begun at 10pm and Beyonda who had opened the CSS show before Bus Driver.
After Uffie ushered me to the dance floor, I stayed on for some Yo Majesty, a Matt & Kim 'Yea Yeah' remix, a Yelle track, and Chicks on Speed, before leaving it on 'Young Folks'.
At the show I bumped into New Bloods' Adee. On first Thursday I had attempted to check out her art show at Valentines, but by the time I arrived at 11, I was told it was closed for the night as Beth Ditto watched on from the indoor balcony looking especially fierce. Luckily by bumping into her at the Doug Fir I found out her art will be on display through the end of June.
At the aftershow during a Crystal Castles track, I was introduced to a Candy Cane Shiv by Justin Kent and the CCS shared a funny, almost humiliating story, that wasn't actually so humiliating - just funny, about bumping into Adee at the mall and her not recognizing him.
Justin and I discussed the amazing-ness that is Ann-Marie the lady behind Cute Alert and who was responsible for the Branx party among many many others such as Purple Crush at Tube, and the last CSS aftershow. She's got two INSANE shows that are in the works. Both involve international duos that do original material and that are also highly regarded for their super sweet remixes. I don't know if I'm at liberty to divulge anything, but one secret show I knew about and the other Justin tipped me off about. Apparently there is a date already booked at Holocene for it. Fingers are crossed!
I didn't stick around for Luiza of CSS' set

(are you laughing at the expression on the guy's face behind her?)

or Nathan's set as I saw him DJ on Tuesday at Tube.

At Tube he played a lot of obscure-ish stuff and remixes. He played a 'Golden Skans' remix that I think was Erol's, which isn't a track most geared to the dance floor, but it seemed to have some additional beats. I got up to dance during New Young Pony Club's 'Icecream' and stood still during an Akon track much like everyone else who populated the floor at that point in time.
I'd also like to add I got carded for water at Tube this past Tuesday. That's right - I said carded for water. It wasn't enough that I was carded at the door like everyone else, but upon asking for water at the bar, it was insisted that I show ID again -- for water. I want that incident to be my legacy :D
I did stick around long enough for Nathan to bust out some pole-dancing of sorts :)
On my way out of Branx, up through Rotture, and down the staircase to meet the street, I bumped into Beth who was followed by Nathan who was carrying his records up. We talked for a moment about the dress I'm making her, but that's not going to happen until they return from touring at the end of summer.
An upset of the night was not running into Simon of the Klaxons. He had emailed me twice wondering if I'd be at the Portland and/or Seattle CSS shows as he's on tour with them for the week. We didn't exchange numbers so I kept my eye out for him, but alas we didn't meet up. I am still chugging away at designing the T-shirt for their fall US tour.

Chris Funk gets Flashy

A couple weeks ago I got an email from Chris Funk of the Decemberists mentioning his new music project Flash Hawk Parlor Ensemble and noting they had an upcoming show at the Doug Fir. I said I was up for the show and we joked a bit about him having to put me on the guest list - only the reason this is called Not on the Guest List isn't because no one ever offers, it's mostly because of events similar to what happened when I arrived at the Doug Fir.
Scene: I present my ID.
"You're not on the guest list."
"Are you sure? I'm supposed to be."
"You're not on the guest list. Do you hear me?"
The Hot Knives and I joked about mutual not on the guest list experiences while boarding YACHT on a yacht and it pretty much defines my life as it did with Marcos dos Santos when he was hoofing it as a music photographer and would show up at venues and not be on the guest list even though he was supposed to be. And in the song, even though the door woman saw him all the time and knew he was supposed to be on the list, she wouldn't relent and let him in.
In Glasgow it got to the point where Brian, the Barfly's manager wouldn't even check the list when I'd appear in the doorway - he'd just wave me in as he knew I was supposed to be on it, but more often than not someone would space in adding my name.
So anyway, after a run around we got in and I went up and accosted Chris for failing to add my name. He insisted on giving me money for the hassle which was comical. I denied his first offer of ten dollars, but accepted the five when he said I could buy a drink with it. Good idea!
They took the stage after Horsefeathers full of strings and complete with a mini-gong! As it must be mentioned, onstage Decemberists participants included Jenny Conlee (who's in Flash Hawk full time) and Colin Meloy. There is also a Point Juncture WA member. (Side note: According to Cary of PDX Pop Now, who I chatted with this past First Thursday - a Point Juncture WA song was licensed just a little while ago after appearing on a PDX Pop Now compilation.)
What I remember most was the haphazard encore that almost didn't seem as though it'd happen, but then they trooped out onto the green lit stage and the focal point of the ensemble was definitely their gorilla mascot who took his place behind the drum kit. He was guided on and off stage by Chris with the help of other band mates too - it was almost like the blind leading the blind - that's how smooth sailing their entrance and exit were. He could barely stay upright while providing the backing beats.
Flash Hawk Parlor Ensemble with their multitude of instruments and musicians are clearly about having fun and making music with friends, which is fun to feel apart of which one does in some sense when watching them live.

Their Radiohead Cover:
'Amnesiac' Flash Hawk Parlor Ensemble MP3

Flash Hawk Parlor Ensemble myspace

Flash Hawk Parlor Ensemble are getting some great press! Check it on:
NME - Live review
Pitchfork - Album release item
Willamette Week - Preview

YACHT's a free agent

Last Saturday I saw YACHT's show to celebrate Holocene's four year anniversary-birthday. They were holding a free extravaganza that included support from Hooliganship who remind me SO MUCH of Gay Against You.
Juice Team DJs were out in the foyer as the entertainment between sets and won my heart when they played some Sexual Harassment!!! I booked it to the dancefloor.
YACHT took the stage a little overdue to his scheduled 10:45 start time rocking the same sailing-themed cardigan he wore at his YACHT on a yacht release party. He had a few words to say, words that I especially agreed with. To paraphrase:
"When I first came here, Holocene was so cool that I thought the people running it must be assholes. Then I met them and they were so cool - you know not like the Doug Fir. I don't know if any of you have ever been there, but..."
My sentiments EXACTLY.
In his first few songs he played 'Platinum', 'The Magic Beat' ("Do what you love, love what you do") and an especially thrashing electro tune that sounded a bit like his new track 'The Summer Song' and seemed to reflect his time spent touring with LCD Soundsystem - it was very James Murphy-esque - kinda like DFA production, but also unmistakably his own, complete with lyrics including "save it, waste it, or throw it away."
He again moderated a question and answer period during which he was asked about the Amazon's average rain fall in July and I asked what his favorite type of ice cream was. For the record it's vegan chocolate-chip-cookie-dough.
I stayed for half of his set, then booked it back over to the Doug Fir where I'd just watched Horsefeathers and was now heading back for Flash Hawk Parlor Ensemble's set.

'The Summer Song' YACHT MP3

Just a couple days later a press release turned up in my inbox announcing his departure from the Blow, which was then later posted on LocalCut.
My condolences to his step-mother.
In hindsight, this is something I could've picked up on earlier had I read the signals right, much like Jamie leaving Islands and telling me as much before it was announced, but me just thinking he was joking.
Khaela told me she needed new publicity shots at Sasquatch - ones that only featured her, but I just assumed it was to reflect that she tours alone. Then there was his parents on the yacht talking about how it had been Khaela that turned down Grey's Anatomy.

I'm wondering if this will mean more recorded and pressed YACHT output!?! Goody-gum-drops if so. I'm digging his new direction!

Uffie Gets Political

In a post on her myspace blog yesterday entitled: insanisty in U.S laws, the Uffster had this to say:

"Right... So I am just enjoying my morning coffee skimming through whats going on in the world and stumble upon this
http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/06/06/teen.sex.case.ap/index.html

How incredibly stupid, unfair, and retarded is this! Isn't the goverment supposed to be looking for murderers, terrorists, and people that are actually a threat? Oh and wait for it...apparetnly there is a "Romeo and Juliet" law, saying its kinda ok two teens in love can have sex, but oral the guys can go to prison for 10 years.. even if hes under 18 as well? Does anyone else think this is compltely insane?

Protest time!"

I agree!
1. If it would have been intercourse as opposed to oral sex, he would not have gone to jail as dictated by the law!
2. It was consenual act - between a 15 and 17 year old.
3. The boy was 17 - not legally an adult, yet charged as an adult.
4. TEN YEARS for oral sex! Yet child rapists and murders often get sentences of 7 years or less.

Today the AP covered a case of a woman killing her preacher husband. Her sentence? Only 3 years! And she will only have to serve 67 days of it! For murder!

Tenn. wife sentenced in preacher's death

yet this boy gets TEN YEARS for a consenual act with his girlfriend!

PLEASE send an email to Georgia's top Republican senator Eric Johnson about this as he is the most vocal opponent to Genarlow Wilson having his sentence appealed. Seriously - an email is simple!

eric.johnson@senate.ga.gov

And if you agree with my numbered points, simply copy and paste them and that can be your email. See! - Simple!

'In Charge' Uffie MP3

New Shit Podcast

(getting my dance on at Tube)

It's all about the new shit, well at least this podcast is. New, new-y, new-ish for all different reasons.

1. 'Jerk It' - Thunderheist
2. 'Foundations' - Kate Nash Metronomy Remix
3. 'Boyz' - M.I.A.
4. 'Brand New Car' - Uffie
5. 'The Bomb' - New Young Pony Club
6. 'Drugs in My Body' - Thieves Like Us
7.'Rich Girls' - The Virgins Tyler Fedchuk Mix

Download New Shit Podcast (in MP3 format)

'Jerk It' - Thunderheist
Grahm - one half of my favorite Canadian duo Thunderheist, just sent me their latest version of 'Jerk It'. It's a very subtle difference to the cd version circulating - can you hear the difference? Before I had either, I used to spend some major time on their myspace listening to it and 'Red Whine' on repeat.

'Foundations' - Kate Nash Metronomy Remix
As included in my post the other day: When Metronomy met Kate

'Boyz' - M.I.A.
Confirmed as M.I.A.'s first single off of Kala.
It's hard to isolate one-liners from this like I'm used to with she who has the bombs to make you blow.
Lifted from Analog Giant.

'Brand New Car' - Uffie
The Uffster played this when I saw her in NYC in February - it was the only track of her five song set she performed that wasn't on her myspace at the time. Of all the new Uffie tracks surfacing over the internets (ie on Discobelle) this is my fave. I mentioned I loved her spelling out her name in my song description of 'Love Like Semtex' in my Don't Party Podcast.
Back in my Lo-Fi-Fnk post I asked if there was any Ed Banger artist that didn't some how reference Daft Punk. With her Robot Rock name-check in the beginning of this track, Uffie has been added to the growing list. Now all we need is for Mehdi to do something Daft - or does he already?

'The Bomb' - New Young Pony Club
How is this new? haha Well it is their latest single and I need an excuse to post about their remix contest. Go enter! There's very little competition right now.
Also go join my myspazz group for NYPC as noted on their page. They used to post a lot before other people joined. . .

'Drugs in My Body' - Thieves Like Us
First heard this track on the newest Kitsune compilation. Thieves Like Us have some goodness up their sleeves for Not on the Guest List, which will surface soon.

'Rich Girls' - The Virgins Tyler Fedchuk Mix
Tyler's latest great-tastic mix. It's an easy disco edit in his own words.

When Metronomy met Kate

How excited am I about his latest remix!?! 

(She kinda looks like Sleepy Sparrow)

Noticed Kate Nash on Perez Hilton back on December.  She's churning out the (deserved) hype of recent - has a new video as directed by Kinga Burza who did the Teenagers' 'Homecoming' and is soon to announce Euro festival dates.  She plays King Tut's in Glasgow on the 10th.  Her playing there means she'll soon be big, plus she has the talent, so yeah. . . expect to see her everywhere if you aren't already.  She's got the realism of Lily Allen going on, but with her own spin.

Got this track this morning.  So here is:

'Foundations' Kate Nash Metronomy Remix MP3

exclusively on Not on the Guest List (for now :)

Did you gasp at the sight of Metronomy's tour dates?  Question how there could be no west coast dates - not even LA! not to mention San Francisco, Seattle, or god forbid Portland.
Well amid my own eye-brow raising, I went straight to the source - Mr. Mount himself.  What did Joseph have to say?

"I'm not sure, hopefully sometime soon, but I guess next year might be more likely than this year...sorry.
but we'll be there one day.
see you then"

So here's to 2008!

In the mean time you can catch him at his just confirmed Reading Festival date or in any of the fine cities listed below lucky enough to be graced with their talent:

Jun 16 - 02 Wireless Festival - London
Jun 17 - 02 Wireless Festival - Leeds
Jun 19 - TBA - Vienna
Jul 4 - Academy 3 (with the Noisettes) - Manchester
Jul 28 - Secret Garden Party - Near Huntingdon, London
Aug 3 - Sweet Janes - Hartford, Connecticut
Aug 4 - RocknRoll Hotel (V-Festival afterparty) Washington DC
Aug 5 - Sonar - Baltimore, Maryland
Aug 6 - Walker art outdoor series - Minneapolis, Minnesota
Aug 7 - TBA - Chicago, Illinois
Aug 9 - Andy Warhol Museum - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Aug 10 - Studio B (brooklyn) - New York, New York
Aug 11 - Pure/Making Time - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Aug 18 - Loop Festival Brighton - Brighton
Aug 25 - READING FESTIVAL (a dream come true) - Reading
Aug 26 - LEEDS FESTIVAL (just as good as reading) - Leeds

Kate Nash myspace
www.myspace.com/katenashmusic

Metronomy myspace (he just hit over 100,000 views!)
www.myspace.com/metronomy

Jamila has a Hot Club de Paris Metronomy remix over at Fucking Dance.  I find it a bit difficult, but I think that's the intention.

 

Sexton Blake have been waiting

So I may be a bit Josh Hodges obsessed. Just maybe.
I was sitting in the lobby at Best Western after Sasquatch sending over zip files of my photos to Pitchfork when a guy came over and asked if he could use my laptop to check myspace really quick.
"Uhhh. . .yeah - okay," I replied.
He then said he was only kidding. Introductions ensued and when I found out he was from Portland, pretty much the first thing out of my mouth was "Have you heard of Starfucker?"
He hadn't, so I filled him in on the details and mentioned it was Josh Hodges of Sexton Blake's new project.
"I know Josh Hodges/Sexton Blake - they have a covers album coming out."
That was the first I had heard of it.
This Saturday, while waiting in line to buy a ticket for the Sexton Blake show at the Hawthorne Theatre, Nate - from Best Western's lobby - was saying "well, maybe he doesn't want to be big," as I went on about how I couldn't understand why he hadn't broken through nationally yet. My response was "Well, it's not about what he wants, it's about what I want," only half kidding haha :) Josh happened to be standing right next to us adding someone to the guest list, but I don't think he overheard.
When I made it into the venue, my first reaction was "where is the merch!?!" Sexton Blake was the only band unrepresented on the merch table. Even plain cdrs would have been something, let alone the last album. I'm standing there thinking about how their T-shirt sales can be pumped into application fees for CMJ and SXSW, but there were none available - shirts selling out in October is no excuse tsk tsk :)

In the next few minutes they took to the stage, old transistor radios on and growling of static and odd airwaves, as they jumped back and forth between affect pedals, guitar, and drum-kit. They opened with 'Wasting Away'.
There seemed to be uncertainty on part of the audience of when songs ended and when a new song began.
The duo of Josh and Ryan really hit their stride when they moved onto the covers portion of the set. During those three songs the music was much louder and there was obvious confidence abound. Two of the covers they played were 'Bette Davis Eyes' and Rod Stewart's 'Young Turks' - a song which I saw Au Revoir Simone cover live at Holocene in March. Can there PLEASE be a split 7" of that!!???!!! That song so suits each artist and their covers sound completely different and would just perfectly compliment each other's coolness if released together.
Sexton Blake closed much in the same way that they opened which reminded me of Starfucker's set. They left the stage with a loop running and the radios on. Someone had to actually run to jump onstage to turn off the sound when a speaker from Amnesty International got up on stage to say a few words, but couldn't compete with Sexton Blake's continuing musical message.

'Maria' Sexton Blake MP3 (which they didn't play live)

Sexton Blake Myspace

Last night Arya came over to spread some Sexton Blake goodness around. Here is a pic of us fighting over the new album.

Our Amnesty International greeters at the show. They hadn't practiced that pose at all:

STARFUCKER

Are you ready to fall in love with Starfucker?

My love affair with 'German Love' began last week when I was reading a LocalCut post about Blitzen Trapper's MP3 selections for Paper Thin Walls.  Since I have an affinty for Blitzen Trapper and Matt Wright, I clicked the link and listened to a bit of Starfucker's 'German Love'.  Cue me migrating over to his myspace.  Cue me becoming obsessed.
So I headed down to his show at a house show on SE 15th and Clinton on Friday.  Even though it was the night before Sasquatch and I'd have to get up super early the next day, his show coming up on the 8th is not an option since I'm going to CSS and I couldn't wait to see the art of his sound come alive much longer.

Wow - the party was packed even for it being so early.  He was playing second and the house was already to capacity.  I got there in time for his scheduled 9:45 start time and headed down to the sweltering basement, but alas he was still in the middle of his set-up - a forty minute one according to Billy of the Newspapers who also had a hand in putting on the show.
So we watched and we waited and soon came the static-y drown of his feedback as he began his short-ish and beyond super sweet set that had the frontlines dancing.
It was clear that most people were there to greet the buzz around Starfucker in person than for any other purpose, well. . . maybe other than getting hammered.  The bar in the corner of the basement was doing some major business and at times it felt like the median age of the attendees was 10 (yes, that's an exaggeration, but it was very young crowd) and we know what their priorities can be. . . :)
Turned away from the audience, he raised his guitar to the amp, enveloped in his own sonic world as we watched on.

After a few minutes he took to his drum kit, back hunched, head bowed, lips to the mic trading the static for the melodic.
He launched into 'German Love' as his second song which was a bit surprising - playing the bona-fide current and future hit so early, but he easily continued to keep everyone captivated.
He drummed as he sang and sporadically played the keyboard and guitar while wearing two layers that betrayed the humidity of the basement and rolled up trousers that revealed him to be a biker.
He soon exited the same way he allowed us to enter - in a mass of feedback.

At the end I wondered to myself how I could have so few photos, but the lapse was understandable - I appropriately spent the moments dancing and singing along like the people I swayed next to as opposed to snapping.
It was a beautiful escape into a musical world I only found out existed a few days prior and one I intend to visit often (as if I don't already live there what with my continued repetitive plays of all things Starfucker).

If ever there was a song to fall in love with. . .

'German Love' Starfucker MP3

Friend him before he hits 5,000 profile views. You know it's only a matter of what one hopes will only be minutes before that happens and then when it's over 100,000 you can say "I friended him when. . ."
Starfucker myspace
http://www.myspace.com/starfuckerss

My new best friend (:D) Arya was there too and the set was recorded for his Willamette Week podcast.

Amanda Luna has a pic

Local Cut live review of an April Starfucker show

Sasquatch Festival Day 1

After attending and experiencing the chaos that was last year, I had zero expectations for this year's Sasquatch. Once again I'd be working it - last year I was there under the 2:30 Publicity umbrella, this year I was there shooting it for Pitchfork. M.I.A. - my only real reason for going canceled a few days before, so my non-existant expectations were brought even lower, which is great because then they can only be exceeded.
My trek started at 7am when I missed my bus and caught a cab over to the Jupiter Hotel to meet up with my fellow travelers made up of Bill, Carrie, and Taylor and Rebecca of CMJ, though Rebecca was doing the words for the Pfork piece.
We headed out on the open road a little after 8 and guess what - we didn't make it there until 3:40! We went the wrong way for over an hour, so . . . yeah. . .
That means I totally missed the Hold Steady! When I started working for 2:30 in 2004, they were the first press kit I ever put together (followed by Les Savy Fav and Visqueen (who also played this year's fest)) - I still have a master copy in storage. Anyway - I have yet to see them! I am in love with their latest album and I am just so pissed I missed them! I'm also pissed I missed Blitzen Trapper as we listened to a track of theirs on the way there (along with "boner jams" as they referred to the the songs as - ie Bon Jovi, Guns N' Roses, and Billy Joel as well as Van Morrison).
And who else did I miss aside from those acts? - Viva Voce and The Blow! How I've been counting the minutes to see the Blow live, but it just wasn't fated.

I made it over to Electrelane and caught a bit of their set. Because I am "professional" (haha) I couldn't figure out why all of my photos of them were turning out like shit. It did not dawn on me until 3 hours and countless photos later that my white balance was still set on the Starfucker show I'd seen the night before.
Unfortunately I got zero cell phone service at the site, so I missed meeting up with Electrelane after their set which had been planned a few days previous.
Cue me approaching random people to use their phones. I traded a few people earplugs in return for the favor. So a lot of random people now have Aziz Ansari's phone number among others.

After that I walked to catch a little Neko Case and then back up to Yeti stage and asked myself - "What is that sound?"

It was Ghostland Observatory! My oh my - had never heard of them - but WOW!

'Silver City' Ghostland Observatory MP3

Sadly a few songs in I had to depart to happily run to meet up with Khaela aka the Blow.

Khaela was decked out in a fanny pack and pink visor. I LOVE HER! She is so awesome! So open, honest, and neat. I didn't ask about Grey's Anatomy, but after meeting her I understand why she said no and I'm happy she did. We had a chillaxin' story-telling good time for about an hour, discussing everything from castles to zits - seriously I think the only letters we didn't cover were A and B - no actually, I mentioned Belmont, so only A.
She assured me that she's playing PDX Pop Now too - so I will finally get to see her live.
Somehow we ended up on the fact that I find it funny that some people think I've just moved back to Portland, when I've actually been back since mid-March 2006. I call from that to March of this year my year of being dead as I didn't have a phone, I was always moving so I didn't have an address, I didn't even have a bank account - it was arranged so I was paid cash or on prepaid debit cards. I just existed on the outskirts of a life after being trapped in Glasgow Scotland for a year and a half. She totally understood that.

So amid our bonding she said she wanted the photos we were taking as her new publicity shots! I then told her how I actually had a million and ten concepts in mind already for her publicity shots, so we might be doing a location shoot at Chuck E Cheese's. Stay tuned.
Then it was down to the Easy Street signing booth at 6pm to meet up with Kevin as I was taking photos of him and Anita.

It was fun finally making the accquaintance of the Robinsons, but I had to dash to see Grizzly Bear, so we only chatted for a minute and took a few photos.  I'm so glad I finally got to see them live when they opened for the Shins in February, which I never blogged about here, but did a post on Pitchfork about.
I mentioned that my first exposure to them was through the Portland Music Liberation magazine and we talked about our mutual love of that periodical for a while - discussing our favorite issues that were printed before it sadly folded.  Then we talked about 2005's Lowlands Festival, which we were both at, but missed each other.

(Viva Voce Warrior Woundz - it's brutal being in a band yo)

So onto Grizzly Bear.  Oh how I love my boys. 

And if you read this blog way back when, you'd know that maybe I love them too much.  Maybe to the point where I think they should file a restraining order against me.  Their publicist Frank put me on the list for their late PDX show at McMenamin's Mission Theatre this past February, but I flew in from New York that same night and my flight was a bit late, so even in trying to get to the venue with all my luggage, I missed their set.
My love of Grizzly Bear was actually the subject on my very first post on this blog and last year's Sasquatch was my introduction to them.  I went to the 2006 fest with Frank and in his apartment, in the car, and in the hotel room he played nothing but Grizzly Bear to the point where my dreams were probably sound-tracked to 'The Knife' and 'Colorado' .  I love when people working with/for a band love the band that much - that's how it should always be!
So I sat up front shooting their set and it was during theirs that I finally noticed and adjusted my camera's white-balance.  I sang along to every song which Throw Me the Statue's girlfriend totally noticed and mentioned to me once they finished.

(TMTS+gf)

As I was packing my crap up (my laptop, camera, viewmaster (?), . . .) I saw Frank and he waved me back.  Patrick Wolf was chillaxin' with the Grizzly Bear crew. 

It was dead enjoyable - I mean one of my favorite bands and my favorite solo artist (he's tied with Britney Spears circa everything until 2004).  It was then that I met Throw Me the Statue and he lives only three blocks away from my mom in Seattle! 
Frank is going to be working his record and they're shopping around for a label right now.  I'm gonna be doing his publicity shots as soon as I get his music and can dream up some concepts.
A photographer from some skate mag wanted to do a proper photo-shoot with them, only one member of GB was missing, so Patrick got drafted in and they became Grizzly Wolf. 

(Patrick decided he needed "a veil" to cover his face, but everything but that was done with it)

She didn't seem to thrilled about the collaboration.  Especially when Daniel Rossen eventually turned up, but Chris Bear decided he needed an impromptu counseling session haha

After that I spied some Beastie Boys also backstage preparing for their instrumental set on the same stage. 

They may have spied me too.

So I sat in the grass and uploaded the photos onto my Macbook that I had just shot when Ed came over to shake my hand.  Before we'd just been casually talking about YACHT/David Shrigley/Tomlab without any introductions, but he'd just found out I was Nilina and came over to shake my hand and do a proper introduction.  Do you even know how cool that was/is!!???!!!  We've never properly met before and it was super sweet that he knew who I was.
Khaela also knew my first and last name even though we've never met - remembered from a blog collaboration.  That was very neat.
And you know what's funny!!?!!???  Ed, Frank, and I stood/sat around discussing what a bummer it was that Pfork wouldn't be using any of the shots of them and P Wolf.  Ed was like "You never actually worked on our campaign -- right?"  So true - when at 2:30 this past summer and fall I only dealt with the PDX repped bands ie Hold Steady, Thunderbirds Are Now! and a couple others, but none from the NYC office ie M.I.A., Be Your Own Pet, and Decemberists or Frank's Seattle HQ - ie Of Montreal and Grizzly Bear.  Still Scott was concerned about the conflict of interest so it was understood none of my shots of 2:30 artists would appear.
So I posted the shot to my flickr.  And Brooklyn Vegan ran it, which was an immediate thrill until it caused some MAJOR DRAMA with me and Pfork as they ended up running it as well - which was unexpected.  I sent the shots in just in case - as we (Ed and I) came to the conclusion that since they had Patrick in them, maybe Pfork would use them, but I wasn't betting on it.
Yeah.
Anyway, in a more sunnier spot, I am just so proud of Grizzly Bear and Frank.  He's already done working their Feist dates and is now onto Maximo Park!  So happy Warp is showing him further love - he deserves it - he is damn good.
After that I took off to have some food.  Some members of the media got catered dinner this time (last year it was just water and potato chips), but when I got there the vegetarian option was all gone.
I then went to watch Arcade Fire who I was super super super looking forward to as I haven't seen them live in two years.

I hadn't been all that interested in them until I read the reviews of their ground-breaking Coachella 2005 set.  I couldn't get into their album, but I was determined to check out their show.  Finally I got the chance while at Lowlands August 2005.  Oh my god!  Oh my god!  Oh my god!  They blew all of my super high expectations out of the water just by stepping on stage and playing the first few bars of a song.  I couldn't pull away even though I was getting calls from Art Brut's tour manager that I could shoot their set side of stage.
I then saw them the very next week when they supported Franz Ferdinand at the gardens in Edinburgh.  Winn equated playing Reading Festival to playing an ashtray.
Seeing them live is like an awakening. 
Do you even know how special it feels to watch people love what they're doing as much as you love it if not even more?

This set was just as fervent, though no helmets to protect against drumming on the head were worn.

They opened their set with grainy footage from a religious TV program and then they all took to the stage launching into 'No Cars Go'.  Lucky for me, the third song they played was 'Haiti' which is one of my absolute favorites!  It was thrilling being up front in the photo pit for that!
They rotated instruments at lightning speed and at one point one of them fell off the stage.  God I love them!  To be that into it - it really feels like a privilege to watch them live and it is just so amazing that they seem to treat playing live as a privilege the audience has given them.

They closed with 'Wake Up', but another definite highlight was 'Black Wave/Bad Vibrations'.
I bumped into Patrick Wolf again who had just gotten stung/bitten by some sort of bug.  I kept swatting his hand away as he continued to pick at it.  We had a bit of a gossip fest, but he swore me to secrecy back at Grizzly Bear in regards to the topic. 
After that I became Patrick's keeper of sorts for a bit as his band-mates Nick and Marcello later viewed me as the Patrick compass asking "where's Patrick?" To which I'd reply, "With Jess," or "Getting CDs out of the van."
I then skipped down and got some Ice Cream Man ice-cream and then down to the photo pit for Bjork's set.
I have never been a Bjork fan.  I've listened to at most 3.5 or her songs - nothing ever really grabbed me.  The Sugarcubes - that's a different matter.  I was in Echo park in LA when I first heard their song overhead at a TV on the Radio concert, but Bjork, not so much.
Well - when she took the stage to 'Earth Intruders' I knew that was gonna change.

To make it short, I am in love.
I LOVE some of the lyrics she has going on.  In fact I recited a few of them to my mom just last night - specifically 'Wanderlust'.

'I Miss You' could easily be a personal anthem of mine, and I also really got 'All is Full of Love'.

Her Icelandic girl's choir was decked out in neon with orange flags attached to them and it was a set of sound and bouncy energy on behalf of all on stage.

She closed with 'Declare Independence' which was TOO good!
After that I trekked it to the campsite. I had the cash on me to pay for camping, but no one was checking so I moseyed on in and set up my tent and got cell phone service for the first time!  Hells yes!  I got a text from my mom so I called her and we chatted and then I turned on Starfucker before falling asleep to the most subdued festival campsite I have ever slept at!  I remember my first festival was Roskilde in Denmark and it was during the Euro championships of '04 so at all hours of the night people would start shouting drawn out "Goooooaaaaalllllll"s which others would join in on and it'd pretty much be thousands of people yelling that all night long.
The music and chit-chatting at Sasquatch really didn't even contend.
Saturday was a very beautiful day in my life.  It felt like the culmination of everything I have been working towards for the past six years since I got my first pass at 15.
I got a good night's sleep of four hours before I was back up and ready to tackle Sunday, but not before listening to some more Starfucker :)

I'll eventually get around to blogging about Sunday which was fairly epic as well.

My million-and-one photos from the fest can be found in this flickr set and I still have tons of photos to add to it, which I'll continue to do.

My (and Matthew Solarski's :) Day One Pitchfork Post

Sound on the Sound's thoughts

Let's go on a myspace field trip!

Electrelane myspace

Ghostland Observatory myspace

The Blow myspace

Viva Voce myspace

Grizzly Bear myspace

Patrick Wolf myspace

Arcade Fire myspace

Bjork myspace