80/35 catch all blog day 2

Here's my place for general thoughts on day two.

UPDATE here's my review of day two.

I think the 80/35 Music Festival lucked out a bit that it was sunny the first day and rainy on the second day. On day two people are usually comitted, and Amedeo Rossi told me the majority of single day tickets sold were for the second day.

I got down in time to hear the last few minutes of Dawes set. They were off to play Daytrotter's Barn on the Fourth of July party in eastern Iowa later in the day, so they didn't stick around for long. The first full set I saw was Avi Buffalo, and they've made me a convert. Great harmonies, lots of energy and some playful banter, including talking about being a little afraid of the rain. This is a band I'm hoping comes back for a show at People's. I was surprised at the size of the crowd for Avi, I think it was bigger before 2 p.m. than Matisyahu's  set in similar weather last year. 

The Walkmen had to take a brief intermission during their set while stage hands ran around covering equipment with tarps and plastic bags. Their keyboardist was playing one handed while holding a sheet over his instrument with his other hand.Britt Daniel said this was the band he most wanted to be able to stick around to see.

I got caught up in some deadline stuff and missed Califone, Sara Watkins and Evangelicals. Anyone have thoughts on those shows they want to share?

The Cool Kids were the only hip hop act on the main stage, but they proved that the genre really has a place at 80/35. Mike Rocks and Chuck Inglish really know how to work a crowd, and make them respond to their every command. For a group that doesn't even have a full length album out yet, they performed like seasoned veterans.

It was also without a doubt the dassiest performance I have ever seen. It literally took my breath away once or twice, thouroughly rattling me to the core. I spoke with a police officer later who said that if the festival gets any sound complaints, it will be because of the Cool Kids.

Unfortunately, I only saw a few songs by The Heavy, but Kelvin Swaby sounds just as vocally powerful live as he does in recordings. I heard a lot of people talking about this show later. It got off to a late start, and not wanting to miss Modest Mouse, I wandered into the paid area. Once I was pretty deep in the crowd, 80/35 announced that Modest Mouse would be delayed half an hour so The Heavy could finish. I'm glad people got to see the rest of the set, but I'm more than a little bummed that I missed it.

And then the headliner, Modest Mouse. I remember hearing lots of complaints about their sound live following their Val Air show in 2007, and unfortunately that carries over to 2010. Frontman Isaac Brock seems to get lost in the sound a lot, and sometimes the timing just seemed a bit off on a couple songs. The crowd was responsive, and the stage show was impressive, but musically it just didnt' live up to the quality Modest Mouse displays on its recordings.

Overally, it was a very rewarding weekend. I didn't hear a complaint about the festival itself, and the rain didn't seem to dampen anyone's mood. The third time seemed to be the charm for the festival, and I hope they can carry this momentum forward into 2011.

END REVIEW

I've heard complaints about there not being enough Kum & Go and US Cellular ponchos to go around. If you are holding out to come down for Modest Mouse later, make sure you bring your own.

The rain keeps coming in spurts. I'm hoping it dies off soon, my notepad is soaked. I'm hanging out in the media center for a few minutes. I prefer the heat of yesterday to the downpours of today.

Christopher the Conquered was amazing. Chris Ford walked out in the crowd to a second mic under the sound tent, continuing his song. Lots of crazy dancing on stage. I got some video, which should be up tomorrow, and I'm trying to get a video with him later today.

During their acoustic set at the Yellowbrick stage, Poison Control Center's Patrick Fleming said it was his favorite 80/35 set of the three years and among his top 5 shows of all time. That's high praise.

The Walkmen was an awesome live show that was stopped for a few minutes due to the rain. I want these guys to come back in a big way. People's, Val Air, Simon Estes, wherever they are, I will be there.