So the show was quite a bit of fun actually.
Here's a summary if anyone is interested:
So we get there. The crowd is pretty varied, mostly highschool-college. Some middle-aged folks, clearly old Who fans, a few of whom brought kids. At least half the people there are wearing band t-shirts (including me). Annoyingly, mostly either RHCP shirts or Who shirts. Am I the only one who finds it really corny to wear the shirt of the band you're going to see? I'm sure there is a rule somewhere. And we're talking highschool kids wearing Who t-shirts they bought at the mall (there were a few older men with shirts from old tours, which is definitely an exception to concert tee protocol)
There were also plenty of people in ridiculous costumes. Also those annoying Zendik people selling those shirts that say "Stop Bitching, Start a Revolution." Yes, at a corporate-run music festival. Once, I saw one of them enjoying a Starbucks Mocha-something. But back to the festival...
My friend who I went with stayed at the main stage the whole time (she likes those bands more). That was nice since it meant I could sort of travel back and forth and not lose my spot.
The first two sets were Kasabian on the main stage and Drive-by Truckers at the club stage. I don't really know Drive-by Truckers and don't really have an urge to hear more, plus I hadn't seen my friend in forever and needed to catch up. I though Kasabian was pretty awful, usually when I see an artist live I warm to them no matter what, but these guys, ugh. I ended up leaving near the end of the set and checked out RJD2 (who was excellent) in the DJ Tent.
I went back for Wolfmother who just blew me away. I hadn't really listened to much- but that'll change now. Sure they're derivative, but of all bands to be derivative of Led Zeppelin is a pretty good choice. They were good enough that I was barely able to drag myself away to see the New Pornographers (and sort of regret doing so). The New Pornographers, sans famous members, were alright. Obviously they right catchy songs but they sounded a little anemic yesterday (though maybe that was the soundsystem). They aren't particularly exciting people to watch either.
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah came next (still at the club stage). The music sounded pretty good but the lead singer tends to forget to speak into the microphone. A good performance but a little sophomoric. I left a little early to see Gnarles Barkley. The place was getting really crowded at this point and I couldn't get as close as I wanted (much less up to where my friend was). Gnarles was dynamite though. Costumes were Roman/Egyptian themed. They brought it four violinists (named "The G-Strings") for "Crazy". Great music obviously, only 40 minutes though.
I went over to the club stage to check out Brazilian Girls whom I'd only ever heard about from a few comments here. Very cool. They have one of the strangest aesthetics I've ever seen- something combining electronic dance music, vocal-focused pop and tropicalia. The lead singer covered her face with a white stocking (or something) and as the show went on drew a face on herself. I didn't stay until the end so I don't know if she eventually took it off or not (if there was a point to it beyond just being awesome my guess is something regarding dehumanization in a mechanized society though it could easily be something else).
I left early because all the crowds had me nervous about getting to my friend by the time the Who started. This was very regretful because it mean there was no way I was going to see any of the Thievery Corporation (who overlapped the Who). Almost as regretfully this meant trying to push through crowds for the second half as the Killers. When did this band get so earnest? "Somebody Told Me" was an alright song since it was so clearly just a few guys having fun. Anyhow, I did manage to find my friend again just before the Who started.
And boy was it worth it too. These guys are in their 60s and they put on the best performance of the night. Townshend's guitar work is just so goddamned impressive. The only really obvious reflection of age is that Townshend's voice is gone- so the few songs where he lends supporting vocals sound a little queer until you get used to the wheeze. The most fascinating part was the performance of "Won't Get Fooled Again" which inevitably takes a more bitter, even sarcastic tone these days. Graphics of troops, a tank, a battleship and military graveyard made it pretty clear what they mean these days.
So the Red Hot Chili Peppers start on the main set and I stayed for the first three or four songs. Obviously these guys can play their instruments. If only they were more focused both in terms of how they write songs and how they produce albums. In anycase "Scar Tissue" is stille a beautiful song. They also played "Tiny Dancer" in the encore which was pretty cool.
I only saw the beginning and the end of the RHCP because I went over to the Flaming Lips. And everything people say about them putting on an amazing live show is absolutely true. Smoke Machines, psychdelic videos, dancers on stage dressed in lingerie, dancers on stage dressed as Santa Claus, giant fucking ballons floating above the crowd that Wayne Coyne shoots down with a confetti gun. I wish the Flaming Lips would sell out just so they would have bigger budget. God knows what they would do with it. Coyne has the crowd clapping or screaming in every other song. I didn't lose my voice until then.
In all, not the best shows I've ever seen but worth the money.
So much for "summary".
