Alright, I’ve been putting off this daunting task because it’s well… daunting. But I better do it before my memories get too much more hazy.
First off my two main regrets:
1. Not riding with one of you guys and taking the shuttle.
2. Not taking more advantage of hanging out with you guys. I broke the main cardinal rule of Sasquatch and let stressful reality of what was waiting for me back in South Carolina into my conscious for a good portion of the trip. And I was always super tired. I usually make it a rule to not really do anything more than “420 friend type things” as the kids say. I should have broken that rule. I believe dragon sugar could have fueled me through.
Various commentary on the events of the weekend:
I got to the airport, and Souly was there to pick me up, and all her completely sweet heart of gold glory. She took us to Burrito’s house and we all hung out. The weekend was off to a great fucking start.
The next day, I shoved my tent and sleeping bag so we weren’t walking blocks through Seattle with a billion different things, then that night we stayed with a dude Courtney stayed with before through her couchsurfing network (he was an almost stereotypically specifically interesting exotic Belgian dude who travels all the time with all these interesting stories). Then the next day we get to the shuttle; the shuttle ride was 7 hours. Making us not get there until the middle of Santigold. Though it was 7 hours though, it was kinda cool. We met a lot of awesome people during this ride and while waiting for 3 hours in the line for the campground, we all partied and just got wasted in the back of the bus. We even named our little group “The Charleston Joneses” (We were super drunk. Somebody heard me and Courtney say we were from Charleston, and I decided we should make a family name as if we were “keeping up with the Joneses” thus the name was made.) Unfortunately being wasted kept me from meeting up with Drew (though I really have to more blame my shitty phone for dying on the shuttle ride even after giving it a full charge the night before).
Anywho, we got there, I drunkenly “helped” some of my new friends put up their tent as soon as we got there in exchange for getting to stow our gear in their tent until we met up with everyone. Then the “Charleston Joneses” went to the wrist band line (which on the other hand took about 2 minutes to get through). We walked toward the venue in excitement, then once we got in we kind all went to different places. We headed to Santigold to see if we maybe saw someone from the board I knew. I walk down to the pit, and walk right by this interesting gentleman in a wizard get-up. He yells, “Lumpy!” Strokes my chin. I yell “FIG!” Gave him a huge hug, as it should be.
Okay, I gotta start abridging this thing. At this rate, this will become a novel-length memoir.
I’ll just make notes about various bands and then little yearbook type entries to all the boarders I met.
Santigold – Enjoyed what I saw, though most of what I saw was while looking for boarders. Also still drunk (see shuttle story above). [“Artist I missed because I got kicked out in ’09” #1]
Explosions in the Sky – Everything I could have ever hoped for. Though the Girl Talk set sounded like it was awesome, I do not regret my decision. The sunset, the fireworks from the Girl Talk set happening at a pretty climactic part of one of the songs. “Explosions in the Sky” amirite? [“Artist I missed because I got kicked out in ’09” #2]
Pretty Lights – the lights were cool, the glowpocalypse was awesome, but this is more where I just first met everyone and was so ecstatic to hang/dance with everyone.
Reptar – I had to check them out because whenever I go to Athens, it’s all anyone ever talks about. They’re basically hometown heroes there. I liked it more than I’d like to admit. I wanted to hate them so bad. But they were so fun.
Pete Holmes – Didn’t really know anything about him other than comedians I like name-checking him. But this was the biggest surprise act I’d never seen before that I loved. “This is the weird alternate universe where I’m a comedian. In every other universe I’m the over-excited church youth group pastor.”
Blitzen Trapper – about as far into southern rock I get and still like it. They always have just enough quirk to make me enjoy them. Glad I finally got to see them because: [“Artist I missed because I got kicked out in ’09” #3]
Portlandia – The set I was most disappointed with that weekend. It was okay. It felt as if they were trying to be TOO dry. So dry to the part where they aren’t even funny. (Todd Barry is the master of dry comedy. Everyone else give up.) It almost seemed as if they were trying to be unfunny (Leave that to Neil Hamburger) in the name of hipstery irony, but they succeeded far too well.
Kurt Vile – No music more perfect for baking in the afternoon sun. Such a good songwriter. The dream-like guitar. So good.
Dum Dum Girls – Didn’t actually see them, part of me wishes I did. I was really in need for some good surf-pop, and I heard they were great. But I had to get a good spot for:
Unknown Mortal Orchestra – Everything I hoped for. Played everything I wanted (they only have 10 songs anyway). Even though the shitty Yeti sound fucked up the first part, shit got much better. The unwanted stage hum provided some pretty hilarious banter on the part of Ruban Nielsen, so it wasn’t all bad. And even though that Beck encore was pretty killer, hearing “Nerve Damage!” live was my favorite musical moment of the weekend. And they played a fucking great new song that I thiiink they said is going to be on a new album that’s coming out. Oh yeah, shout out to Friendly for getting me hooked on these guys. They’re one of my new favorite bands ever.
Helio Sequence – They were good. I enjoyed there set more because of the high I was still on from the UMO set. I liked that whatever song they have that’s popular. The drummer played in Modest Mouse.
Tune-Yards – Was super excited to see this. I love Merrill Garbus. She’s such a genuine person (her commentary on how much she loved the audience and how much she loved the set just made her seem like she just genuinely loved life in general), such a soulful voice. And while I know some people think that waiting for the loops to build is laboring, that was actually a huge part of why I liked the set. I was pretty familiar after listening to
w h o k i l l with the songs, but it was a fun guessing game trying to figure out which song it was. And the drum looping up on fucking “Doorstep” and that slightly off-kilter bass line. This is why I love Tune-Yards. The simple yet powerful and soulful “Powa” (that ukelele part kills me every time). That song is rock and roll as shit. Also, she really reminds me of a singer friend of mine in Charleston, whose birthday I made by telling her this since apparently Merrill has been her hero for years.
The Shins – didn’t catch much, but what was their sound guy thinking making them so quiet. I got to hear the song I came to see “St. Simon” (listening to that song over and over helped me through a hard break up, I love the shit out of that song), I enjoyed it, I left a few songs later.
St. Vincent – A. I’m speechless. B. No need to say more. Though I will say that I’m completely infatuated with her. I know y’all were joking about wanting to marry her, but I am literally from now on setting to marry her or someone else. My heart was fluttering. And even with Jack White, she was my favorite guitarist of the weekend. Her solos are how all I try to play every guitar solo I ever play. I’ll never make it sound as great as her. And her songwriting… shit. And the crowdsurfing. Even after expecting it, it wasn’t just crowdsurfing, she fucking went crazy. You guys, seriously, I’m in love. I’m not fucking around here. “This song is the future of punk.” I got fucking chills just from her saying that. I’m swooning just thinking about it now.
Jack White – If you told me all he was playing was Hello Operator, Steady as She Goes, and Seven Nation Army, I would’ve been completely fine with that and loved it. And then it was so much more.
The Roots – I was actually super stoked for a non-EDM headliner, but this is one example of my tired ass going straight to the campsite. I began trying to walk from the main stage over to Bigfoot, but Courtney was walking toward the gate when we passed Bigfoot. We never said anything, but I thought to myself “I am super tired. I don’t know if I could even efficiently enjoy it.” And followed her back to camp. Didn’t really wanna ditch her and make her walk all the way back alone. Kinda regret it, but they’re playing in the middle of downtown for Raleigh for Hopscotch, so I’ll catch it then.
Howard Kremer – It was nice to see him. He is the guy that is also Dragon Boy Suede and also one of the hosts of Who Charted? He did a lot of shout-outs to us charters and actually gave a lot of entertaining stories about his Sasquatch experience on the following Who Charted? Podcast:
www.earwolf.com/episode/two-charted-17/ The stories begin at around 22:45 and pretty much go to the end of the podcast.
Hospitality – Was excited to see them because a friend of mine who works at Merge had endless praise about them. They were great. I don’t remember too much because I realized the singer looks like my mom looked when she was her age, and I couldn’t stop being freaked out thinking I was in Back to the Future and seeing young mom.
Todd Barry – I’ve seen him about 6 times now, and that was the best set I have seen him do. So many great quotes I want to recite right now and can’t remember. He did the best job of all the comedians about dealing with the Maine Stage. Part of why I love him, even off the top of his head improvising, he’s a genius. Also, thanks to everyone who went to see him on my advice purely, it sounded like you all enjoyed it. I hope you did.
I really gotta get shorter with these descriptions.
War on Drugs – more fun poppy Kurt vile (didn’t he used to play in War on Drugs?)
Why is there a space on the schedule on the Bigfoot between War on Drugs and Wild Flag? OH, I know. Deer Tick. Probably because their spot got moved to the second set they played that weekend
Deer Tick – I was told by friends back home to see them, I was not disappointed. All I could think about was the Replacements. So fucking rock and roll. And they win the “we’re down for whatevs” award. Even though nobody accepted, they invited any other artists backstage to come up and sing “Fight For Your Right (To Party)” They killed it. I got to see them do that song again on their set where they filled in for caught-at-the-border Mogwai and did a covers set. Unfortunately that’s the only cover I saw because I was too busy loving Ted Leo.
Wild Flag – Carrie Brownstein, don’t worry I love you again now! (I still loved you even despite that Portlandia set though, really.) Sleater-Kinney is one of the heroes of one of my bands Southern Femisphere, so it was awesome and reminded me of them, though to be honest, I actually liked Mary Timony and her songs more.
The Walkmen – I liked them better in ’09 but they still killed. “In the New Year” is such a good song to hear live. And of course “The Rat”. And I just love the guitar sound those guys get so much.
Beirut - That sunset with Beirut was like pairing a delicious steak with just the right wine. I know that Gorge sunsets automatically up the points of certain bands, but this is not what I mean. I can’t think of any band on that lineup more perfect for that sunset than Beirut. Zach Condon is so damn charming.
James Murphy – This was the first signal that their may be a future for me in EDM. He kicked it old school. You could tell he was playing everything that inspired stuff like LCD Soundsystem. Also, cute girls danced with me. That’s always cool. I had to dip out after the first half hour since I figured and see what this Justin Iver guy was all about.
Bon Iver – I got to be present for the taping of the episode of Colbert Report where they were the guest. I enjoyed it, but it wasn’t anything special to me (then again the only other Colbert Report I went to I saw Pavement, so, ya know). This set was great for a dark Gorge though. Though I don’t really care for that kind of music to be completely honest, I was still pretty blown away. That shit got intense. Even with the fact that I was by myself during probably the coldest part of the whole weekend trying to keep warm. Though I guess that’s probably appropriate for seeing Bon Iver right? That seems like it should be.
Feed Me – most boarder fun of the whole weekend (see the yearbook section). I actually really liked the set itself too. One of the nice instances where I was able to appreciate EDM on more than a just “look at the pretty lights”/”this is fun to dance to” level. Pea/Womp, you should be proud.
The Sheepdogs – Who knew that the Allman Brothers changed their name and became something that only Canada cared about?
Grouplove – see my review from whatever thread I put that review in.
Chelsea Peretti – Kinda have a crush on her. And she’s really funny. Realizing I could never have her, it was difficult for me. Think of my experience with St. Vincent but just like 5% of the intensity.
John Mulaney – Along with Pete Holmes and the honorable Todd Barry. One of my favorites of the weekend. The way he tells stories is so encapsulating and so hilarious. Look up his bits about Law and Order: SVU. Do it.
Nick Kroll – Always loved Nick, always will. Only person who can talk about for shit for 10 minutes and I’m okay with it and actually laugh.
fun. – This is where I went to the campground to chug both a half bottle of wine and a huge red bull. This had mixed effects. (I didn’t see fun. This has nothing to do with fun. Other than that it happened at the same time.)
Feist – I enjoyed it. I don’t completely get the hype about that set, but I enjoyed it.
John Reilly – I like some good old-school country (though I don’t know much about it). I love John Reilly. Seemed like such a cool dude. Any celebrity that agrees to just play some country songs on the smallest stage at a festival is cool in my book. He didn’t even give a shit when he succumbed to the usual sound problems of the Yeti. Audience member: “SWEET BERRY WINE!” [constantly] John: “I WISH I had some Sweet Berry Wine right now.” “Everybody says you’re crazy if you believe in Sasquatch. Until you see one. Then who’s fuckin’ crazy.”
Ted Leo – My third favorite set of the weekend (just a little behind Beck and UMO). I really haven’t listened to that much of him until now, but he sounds like an amalgamation of a lot of different bands I listened to growing up, and it just felt right. Plus he’s kinda who Courtney came to see, so Courtney, who is usually pretty reserved, calm, and un-phased was jumping up and down like a school girl at a 98 Degrees concert in the ‘90s. Through the set until about an hour later, she was grinning ear to ear. Also this was the last thing to happen at the Yeti, so the security guards there were specifically “don’t give a fuck” and awesome. That whole crowd might have been my favorite crowd of the weekend. And there was a mosh pit which I kept wanting to join, but it fizzled out just when I was about to join in. One of my new favorite bands.
Tenacious D – Everything I could have hoped for, especially great after my high with Ted Leo mixed with excitement for being about to see Beck. For the rest of Tenacious D and through Beck, I kinda regret not being back there singing these songs with all you guys to the left of the soundbooth. My obsession with wanting to be at the front for Beck (which I did achieve) was too much.
Beck – I was most excited for Beck and for good reason. He played pretty much everything I wanted to hear (though even though I knew it wasn’t going to happen, I was crossing for fingers for Debra at the end of that encore. As crazy as that encore was, I figured it was completely “anything goes”). And he’s still got it too. He’s no Odelay/Midnite Vultures era Beck, but he’s still badass. OH YEAH HE PLAYED FUCKING MINUS. My fucking post-noise-punk bullshit heart melted. FROGGGGGGSSSSSSSSS! AND MOTHERFUKER WHAT?! I hope Burrito was as happy as I was about their being an obscure song from Mellow Gold. Also, fuck you guys, I love Modern Guilt. The Sea Change songs were beautiful. Where It’s At was actually pretty close to the videos I’d seen from the Odelay tour. And of course E-Pro. Everybody singing the na—na-nas throughout the whole Gorge was a great Sasquatch moment. Beck’s adorable son. That crazy raccoon. (Weird thing, I kept trying to convince Courtney that the Gorge was in a desert. It ended in me literally betting her we wouldn’t see a raccoon the whole trip. I owe her $10.) I’ll end it with this: “I knew today was going to be a good day when I woke up to take a walk down by the Gorge and I saw and eagle flying through the air carrying a snake. Then I saw something else, glimmering in the distance. I could quite make it out at first, but then I realized what it was. Many years ago a guitar solo was played. This solo flew up into the atmosphere traveling through space and time and now landing in this spot, a shining magical energy of an 80's guitar solo just for me. And now I'll play it.... “ [cue most ridiculously absurd solo ever] I will always love you Beck. I will always love you Sasquatch.
Alright, in the words of Doug Martsch, “If I don’t die or worse, I’m gonna need a nap.” I’ll do my ode to the boarders soon.