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Post by Friendly Destroyer on Jun 3, 2010 11:35:59 GMT -8
Any shows that you either never knew about or thought you would not like.
Tegan and Sara were the big one for me. Never thought of them as a good band, over played songs on the radio... but holy shit are they ever good. Great vocals and impressive non stop harmonies. Glad I caught them.
Fool's Gold - I was getting food before Portugal, The Man and stayed to watch their whole set. Already dancing at 1pm, alright!
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Post by skychotic on Jun 3, 2010 11:53:56 GMT -8
MGMT and New Pornographers. To my surprise, the MGMT frontman sounded great even though I had heard from others that he mumbles a lot. And the band also sounded great and was entertaining. Right after that I checked out the New Pornographers. I'm still not too familiar with their music but I figured I'd check it out. Again, they sounded great and they all had funny things to say, especially Neko Case. It was a great way to end the festival for me.
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scough
Man-Eating Higabon
Posts: 971
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Post by scough on Jun 3, 2010 12:45:37 GMT -8
Vampire Weekend especially, I had no desire to see them but I can't help but like it when a band gets everyone moving like VW did. MGMT as well, for the same reason as the guy above.
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Post by goodvedderbest on Jun 3, 2010 13:58:29 GMT -8
Agree with Fool's Gold...but it seemed like every song had the same guitar riff. Still, surprisingly good.
Neon Indian was incredible...I had no idea.
Fruit Bats- These guys are up and comers. Really good set, but not many saw it because it was against LCD Soundsystem.
Mountain Goats- Didn't really know what to expect, but was treated to a full sound. Good surprise.
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thunderroad
Yapping Skunk Ape
Tramps like us, baby we were born to pay
Posts: 87
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Post by thunderroad on Jun 3, 2010 14:07:57 GMT -8
Pavement!!!!!!
As a huge fan, and having seen them before - I was kinda not wanting to have those fond memories ruined by a reunion show, but they pulled it out. A set even hard core fans would admit as their favorite.
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Post by Blacksmile on Jun 3, 2010 15:13:40 GMT -8
I would have to say that the biggest band that surprised me was MGMT. Not at all a fan of their albums, but goddamn they can sure pull out a live show. I did not stay for the whole thing as I left for The New Porno's...but I saw about 6 songs and fully enjoyed myself.
The flipside (of surprising bands)...I was very unimpressed with The XX. Love the album but I thought they sounded like shit live, granted the sound on the Bigfoot stage was shitty anyways (for the most part) but I just left fairly unimpressed. They were dull to watch, the songs bled into one another and I was just bored...too bad.
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Post by Pea on Jun 3, 2010 15:47:15 GMT -8
The National - After all of the conflicting reports on their live shows, I've got to say they were definitely one of the most exciting of the weekend.
Vampire Weekend - They had 20,000 people dancing their feet off and looked like they were having an absolute blast on stage. 'Nuff said.
A-Trak - I just happened to be walking by the dance tent when he started and ended up staying for a good part of his set. Fucking awesome!
MGMT - Not necessarily surprised by the quality of their performance, as it was about what I expected, but the fact that they played all of their hits off the last album really was an awesome treat for the crowd. Time to Pretend and Kids are the ultimate festival dance songs. Loved hearing them!
Deadmau5 - Didn't really do much for me last year but his set on the late stage was easily the most epic 2 hours of my life. So dark and twisted and just plain fucked up.
Pavement - I was at my drunkest of the weekend during their set so I could be completely wrong but I thought they sounded great haha.
Booka Shade - Gorgeous. Wish I was in the same "mindset" for them as I was for Deadmau5. Didn't expect them to be so powerful live.
And I caught the last song of both YACHT and Neon Indian and both looked like an absolute party in there, wish I had seen more of them!
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Post by broadwaycallz on Jun 3, 2010 15:49:32 GMT -8
I'd have to agree with Tegan and Sara. I've never really listened to them extensively, but they put on one of the best shows of the weekend in my opinion.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Jun 3, 2010 19:14:21 GMT -8
First and foremost, MGMT. I kinda feel bad now about propagating the idea that they're not good live. They were fine; I actually want to examine some of the new stuff now.
From the "I picked a random band and was rewarded for it" file, Fool's Gold. I danced like a hippie! Yay!
Also Pavement.
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Post by sandwiches on Jun 3, 2010 20:33:23 GMT -8
I agree with Scough about Vampire Weekend. I am not particularly fond of them and was pretty upset that they had a later set than BSS and The National (even though I understand that they brought more fans to the gorge than those two bands) and I was trying to be stubborn and not enjoy the show. I was about 5 rows back for BSS and the National and went and sat on the hill with all my friends who were syked to see VW. To my surprise I couldn't help but dancing. I wouldn't say they made a new fan in me (especially after the people I camped next to were playing their songs on FUCKING REPEAT for the whole weekend) but I'll admit they were very entertaining live. They showed me that they earned the spot they had, I give them that much.
Also I was surprised at how much I liked the Local Natives set. For a newer band they really have their shit together. I love their album and all, I just didn't expect them to rip that hard. Good for them. I wouldn't be shocked at all if they blow up like Vampire Weekend.
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40oz
Baby Eating Ice Cream
Posts: 21
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Post by 40oz on Jun 3, 2010 20:52:48 GMT -8
Seattle Rock Orchestra
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Post by Lump on Jun 3, 2010 21:39:17 GMT -8
Fuck, now I'm feeling regret for not checking out MGMT, after all the recommendations here about how awful they were live. However, I completely throw that regret out the window when I remember how fantastic New Pornos were.
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Post by Lump on Jun 3, 2010 21:51:15 GMT -8
Also, the Long Winters surprised me. Based on the myspace samples, I thought it was just going to be boring acoustic songs. I actually think before hitting the festival, that they'd be the band I'd least want to see (the reason I was there was the fact I was camping out at the front of the main stage all day for Pavement). But these songs are given new life played live and electric. Nothing amazing, but definitely enjoyable enough to put them up there on my list for the weekend. Seemed to be having a lot of fun too.
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Post by Pea on Jun 3, 2010 21:53:39 GMT -8
Also I was surprised at how much I liked the Local Natives set. For a newer band they really have their shit together. I love their album and all, I just didn't expect them to rip that hard. Good for them. I wouldn't be shocked at all if they blow up like Vampire Weekend. totally agree. i knew i was going to enjoy them, but god damn. their songs completely come to life in a live setting more than they ever do on album, and i really really really love their album. a couple of the dudes from the band hung out on the grass at the bigfoot stage for a while after their set too, pretty sweet.
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scough
Man-Eating Higabon
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Post by scough on Jun 4, 2010 8:25:31 GMT -8
another addition that i thought of would be she & him. i had no idea what to expect, but they put on a pretty good show. zooey jumping up and down on stage was adorable. it seemed like her eyes were bulging out of the sockets though from what i could see on the big screens from the hill.
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Post by Friendly Destroyer on Jun 4, 2010 8:57:20 GMT -8
Fuck, now I'm feeling regret for not checking out MGMT, after all the recommendations here about how awful they were live. However, I completely throw that regret out the window when I remember how fantastic New Pornos were. You missed nothing. I think most people were surprised because MGMT "jammed" a little and "rocked" a little harder than their album. But they did neither well, frankly I found them embarassing - those that drank Kid Cudi's Kool-Aid seemed to have thought the same of MGMT. Sure it is always fun to see everybody dancing, but doesn't mean what's being played is good.
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Post by Lump on Jun 4, 2010 9:36:54 GMT -8
Okay, that makes me feel a bit better. And I think its pretty unanimous for those that witnessed that New Pornographers didn't disappoint whatsoever. The MGMT jokes were hilarious. Neko Case: "Don't worry guys, your complimentary shuttle will be here in 3 minutes to take you to MGMT." Fucking adorable.
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Post by ComesWithASword on Jun 4, 2010 10:13:07 GMT -8
Nah man, MGMT played a rad show. Though I'm sad i missed what seems to have been an awesome New Pornos set.
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scough
Man-Eating Higabon
Posts: 971
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Post by scough on Jun 4, 2010 10:31:22 GMT -8
i was so pissed when i got back to the campground after MGMT, i didn't know the new pornos were still playing at the bigfoot stage until i heard neko singing "mass romantic". did they do like a 2 hour set?
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40oz
Baby Eating Ice Cream
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Post by 40oz on Jun 4, 2010 11:22:07 GMT -8
i was so pissed when i got back to the campground after MGMT, i didn't know the new pornos were still playing at the bigfoot stage until i heard neko singing "mass romantic". did they do like a 2 hour set? I'm not sure how long their set actually ended up being but they did play an encore. Which was really nice to see after a weekend of short set times, I think they played Letter from an Occupant. I ran to the mainstage for Ween after and I'm sure it wasnt till after 10 when I got there.
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