Recomendar
Musings From Monolith, Day II
Set 30 2007, 6h30
Monolith Festival at Red Rocks
Two weeks later...
If you've never heard a singer's passion echo off the mountains and into a crowd of 9,000, or felt the vibration of a bass seep through your feet and into geological history, or caught the Denver lights from a thousand feet above the mile high city, put Red Rocks Ampitheatre on your list of destinations before you die. On September 14th and 15th Monolith Festival made its Red Rocks debut with over 50 bands, including Cake, The Decemberists, Kings Of Leon, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, The Flaming Lips, Spoon, Art Brut, and a slew of independent acts from California to the UK.
The bands I saw:
Via Audio - I don't remember much about their set besides the fact that I liked them and that their bassist was especially entertaining to watch. Scores for this though: The room started with no more than a couple dozen spread-out stragglers, and ended with me pushed up against the back wall, jumping in an attempt to see. Grabbed them and kept them.
Bob Log III - When I walked in on Bob Log III, there were two women effectually lap dancing on a man wearing what appeared to be a space helmet. I'm sure many-a pimply teenage boy has fantasized that moment. I caught the end of his set, which involved said lap dance, suggestive heavy breathing, and him elaborately playing himself off the stage. Take that as you will.
Meese - It's always a pleasure to watch Patrick Meese strut the stage like a polo-clad dominatrix. This set was made even more entertaining by the two middle-aged men up front attempting to relive their glory days.
Margot & the Nuclear So and So's - No matter how many rows up I sat, I felt wrapped up and washed into the sound. I don't think I was totally won over at the time, perhaps because I was in some sort of awe-inspired trance, but I've since been listening to them online quite a bi.
Otis Gibbs - Solid. Clear message, clear story, clear sound. Exactly what folk should be.
nathan & stephen - The last time I saw them, I wasn't rabid, but I swore I'd see them again. Though the small stage is always a bit tight with nine people, I think this group has more fun than any band in Denver.
Art Brut - This IS new punk. With time for a few more songs, these three would incite a riot. Any freshman in tight pants could not dare try to tell me to stick it to the man if he were standing anywhere near these guys. Warped guitar, fierce rhythm section, and a voc so utterly sick of society...
Hot IQs - I knew I liked them beforehand, but I've recently become obsessed. Their solid, catchy indie pop takes Weezer and Rooney, occasionally scales the sound back about three or four decades (see: Eli Mishkin's suit), and slaps in New Wave drone tone vocals to make you feel a little less bubblegum (although the bubble-blowing drummer might crush all your attempts).
The Flaming Lips - Um, he crowd-surfed in a plastic bubble. End of story.
Three overall notes:
1.) EPIIIIIIC!!!
2.) Brooklyn are Indianapolis are now ruling my music radar.
3.) Could've used more genre diversity, but otherwise, EPIIIIIIC!!!
Two weeks later...
If you've never heard a singer's passion echo off the mountains and into a crowd of 9,000, or felt the vibration of a bass seep through your feet and into geological history, or caught the Denver lights from a thousand feet above the mile high city, put Red Rocks Ampitheatre on your list of destinations before you die. On September 14th and 15th Monolith Festival made its Red Rocks debut with over 50 bands, including Cake, The Decemberists, Kings Of Leon, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, The Flaming Lips, Spoon, Art Brut, and a slew of independent acts from California to the UK.
The bands I saw:
Via Audio - I don't remember much about their set besides the fact that I liked them and that their bassist was especially entertaining to watch. Scores for this though: The room started with no more than a couple dozen spread-out stragglers, and ended with me pushed up against the back wall, jumping in an attempt to see. Grabbed them and kept them.
Bob Log III - When I walked in on Bob Log III, there were two women effectually lap dancing on a man wearing what appeared to be a space helmet. I'm sure many-a pimply teenage boy has fantasized that moment. I caught the end of his set, which involved said lap dance, suggestive heavy breathing, and him elaborately playing himself off the stage. Take that as you will.
Meese - It's always a pleasure to watch Patrick Meese strut the stage like a polo-clad dominatrix. This set was made even more entertaining by the two middle-aged men up front attempting to relive their glory days.
Margot & the Nuclear So and So's - No matter how many rows up I sat, I felt wrapped up and washed into the sound. I don't think I was totally won over at the time, perhaps because I was in some sort of awe-inspired trance, but I've since been listening to them online quite a bi.
Otis Gibbs - Solid. Clear message, clear story, clear sound. Exactly what folk should be.
nathan & stephen - The last time I saw them, I wasn't rabid, but I swore I'd see them again. Though the small stage is always a bit tight with nine people, I think this group has more fun than any band in Denver.
Art Brut - This IS new punk. With time for a few more songs, these three would incite a riot. Any freshman in tight pants could not dare try to tell me to stick it to the man if he were standing anywhere near these guys. Warped guitar, fierce rhythm section, and a voc so utterly sick of society...
Hot IQs - I knew I liked them beforehand, but I've recently become obsessed. Their solid, catchy indie pop takes Weezer and Rooney, occasionally scales the sound back about three or four decades (see: Eli Mishkin's suit), and slaps in New Wave drone tone vocals to make you feel a little less bubblegum (although the bubble-blowing drummer might crush all your attempts).
The Flaming Lips - Um, he crowd-surfed in a plastic bubble. End of story.
Three overall notes:
1.) EPIIIIIIC!!!
2.) Brooklyn are Indianapolis are now ruling my music radar.
3.) Could've used more genre diversity, but otherwise, EPIIIIIIC!!!
