Hopscotch Music Festival - Friday Night (9/9/16)

This night of Hopscotch Music Festival was centered around CAM Raleigh for me.  Others have complained about the sound at CAM, and it is a bit hollow.  But I just think it's made for a great setting when I've seen bands there at prior Hopscotches (can you pluralize that?).  Plus, I was really looking forward to this particular line-up.

The large room was eerily empty before the show...

But it would fill up fast before the first band, Carrboro's Wyrms, took the stage, and stay packed for the duration of the three consecutive sets I watched.  The Wyrms haven't played much lately, thanks to the addition of a little baby grub :), but they haven't missed a step.  Loud, tight, garage-y goodness oozed from the stage.

The Wyrms take the stage...

I set my Friday night sights on CAM mostly to see the Wyrms and Car Seat Headrest.  But the band in between, Beach Slang, sounded okay online.  Plus, many friends, including some who were in the middle of touring with them, said they were not to be missed.  I was glad I stayed.  Singer James Alex channeled Paul Westerberg's voice and Pete Townsend's moves for almost an hour, with a little emo thrown in for good measure.  Very energetic show, a lotta fun to watch.

Beach Slang...

Car Seat Headrest... I admit I only discovered this band in listening prep for Hopscotch (despite the vaunted dozen or so bandcamp releases in the 5 years leading up to their Matador signing).  And I really shouldn't like them.  Will Toledo looks about 17, and as far as subject matter, sings about the life of someone that age or not much older.  Yeah.  But he does it with an old soul and a poetry not often seen in this type of music.  I'm not a lyrics guy, but it's hard not to notice lyrics like "In the back of a medicine cabinet / You can find your life story / And your future in the side effects."

The music was great, too.  I read a write-up that described this show as very much about nostalgia, recalling to the 90s "indie guitar" era.  I was big into that shit, but I just didn't hear it.  Sure they're in that general mode.  If anything, more '70s-'80s NY art-punk a bit.  But they didn't sound derivative at all to me live (or on Teens of Denial, for that matter).  While the show started very quietly -- almost folky -- it didn't stay that way for long.  Despite the punk outbursts, though, Car Seat Headrest are never afraid to rein it in, dispensing as needed.  They've got the kind of tense restraint and release of an early Versus.  Car Seat Headrest's live show only confirmed for me that this kid's a real original.  This music's going to be remembered for years to come.

Oh, one thing might be kind of derivative, if unintentionally.  Toledo looks for all the world like a very young Conor Oberst.

Conor Oberst with his first band, Commander Venus (Sluggo's in Pensacola ~1996; he was about 16 years old)...

Car Seat Headrest (CAM Raleigh 2016; tell me I'm wrong)...

I could've stayed for Twin Peaks, who I'm sure were good (though I heard they threw a mic stand and hit some kid in the head, apologizing profusely afterwards!).  I also thought about going around the corner to deep South for Diet Cig, who were on my short list to see.  But between the day parties and these CAM shows, I had just about had my fill of the indie/guitar rock.  Plus, I felt guilty that, as a NOLA native, I had never seen Big Freedia before.  I was listening to her raps in Galactic's music and some really cool NOLA remixes years ago, and telling people up here all about the "sissy bounce"  trend down there (I think it's pretty much just merged into bounce now).

Although there was a huge line at Lincoln Theatre when I got there, it moved quickly and I managed to see about half the show.  Freedia invited audience members onstage to "shake that azz," and many did.  Between raps, members of Freedia's entourage showed off their own acrobatic moves, much more impressive than run-of-the-mill twerkin'.  It was as much party as concert.  I got the feeling it would have been more fun in a different setting though.  Maybe a smaller club (Lincoln's almost as big a setting as I can really enjoy a show anyway), and with a more diverse crowd... a little surprised that it was just about all white hands reaching up at the stage.  But it's great that she's reaching a larger audience.  I while this show was just with a DJ (and the dancers), I hear she'll be touring soon with a full band.  THAT should be fun.

Big Freedia...

Up next, Saturday day and night:   Zack Mexico, ET Anderson, Downtown Boys, et al.  Maybe I'll get those posted by the time next year's Phuzz Phest is coming up. :p

Hopscotch - Free Electric State, Hume, Liars, Thee Oh Sees (8/6/12 - Part 2)

Thursday Part 2.  Not as good as Part 1, but really.  Deerhoof.

However, when I made the hard choice to walk out on that show before it was over to trek back to Kings to catch now-half Triangle expats Free Electric State, I was not disappointed.  And that says a lot considering what I just walked away from.  But Hopscotch is all about variety, and taking it all in.  HOPPING around from show to show... guess that's why it's named that?  I only caught their last 3 songs or so, but they were tight as ever, burning up the Kings stage with new material from their recent release, Monumental Life.  When half the band opted to head back to Baltimore, their shows hear became more of a rarity.  So this was a welcome return.  They were clearly enjoying it, as was the crowd.  If they play a non-Hopscotch show soon, I'll be sure to check out the whole set.

Free Electric State...

I decided to stay put for the next band at Kings for two reasons.  (1) To see an act I knew nothing about (something I think you should do at least once a night at Hopscotch), and (2) Because I had just walked to and from Memorial Auditorium in pretty damn high humidity (for the Triangle anyway) and just wanted to sit down and have a cold beer.  I'm glad I did.

Hume came on with two drummers, a guitarist-singer, and a guy operating the most voluminous board of pedals, switches, and sundry gadgets I've ever seen.  The effect was like an Animal Collective for rockers, an effect further emphasized by the vocal similarities to Noah (Panda Bear) Lennox.  You could do worse; those vocals I think are really an underrated part of that band's sound.  Hume's singer has a really good voice.  Overall, a very enjoyable show, with little in the way of expectations and a rather high bar having already been set.

Hume...

Next, on the recommendation of 2 or 3 people, I headed back to Memorial to see Liars.  Where's a bicycle rickshaw when you need one?  Adam?  (he of local band Rooster for the Masses and, more importantly here, Crank Arm Rickshaws)  Seriously, that's a great way to get around during Hopscotch and any other day/night in Raleigh; I just couldn't catch one just then.

Liars were good; but again, the bar was high.  I knew nothing about them either, and they lean a bit heavy-dance for my taste.  And if you're going to be heavy on this stage this night, again... high bar (do I keep going on about Deerhoof?  Well, you weren't there; or if you were...)  But they had their audience in the palm of their hands.  Three Men In Black, multiple panels of varied instrumentation, spare drums, a whole LOTTA thud.  Between Deerhoof and Liars, Memorial Auditorium has probably exceeded its cumulative decibel limit for the year.

Liars...

So it's after midnight, and I read Thee Oh Sees were about scheduled to go on down at Raleigh CAM (Contemporary Art Museum).  Take the car down there (enough walkin', last show of the night).  It's packed.  Lines for beer.  Lines for (guys'!) bathroom.  Sardines up front.  Crowd-surfing (it's 2012, folks).  Buncha shirtless guys -- their shirts must've been up on this wall...

#ExplodedHipsterArtInstallation (stage was to left)

But Thee Oh Sees were good, in a drunken, garage-y fun way.  Don't get the mega-crowd, though.  I guess they're a good band for topping off the first night at a great festival.  Again, Hopscotch is all about variety -- something for everyone -- and there was definitely that this first night.  The massive crowd successfully avoided the flood downstairs, and CAM will be open for shows the last 2 nights of Hopscotch (well, Friday night's last band is probably just about winding up there now).  

Thee Oh Sees...

CAM is set up well for a big show, and I can't wait to see T0W3RS there Saturday.  I keep catching their brother/sister band, Lilac Shadows, but keep missing T0W3RS shows lately due to extenuating circumstances.  Not tomorrow -- fingers crossed.  I have, however, already found 2 of the 5 "cassingles" they're hiding around downtown, making up their new EP, Wyatt.  B-sides by Lollipops and Jenny Besetzt (so far, still looking, Derek...).

What did I say after the Part 1 post about getting some sleep?  It's been a LONG week; but here's to a fun weekend of more good music.