Leftist Christian

Day three was a perfect day, really. I did miss Beach Slang. Hot Water Music was a working class punk group (with name of course from Bukowski). That Dog provided a welcome change from much of the rest of the lineup--breezy pop in the style of the Breeders or Throwing Muses. The vocalist was mildly humorous in an NPR host way. The Orwells are a proficient band from the area. Aside from the music, though, just as the singer's bum crack appeared (due to some ill-fitting pants), he disappeared off the side of the stage, climbing atop a structure, never to be seen again. The first guitar god I saw today was Doug Martsch. Whereas in the past, I have seen Built to Spill with three guitarists, today they were a three piece, playing Keep It like a Secret. The sound was very full. Despite the cruel scheduling conflict, we were able to see about four songs from TV on the Radio before heading over to see Dinosaur Jr. perform You're Living All over Me, an easy desert island pick of an a...

My mottos for the day were there's no way I'm going to see everything, so don't worry. Also, after getting very little sleep and squeezing in my morning class, sometimes I needed to keep moving to stay awake. In fact, I let myself nod off a bit during GBH. Hardcore punk will just never be my thing. Fishbone played Truth and Soul in its entirety, which didn't register with me at first. They will always be a great live band. Dead Cross seems to be a platform for Dave Lombardo (Slayer) to solo constantly and for Mike Patton to shout and yell without abandon. Not great. I watched some FIDLAR (a young punk band) and then had to get over to Bad Brains. H.R., sadly, didn't seem up for it. I left before Lamb of God's singer handled some of their more notable songs. I've been somewhat fascinated with Danzig of late. Any positive account of him doesn't seem to exist. He seems more an a--hole than a Satanist. Yet, as I read somewhere, his music is Black Sabbath...

Friday didn't start out very strong until Liars. This is a great band for people who like noise. But I didn't know what to expect, as the lineup and approach had changed several times. The singer wore a lovely wedding dress. And the chanting Birthday Party-like style I appreciate so much was on display. X is a band never to take for granted (it seems like we shouldn't take anything for granted these days). Literate punks who take to rockabilly and write occasional songs that cut to important social issues. Whether it was my state of mind or the band's performance, they sounded particularly good to me. The Buzzcocks played, but can we ever get a Magazine reunion? My goodness, how I'd waited for Ministry. A lineup of metal dudes (black hair, black clothes) took the stage. Looked like Danzig's band. And they brutalized us for an hour straight. Al indeed has written some new songs about recent events (sample lyrics: "a punch in the face," and "we ...

Things that get me excited in the 12th year of attending the Pitchfork Festival: It has added handicapped seating. This enables Brian, my concert viewing partner since the mid 90s, and I to remain seated for every set across the three days. We also immediately look for free stuff--Clif Bars, Wendy's salads, tote bags--I'm grateful for all of it. The very first act is Madame Gandhi, a former drummer for M.I.A. She's cut from M.I.A.'s cloth but has a way to go. Second, though, is Priests. Now Priests I can get into. Their singer smiles weirdly and shrieks. A little preppy and schlubby, but this is punk. Vince Staples is the most exciting artist in rap right now. Danny Brown is a seasoned pro. (Side note--did he get his front tooth fixed?) LCD Soundsystem rightfully headlines night one. Their sound is as melodic as New Order and as big as the Talking Heads. Going into day two, I know that there will be a lot to take in. Vagabon starts things off well, with hints of the ...