Siren Festival 2005
In an effort to stay close to free beer and Port-A-Potties, Stereogum didn't catch any of Siren's Stillwell Stage (tell me what I missed in the comments). It was an awesome Saturday nonetheless, and I do have some rock 'n' roll to report. Hit Brooklyn Vegan too for Coney Island fun.
HAUNTED PUSSY greeted us on the boardwalk while we made our way to the main stage.
So freaky they deserve a link: read the band's macabre tale here.
HA HA ... typo! All the bloggers rushed to take a photo.
Stereogum enjoyed Q AND NOT U. The Dischord trio was poppier than expected.
FREE DOWNLOAD: Q And Not U - "Wonderful People" (MP3)
Post-show I learned they're on a farewell tour. [Frowny emoticon.] Catch 'em while you can.
DUNGEN's Ta De Lugnt finally gets a domestic release (2CD on Kemado) in a few weeks. Check out Gustav Ejstes' groovy flute from Vastergotland.
FREE DOWNLOAD: Dungen - "Panda" (MP3)
These Swedes' psychfolk is even more impressive once you realize the band is 70% hair.
Gawker and Low Culture were equally terrible at Dance Dance Revolution. They haven't studied the new Bees video.
BRENDAN BENSON teaches us his patented Alternative To Love.
FREE DOWNLOAD: Brendan Benson - "Alternative To Love" (MP3)
Detroit singer/songwriter is so hott right now.
SPOON played all the fan faves. "Everythings Hits At Once," "That's The Way We Get By." I turned my camera on (Sorry. -Ed.) to document Britt's smile.
ROB and MISS MODERNAGE had never seen Spoon before.
FREE DOWNLOAD: Spoon - "I Turn My Camera On" (MP3)
Every Siren act is contractually obligated to mention the Cyclone. This was the best I could do getting Spoon and the famed wooden rollercoaster in the same shot.
Special thanks to everyone at The Voice, Nathan Handwerker, and the Warriors.
If anyone went to Intonation let's hear about it...
Posted at 9:09 AM
Tags: Brendan Benson | Siren Festival | Spoon
I swear, I think Britt Daniel wears that white shirt at every show Spoon plays. He wore it at the show I went to in D.C., at an earlier NYC show (according to pictures), and now Siren too. I guess he really really likes his fitted shirts...
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I did'nt make it to Intonation, but the Sun-Times has a decent review:
http://www.suntimes.com/output/derogatis/cst-ftr-pitch18.html
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I like how Q and not U call three shows on the east coast a farewell tour :(
DAMN IT YOU BASTARDS I'M ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE COUNTRY, THIS ISN'T AN ACCEPTABLE GOODBYE!
ok, I'm ok now, promise.
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Poor Brendan Benson can't get a break on the correct spelling of this name. The MP3 file has a new variation on an incorrect spelling.
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Q and Not U were shit hot. Been waiting two years to see them and now they're splitting up. Such a pisser.
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Intonation, simply put, ruled. Great setting, huge crowds and an overall friendly mood. Out Hud and Four Tet were the surprises for me - both brought on midday dance action to their crowds. If Chicago ends up with an Intonation every summer here on out...we're golden.
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Intonation was hotter than the surface of the sun. I think some bands played too, but I was concentrating on not having a heatstroke so I can't be sure.
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thanks for the great pics of BRENDAn BENSON! too funny... only 10 more days until his hottness arrives in san diego.
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Yes even with the hot weather, intonation was amazing i also enjoyed the danceable beats of out hud. Prefuse 73 was the biggest surprise for me, i didn't think they would be that great live but they managed to prove me wrong
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Oh, and there's a better Intonation review (& lots of pics) at Chicagoist.
http://www.chicagoist.com/
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DFA1979 and Les Savy Fav (Tim had a slip n slide) rocked my face off at Intonation. Reine's (from Dungen) DJ set was also pretty cool. The weather was intense but the free water was key. It was a really good weekend.
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Yes, Britt might not have all that much diversity in terms of his concert wardrobe, but why change if you look GOOD?
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also, thanks mucho for the dungen pics and link. i am swooning in love with that red-haired curly goodness (look at that mouth...mmmmm) and now psychfolk from sweden...swooooon.
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cecile-*so jealous* of you and anyone else who caught dfa at intonation!
as for britt daniel wearing the same shirt, has anyone seen Chris Martin do the same thing? He has that black odd-collared thing he wears all the friggin time. I've never seen him NOT wearing it.
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wow. looks like a really solid lineup. need that in l.a. though i believe the same bands are doing some sort of festivus in san diego
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I spent most of the day at the stillwell stage except to catch Q and Not U, Deatchment Kit, Ambulance LTD, and a tiny bit of Spoon standing far too far away. Be Your Own Pet was definitely worth it and Morningwood was one of the more entertaining bands we saw, the lead singer was crazy. Saul Williams blew me away but sadly when we went to go buy his CD it was already sold out. Was too hot to really enjoy VHS or BETA and Mates of State were good but got repetitive after a little bit. I wish I saw more of Spoon though.
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"as for britt daniel wearing the same shirt, has anyone seen Chris Martin do the same thing? He has that black odd-collared thing he wears all the friggin time. I've never seen him NOT wearing it."
This could make an interesting front page post -- musicians who always wear the same thing. Wayne Coyne would have to be in there for that suit wore the entire Yoshimi tour.
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Somebody wrote a better review of Intonation than Jim "Jealous, Jaded Cat Shagger" DeRogatis? No effin way.
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I volunteered at Intonation (five hours for free enterance both days of the festival... ROCK), and I must say that despite a bit of lag in the ticket lines due to security checks, most everyone I dealt with was extremely well mannered and kind.
Also, I feel terrible for anyone who bought their tickets online and picked them up at the box office (the line at times spanned the length of the festival along Ashland); a lot of people told me they were missing the acts they specifically came to see. That was probably where the festival was found most wanting.
Overall, the line up was amazing, the crowd was friendly, and the free water (as mentioned) was a HUGE plus.
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Brendan Benson rocks my world. Metarie is still one of the most beautiful songs I know.
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decent lineup at siren, but the sound sucked - if you weren't close to the stage it was difficult to hear. nonetheless, the cyclone, corn dogs, and large audience of weirdos ruled!
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q and not u was a great time.
you guys missed saul williams and mates of state on the stillwell stage. mates of state was awesome (as usual) but saul williams really surprised me.
when he said:
"we will be confiscating weed supplies and replacing them with magic mushrooms so that n*ggas can see beyond their own reality [beat drops] GIVE MY REGARDS TO BROOKLYN [comes in strong, crowd goes nuts]"
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the sound on the stillwell stage was far superior to that of the main stage. every band sounded great there.
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I travelled from Oklahoma to Chicago just to go to Intonation and it was well-worth the lack of sleep and subsequent heat. In addition to what others have already said, The Wrens were terrific and seemed quite emotional due to the huge crowd response and I was right up front for Xiu Xiu's beautifully cathartic set. Les Savy Fav's Tim Harrington had the whole crowd sit down at one point when the Chicago police threatened to shut it all down (crowding the barracade). I missed most of the DJ sets though. God it was an amazing weekend.
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sorry, clicked "post" before i wanted to.
Siren really was pretty darn good considering how poor everyone thought the line up was, and it was such a pleasure not feeling like a sardine all day. i think if the crowd was any bigger, combined with the heat, people would have been dropping like flies.
the best bands of the day had to be Brendan Benson and Morningwood. Their sets just seemed more fluid and complete and entertaining than the rest. The sound really sucked though on the main stage. if you were mroe than 30 people back in the crowd, it was hard to hear with any clarity. I would have included Be Your Own Pet, but why did they play only 17 minutes. that was a joke. talk about blowing a chance to make some fans.
i got to see a guy throw up a bunch of hot dogs after getting off the cyclone. that was cool.
and if anyone finds a ring with stars on it, let me know. i think it fell off somewhere near the boardwalk.
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Man, I am so sad i missed it this year.
;,^(
Thanks for the pix! I almost feel like I was there.
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We have pics and words for every band that played Siren Fest last weekend. Check them out at www.icecreamman.com
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I, too, was trying not to pass out from heat exhaustion at Intonation. I vaguely recall being blown away by Andrew Bird's whistling/godliness. And A.C. Newman's out-of-tune-ness made my soul bleed a little, but a lovely time nevertheless.
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ice cream man? i love you. thanks!
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