Hey music lovers, the other day I was bored just standing here all day in the rain, so I decided to bust out the iPhone discretely concealed inside my twenty-three foot tablet.
I popped open up the Safari app, and went straight to Brooklyn Vegan, one of my favorite music blogs and concert announcement directories. They pretty much kick the most ass when it comes to New York area music news, as well as a prime source for all things All Points West. How does one vegan go to so many shows a night?
So I was reading BV, and I stumbled upon an article that touched on a phenomenon in music trends that I have been considering myself. The blog references an article from Relix magazine, your source for all things jam bands. The article discusses how indie rockers should not completely distance themselves from the jam scene, even if they loathe them dirty hippies.
Dreadlocked Hippie
I have witnessed my share of dreadlocks in my day, but also have been subject to some of the tightest jeans and shortest cut-off shorts at concerts on both sides of the Hudson. Though the fashions and attitudes may be on opposite sides of the spectrum, is the music really that different?
Just your ordinary hipsters
I mean come on, is it really that much of a coincidence that Phish’s Trey Anastasio played the 2008 All Points West, a festival that primarily featured bands under the umbrella “indie rock” : Radiohead, Grizzly Bear, Animal Collective, CSS, etc…?
Trey Anastasio
Or, what about my friends at Liberty Event who co-produce the primarily indie-rock fest All Points West at the same time as doing primarily jam shows at Governors Island? This summer alone they will put some of the best indie rock at APW 2009 : Fleet Foxes, the National, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Vampire Weekend, etc… as well as the Grateful Dead tribute band Dark Star Orchestra and Keller Williams, two of the biggest representatives of jam rock at The Beach on Governors Island.
Yours truly has pondered this phenomenon for some time. Finally, thanks to the thorough investigative work of Relix magazine, there is proof that some indie artists have borrowed some aspects, here and there, from the jam band scene. Miss Liberty’s a little short on time so I will quickly highlight some APW artists who talk and show this cross-pollination.
MGMT will play All Points West on Sunday August 2 with Coldplay and the Black Keys amongst many others. Though known for being last year’s indie starlets, their music has clear psychedelic elements that stem from the Grateful Dead and arguably the long experimental jams of jam bands. The Relix article has a quote from their guitarist James Richardson, who says they once considered playing a 45-minute version “China Cat Sunflower” by the Grateful Dead.
Richardson – “"I think pretty much everybody in MGMT secretly loves jambands--well, not so secretly. We always have." (Relix)
MGMT
Or what about Vampire Weekend which plays on Friday July 31 with Beastie Boys, and many others? My fellow statue representing James Connolly in Union Park in Chicago spotted drummer Chris Tomson wearing a Phish shirt at the Pitchfork Media Music and Arts Festival, and according to Relix he did the same at Bonnaroo ’08. Relix also mentions how Tomson attended the first jam-oriented Bonnaroo ’02.
Vampire Weekend
There may be nothing too over the top to make of all this, but it does make for an interesting discussion. You know, the type of conversation that happens late at night, post concert, with a tall cold one.
Once again, thank you Brooklyn Vegan for the cool stories. I look forward to meeting the founding father of BV at All Points West 2009! If you have not already been comp’d by my brothers and sisters at AEG, please contact Miss Liberty ‘cause this Rock n Roll Chica will hook you up. I love Brooklyn and the mighty BV.
Peace and sunshine.
Miss Liberty
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