Seattlest Roundtable: Hypothetical Sasquatch Edition
None of us are going to Sasquatch this year. That's right, all of Seattlest--all of this MANY-HEADED CERBERUS--is far too lame to be heading out to the Gorge for what looks to be a beautiful Memorial Day weekend. Instead, we're staying home, putting a few ice cubes in our scotch, and breaking out the summer tweed. But were we attending the three-day fest this year, we'd have plenty of good acts to choose from. We perused the schedule to come up with our hypothetical recommendations for this very real festival.
Part of the reason that Audrey isn't attending Sasquatch this year is that the lineup is just too solid. There's not one stand-out day, just three good ones, and lord knows she will not be spending three days camping out at the Gorge. In that case, she'd rather be SIFFing. Anyways, were she to attend, she'd totally hit up her precious Ra Ra Riot, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Bon Iver, the Walkmen for the umpteenth time, TV on the Radio, M83, and Of Montreal. Grizzly Bear (of course) and Girl Talk (ditto), and probably some comedy to boot. But not Animal Collective, not Monotonix, not Mad Rad. Hell to the no.
Even though he doesn't have a "traditional" PDX beard 'n' sleeves, MvB would be all over the M. Ward show, which is typical of him "discovering" someone several years after everyone else. (By the way, this Spongebob character is going to be HUGE with the kids.) Also, he'd have to give Dent May and His Magnificent Ukelele another listen, as he didn't get the vibe the first time at Neumo's. Maybe the Yeti stage is the right spot. Also, Shearwater. Because Nico.
Of all the acts on the lineup, it's the relatively obscure Black Moth Super Rainbow that do it for Donte, since their latest album is accessibly weird and fun. Explosions in the Sky are sure to blow minds sonically, while NIN's visuals are legendary. Like a devoted Pitchfork reader, he'd also check out Animal Collective, and Street Sweeper Social Club would draw his attention if only because he's unendingly jealous of Boots Riley's 'fro.
More than likely, Gorge newbie Kim P. would wander around Saturday soaking up the experience (and the beverages) of it all, before realizing "yes, she totally knows that song," but wouldn't be able to name the artist for the life of her. We're guessing Doves, maybe? The only band she would push and shove her way to see is Kings of Leon. Mainly because she's been listening to them for years, thanks to the recommendation of her good friend who used to shag the drummer.
Jeremy doesn't dig the Portland vibe most of the time, but he's seen the Decemberists before and would totally go again. Last time he saw them at Sasquatch, Colin Meloy led the audience in calisthenics, made everyone take a nap, and then handed out orange creamsicles. How can you beat that?
For Jack, there's quite a long list of the acts he would love to be seeing this weekend, were he not demolishing his kitchen. For starters, he's sure big bands like Yeah Yeah Yeahs and Nine Inch Nails would be incredible. Then there are all the acts he's yet to see but is pretty sure he'd love like TV On The Radio, M. Ward, Gogol Bordello, Santigold, The Knux, and Mos Def. And of course all the bands he's seen and loved before like Fleet Foxes, Viva Voce, Grizzly Bear, The Decemberists, and St. Vincent.
