DESERT DAZE 2015

As soon as I learned about Desert Daze and who'd be performing during this one day music festival, I immediately purchased a ticket and airfare.  Described as the anti-Coachella, this festival draws local acts, has a fraction of the crowds, easy access to the foot of the stage, and is in a pleasant although dusty setting amidst palm trees and ponds at the north end of the Salton Sea, all located a couple hundred feet below sea level.  I flew in Friday, went to the festival Saturday and was heading back home Sunday night.  A wonderful time, even though the airline lost my luggage.  I had everything I needed in a carry-on bag and bought what I needed at an REI north of LAX in Santa Monica.  My daughter agreed to be my chaperon.

Our first stop was Pioneertown north of Palm Springs, where there was a festival pre-party at Pappy and Harriet's Friday night.  We arrived an hour before the music started, setting up the tent near the music venue.  Of the four bands playing, I went to see The Coathangers.  Besides being a relatively inexpensive show, starting the music the night before gave the weekend more of a festival experience.

Wikipedia writes:

The Coathangers are an alternative rock band from Atlanta. March 2014 saw the release of the band's fourth full length album entitled Suck My Shirt, for Suicide Squeeze Records.  In 2011, they released their third album, Larceny and Old Lace (also for Suicide Squeeze Records), to generally positive reviews.[2] The band formed in 2006 as a joke. After playing a house show, they were asked to open for The Hiss on the strength of their performance. The name was chosen for its vulgarity, an irreverent take on abortions, though all band members are pro-choice.  Their playfulness continues into their songs, with titles such as "Don’t Touch My Shit", "Nestle In My Boobies" and “Shut the Fuck Up.”

They were certainly the highlight of my day!  What a way to begin the weekend!





Download the audio for the whole show here:
http://www.filefactory.com/file/6jzfqty383hl/TC%20-%20Desert%20Daze%20Mecca%20CA%20May%202%202015%20MP3.rar

Kim and the Creations is as much about performance art and the music!  WOW!  I thoroughly enjoyed it!

'The all-killer, no-filler Kim House and her band have settled in and are taking her eccentric reputation to the next level. Bending over backwards, slinking through the crowd and switching from sweet to grunge at the drop of a bassline, the only thing that will get your eyes off her [wild outfits] is her potent and directed gaze, right into your soul. What you’re missing: Good ol’ girl grunge that makes you want to take over the world, regardless of gender identification." (Burger Records/ Lolipop Records) -BUZZBANDS LA

'Her over the top stage antics and outfits are only surpassed by the sheer strength of her Stooges and Cramps influenced garage gems.' -DO LA





Download the audio to the whole show here:
http://www.filefactory.com/file/qzdwoxh2r1v/K%26amp%3BTC-%20Desert%20Daze%20Mecca%20CA%20May%202%202015%20MP3.rar

L.A. Witch imperessed me when I went to see Warpaint In LA a couple months ago.  And what is great is that I was able to see them again when Deap Vally came to Denver, again at Desert Daze and I'll see them a fourth time in as many mionths a few nights freom now back here in Denver!  I'm really enjopying their music and hope they become more widely known about and play for years to come!  They were one of the reasons why I say yes to going to Desert daze.

“Dirty distorted country” - Dark Party

“Imagine Kim Deal influenced by Nirvana (rather than the other way around)” - Los Angeles Magazine

“[L.A. Witch] stir up images of Gun Club ‘Fire Of Love’ era and early X… yet at the same time are something entirely their own.” - Buddyhead

” dark amalgam of psych-rock, garage and Americana… L.A. Witch recalls the early ragged glory of Black Rebel Motorcycle Club or the Black Angels” - Buzzbands LA



Download the audio for the whole show here:
http://www.filefactory.com/file/3h6jljmofl9z/LAW%20-%20Desert%20Daze%20Mecca%20CA%20May%202%202015%20MP3.rar

Deap Vally came to Denver a couple weeks before Desert Daze, helping me get in the party mood early!  Julie and Lindsey are not only hopt women, they put out a power house sound on stage!  They are a primary reason why I did not hesitate going to the festival.

Deap Vally mix bashing hard rock and greasy blues riffs, much like the White Stripes and the Black Keys, into their primal sound. The female indie duo formed in Los Angeles, after guitarist/howler Lindsey Troy took a crocheting class taught in a San Fernando shop by drummer Julie Edwards. The two swapped CDs from their respective projects, and soon decided to jam together. Deciding on an image based around halter tops and short jean shorts, they played their first show at Silverlake Lounge and, within a year (before they had even released an album), their raucous on-stage presence earned them some big spots with major British acts like Muse and the Vaccines. The self-professed Valley Girls released a four-song EP, Get Deap!, produced by Lars Stalfors, in the spring of 2013, in advance of a full-length debut, Sistrionix, also produced by Stalfors.



Download the audio to the whole show here:
http://www.filefactory.com/file/4a903zpvd83z/DV%20-%20Desert%20Daze%20Mecca%20CA%20May%202%202015%20MP3.rar

Not much more I can about this band, being the primary reason I went to Desert Daze.  A fabulous performance in front of an enthusiastic audience.  I will continue watching their tour schedule hoping there will be another opportunity for our paths to cross!







Download the audio to the whole show here:
http://www.filefactory.com/file/1qe8uxfiuqfp/WPT%20-%20Desert%20Daze%20Mecca%20CA%20May%202%202015%20MP3.rar

DEAP VALLY

Wednesday night at the Moon Room at the Summit Music Hall.  Performing were Deap Vally, the band from Los Angeles who I saw at Lollapalooza a little over a month ago.  I knew I had to see them as soon as I heard they were coming to Denver.  The Foot was a pretty good band, and Jjuujjuu was the husband of  Julie, the drummer of Deap Vally.  Everyone was waiting for this dynamic duo to perform.

Even though the crowd was small this evening, the place rocked when they took the stage.  Lindsey announced that it was Julie's birthday the following day, at midnight.  Happy Birthday to you!  What's strange is that it was here husbands birthday on the day they performed at Lollapalooza!  After the show I caught Lindsey at the merch table where she signed copies of their EP.  When asked how this compared to Lollaplooza, she was nice and said that these venues allowed her to get close to the crowd.  A great night of music, hoping they come through again after they release their album in October.

Download the show here:
http://www.filefactory.com/file/vcohj7s64gh/DV_Moon_Room_Denver_CO_September_25_2013_MP3_rar

LOLLAPALOOZA 2013, DAY 1, FIRST HALF

When I decided that I couldn't do Coachella in Indio, the consolation prize was Lollapalooza in Chicago.  But it was no consolation prize when I saw the bands that were scheduled to perform in Chicago: The Killers, Baroness, The Lumineers, The Cure, Phoenix, Vampire Weekend, New Order, Imagine Dragons, and many more that I wanted to see.  Not only are the more well known bands a draw to Lolla, the opportunity to see many others that I was unfamiliar with is what I like about music festivals, an opportunity to be exposed to new music.

The only problem was the cost of attending the three day festival: travel, hotel and the entry tickets.  I added it all up and was about to say it was too much when a friend of a friend offered me their reserved parking space in a secure parking lot in a nice neighborhood. That was all I needed to hear, this offer sparing me the expense of a hotel in Chicago, choosing instead to sleep in comfort in the back of the truck.  I immediately bought my tickets, which sold out within 10 minutes of becoming available online.  A hundred thousand people and I were going to Lollapalooza!

I left work Wednesday night and immediately hit the road heading east.  I went to sleep that night in a park just on the other side of Omaha in Iowa, more than halfway there.  The following day I got up early and was meeting Julie at about 2:30 in the afternoon, the truck parked for the remainder of the time I was in Chicago.  I thank Julie for her hospitality, especially since I was a stranger to her.  After she gave me a tour of the neighborhood (the train station, grocery store, all night 7-11, restaurants and Dollops Cafe where I would be eating my breakfasts), Julie wished me a fun and safe stay in Chicago.  I them grabbed a few things from the truck and walked to the nearby public beach where I spent the remainder of the afternoon, wading in the warm water of Lake Michigan (they did not allow people to go into water deeper than ones waist).  The early evening was spent on the water front overlooking Chicago, watching the boats that came and went, the lengthening shadows as the sun set and having a cigar.  A dinner of pizza and a second trip to the marina for a night time view of the city and a second cigar.  The police eventually came through to announce the park was closed.  It was past midnight by the time I was sleeping peacefully in the back of the truck.

On the morning of day 1 I had breakfast and then took the Red Line train into downtown Chicago, getting off at the station near the Chicago Institute of Art.  I considered going in but since I would have had a very short time to tour the contemporary art wing before Grant Park opened up for the music festival, I passed up the chance of visiting the museum, especially considering the entry fee was $23.  I also considered visiting the Contemporay Museum of Art but passed on that for similar reasons.  I was here for Lollapalooza and nothing else.

The gates to Lolla opened up at 11, and the music began at noon.  I took the time to get organized and buy some beverages.  In preperation for the festival, I used YouTube to check out all the bands, identifying those I wanted to see.  But with eight stages and bands performing all the time, I had to make the hard decision of who to see and who I'd have to pass up.  So each morning I had a good idea of who I wanted to see, what stages I had to be at and by what time.  It needed to be well planned considering it took about 20 minutes of fast walking to get from one end of the park to the other.

THE NEIGHBORHOOD

The first show on the first day, feeling the excitement, so it had particular significance to me.  I made the right choice with The Neighborhood.

"Genre-crossing outfit the Neighbourhood mix atmospheric indie rock, electronica, and hip-hop beats with melodic R&B-inflected vocals. Formed in Los Angeles in 2011, the band centers around lead singer Jesse Rutherford, guitarists Jeremy Freedman and Zach Abels, bassist Mikey Margott, and drummer Bryan Sammis. In 2012, the Neighbourhood released the EP I'm Sorry..., featuring such singles as "Sweater Weather" and "Female Robbery." In 2013, they delivered the two-song EP Thank You as a prelude to their debut album I Love You, which was released that same year."

Although I didn't know them by name, I had heard their music on the radio back home.  Loved their sound.  This is a band I plan on following, who are sheduled to perform in Denver in October.  I'm going!

Download the 320 kbps mp3 of the show here:
http://www.filefactory.com/file/hyltio4mznt/n/Neighborhood_Lollapalooza_August_2_2013.mp3

DEAP VALLY

The second show on a different stage was with Deap Vally, a band consisting of two very attractive women who rocked the crowd.  Never heard of them before.  I was impressed with how much sound two people were able to make by themselves.  They were a hit with the people who chose to spend the 1-2 PM time slot this afternoon.  Another band I'll follow to see where they go.

"Deap Vally mix bashing hard rock and greasy blues riffs, much like the White Stripes and the Black Keys, into their primal sound. The female indie duo formed in Los Angeles, after guitarist/howler Lindsey Troy took a crocheting class taught in a San Fernando shop by drummer Julie Edwards. The two swapped CDs from their respective projects, and soon decided to jam together. Deciding on an image based around halter tops and short jean shorts, they played their first show at Silverlake Lounge and, within a year (before they had even released an album), their raucous on-stage presence earned them some big spots with major British acts like Muse and the Vaccines. The self-professed Valley Girls released a four-song EP, Get Deap!, produced by Lars Stalfors, in the spring of 2013, in advance of a full-length debut, Sistrionix, also produced by Stalfors."

Download the 320 kbps mp3 of the show here:
http://www.filefactory.com/file/45kn8tks21zl/n/DValley_Lollapalooza_August_2_2013.mp3