Here are but a sample of the many pictures that were taken at the Sasquatch Music Festival. The crowds were fun, the bands amazing and views spectacular! (Some of the pics include Silversun Pickups, Explosions in the Sky, Blitzen Trapper, Bon Iver, Ben Harper and Crystal Castles.) The festival is held at The Gorge Amphitheater, which leads to a stunning backdrop to the stage.
I will say that the area is dry and hot. I recall no reprieve from the sun -- it's basically a desert. At one point, a small cloud covered the sun for a brief moment at the end of a performer's song. The crowd erupted into excitement and cheers and the band must have thought they really rocked it. They were good, but even the sun worshipers appreciated a bit of cloud cover at that moment.
You can still access the 2009 Sasquatch Lineup, but I will give a quick review of who I saw. But first, the misses: Hockey, Blind Pilot, Beach House, Owl City, The Doves, Avett Brothers, Walkmen, Passion Pit, Ra Ra Riot, St. Vincent, The Dutchess and the Duke, Janes Addiction & NIN (later toured as part of the NIN/JA tour that I caught). It just didn't happen, but I have at least seen Hockey, Passion Pit, Blind Pilot, Ra Ra Riot, The Dutchess and the Duke, Janes Addiction & NIN since and all rocked in their respective genres.
Bands I caught:
- Kings of Leon -- they continually rock of course.
- Yeah Yeah Yeahs -- strong set.
- The Decemberists -- chill, but solid
- Animal Collective -- great tunes, but didn't fit the festival, or at least a day time, main stage slot. It seemed like a weird fit and most didn't appreciate them.
- M. Ward -- dug him
- Devotchka -- interesting and fun
- Bon Iver -- one of my favorite acts here. He tore down the site. Played in a passionate trance, and nearly set his acoustic guitar on fire with his fingers. It was a raw and beautiful performance and the audience reflected that energy back at him. Simply put, it was awesome.
- Crystal Castles -- man, this was fun, but why couldn't they plan deeper into the morning?
- TV on the Radio -- solid but unspectacular
- Street Sweeper -- sucked. Don't pay to see them. Worst band I caught there.
- Of Montreal -- they blew up the stage. It was killer. One of the highlights of the festival.
- M83 -- great show
- Airborne Toxic Event -- I really enjoyed this act
- Deadmau5 -- great DJ set
- Ben Harper -- typically a huge fan, but helluva show and I would see him again
- Erykah Badu -- same as above
- Silversun Pickups -- one of the main reasons I attended and they didn't disappoint. A solid, electric, smashmouth success. I loved it, loved it. Great band.
- Fleet Foxes -- smoooth and beautiful. Chirag partied with them in the campground. How cool is it that the band hung out with the campers throughout the weekend?
- Gogol Bordello -- crazy internationals! Amazing and fun show.
- Santigold -- or is that Santogold? In any case, she put on a funky and fun show.
- Grizzly Bear -- Not as good as I had hoped, but solid.
- The Wrens -- left no impression on me
- Monotonix -- Okay, these guys...they are not amazing to hear. In fact, I would never buy a CD, but I will see them again for certain! They threw instruments into the audience and dove in to play them. Climbed the stage. It was mayhem. Great entertainers.
- Explosions in the Sky -- It's like two young Jeff Becks. Killer guitars, no vocals. Solid.
- The Knux -- they were better later in the year at Lolla.
- Blitzen Trapper -- another one of the highlights as far as I was concerned.
- Girl Talk -- stumbled upon them for a last couple of songs. I was blown away by how much the audience loved it. I felt like I was at an outdoor house party. Very entertaining.
- Chromeo -- my favorite DJ of the festival.
After the festival, Chirag and I drove around through the Cascades and enjoyed the scenery before returning home.
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