Photos!: Treasure Island Day 1 Wrap-Up
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Treasure Island Music Festival Day 1 Wrap-Up
Immediately after entering the grounds of the Treasure Island Music Festival it became clear why this 2-Day festival was so highly recommended. Aside from this year's lineup, which includes: Hot Chip, Goldfrapp, TV on the Radio, Justice and CSS all within Day 1, it boasts two stages and the area is walk-able. It's not a huge journey or commitment should you decided to wander between stages. The organized flow lent a relaxed feel to the audience. Of course, the backdrop of the San Francisco skyline doesn't hurt either.
Arrived just in time for a sunny performance from Aesop Rock, joined by Rob Sonic with DJ Biz Wiz on the turntables. "Where y'all from? Me and Rob come from New York, New York!" And for those who weren't listening one could easily guess NY as Aesop Rock's home turf, as he sported a navy Yankees cap to match his oversized white t-shirt and dark denim. Rob pumped his fist in windmill-like motions to get the crowd doing the same.
Aesop is capable of rhyming fast without making it sound like he's rushing through his verses; he took care in annunciating through every syllable, just as he does on record. In between song as he raised his water bottle to his mouth he said, "I'm just gonna enjoy this beverage for a second." Once refreshed, Aesop asked many people were old fans of his. "Longer than six months? Longer than a year? This one's an oldie for ya." The song was "Big Bang" off Float (2000).
Hot Chip came out to a sizable audience that was ready for 'em. "Shake A Fist" made for a good warm-up, especially as they intermixed it with "Bendable Poseable," another track from their Made in the Dark album. The addition of live drums and other instruments made their music a lot more successful as a live show. "Over and Over," off The Warning (2006) got a big response from the mostly young crowd. It made me wonder how many of them knew the intro to their last played song, "In the Privacy of Our Love," was Sinead O'Connor's "Nothing Compares 2 U." At the end the band bowed like classic gents.
By the time Goldfrapp came on the wind had picked up considerably. A mic-stand decked with crepe paper and carnations, fake owls and ivy, and giant antlers transformed the stage into Goldfrapp's own territory. The band entered wearing all-white and Alison Goldfrapp took the stage in something that was as colorful and childlike as a May Pole: a caboodle of colorful, flowing ribbons streamed off the sleeves and down the front and back of her. She noted the wind but by the end was using the wind to enhance the dramatic flair of her costume, as a mess of gold locks concealed her face. Live, their songs had a T.Rex vibe to them, like "Ooh La La," "Number One," and set-closer "Strict Machine," all songs off albums pre-Seventh Tree.
TV on the Radio again failed to impress me live. I first saw them at a free, little show in Boston a few years ago and was hoping I'd like them better this time around. Something about their music makes me nervous when it's live. They get great live reviews, so it must be the hip-gyrating and pogo-ing moves of vocalist Tunde Adebimpe. The live horn section was a nice addition. but overall they seem like a band you have to get intimate with on record before seeing them live. They previewed songs off their upcoming (leaked) album and some of those were engaging. "Dancing Choose," for the extra-fast tempo and "Golden Age."
Justice came with their cross. It sounded satisfyingly loud and clear. Strobe lights lit the sky and the crowd busted out, as the once-grassy patch became an all-out rave situation in certain dark spots. Just the right amount of energy and dance-ability for the crowd to leave happy and digging in for more.
Foals
CSS: They sounded awesome and Lovefoxxx got friendly with the crowd. A guy helped her pin her hair back up and she gave him her sweater in exchange. The end of the set had pink glitter flying through the air courtesy of Lovefoxxx's bag o' tricks.
Hey, is that...?
Treasure Island's creatures
Stay tuned for Day 2's report! (Day 2 lineup includes: Okkervil River, Spiritualized, Fleet Foxes, Vampire Weekend, Dr. Dog, The Kills, Tegan & Sara, The Raconteurs)
Link to Day 2 wrap-up and photos.
Comments (18)
More photos here.
Great brief review B! I gotta say, I wasn't too impressed w/TVOTR when I saw them live at Download Fest a few years ago, they sounded great but weren't very interesting to watch at all. So what did you think of Foals, you didn't say anything about them.
You know I love me some Goldfrapp who I adored seeing at Coachella as well as Hot Chip!
That was a great post! Sounds like a really cool festival actually, good acts, but not toooo serious. Sometimes festivals are too big that you never get to appreciate it,
Love goldfrapps maypole outfit!!
Thanks for that v v nice report .. did Aesop sink None Shall Pass. my favorite for sure!
INdy x
Sounds like a blast !! Thanks for the great report! Love and Peace,DenRA
and the mic stand award goes to....Goldfrapp (antlers??) wow..great post. have fun today !!
This sounds great. Thanks for the review and the pictures. Wish I had driven there. Admittedly there is today too, eh? I have CDs here by almost all of those bands playing today. Well, I look forward to more pictures from you.
August: Happy to hear we share in the anticlimactic unappeal of live TV on the Radio. What is it about 'em? Foals were good but it was a very brief set. They drew a good crowd over on the smaller stage which was solar powered. This led to sound cutting out for a minute and the singer saying "Well this is solar powered which is great...but it's just...that's what happens." I bet Goldfrapp and Hot Chip were awesome in a bigger fest. They both know how to carry the audience with them.
Elton: This fest is pretty digestable :)
Indiana: Ya! Aesop was one of my favorites. I didn't know what to expect and he killed it all the way through.
DenRA: Hey! Thanks, sending peace your way too.
belle du jour: haha, their props were fun and her dress!! <3
gsmattingly: I'm psyched for today's bands. Yup, there will be more photos later.
Awesome reporting, bf!
Dare I say it rivals my own ;-)
My my - that did appear to be a hellacious wind whipping Allison Goldfrapp's hippie ribbons around!
Looking forward to part 2!
great photos, and I would give my pinky finger to see aesop perform once
Dave: haha, Thanks for the DC seal of approval :)
Kevin: You gottagottagotta see Aesop! So many bands I saw got me excited about checking them out their own shows.
Another great wrap-up (yes, I read the second one first haha).
MAN OH MAN, Alison had the perfect wind outfit! Love her even more now :)
Thank you, lady. Alison's dress played a huge part in turning me into a Goldfrapp fan in the brief, alloted time they had to play. That's a dress I'd like to wear every couple of days! to get groceries, post my mail, everything simple would be much more fun.
Why anyone would single out the best live band this decade as a disappointing live act, and prefer Goldfrapp (!) is beyond me. Maybe Tunde should wear a dress next time. I've seen them about a half dozen times and the only better live band I've witnessed in recent years is the mf'n Stooges!
I never feel too compelled to be trapped in some festival and orce-fed my fun in a three day binge. I personally like to go see a band for an hour and a half, and get the hell out. I'm looking forward to seeing TVOTR again on Oct 22 in Chicago. It's a much better experience to see them in a club with people who actually like the band in the first place. They so owned the crowd last time, had everyone singing long after the band left the stage.
maybe that is it: the only other time i saw them was a free show somewhere, so i haven't actually seen them at their own show. i still think they are overhyped as the "best live band" like i felt like it should've hit me over the head how wildy incredible they are supposed to be live. have you been a fan for a while?
I was hit over the head the first time in 2003. Tunde was like a feisty, energetic reincarnation of Otis Redding. How can anyone not like that? The band was smaller back then but great musicians, really put their hearts on the stage. They've only gotten better since. I find festivals dilute the experience -- even the impact of The Stooges and Radiohead are blunted when you're 200 meters away, bands from other stages are bleeding into the show, and you're already planning your next manouver to get a good spot, or dreading the wait at the port-a-potties.
Feel free to delete my comment on your other post. I got confused!
It sounds great, like everything one could want in a live show. If I make it to see them at their own show I'll have to get back to you, maybe they'll change my mind then. I am big into Radiohead and they are 'diluted' in festivals, still great, but compared to their own shows not as good. Same could apply to TV.
Gotta say, the port o potties I was impressed with! Haha, there were even foot-pump powered sinks and paper towel :)
I just remembered I had written up a 2006 show of theirs.