Photos: Treasure Island Music Festival Day 2 Wrap-Up
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(Click and read the Day 1 wrap up: photos of Hot Chip, Goldfrapp and more.)
Back to the island! It started off windy and stayed that way. Some performers struggled with the wind - Fleet Foxes asked, "Can you turn the wind down? Less wind, thanks." The wind and cold affected the atmosphere of the crowd. They seemed underdressed and cold, inhibiting their enthusiasm. But Okkervil River hit the stage and Will Sheff amped the crowd up.
With his acoustic guitar sliding around the front of him as he moved about the stage in a suit jacket, he eventually had the audience energetically clapping as they played a new song "Lost Coastlines." As they started in on "Unless It Kicks," Sheff instructed, "Just clap right now! Just like this!" He raised his arms over his head and clapped, the excited audience clapped along for most of the song. "What a fucking beautiful day. There's birds in the sky, there's water on all sides. And we're about to see some great bands! So just clap!"
Over on the second stage, after momentary confusion over whether they were still sound-checking or if they were actually on, Fleet Foxes intro-ed with some humor which was good to hear from a band that's taken so seriously. "Thanks for coming. It's amazing they did this all for us. We usually don't have a rib shack at our shows." The band segued into "Sun Giant" off the EP of the same name. While they sounded great it wasn't enough to hold my attention, as I imagine it'd be better to see them in a sit down, opera house-style venue.
Spiritualized held the main stage as late afternoon passed. "Death Take Your Fiddle," from Songs in A&E was a highlight, as it's somber, death-laden lyrics are so intense. The whole band was engaged in the moment, powerfully conveying the emotion. "Shine a Light" and "Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating in Space" were moving as well, the latter especially due to the assistance of the back-up singers.
Vampire Weekend drew a huge crowd who waited in anticipation of them taking the stage. Their performance was predictable. The sound was good but exactly like listening to their album. They rifled through a good sampling of the songs off their debut and the younger crowd, younger than the previous day, pogo-ed, and danced away but no one seemed overly thrilled, rather just going through the motions, as the band seemed to be doing.
Dr. Dog hit the small stage right after and provided solid, jammed-out renditions of songs mostly off their recent release Fate. Set opener "The Breeze" demonstrated the overall tone of their performance. The guys started bouncing all around the stage despite its size, kicking up their knees and stomping away. A slight mist passed through as the opening lines of "The Ark" were sung out: "God, he called for rain, so I built an ark..." There were lulls in their performance where it felt like the audience didn't care much anymore, were too cold too move, or were anxious to see what was next, but the performance was still a highlight.
I wasn't ready for the snarky, intentionally-awkward stage banter between Tegan & Sara. It's funny for a bit, like "I feel like we're in that movie the Lost Boys. There's the carnival over there, I'm wearing a black trench coat..." but for a non-fan it gets unamusing fast. "Like O, Like H" had a Rihanna "Umbrella" intro which Tegan blamed Sara for messing up. "Rihanna is soo mad at you right now."
Jamie Hince, red cup in hand, and Allison Mosshart, a bag on her shoulder, a red cup and a cigarette in her mouth, are The Kills. Their performance was seductive but subdued. "U R A Fever" made a crowd-pleasing opener and other new songs, like "Last Day of Magic," and "Sour Cherry" sparkled. Fans were also into some of their older songs like, "No Wow," and "Kissy Kissy."
When The Raconteurs took the stage people were reenergized and ready. "Salute Your Solution," was a great opening song, followed by "Level," and then "Blue Veins." "Top Yourself," "Steady As She Goes," and "Old Enough" were personal favorites, live, they give so much more than could ever be heard just on record.
Day 2 was busy, filled to the brim. Definitely find me there next year if the line up is as awesome as it was this year. Bands treat it as a special performance, the festival-goers are delighted to be there and it's an easy-going (if chilly) atmosphere to spend a whole weekend in with worthwhile, live performances. Totally golden experience. Just make sure you bring your wool sweaters and parkas next year.
P.S. My favorite duo of the day:
Comments (25)
A few more festival photos here.
Good digs... would have loved to have seen vampire weekend too.
Wonder how the kills are in a festival vibe. I've seen them many times ages ago in small tiny dark smoky rooms, and you can cut the atmosphere with a knife!! Must be a different experience!
Hey, too bad for the chill, but a great lineup. Thanks for taking the time to tell us about it, a great read. And killer pics Brit :)
Nice job, once again. it's like having a family member who's also a rock reporter for Rolling Stone or Paste or whatever attending events and writing home.
Excellently done, lady!
Vampire Weekend renew my love for garlic once more...
I'd loooove to see The Kills.
Cheers!
Again great photos and reviews of the concerts. Too bad it wasn't just a bit warmer. Many bands I would love to see live. That is for sure. Maybe next year . . .
sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet!
Amazing coverage, bf!
"Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating in Space"
Can I get a "hell yeah!"
;-)
Brittany,
Most photos are terrific and high quality. Your accounts make me feel like I was there...I hope you have the time to continue in your great effort...intelligent music writing.
Cheers! thank YOU for reading it. More than happy to be able to bring the experience to you guys.
Nice pictures...did you get a new camera for your birthday?
sorry.......all I saw was the cute girl in cowboy boots......going back to read
she is a cutie.
I wanted to see The Kills but no one else on that day. I saw Spiritualized at Coachella & they were boring as hell cause they were seriously downtempo for a festival & Jason sat on a chair sideways to the audience facing his keyboardist, not even acknowledging us. I kept thinking it would pickup eventually but not so. Some of the songs did SOUND great, but like TVOTR was so dull to watch.
Yeah, Jason wasn't sitting but was facing the keyboardist. He kept looking out to the crowd and stuff though, so maybe someone gave him a pointer or two in 'how to acknowledge your audience'. they seemed to play a good amount of downtempo and well known and loved songs.
You deleted my comment??? It's dissenting opinion but it wasn't offensively impolite was it?
Wrong post, sorry! Feel free to delete now, ha ha.
Hahaha no I wouldn't delete it. :)
Brittany's a photographer now too!
(or have you been all along and i've been too dumb to notice?)
Great shots you took there H.M.!
The Kills were okay then? good? better then good?
I remember Indie Pixie had seen them and they were lacklustre at the show she went to...
Just curious is all....i do like the Kills....a lot.
Can you delete this comment as well while you're at it?
Hey! Thanks, no I'm no photographer but it'd be cool if I was. The Kills were cool. I'm obsessed with Midnight Boom so it was excellent to hear the songs live and they do them well too. I saw them in a small club a while back and was about a foot away from them and the stage wasn't very high. They should be seen in a more up close and personal setting for a proper effect.
I like their 'we're too rock n roll for you' attitude haha, although VV seems a little more Hollywood. I blame her Gossip Girl boyfriend!
Ooh and while I found that I also came across this pic of the Kills. I love it!
You people south of this border are so lucky...
The shows you get to see....a foot away???
I am addicted to that Kills record too Brittany...
I think i've hit up the songs two or three times. (ha! times that by a hundred or so)
I am sorry to inform you of this but i'm afraid you are a photographer now.
I know it's more responsibilty to be held accountable for but your fans are gonna expect it from here on in so get used to the term.
I mean it can't be that big of a deal seeing how you're so obviously born into it....some peoples kids i tell ya.
VV dates that girl on the left????
VV sure looks fine in that plaid shirt by the way.
and the last photo...yeah that's a cool one.
he sleeps .....she dreams.
hahha yeah that girl on the left!! haha! i'm very glad i don't watch that show or any tv for that matter. actually i should've told you my friend snapped a bunch of these photos (i have a major height disadvantage, clocking in at 5'2". that's only 62" vertical inches!). friend's got a natural eye for it i think.
Well gold stars for your friend then!
You're only 5 foot two? ya need someone to lift you up then.
Five two is a good elevation to be at i figure...
i clock in at just a bit more at five thirteen.
I don't watch television at all either Brittany! unplugged them last year but still have the cable hooked up for free long distance 24/7...that i can't give up.
OOOOOOOH I'm so jealous Brit. You have no idea. Justice says it all.
it was so much fun!! and great to see neon blue of the Justice cross with my own eyes :)