All Points West: Exclusive Photos & Review of Day 2: Chock-A-Block to See Radiohead, Th...

ALL POINTS WEST: Day 2:

If Day 1 ran like butter- easy access to the ferry- easy waltz into the park, Day 2 ran unfortunately more like peanut butter. Two hour lines to get on the ferry; a line 200 people long for VIP entrance and a big wall of people just standing and sweating at General Admission. Chock-a-block crowds. Everywhere. Sure, the park had sold out Day Two, 30,000 people strong, but the infrastructure and organization was by no means prepared for such an ambush.

Chilling in the shade; check out the amazon man on the left, hot.

Most people seemed confused and then infuriated about the obscene alcohol policy. Caleb Followill of Kings of Leon even gave the finger to the crowd, after hearing it was near impossible to get drunk at this festival. However, since the lines for the bathroom were so long, maybe this was a blessing in disguise. Regardless, one expects 'newbie kinks' during the debut of a festival. Thankfully, the music made up for it.

SIA

Little Australia dove Sia started the crowd off with blissful jazz-hued vocals.

She doesn't rely on high-tech video screens or props. Or make-up. Instead, she stood in a simple striped shirt and bob- and let her voice soothe the crowd.

http://www.myspace.com/siamusic ;

Statement of Day: Sia's Band wearing "VOTE" shirts.

"Rock the Vote" Reps were also out canvasing the grounds to register voters

(um, if you haven't already, go HERE and rock out).

Sia smiling

Internal moment.

Sia joked briefly to the crowd to notify her if she was showing Cameltoe. She didn't but I still tried to shoot her from the waist up. Lady's courtesy.

Finding shade from the sun under one of the art exhibits.

Ahhhh kids tripping on acid............................

(I would say due to the strict alcohol rules, there were significantly more people tripping out this festival than Lollapalooza or Coachella. Depending on what clouds you are sitting under, this can be a good or bad thing. )

THE BLACK ANGELS

A Trio of (Black) Angels

Now if you guys were at the Mog-sponsored Lou Reed Tribute at SXSW this year, you had the pleasure of seeing Austin's next-hot-thing "The Black Angels" perform.

If you didn't, all you need to know is these kids rock. Rock in a way you haven't been rocked since 1960's psychadelia bite you in the ass. (Or their noveau rock equivalent Black Rebel Motorcycle Club did).

http://www.myspace.com/theblackangels

When The Black Angels prowled onstage at All Points West in the midst of the line-up- they showed off a tighter set- with an emboldened sound. They've touched the darkside and carved out a little play-pen of red velvet within which we'd like to watch the clouds roll overhead as David Lynch clips flicker off the walls.

Christian Bland finger-pluckin

Their guitarists channel Velvet Underground with their eyes closed, the chick drummer is a power you'd never mess with (though a dainty Farrah Fawcett look-a-like) and though Alex Mass looks like a dead ringer for Clap Your Hands Say Yeah's Alec Ounsworth with his beanie cap, his voice sounds like Morrison dribbled over mollasses. Or maybe it's that intoxicating tunneling electric guitar riff..............

Nate Ryan

Alex in a daze

The Black Angel's Christian Bland

Alex Mass bringing back the tambourine...

Stephanie Bailey channeling Farrah Fawcett on a no-name drum kit

The Girls backstage entranced...............

KINGS OF LEON

1 King

By the end of The Black Angels, we were perfectly prepped for Kings of Leon to astound. Cocky, balls-out rockers, known for their rambunctious off-stage antics as much as their impressive on-stage skills, the boys didn't dissappoint. In fact, they seemed almost- matured? Less speed-freakish? Still , Caleb's voice is still twinged with distinct urgency and desperation (the same sort of fuck-all twang that Jack White so expertly channels- except with a Nashville tinge). Nathan continues to remind that 'drums' are on of rocks greatest asset- driving in a constant infectious beat- while Jared and Matthew cement the sound with solid waves of guitar and bass.

Remind me again why Kings are bigger in Europe than the US?

Don't they hit the Rock N Roll Born In the USA G-spot?

http://www.myspace.com/kingsofleon

Caleb of Kings

Jared of Kings of Leon on bass; looking deadly

APW

Powerful Nathan Followill on drums

Matthew in front, Caleb in back

They had a video screen that reflected all 4 members perspectives...

Caleb pensive

Matthew on a good stroke

The Crowd grooving to Kings of Leon. A girl smoking something delectable.

As the sun-sets, a man defines "Passed Out"

THE ROOTS

In a decided change of pace, The Roots beasted onstage in full parade style- with hip hop word maestro Tariq Trotter munching poetic as the sunset. The drums provided the distinctive go-go grind while the Sousaphone provided jazzy entertainment. As we beat our heads to the beat, we all were reminded of why The Roots meant so much to us in the days of ore. It has the amazing prospensity of awakening your senses while relaxing your soul.

http://www.myspace.com/theroots

Ahmir "?uestlove" Thompson

Captain Kirk Feelin It

One eye on you: Tariq "Black Thought" Trotter

Sousaphonist Damon "Tuba Gooding Jr." Bryson

Blinded By the Light The Roots's Tariq "Black Thought" Trotter

Next up was Radiohead; which looked a lot like this: http://mog.com/indiepixie/blog_post/178721

Radiohead

They are always awesome and they thrilled in the same similar manner as they had the night before. Thom Yorke infected with energy- the immense crowd throbbing to the experimental electronic wizardry.

Radiohead

The view of Radiohead from Liberty State Park. Wishing us all a good night.