Sunday night might be the most anticipated in Pitchfork history. Headlining the event this year is Wayne Coyne and the rest of his Flaming Lips bandmates. Before they take the Aluminum Stage at 8:40, there are a number of really exciting acts leading up to the main event.
The bands I'm most psyched about seeing live starts with Blitzen Trapper at 2:30 on the Aluminum Stage. I haven't gotten as into them as NPR's All Sounds Considered would probably like me to, but I'm excited to see the electro-country boys live. Sub-Pop doesn't fool around when it comes to signing artists so I'll probably walk away from this with a new favorite band.
Next on my list is Women at 3:35 on the B Stage. They've got the same kind of distant dreamy sound that made me fall in love with Grizzly Bear. Plus they play the xylophone, and that's pretty hot. The fact that they're Canadian just adds to their charm.
At 4:15 on the Aluminum Stage, The Thermals will hopefully be proving their worth to me. I am not a fan but have friends who are completely geeked out over their appearance. There's just something about Hutch Harris's voice that I can't stand. I'm sure he's a lovely person though.
At 5:15 I'll be making my way towards the front of the stage for The Walkmen. Now this is a band that I can play on repeat for weeks at a time. While both Hamilton Leithauser and The Thermals' Hutch have a drawn out whine to their voices, Hamilton's is more melodic and possesses an old-school chic that makes me want to sit in a smokey club with a glass of bourbon and branch water. Download In The New Year (thanks Stereogum)
I'm not too jazzed about needing to choose between full sets of Grizzly Bear (C Stage) at 7:25 and Mew (B Stage) at 7:30. Seriously, what's up with that?!! I've seen Grizzly Bear live before and they put on a great show - one I've been looking forward to seeing again. I've never seen Mew and I know they've got a new album coming out which I'm hoping they'll play a few tracks from. I'll just have to see where I'm at in the moment.
At 8:40, The Flaming Lips will be making a grand entrance (I'm sure) on the Aluminum Stage. Seeing the Lips in concert is an experience every fan of music should live out at least once. It's kind of like visiting a futuristic circus made of older men. Sometimes there are robots, sometimes there are animals. When Beck was touring with his incredibly depressing Sea Changes album, The Flaming Lips were not just his opening band, but also his cheerleaders, literally trying to rev the crowd up behind the Debbie Downer of a headliner. The thing I remember most from that concert (besides the robots) was seeing Wayne Coyne standing behind the seated Beck, waving his arms for the crowd to clap or stand up.
There's no telling what these guys might do and that's the beauty of their live show.
Can't wait for the weekend to begin, if you're around and see me, make sure to say hello. Full Sunday lineup below:
SUNDAY, JULY 19
8:40 (A) The Flaming Lips
8:30 (B) The Very Best
7:30 (B) Mew
7:25 (C) Grizzly Bear
6:30 (B) Vivian Girls
6:15 (A) M83
5:30 (B) Japandroids
5:15 (C) The Walkmen
4:30 (B) DJ/Rupture
4:15 (A) The Thermals
3:35 (B) Women
3:20 (C) Pharoahe Monch
2:40 (B) The Killer Whales
2:30 (A) Blitzen Trapper
1:45 (C) Frightened Rabbit
1:45 (B) Dianogah
1:00 (A) The Mae Shi
1:00 (B) Michael Columbia