Portugal the Man
Though it defies all reason, making my way to the festival the second day was much more difficult than the first. I believe I found an entry into Narnia lost deep in the Frisbee golf course, somewhere around hole 13. When I finally found my way out I was greeted by some of San Francisco’s promising entrepreneurs selling homemade edibles and jello shots—gotta love San Francisco. Portugal. The Man has been in the middle of one of their strongest tours to date, with a stage setup to match…unfortunately this is a setup more suited for the night. This didn’t stop the boys from the Great White North, on the contrary, they played with enthusiasm and spirit, which hopefully will be the right combination in inviting them back for a better slot in the future.
Explosions in the Sky
If Explosions in the Sky are playing, you can sure bet that I’ll be running to watch. No matter how many times I’m fortunate enough to watch EITS, they never seem to grow old. The amount of passion and fervor that they commit to every set makes their shows a blast to watch. Their minimalist approach can be off putting to the fans who have become accustomed to over the top stage productions, and their post-rock sound translates to “jam-band,” for others, but if you ever get the chance to watch them compose, DO IT!
Norah Jones
Norah Jones has always been a guilty pleasure. Admittedly her albums aren’t completely in any solitary personal collection, but there are trace amounts, and when one will pop up through a shuffle I can’t recall often hitting the next button. Listening to her smooth styling’s on a warm afternoon lying on a grassy hill in the park, makes you want to drift off as you recount the Sunday Sunrise(s) you’ve lied around your homestead wistfully listening to the smooth styling’s of the beautiful Ms. Jones, as she definitely has got it going on.
Passion Pit
Passion Pit was an interesting change in pace, especially as the band playing right before Sigur Ros. Unfortunately there was some sound difficulty that made it harder for some to enjoy the now familiar upbeat party anthem of a disjunct generation. Closer to the front there wasn’t as much of the same problem.
Sigur Rós
There’s only a handful of contemporary bands that release an album every 3 or 4 years, do a small handful of shows, and go back into reclusion—Icelandic rockers Sigur Rós do exactly this, and acceptably so. To catch one of their performances is to see a quick glimpse of a whole different kind of sincerity and artistry. Though their albums are certainly not to everyone’s liking, their performances are breathtaking. They’re emotive and passionate; their performances are often in that rare breed of transcendence in which an artist is playing for the sake of the music and nothing more. Their motives seem altruistic as much can be validated in their apparent enjoyment, and their appreciation at the end of the show. Truth be told the only reason I purchased a ticket to OSL was for Sigur Rós, everyone else was an amazing cherry on top. Sigur Rós was definitely the biggest highlight personally.
