Two more beers, and The Kaiser Chiefs are not impressive live. Two more beers, and over to wade through the masses for The Killers. Wasn't expecting to stay very long and we didn't.
It wasn't as fast as leaving M.I.A., but that's only because there were more people to get through.
Two more beers, landing finally at Bjork and the last show of the day.
............................... 
Saturday was a late start, but a good one. At the smallest stage in the venue we found shade, and a nice surprise in Cary Ann Hearst & the Gun Street Girls. From South Carolina, Cary Ann (a woman) has an irresistible voice, and the Gun Street Girls (all guys) can definitely play. Their songwriting is a little rough, but the voice, hooks, and musicianship are all their in spades.
Cold War Kids and Stephen Marley followed and they both were very entertaining; fortunately, the sound wasn't as bad as Bonnaroo(CWK), and I actually remembered Stephen Marley this time around.
Andrew Bird was up next, and though I had seen him before, I was excited to hear material off his new album, 'Armchair Apocrypha.' He did not disappoint. The man is a world class whistler, plays the violin, guitar, keyboards and percussion, as well as possessing the best voice in his genre. A lot of times an abundance of talent doesn't translate into accessible and even meaningful music. Andrew Bird is certainly not a part of this group. All around remarkable artist.
A load of bonus points for performing with My Morning Jacket on Sunday.
We walked over for Damien Rice before heading back for Arcade Fire...
Sunday, Sunday, Sunday.
Caught some of The National, The Broken West, and STS9, missed Ben Kweller, watched Common, and then happened upon Rose Hill Drive.
These guys were on my list, but up until walking in that direction I had forgot about them.
They were on the second smallest stage and started out with a small but modest crowd, but by the end of their bass-destroying set, the area was packed with new fans, not one of them standing still.
The Rock & Roll trio is straight out of 'Almost Famous.' The look (long hair, full beards), their sound (a younger version of Led Zeppelin, Soundgarden, The Who), and attitude (hard-working, up-and-coming band), is The Allman Brothers early years all over again.
As far as the bass player/lead singer vowing to smash his instrument at the end of the show; he came through and handed the remains to a fan in the front row.
Badass guitar, vocals, and drums. Badass show.
Second live recommendation: to anyone who likes old school rock, (or Kings Of Leon), go see them.
Ah, My Morning Jacket.
One of the many highlights of the weekend, because, quite simply, whenever you get the opportunity to see MMJ do what they do best, it's a highlight.
These guys might be the best band in America. They don't have one bad song. Jim James' voice is perfect. They jam. And they absolutely rock out.
The band walked out in snorkels, floaties, tank tops, a huge blond wig for Jim James, and flip-flops, to match the tropical island background.
During 'Wordless Chorus,' they were joined by beautiful hula dancers that held pineapples up for the rest of the show.
They truly have something for everyone, and a special thanks for breaking out 'Phone Went West,' off the album 'At Dawn.'
The first three paragraphs of that My Morning Jacket section could be repeated for The Decemberists, who directly followed them.
In an entirely different way than MMJ, The Decemberists do it all.
They have a great singer/songwriter in Colin Meloy (who has a bigger vocabulary in his left earlobe than I do), and the band can swing. Prog rock, old school folk, early Dracula tales, pop, and country blend into one distinctive sound, and as the sun went down in Austin, the band's sound got turned up, as our crew enjoyed another great set.
Bob Dylan and his band closed the festival, and though we didn't go up close for it, the mobs and mobs of people who left prematurely showed the lack of patience/acceptance in his weary voice.
His band is great, his setlist pulled out a few surprises, 'Ballad of a Thin Man,' and the man can still play the harmonica. Is his voice deteriorating? Of course. But the man has been touring (with a couple of extended breaks) almost non-stop since the early 1960's. Be reasonable. He's not going to recreate that old voice.
This should be obvious, but it was interesting to see so many closed minds at a music festival that's whole purpose/initiative is to open them. After three days of great music, maybe that's Dylan's last laugh; to get a crowd on his own terms at a large festival, and turn all the others away and send them home.
I would bet he was smiling all the way back home, giddy over all those people that heard his rough rendition of "Rainy Day Women,' and walked out on their own assumptions, while he saved his best for last.
And if that's true, with all due respect to Rose Hill Drive's bass destruction, that F*** you to the crowd would be the ultimate Rock & Roll moment of the weekend.
I say good for you Bobby D., keep on sticking it to the man.
Thank you again to our lovely hosts, Matt and Paulina Kaltenbach. We will definitely be back next year for another round.
- Ben
