80/35 Music Festival Review

Tilly and the Wall ♥ photo by Elizabeth Soda (7/3/09) Man Man ♥ photo by Vu (7/4/09) Matisyahu ♥ photo by Vu (7/3/09) Tilly and the Wall Setlist ♥ photo by Vu (7/3/09) Poison Control Center ♥ photo by Vu (7/4/09) Miss Derringer ♥ photo by Vu (7/4/09) Paper Route ♥ photo by Vu (7/4/09) Wild Sweet Orange ♥ photo by Vu (7/4/09) Audrye Sessions ♥ photo by Vu (7/4/09) Girl in a Coma ♥ photo by Vu (7/4/09)

We arrived in Iowa on Friday, July 3^rd, morning, very excited to attend the second annual 80/35 Music Festival in downtown Des Moines. Already there was a few things I've noticed right away that the festival got right: awesome free parking, loads of portapotties, very organized setup, a lot of securities & volunteers. What I thought was disappointing was that the paid stage ($80 for both days) was somewhat expensive - considering that the two other stages (Mediacom and Meredith) lineup was just as good, if not better, for $0.

July 4^th weekends might not be a great weekend to have a music festival. At least here in Minnesota, everyone goes up to their cabins traditionally for a family get together. Most of the people that I've noticed walking around the festival were young people who overshadowed families and hippies (can someone explain to me the hula-hoops or the "balls in a sock" thing?).

Also, the one factor that put a damper on things was the weather. I realized this is beyond anyone's control, but you would reckon they saw the forecast predictions and would've been better prepared with perhaps a giant umbrella for the audience. Still, despite major contributor and sponsor, US Cellar, attempt to distribute rain ponchos, they quickly ran out in a matter of hours.

For the first day, I only covered the main stage, which included all the artists that I wanted to check out. Although I contemplated on heading over to Modern Skirts and Maps and Atlases.

Tilly and the Wall started off the festivities promptly at 4pm. The tap-dancing didn't start until the fourth or fifth song, and we were told that Jamie Pressnall is with child (if you couldn't have figured it out based on her newborn baby on her colorful dress).

Matisyahu started off stiff (sunglasses, jacket, baseball cap) and thenreally started to get into it towards the third song. I suspect this is all part of his act, but that also means that they've kicked out most of the photographers in the press-pit (incidentally, there were a ton of media coverage for the festival). I have never seen an audience going bananas when M took off his jacket - just to give you an idea that the "act" works.

Towards the end, Matisyahu decided to do a stage dive - but the barrier was far, so the security team was right on top of it, moving the monitors and making sure Matisyahu can jump.

When Stephen Malkmus and The Jicks came on stage, I thought to myself that he "cut his hair". I also thought his drummer looks incredibly like the drummer from Sleater-Kinney - and did get confirmation:

Mendeley @weheartmusic yes she is! http://bit.ly/10Pss3
4:40 PM Jul 3rd from web in reply to weheartmusic
tigerpop @weheartmusic yes! janet weiss rules!
3:21 PM Jul 3rd from mobile web

Public Enemy's incredible 20 hour soundcheck was filled with "ai'ight" and "cd and dvd for $10". The soundcheck was so long, the press photographers, possibly bored out of their mind started taking pictures of the setup - in which the MC told them to "chill out, ai'ight, save it for the show, ai'ight?" This was followed by another warning and complaints that the DJ's third amp or something wasn't working. But the fans brave it out in the rain, I suppose sound perfection commands a high price, ai'ight?

I was only there to see Flavor Flav, who never made it to the show. For a guy with a clock around his neck, you'd figure he would remember the show started at 9:30pm. Incidentally, 80/35 official twitter notes: "It's unforunate about flavor flav but the show will go on and public enemy will bring it. #8035" at 5:04 PM.

July 4^th proved a little more difficult for me, as that day required me to walk back and forth to all three stage. While the stage are not all that far apart, my "slipper shoes" did not offer much support. Here are the bands I did manage to catch:

Iowa's Poison Control Center "got the party started" as their audience sung along, "love, love is the answer, until you get cancer". They are energetic and seems to enjoy playing their duct-taped guitar upsidedown.

Saw Miss Derringer again, the setlist and performance routine was pretty much the same from a few nights ago. Although, I think the set for the two free stages were much shorter than the main stage.

They seem more talkative at the festival, always projecting this infectious happy to be on tour (and their performance won over a few new fans who eagerly bought the new album to have autographed). Singer Elizabeth McGrath mentioned on stage much she liked these festival food. Which I can attest is true as she offered some of her deep-fried food at their touring BFF's Girl in a Coma on the next stage.

GIAC's set was essentially the same as a few nights ago, only a bit shorter. I got a chance to say hi to them and mentioned that my good friend Melinda once got lost on the train with them on the other side of France.

I caught briefly Man Man, who I can only describe as tribal animals with pots & pans. Audrye Sessions seems really intense, Paper Route was impressed by the people on the rooftop watching them, Envy Corps had mad-audience attendance (they should've been on the main stage, not the free stage) who invade the stage, Wild Sweet Orange's hilarious "do you guys remember what we're called? Yes, that's right we're called Wild Sweet Horses!"

G. Love and Special Sauce's show packed and ended their set with the popular "Cold Beverages" song. By this time, I was ready for bed... but I soldiered on for Broken Social Scene - who as Lara have mentioned to me before when she saw them last year that these guys "are old". She's right. What she didn't mention was that it's ridiculous that the band have FIVE guitarists. Really? Five?  Amy Millan from our favorite band, Stars, showed up on the second song and stayed throughout their (very) long set.

Ben Harper and Relentless7's fans are insane. I mean that in a good way. They were so passionate (and drunk) and wanted every opportunity to invade the stage. I saw so many fans turned away from trying to get a closer view in the photography press area. I have never seen that much excitement for any artist at the festival!

We left before the fireworks, so we can get home at a decent hour. Overall, I wasn't looking forward to another night of pitching the tent in the dark and/or with the rain coming down on us... Although it was a lot of fun, it was too much work for me (I'm not a big fan of driving and getting lost). I think next year, I will have someone else cover the show and maybe do the Taste of Minnesota thing next year.

Update: more photos at britrockatthetop.com