I may be a full festival behind, who cares this is happening. I have lived in Des Moines my whole life, but I have never been to 80/35 before, crazy as it seems. This being my first year going to the festival and with Weezer, Wilco, Cloud Nothings, Jenny Lewis, and Run The Jewels its was going to be a blast.
Friday July 10th
The festival itself didn't start till 5 which was good because I didn't get off work till 4:30. By the time I parked and made my way into the park it was 5:45. I was still adapting to not being at Lollapalooza at this point. First I made my away around the ground and got acquainted with the grounds. Then I made my way over to the free stage to catch my first band of the day.
Fly Golden Eagle 5:45
After work I ate diner, parked, and filled my water, I made my way to the first band of the day. Fly Golden Eagle played on one of the free stages at 5:45 and played a very eclectic mix of folk, alt rock, and groovy southern jams. They grooved with the audience for a hour and ended their set with a blasting groovy jam that exploded off the page. I went home and looked them up immediately they are a great band.
Jenny Lewis 7:00
I have been a fan of Jenny Lewis since her time in Rilo Kelly and her three solo albums and one Jenny and Jonny album are all very good. I have never had the chance to see her but everyone who had seen her said great things. Her set was a great mix of solo material and Rilo Kelly songs opening the set with Rilo Kelly's Silver Linnings. Followed her own Head Underwater from The Voyager, before launching into Rilo Kelly's MoneyMaker and turning it into giant dance number. From here the set followed a mix of Rilo Kelley and solo songs from Acid Toungue and the Voyager and couple of Jenny Lewis and the Watson Twins covers. She commands the audience like the old fashioned frontmen from the David Lee Roth era, and every one in the band was perfectly on. Her fun and fancy brand of indie rock was the perfect afternoon set leading into the finale of Wilco.
Wilco 9:15
I have heard Wilco before a couple of times at their stops at Val Air Ballroom, but I wasn't as acquainted with their music in stops before. This time I had really gotten into Wilco and not just Yankee Hotel Foxtrot. They play a different set every night which I is great because it's more fun for people who have seen them before to not always know what's coming. They actually started the show a few minutes early diving right into Handshake drugs from A Ghost is Born and already the crowd was loosing it. They used that few minutes early to play through camera and I am Trying to Break Your Heart. Next was my favorite song from their last album The Art of Almost. An already rocking song that they jammed on for over 10 minutes. After Hummingbrids they played some more deep cuts for the diehard fans with Panther, Shouldn't Be Ashamed from AM, and Secret of the Sea a Wilco and Billy Bragg cover. Next came the hits part one with Heavy Metal Drummer, I'm The Man Who Loves You, and Via Chicago. A few songs later we got to Jesus Etc.
Wilco performing The Art of Almost.
They finished the show with a mix of songs from past albums ending the set with Shot in the Arm. and played an encore of The Late Greats and I'm a Wheel. Jeff Tweedy commands attention crafting a show that is great as your first Wilco show or your 20th with things for new fans and diehards. The band can do and play anything from folk, country, blues, and full on rock. They jammed out on The Art of Almost proving the rock segment. If you haven't gotten the chance to see Wilco you need to they are one this generations best live bands.
Saturday July 11th
The second day in the park started at 11 but I couldn't get up in time. I stayed out late at The Ataris after show. So by the time I made my way into the park I was there just in time to see John Wayne and the Pain.
John Wayne and the Pain 1:30
I have had multiple chances to see this band having know about them for years, but it was just one of those things I hadn't gotten around to doing. So I made my way to the main stage to check out the reggae rock band. They played a great mix of electronic music, jam music, reggie rock. They played some really cool instruments like the one pictured above that had never hear of, but loved. It was like an electronic clarinet, that was the highlight of the show.
Amasa Hines 2:45
We only had a little bit of time to catch this band before the Cloud Nothings, but I loved what I heard. For the little time before Cloud Nothings they serenaded us with some absolutely scorching soul rock. The lead singer absolutely killed it bringing screeching high notes and low slow soulful notes. After a few minutes it was time to go, but I really enjoyed what I heard.
Cloud Nothings 3:15
I admit my anticipation for this one was very high. Last year I saw them tear it up at Bonnaroo thursday night making it the night of Cloud Nothings. This time you could tell something was a little different, Dylan Baldi seemed a little bit reserved and held back from the raw in your face show at Bonnaroo. This may not have been the right festival for them, and especially not a 3:15 in the afternoon. They sounded good still just not as rocking and raw. I did love the songs and made time to help start up a mosh pit on the last song Wasted Days. The band even noticed and gave it more on the last one.
Parranderos Latin Combo 4:00
The next act was the most different act of the day, but one of the most fun as well. Some friends wanted to go see a latin combo so I went along to check it out, and it was awesome. Everyone was dancing and having a blast. All of the real music lovers were just doing their own thing and grooving the music. I was just watching all the dancers go and trying to pick up a step or two. That didn't especially work, but it was fascinating to watch.
Lettuce 5:00
The next band Lettuce was a band I had heard about from friends of mine who loved jam music. This band is also from Iowa. For the first view songs I was absolutely loving every second of it. They jammed slapped the bass like the best of them. After a while though I got a little tired of the same sound over an over again and had more fun figuring out which part of the porno the song they were currently playing was from. Till they got to the last song and brought out a singer who had the best vocals of the entire day killing it with screaming high notes over the funk backdrop. Why the hell didn't they bring him out sooner.
Run The Jewels 7:00
I am not a huge fan of Hip Hop or Rap but I know a lot people who's opinion I respected that love these guys. They had some of the best fan interactions that I have ever seen. "We just appreciate how kick ass you have have been today. We would have played the same show even if you sucked, but you didn't so thank you." The entire crowd was eating up every second of it including myself. They played most of their first two albums. The only thing I would have added was if Zac De La Rocka would have appeared like on the album, but I'm not that naive. The show was my second favorite artist of the day aside from what came next.
Weezer 9:15
Weezer is the perfect way to end a festival because in an audience of drunk people nothing beats a full sing along. They didn't even wait to get it started kicking off the show with My Name is Jonas, Hash Pipe, and El Scorcho. After that they played the lead single from the great new album Back to the Shack. They played a couple more new ones with Eulogy for a rock band and Go Away. Aside from Tired of Sex and Toublemaker the rest of the set was literally all hits and the whole crowd screamed along with every word. One of the best moments of the night came during Say It Ain't So and screaming "This Bottle of Steven awakens ancient demons" with over a thousand people. They played Island in the Sun, Beverly Hills, Dope Nose, Say It Ain't So, Pork and Beans, Undone- The Sweater Song, Memories, and Buddy Holly. If you have ever been a fan of Weezer or ever heard one of their hits in the 90's you should go see Weezer. They have a fun show, and they end it by repeatedly pounding on the drum set together and sending the show out in style. This may have been my first 80/35 but it will not be my last.
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