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Last Active 12-28-22 5:34 am
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| Shaky Knees Fest 2016
Last weekend I attended Shaky Knees, an annual 3-day music festival in Atlanta, GA. Here's who I saw and what I thought. | | 1 |  | Beach Slang
The Things We Do to Find People Who Feel
Beach Slang's set was among the less refined I saw at the festival, but in a way, that lack of polish is what makes their performance work. They might be unseasoned, but they're heartfelt, passionate, and carefree enough to own their sloppiness, and it made them charming and fun. 7.5/10 | | 2 |  | Foxing
Dealer
In contrast to Beach Slang, Foxing's performance was as tight as anything I saw at the festival, while still retaining its deep emotional impact. The real star of the performance was vocalist Conor Murphy, whose harrowed delivery and mesmerizing stage presence elevated the bittersweet tone to wonderfully affecting heights. 8.5/10 | | 3 |  | July Talk
July Talk
Goddamn, this was a fun performance. Peter Dreimanis (vocals, guitar) and Leah Fay (vocals) complement their he-said-she-said songs about shitty relationships with a playfully antagonistic dynamic that gives them an incredible stage presence. Leah flipped Peter the bird. Peter bit down on Leah's microphone as she sang. Leah walked on the steel barricade separating the stage from the audience. Peter kneeled down in front of Leah as she held her microphone in front of her crotch. In short, these guys were a joy to listen to and an absolute thrill to watch. 10/10 | | 4 |  | Against Me!
Transgender Dysphoria Blues
This set struck the perfect balance of fun and anger. On the former end, the band played their catchiest songs with enough energy to keep the whole crowd bouncing and singing along. On the latter end, Laura Jane Grace prefaced "Transgender Dysphoria Blues" with a fantastic little speech about North Carolina HB2, which included a statement that until trans people are guaranteed their rights, she'll be "pissing and shitting outside like a fucking dog." She is the absolute punkest of all punks. 9/10 | | 5 |  | Savages
Adore Life
In terms of their music, Savages are a bit hit-and-miss. Their bare-bones post-punk sound can be lots of fun at times and a tad awkward at others. But one thing that stayed consistent throughout Savages' set was vocalist Jehnny Beth's undeniable stage presence. She has an infectious energy to her performance that makes her skilled at getting the crowd excited, and for that reason alone, Savages are definitely worth checking out. 7.5/10 | | 6 |  | Ghost (SWE)
Meliora
The costumes and stuff are kinda cool to see live, but if you're not a huge fan of the music itself, the novelty wears off real quick, and I always thought these guys were just okay. Plus, Papa didn't even wear his full getup. I don't blame him for ditching the pope hat and cape in the Atlanta heat, but it was still underwhelming. 6/10 | | 7 |  | The Kills
Midnight Boom
Alison Mosshart is pure sex. That’s all. 9.5/10 | | 8 |  | Hop Along
Painted Shut
Frances Quinlan's trademark raspy voice is just as full of pain and passion live as it is on the album, if not more so, and it was a pretty remarkable experience to hear her pour her heart out on stage. The band wasn't particularly interesting to watch, but the music itself was great enough to make this performance worthwhile. 7.5/10 | | 9 |  | The Dear Hunter
Act IV: Rebirth in Reprise
Given the grandiosity of The Dear Hunter's music, I was curious as to how it would translate in a live setting. To my pleasant surprise, with just six members they delivered a live performance that was every bit as epic as their albums. Every single member provided both tight musicianship and infectious intensity, making this one of the most impressive sets of the festival. 9/10 | | 10 |  | Twin Limb
Anything Is Possible and Nothing Makes Sense
Between Lacey Guthrie's gorgeous alto and an unconventional yet strangely cohesive approach to instrumentation (which prominently features accordion), Twin Limb have crafted a hauntingly beautiful sound. They didn't put on much of a show, but understandably so, as any stage antics they could have added may very well have detracted from the music. This is definitely a group to look out for. 7.5/10 | | 11 |  | Silversun Pickups
Better Nature
Anyone who was worried that Silversun Pickups were going too soft after Better Nature need only attend one of their live shows to have their faith restored. The band delivered a fantastically fun and upbeat performance, and even the one or two softer songs were played with enough beauty and passion to make me remember why I like this band so much and optimistic about their future. 8.5/10 | | 12 |  | Foals
What Went Down
It was during this set--specifically during "A Knife in the Ocean"--that I realized I'm a sucker for good stage lights. Don't get me wrong, the music itself was great. Foals gave a tight performance packed with enthusiasm and vigor, and that would have been true without all the intricate colored lights. But the way the lights changed and moved just helped drive everything home, from the punch of the guitar slides on the aforementioned "A Knife in the Ocean" to the explosive climaxes of "Inhaler". I know I'm harping on the lights, but in a broader sense, the point I'm making is that every element of Foals' set fit together well enough to create an impressively solid performance. 8/10 | | 13 |  | Ought
Sun Coming Down
Much like Savages, Ought can be sort of hit-and-miss. The stripped-down Talking Heads throwbacks sometimes work effectively and sometimes fall a bit flat. But the band still performs their songs with enough flair and finesse to make them worth seeing. 7/10 | | 14 |  | Adia Victoria
Beyond the Bloodhounds
Various critics and journalists have alternately categorized Nashville-based singer-songwriter Adia Victoria's style as blues and country (both of which are appropriate), but during her festival set, I was surprised to note hints of metal creeping into her performance. From the dirge-like tempo of "Howlin' Shame", to the biting chords of "Head Rot", to the droning guitars that backed her cover of a Robert Johnson song, to the sheer volume of everything she performed, Adia Victoria has somehow managed to make blues and country even bleaker--a perfect fit for her somber songs about the rough life of a poor black woman living in the South. This was one of the most affecting acts of the festival, and possibly one of the most promising new musicians of the moment. 8.5/10 | | 15 |  | Frightened Rabbit
Painting of a Panic Attack
Maybe it was the drunk girls next to me who were screaming way too much and clapping on the wrong beat, but this was a bit of an underwhelming set. The performance of "The Modern Leper" in particular seemed too slow, with not as effective a build as on the studio recording. But when I say that this set was underwhelming, I mean that only slightly, and relative to how good of a band Frightened Rabbit is. There were still plenty of songs that I enjoyed, and as long as you have better luck in crowd neighbors than me, you'll almost certainly have a good time at one of their shows. 7.5/10 | | 16 |  | Nothing
Tired of Tomorrow
Well this was a disappointment. Speaking as someone who really dug both of Nothing's albums, what makes their music work is the shoegaze-y atmosphere it conjures. And boy was that in short supply during this set, making the music just sound like passable alt rock. Nothing was also probably the least professional act I saw, which is saying something considering I saw Beach Slang. But whereas Beach Slang owned their sloppiness and it made them endearing, Nothing just came across like they had no idea what they were doing and had no business being at a festival this size. It wasn't an awful performance, just an extremely mediocre one, and I got about two songs in before deciding that claiming a decent spot for the Deftones set was a better use of my time. 4.5/10 | | 17 |  | Deftones
Diamond Eyes
I've heard that Deftones' live sets can be hit-or-miss, but they were on-fucking-point at this one: tight musicianship, aggressive and passionate delivery, and infectiously energetic stage presence. This was everything I could have hoped for from a Deftones set. 9.5/10 | | 18 |  | At the Drive-In
Relationship of Command
There wasn't any doubt in my mind that At the Drive-In would be the best set of the weekend, and holy shit, did they deliver. Their performance was pure controlled chaos, from the breakneck interplay between the instruments that never missed a beat, to Cedric's possessed flailing across every square inch of the stage, to the crowd screaming along to every word. Even after a decade and a half of being apart, At the Drive-In can still blow every other band out of the water. 10/10 | |
hesperus
05.18.16 | Top 5 sets of the festival:
1. At the Drive-In
2. July Talk
3. Deftones
4. The Kills
5. The Dear Hunter
Really, though, about half of the bands I saw were absolutely stellar. | Calc
05.18.16 | yeah 9 puts on a great show | Shemson
05.18.16 | Haha I know just what you mean about Foals lights show and they've been doing it for years! I saw them at Reading when they'd only recently released Total Life Forever and it was hypnotising.
Glad you caught a good Deftones set too, I'm seeing them at Wembley in a couple of weeks so fingers cross I get a good one too! | hesperus
05.19.16 | I heard Deftones have been consistently great on this tour, so I imagine you'll probably get to see a good show unless they take a dive in quality for some reason. | someguest
05.19.16 | I'm going to a festival this year. It will probably be my first and last time. All the same acts are playing every major festival in the country this year. Where's the individuality in that? | hesperus
05.20.16 | I mean, the fact that different festivals take place in different parts of the country means that most festivals don't really need their lineup to stand out from the others. There are some festivals like Pitchfork and Riot Fest that have to compete with other festivals in the same city, and they do make an effort to differentiate themselves. But it's not really gonna matter to most people if the same bands are playing at Coachella and Bonarroo, because most people aren't trying to go to both anyway. | klap
05.20.16 | ^^^^this | klap
05.20.16 | going to a festival is kind of more about the experience anyways. i went to shaky knees last year it was pretty great, wasn't as thrilled with the lineup this year but still wish i could had gone again | Lord(e)Po)))ts
05.20.16 | ya thats how people rationalize going to shambalah tbh | klap
05.20.16 | lol i've always wanted to go to that shambhala looks nuts |
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