I Radio Heaven

Day Two started up with some pr0n, and it was the second-best show of the weekend. 

Vancouver’s The New Pornographers have been benefitted as much as anyone from the sudden, trendy media coverage of the "hot Canadian music scene." Suddenly they’re popping up on festival bills from The Virgin Festival to The NewYorker Festival to Austin City Limits to Lollapalooza, so it’s nice to have them squeeze in some semi-hometown lovin’.   They were one of the bands that I was most familiar with going into this festival, so I was very excited to see them.  They had kind of a lame spot on the schedule, opening the second day and going before Spoon, but beggars can’t be choosy.  Carl Newman even jokingly asked what we (the crowd) were doing out of bed so early on a Sunday. 
The New Pornographers’ roster reads like a Who’s Who of the Vancouver indie scene, with Dan Bejar (Destroyer), Kathryn Calder (Immaculate Machine), Neko Case (solo artist, also of Maow and cub – one of my early favorite CD’s), John Collins (The Evaporators), Kurt Dahle (Limblifter and Age of Electric), Todd Fancey (Fancey and Limblifter), Carl Newman (A.C. Newman, Superconductor, and Zumpano, Nora O’Connor (The Blacks and Andrew Bird’s Bowl of Fire), and Blaine Thurier (independent filmmaker). (thank you, Wikipedia)   All this talent comes at a price, though, as neither Dan Bejar or Neko Case were able to make a Bumbershoot appearance.  At least Neko Case’s position was ably filled by Newman’s neice, Kathryn Calder.

Anyway, the day was gorgeous–sunny and not too hot (yet).   They started off with great energy right away, kicking into their title track "Twin Cinema" and moving right into "Use It".    Some of the other highlights were "The Jessica Numbers," "The Bones Of An Idol," and the show-closer, "Sing Me Spanish Techno." A summer’s worth touring had given them a chemistry that belied the fact that TNP is a side project for some of them.  Frontman Newman was engaging and entertaining, and the whole set was getting me pumped for my first taste from Spoon. 

(here’s a preview; it was bitter)

We did catch part of AFI’s set after Cloud Cult ended.  It was pretty much exactly what we expected.  They were fine, but not legendary.  I was a bit surprised at their restraint, as they were able to save their current radio hit “Miss Murder” for the last song of their encore.  The most interesting thing about the show was their stage set.  It was eerily white and set up like a forgotten part of the White Witch’s castle from the Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe, as part of their new "Love Like Winter" vibe that they have going right now. 

Now, for the first time of the night, I was very torn; I literally wanted to be in two places at once.  (By the way, neither of those two places was the Main Stage, where we would have been treated to a Hot Topic triple bill of Hawthorne Heights, Yellowcard, and AFI.) Badly Drawn Boy and Cloud Cult were both playing at 9:15, and I really wanted to see both of them.  The last time I saw BDB was at a great venue in North Carolina, where he played for three hours with a nine-piece band.  I figured I’d give Cloud Cult a chance, and if they didn’t do it for me live, then we’d head over to hear Damon and co.  Cloud Cult was playing at the EMP Sky Church and when we got there, they were full!  This was the only venue besides the Main Stage that seemed like it had a capacity limit, but we didn’t know that until we got there.  I was angry, especially when the outside monitors were pointed out to us and we realized that Cloud Cult was going to be mind-blowingly amazing.  Strangely enough, people ended up leaving and we were able to get in during the second song.  I’ll go ahead and get this out now: Cloud Cult was my favorite show of the entire weekend.  They are a full package of visual and sonic stimulation for all the pleasure centers of the brain. 
Cloud Cult is a group based out of Minnesota.  Headed by Craig Minowa, they are one of the most practically environmentally friendly bands out there.  After each tour, they plant an acre of trees to counteract the carbon dioxide created by their travels.  They purchase wind power credits to power their stage shows, and even their tour van has solar panels.  Their studio is geo-thermal powered, and partially constructed with salvaged wood and recycled plastic.   
For their live shows, they have two artists onstage, Scott West and Craig’s wife Connie, as well as a great screen show.  Musically, they’ve been compared to Modest Mouse, with most of that coming from Craig’s near falsetto vocals, but a few songs definitely are reminiscent of the Seattle indie kings. My favorite part of the stage show was how well they incorporated Sarah Young and her cello.  It can be difficult throwing a classical string/bow instrument on a rock stage and have it not come off as gimmicky, but they did it well.  Craig’s vocals were great, and the rest of the band perfectly meshed with each other.  The venue helped immensely, as they had the best sound mix of the weekend. 
One other thing that I discoverd (and haven’t ever realized before) is that very few bands have a name that perfectly suits their music, but, after seeing them live, Cloud Cult’s does.  Definitely check out Advice From The Happy Hippopotamus.

Anticipation <<<< Experience
L2CA (Likelihood To See Again) : Most Definitely