so, i’ve spent the last week basking in a post-Sasquatch glow. The festival exceeded every expectation that I brought with me, and that was before we even got onto the actual grounds. So AMAZING!
(Sasquatch is a three-day festival that is held over Memorial Day weekend every year at The Gorge in George, WA. It’s a natural amphitheater that overlooks a gorge created by God and the Columbia River, so the views are stunning. It’s a perfect place to see music)
I went up there with a couple friends from work and then met my friend Kirk there too. We pulled into our campsite (yep - i camped. in a tent and everything!), set up everything and when Kirk finally got there, walked (about 3/4 of a mile) to the front gate and started listening to the tunes. I missed Beruit (sad), but caught Fleet Foxes, Destroyer (Dan Bejar of The New Pornographers), The New Pornographers (including Neko Case!!!!!!!!), M.I.A., Grand Archives (ex-member of Band of Horses), Okkervil River, The National (woooooooooooooooooo!), and R.E.M., who were, as expected, EXCELLENT. It was spitting rain on and off all day, but it really started during the last couple songs of The National and by the time R.E.M. took the statge, it was full out raining. As the band walked on stage, Peter Buck slipped and fell and my first thought was “Crap. They’re going to play three songs and quit.” Happily, they endured. Stipe is a fantastic stage presence - witty and comfortable. They played a great combination of stuff from the new album and several old favorites, as well as some rarities.
Here’s the setlist:
1. Living Well Is the Best Revenge
2. What’s The Frequency, Kenneth? (***great!)
3. These Days
4. Drive
5. Accelerate
6. Auctioneer
7. Man-Sized Wreath
8. Ignoreland
9. Hollow Man
10. Life and How To Live It
11. Houston
12. Losing My Religion
13. Harborcoat
14. The One I Love
15. Final Straw
16. Let Me In
17. Horse To Water
18. Bad Day
19. Walk Unafraid
20. I’m Gonna DJ
21. Orange Crush
22. Supernatural Superserious
23. Man on The Moon
