Red Rocks : Home of Monolith

In a few weeks the crew is getting together to travel to Monolith Music Festival in beautiful Red Rocks Colorado. Before any big festival, especially ones that have some of my favorite bands playing, I like to prepare myself with a journey into music, discovering each band that will be at the show, and making sure I see exactly the ones I want to see. So this time, as I run through the bands, have initial reactions, secondary reactions, and final (at least before the festival) and all deciding reactions, I am going to take the readers of CricketSoda with me. Perhaps we can all learn something, and find new music to make our lives better. I am going to split it into two parts because the line up is massive.

CAKE Sacramento, CA

I have listened to Cake for a long time and never got the chance to see them live. They are one of the main reasons we are going to the show, and for ages their music has played a large role in our lives. I mean, who doesn’t like cars and girls (sorry gay friends).

Some may say that Cake has gone downhill the last few albums, unable to reinvent their sound and becoming stale. I say, if something isn’t broken, why fix it. I fucking love Cake.

The Decemberists Portland, OR

I have never been enough into emo indie music to really give these guys a chance. They do have an interesting (kinda R-Kelly meets Sopranos) drama music video that hit the masses recently.

Kings of Leon Nashville, TN

I hate his voice, and pretty much all their music, but I guess you can’t expect Nashville to produce only good music. Plus, the fact that these guys have a bunch of corporate assholes up their own assholes doesn’t give me any reason to give them a second chance. I would show you how terrible their music can be, but they don’t allow anyone, fans or haters like me, to post anything by them without a license. I will have to miss this one, but believe me, they suck, and there is no hope for them (except maybe 13 year old girls who can’t hear very well yet).

Clap Your Hands Say Yeah Brooklyn, NY

I hate to be hard on these guys because they make such great music, but we have a poor background. I know first impressions are not always kind, but when we saw them at Bonnaroo it was horrible. They sounded nothing like they do on their album, and the energy was drained. The crowed yawned, and we left before the end of the first song. Sorry, but Clap Your Hands Say Hell No.

Of course, they do have this cute video. Great to listen to at home, but not this festival.

Ghostland Observatory Austin, TX

I have always been critical of bands from Austin. I have been to the city of music many times, and the pretension of the music crowed spells disaster for some bands. They think that they are huge, and know music better than anyone because they are from FUCKING AUSTIN TEXAS YEA! So they get on stage and blow their wad and we are all left wondering what must have gone through the poor guys head who thinks he can sing.

Ghostland Observatory may be an exception. While I find their music slightly boring, they are rumored to put a lot of work into their music. Producing two albums in less than a year, and thousands of pictures from their shows, perhaps what they lack in musical energy, they may make up for in stage performance. This one is really up in the air. With dancable tracks such as “Rich Man,” we will just have to see it live to make a final judgement.

Everything Absent or Distorted Denver, CO

One time we had a band play in our living room called Handclaps and Harmonies. I’m not sure if they are still together, and I know that none of my friends are still with them, but they were amazing to see live. They all dressed up in matching powder blue tuxedos. Everything Absent or Distorted reminds me a lot of them, almost in a eerie twin type of way, like the remaining members could be in this band if I could only remember what they looked like.

They are a local act, which is a big focus of this festival. I might have to see a few songs during the trip.

The Flaming Lips Oklahoma City, OK

Ever since The Flaming Lips didn’t use Jelly I have been in love. If you don’t know them, you are an idiot, who needs to lock him/herself in his/her room and listen until they do know. You are in danger being in public with so little knowledge. They are fantastic, have very large hands, and are the main reason we are going. I haven’t seen these guys live yet (I know, I’m a fucking idiot) so along with Cake, this is a cream in my pants type of life moment.

SPOON Austin, TX

It has taken a long time for me to get into Spoon. First of all, they are from Austin, and like I said earlier that is a mark against any band. (I know you may think I am wrong, but I have a strong personal bias). Second, most of their music strikes me as boring. Nothing on their Myspace right now is any good. I know I have heard a Spoon song I liked before, but it just doesn’t come to mind. David Cross likes them though! So much in fact he mooned the audience at Bonnaroo last year. There is video to prove it.

Art Brut London, England

Well. Umm, sometimes people try really hard to sing, and it shows. Other times people just have bad ideas, and it shows. The worst is that the same people can try to be artsy fartsy and end up just being Fartsy. But, you know, who doesn’t love a good toga party.

Brian Jonestown Massacre San Francisco, CA

In an attempt to “Take Over the World,” The BJM has all their music available to download for free from their website. Which is great, and I think all bands should do this, but there might be a reason they are giving away their music for free…I think their genre might be dead. Their sleepy Gothic tones and evil overlay remind me of something I would have loved to be depressed about back in high school.

Expect the rest later today.

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