31-32/14 - Things Are So Passionate, Times Are So Real

In the past three days I've seen the following artists live:
Tinariwen
Motörhead
The National
Darkside
Queens of the Stone Age
High As a Kite
Jonathan Wilson
Sharon van Etten
Bill Callahan
Mapei
Janelle Monáe
Outkast
Deafheaven
Planningtorock
Seasick Steve
Jaakko Eino Kalevi
Neutral Milk Hotel
Jenny Wilson
Mos Def
Robyn
Nils Frahm
Daniel Hope & GSO
Holly Herndon
...and as a majority of them were bloody awesome, and as I'm late with last week's list, I'm cheating on my own rules and putting together a double list of the top 10 from Way Out West.

Janelle Monáe - Electric Lady

Janelle rules my heart forever after this gig. Coolest. Tightest. Happiest. Best. A friend described it as James Brown meets Charlie & The Chocolate Factory. She even did a pitch perfect cover of I Feel Good.

Ooh, shock it
Break it, baby
Electric Lady, Electric Lady

Darkside - Paper Trails

I could spend a whole festival just watching these guys. There's something so sensually perfect about every note and every light effect it almost gives me a boner.

Queens of the Stone Age - Feel Good Hit of the Summer

I've seen them before, but I've never enjoyed it this much. The latest album is so good live. But this... what a singalong

Nils Frahm - For – Peter – Toilet Brushes – More

Last night of the festival. A lone german guy, two pianos, a couple of extra keyboards, a breathless opera-house. Pure magic.

Sharon van Etten - Your Love Is Killing Me

That voice, live. I am so in love.

Daniel Hope & Berlin Chamber Orchestra - Vivaldi's The Four Seasons, Recomposed by Max Richter: Summer, III

Another spinetingling moment in the operahouse. The perfect ending to the festival.

Mos Def - Auditorium

I love going to old school hip hop concerts at festivals. Just a superb MC, a DJ, some roses and a lovely pick n' mix of beats, tunes and rhymes. Heartwarming, unassuming, and cool as fuck.

Outkast - The Whole World

Was so tagged for this. Was a bit disappointed. Dre seemed to be going through the motions, looked like he more or less hated playing Hey Ya, and on top of that had some tasteless sexist backdrops. But the first run of hits (B.O.B., Gasoline Dreams, Rosa Parks, Skew It On The Bar-B, Da Art of Storytelling) was superb, and then they saved face a bit in the end with this joyous offering.

Deafheaven - The Pecan Tree

Is there a better way to start a day at a festival than with an early afternoon metal-blow out? Will definitely be listening to this album a lot after this.

Neutral Milk Hotel - In the Aeroplane Over The Sea

The rain started falling. The poncho-crowd huddled in front of the stage, but then Jeff came out and all sang along to every single word he belted out.

How strange it is to be anything at all...