San Francisco, Feb 28 - Mar 4
I like the concept of Noisepop because it is less well known than other music festivals, namely Lollapalooza (which was created by Perry Ferrell, one of music’s greats, and former member of two little groups by the name of Jane’s Addiction and Porno for Pyros- fyi he’s now started a project called Satellite Party, which is getting a lot of buzz) and South By Southwest. Noisepop is spread out throughout San Francisco, and not all of the shows are advertised.
I was able to see a bunch of great artists like Matt and Kim, Malajube, Ted Leo, the Annuals, Submarines, and many more. Here are some highlights:
Matt and Kim were fun as always, and even though it’s messy to mix romance with business, the vibe between these two is unmatched by any duo i’ve seen in the past few years. Kim never stops smiling at Matt as she plays. Very cute. I think a lot of bands misjudge the importance of playing while simultaneously looking like they’re enjoying themselves. Watching the blissful and excited Matt and Kim translates those same feelings to the audience. What’s better than that? Furthermore, interviewing Matt and Kim was equally pleasing. They talked about their video, Yea Yeah, and about how the idea actually came from a concert they had played. check out mtvu.com: noisepop for more on that. They expressed the fear that people find them to be simply cute and that’s it. And I know exactly what they mean. Before really listening to their sound, I thought they were cute, fun, happy, etc etc etc (a whole bunch of words that really don’t mean much)- but when i started to really hear them, i saw the brilliance of Matt’s keyboard work, and the strength in Kim’s guitar skills. They also sing in the same excitedly emotive sense that their attitudes convey, which is a match that I think is harder to master than it looks.
Speaking of listening hard, the Annuals were f-ing impressive. On both the concert and the album, the Annuals are a band that should be commended for their strict attention to each part of their sound and melody. Their songs are not about melodies and lyrics- they are also about what is going on in the background, much like Animal Collective and Arcade Fire (which, coincidentally, are two bands they are often compared to). Put on your Annuals album now and try to ignore the main melody and lyrics for a moment, and you’ll hear aspects that could be a great album (though in a different genre) on their own. Interviewing them was really refreshing. These guys are HAPPY to meet new people, and grateful for their continued success. They are good lookin dudes, with great style, and fantastic musical ability. Yet, they aren’t playing the “too cool for YOU” attitude that so much of the indie pop industry has acquired. If you ever have the chance to meet the Annuals, take it. They are a breath of fresh air like you wouldn’t believe. Plus, they’re NICE.
Noisepop would not have been complete without meeting the rock legend and academic that is Ted Leo. In concert, he rocked out with an attitude that made me nostalgic for artists like Eric Clapton (when he rocked out), Mick Jagger, and the members of T-Rex (not that Ted is THAT old, but is a bit more well seasoned than most of the noisepop performers). If I were old enough, he would make me miss the 70s era Neil Young, for his consciousness regarding politics and social awareness that is lacking from many artists today. Definitely check out Ted Leo’s interviews on mtvu.com. They’re worth watching, even if you don’t listen to his music.
Next stop on this blog is Cancun for mtvU’s spring break. It’s definitely a switch of gears. Check it out.
