Probably the most fun I had at Pitchfork 2011 was when I played with a beach ball in a group of 15 or so adults and 3 kids during Fleet Foxes’ set. It was just a blissful moment where a bunch of strangers played like kids again. Of course, we had some of the best [...]

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You may have guessed by their mention in my DJ Shadow review that I found Fleet Foxes’ show endearing but not quite the gem of the festival. But even though in my eyes they shouldn’t have been headliner on skill alone, they had the entire festival held by the heartstrings. It was a great way [...]

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I don’t want this to come across as a huge slight to Fleet Foxes, but having DJ Shadow close Saturday of Pitchfork would’ve been a better move. Sure, Fleet Foxes’ audience was beyond huge; it’s just a shame Shadow couldn’t get the spot — and the darkness — he deserved. So yes, as anyone who [...]

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I feel embarrassed at the “how much I enjoyed Twin Shadow” to “how much I have to say about Twin Shadow” ratio that goes through my mind after seeing the band. They really are one of the best young bands I’ve seen in a long while. Even though both times I’ve seen them it’s been [...]

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I’ve never really listened to the Dismemberment Plan before Pitchfork. I guess it’s just one of those things where I was too young when they were popular to hear about them and when I was older I never had any friends mention them so I had no reason to check ‘em out. So truthfully I [...]

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My buddy Michael pretty much nailed it: the Radio Dept were sonically beautiful but had the stage presence of nervous 16-year-olds. I didn’t get to stick around for long, but I loved what I caught. After having friends lecture me for years about how great this band is, I now know I need to start [...]

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Dan Bejar has come a long way during his time as Destroyer. When I first saw him, he performed most often with his back to the crowd and sang fairly quietly. Now he’s shuffled guitar playing duties onto his band and sings facing the crowd. For a guy who never seemed to want to look [...]

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There are always some bands I see at festivals that make me wish I wasn’t sober. For Pitchfork, no band did so more strongly than Gang Gang Dance. For starters, they had one guy on stage who danced around with something like incense or burning sage for the entire show. Crazy. The set was percussion-heavy [...]

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My favorite part of Animal Collective’s set was also what I felt needed the most editing. On this tour, Animal Collective have begun linking their songs together more than they already did. Songs bleed into one another through jams, percussion or even the DJ-like use of samples and riffs. At some moments it was incredible [...]

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