My day two Popfest experience comprised of my first full day starting off at 2:00 pm at Little Kings, which would lead into an incredibly long day that wouldn’t end until around 3:00 am. It also presented a sort of problem schedule-wise, as later in the day there were two different venues (40 Watt and Caledonia Lounge) that had scheduled acts going on at the same time. It’s unfortunate, because I wasn’t able to visit Caledonia at all during the entire time I was in Athens. I guess it was possible to run between the two venues since they were so close to each other, but at no point did it cross my mind while I was at the 40 Watt that I should run and see what was going on at Caledonia.
Little Birds
Anyways, a couple of acts worth mentioning while I was at Little Kings for the first block of acts were Little Birds and Panda Riot. Little Birds, from Texas, initially started as lead vocalist Brookie Opie’s solo act, but soon grew into what is now a healthy six-piece group of talented musicians. No MP3s to put up on here, but definitely hit up their myspace for some sublime folk-pop. Apparently, the band is currently in the midst of recording a brand new album, so be sure to keep an eye out for that one.
Panda Riot
I’ve already mentioned Panda Riot in previous posts, but they were one of the few acts that I was anticipating and they surely didn’t disappoint. They played a handful of new tracks, i think, along with the cover of M.I.A.’s “Paper Planes,” which you can check out here if you haven’t yet. I wasn’t familiar with their live set, so I was a bit surprised at their implementation of a drum machine and loop pedal to fill out the base shoegaze sound that they’re known for.
MP3: Panda Riot :: “Like Flowers At Night”
MP3: Panda Riot :: “She Dares All Things”
The Good Graces
Night Driving in Small Towns
Mary O. Harrison
After Little Kings, we headed over to Flicker Theatre, which provided a nice little break throughout the entire week, as it was a tiny venue (maybe 35-40 person capacity) along with having plenty of seating. I’ll be honest, a couple of days while at Flicker, I ended up falling asleep during a few sets (sorry! it was just so relaxing). It also provided a solid showcase of the surrounding folk-pop scene with The Good Graces and Mary O. Harrison, both from Atlanta, and Night Driving in Small Towns from Valdosta. My notes appear to be terribly barren of information during this, but I did enjoy each of the three acts. And yes, I do not consider myself a journalist.
MP3: Mary O. Harrison :: “Way of Walking”
MP3: Mary O. Harrison :: “Supper Song”
MP3: Mary O. Harrison :: “Better Day”
Cars Can Be Blue
My first trip to the 40 Watt ended up being a few hours later than expected, as a few of us decided to get some dinner nearby. Sadly, I ended up missing Cars Can Be Blue’s set, who i’ve really come to enjoy over the past couple of months. Not all was lost, though, as I was able to catch the naughty Athens duo performing a cover of Peter, Bjorn & John’s “Young Folks,” a song that seems to never want to fade away, despite my best efforts. I did find some video on YouTube of a couple of songs from their set, so not all hope is lost.
MP3: Cars Can Be Blue :: “Do You Remember?”
MP3: Cars Can Be Blue :: “I Used to Think”
Dark Meat
The first of the last two acts of the night started with Dark Meat, who’s recently released record hasn’t received a lot of attention from me at all, sadly. After witnessing their vaunted live set, which boasted a lineup of at least 20 or so members (exact numbers of which i’m not sure), I ended up dusting off their record and giving it a spin – which suffice to say, is a hell of a lot of fun to listen to. Watching this enormous group of musicians perform was fascinating, considering with so much going on that one little mistake could possibly throw everything for a loop, but no catastrophes were had as they entertained the crowd with their blistering horn section and overwhelming clashing of different sounds.
MP3: Dark Meat :: “Freedom Ritual”
MP3: Dark Meat :: “Well Fuck You Then”
Roky Erickson & The Explosives
Finally, to end the second night of Popfest, Roky Erickson & The Explosives took the stage to a packed crowd. I’ll be honest, I wasn’t completely familiar with his history – but through some simple research, it appears he was a pioneer of psychedelic rock, along with a life littered with mental illness and legal problems. The man has been through hell and back, and it was great to see the crowd react so much to the performance.
Previously:
Athens Popfest: Day One
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