Rothbury 2009: Some good leftovers

We lost at least 5 or 6 posts into the ether of cyberspace. Here’s a roundup.

The Hold Steady

I was definitely expecting a lot from these critic favorites. They played in the middle of the last day of the festival, and everyone was just tired. We showed up about halfway through the set to see a small crowd of maybe 800 baking in the sun. No one hurt more than the artists, though. Their pale arms betrayed probably a decade of playing dirty bars and smokey clubs.

Their energy was as positive as ever, and the actual music was satisfying, but they’re just a nighttime band. Best on a stage performing for 3,000 or so. A large festival on the first noticeably hot day (The weather was so cooperative, just like last year, highs in the 70’s lows in the upper 50’s) is just not their venue.

I’m making excuses for them, because they really did put on a good show. Also, their name looked good on the festival flier. Rothbury 2009 was more well rounded than I first gave it credit for.

Ani DiFranco

I didn’t see much of Ani DiFranco, but during the 4 or 5 songs I heard she took the stage like a feminist icon. Her songs were protest folk music at its finest, with a perfect timeslot right before Bob Dylan. Rothbury encourages these kind of artists to let loose because the crowd is so receptive. Another way to say it is, “Rothbury has a good vibe.”

MSTRKRFT

MSTRKRFT are this year’s version of The Crystal Method’s DJ set last year. Their big beat hard sound kept the candy kids up all night. I mostly heard them from my tent.

Pretty Lights

Pretty Lights played the Trippolee Domes late night on Day 3 (Saturday). I was too tired to participate in the festivities, but the crowd was easily 5,000 strong. Pretty Lights play digital samples through turntables with a live drummer. They are perfect for a dance party, which I was not really in the mood for but could appreciate nonetheless. Their samples are deep and fuzzed out, but have an element of hip hop. During the show, I often wondered if the DJ was being ironic or serious with his by the book “urban”-looking outfit. I decided it was irony.

Chris Pierce

Chris Pierce played Trippolee Domes in the middle of the afternooon on the last day of the festival. It was hot, everyone was tired. About 40 people were there when I was passing through. The Trippolee Domes are used for green initiative conferences during the day and techo rave-ups at night, so it was strange to see a singer-songwriter with stool, microphone and guitar. He’s in Jack Johnson territory, with poetic lyrics and a more blues influence. It’s hard to write good lyrics.

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