Ann Powers takes on SP20
Green River: The comeback that meant the most to the staff at Sub Pop was the climax of the festivals second day. Mark Arm screamed his lungs out; drummer Alex Shumway crowd-surfed. But it wasnt all agro. After the plaintive (though loud) break-up lament Baby, Help Me Forget, Arm paused. That song breaks my heart every time, he said, and he didnt even sound sarcastic. (Kevin P. Casey / For the Times)
Comets on Fire: This woefully underrated psychedelic stormfront of a band played a truly inspiring Sunday afternoon set. Mark Arm, soon to take the stage with Green River, looked on from the side of the stage as guitarists Ben Chasny and Ethan Miller tossed massive riffs back and forth. (Kevin P. Casey / For the Times)
Fleet Foxes: Twenty-two year-old Robin Pecknold and his bandmates silenced the festival crowd with their folk-rock harmonies. I dont know how to communicate with a crowd this big, he said between songs. What am I supposed to say? He soon figured out that singing would do. (Kevin P. Casey / For the Times)
Mudhoney: Seattle rock elders watching Mudhoney from the side of the stage Saturday included Kim Thayil of Soundgarden, Bruce Fairweather of Green River, Kim Warnick of the Fastbacks ... and Sam Beam of Iron & Wine? The younger folkie seemed to enjoy the Sub Pop signature bands powerful set as much as the garage-rock vets all around him. (Kevin P. Casey / For the Times)
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The Vaselines: Somehow, a running joke about dry humping came to dominate the banter between Eugene Kelly and Frances McKee during this Scottish bands performance, its first on the West Coast. But thats not really surprising, given the childlike smuttiness of many Vaselines verses. This set was a highlight for serious music fans, whove been wishing for a chance to see the Vaselines at least since Kurt Cobain endorsed the band in the early 1990s. (Kevin P. Casey / For the Times)
Iron & Wine: Sam Beam, who assembles different musicians under the name Iron & Wine, flew solo for his appearance Saturday night. His resonant tenor and careful strumming helped him enrapture the crowd. A highlight was his cover of Such Great Heights by the Postal Service, one of many excellent Sub Pop bands who couldnt make the fest. (Kevin P. Casey / For the Times)
Flight of the Conchords: The New Zealand duo closed the festival Saturday with a set that proved theyre not faking, musically, on their hit HBO show. The crowd stayed put and in stitches as the pair performed favorites like Business Time. (Kevin P. Casey / For the Times)
Beachwood Sparks: The Los Angeles country rock band looked fresh and sounded sweet as it played its rambling, Gram Parsons-inspired ditties. (Kevin P. Casey / For the Times)
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Les Thugs: French punks age well. This quartet, reunited after eight years, made an impression with its precise, moody, powerful post-hardcore rock. Their look not-quite-matching black T-shirts in the afternoon heat was tres chic, and lead singer Eric Sourice, wearing spectacles, looked a little bit like the late philosopher Michel Foucault. (Kevin P. Casey / For the Times)
No Age: Seeing L.A. faves No Age away from home is like celebrating a holiday at a strangers house still good, but not quite perfect. The Marymoor Park crowd didnt form the mosh pit that follows this duo around in the Southland, and although the guitar-and-drums onslaught sounded great, Randy Randall and Dean Allen Spunt seemed slightly abashed by the size of the venue. Can anybody back in the Porta-Potties hear me? asked Randall. The second one on the left has no toilet paper, if youre in there. (Kevin P. Casey / For the Times)
Wolf Parade: Is this Canadian band turning into the new Arcade Fire? Not quite, but its challenging musicality and kinetic stage presence could make it the next Vampire Weekend, at least. The crowd had dwindled by the time the group took the stage Sunday, but everybody left was young, and clearly delighted by the music. (Kevin P. Casey / For the Times)
