Sasquatch! is here and there is so much to be thankful for this year. With so many bands to choose from it may seem overwhelming at times deciding who to see. Here is a breakdown of bands that might not be on your radar, but should be.
Friday:
ZZ Ward (4:00 p.m. – 4:40 p.m. @Sasquatch!): Zsuzsanna Eva Ward’s musical palate ranges from blues to country and R&B to hip-hop. Hailing from Roseburg, Ore., and beginning her professional career in Eugene, this multi-faceted singer/songwriter has collaborated with rappers Kendrick Lamar and Freddie Gibbs, received praise from NPR and recently performed on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Check out the track “Cryin’ Wolf,” featuring Kendrick Lamar.
Youth Lagoon (8:30 p.m. – 9:45 p.m. @Yeti): Youth Lagoon is a window into the minimalistic mind of Trevor Powers. Powers uses relaxed electronic melodies centered on lo-fi pop and folk instrumentalism. Check out the song “Cannons.”
Matthew Dear (9:45 p.m. – 10:45 p.m. @El Chupacabra): Matthew Dear is the experimental producer responsible for the track “Dog Days” (voted one of Pitchfork’s Top 100 Songs of the Decade). He is also a founding member of the prolific Ghostly International, arguably the most innovative electronic labels in the US. Dear’s beats are multi-layered and funky and impossible not to dance to. Check out the track “Dog Days.”
Saturday:
Andrew Bird (5:55 p.m. – 6:55 p.m. @Sasquatch!): Chicago-based composer and multi-instrumentalist Andrew Bird melds New Orleans jazz, gypsy, folk and rock into one distinctively beautiful sound — the type of timeless music that’s hard to find in today’s music scene. Since ’97, Bird has released an impressive 11 albums, played Coachella and Austin City Limits and has even contributed music for the new “Muppets” movie and the film “Norman.” Check out the song “Three White Horses.”
Yppah feat. Anomie Bell (7:55 p.m. – 8:40 p.m. @El Chupacabra): Yppah (pronounced “yippah”) is the work of Ninja Tune artist Joe Corrales, Jr. and classically trained violinist Anomie Bell. Corrales, Jr. and Bell produce a soothing soundscape that jumps from rock-instrumentalism to atmospheric-electronic — a balance between energetic and mellow. Yppah is as much of an electronic artist as he is a psychedelic rocker. Check out the track “D. Song.”
Tame Impala (10:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m. @Honda Bigfoot): Tame Impala epitomizes late ‘60s psychedelic rock without ever sounding too much like one band in particular. Their debut album “Innerspeaker” balances an obvious respect for their sonic predecessors with subtle contemporary production tweaks — the band makes straddling two disparate eras feel like the most effortless and relaxed thing in the world. This year saw the release of Tame Impala’s “Lonerism” which received high critical and popular acclaim. Check out the song “Feels Like We Only Go Backwards.”
Sunday:
Kingdom Crumbs (2:20 p.m. – 3:05 p.m. @Cthulu): Kingdom Crumbs is composed of Mikey Nice, Jerm D, Jarv Dee and Tay Sean, a quartet of rappers and producers based out of Seattle, WA. The group released a self-titled last year that melds relaxed electronic beats with forward thinking, post-underground rap. Kingdom Crumbs harkens to a younger, less serious Shabazz Palaces. Check out the video “Evoking Spirits.”
Danny Brown (3:15 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. @Sasquatch!): Danny Brown’s rap style is about as unorthodox as his haircut. Described by MTV as “one of rap’s most unique figures in recent memory,” Brown personifies a type of unrestrained and uncensored weirdness that most artists shy far, far away from. Check out the track “Grown Up.”
Azari & III (10:30 p.m. – 11:30 p.m. @El Chupacabra): The Toronto, Canada-based quartet is bringing their ’80s throwback house music vibes to the Northwest and their presence should not be missed. With original vocals and tasteful collaborations with quality international producers, Azari & III will no doubt impress anyone looking for some dancing grooves. Check out the track “Reckless (With Your Love).”
Monday:
Dirty Projectors (4:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. @Honda Bigfoot): David Longstreth, a former Yale student who left college to become a musician, formed Dirty Projectors in 2003 and released seven albums under the moniker. The band’s 2009 release Bitte Orca was their biggest success, landing them on more Album of the Year lists than I can count. Dirty Projectors have collaborated with The Roots, appeared on the Late Show with David Letterman and sold out New York’s 3,000-cap Terminal Five with 20-piece chamber ensemble Alarm Will Sound. Check out the track “No Intention.”
Alt-J (8:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. @Honda Bigfoot): Alt-J reached near instantaneous success with the release of their debut full-length album, An Awesome Wave, which challenges what exactly constitutes folk, hip hop, indie and pop music. The Cambridge-based quartet’s signature blend of layered folk and euphoric alt-rock is comparable to bands like the Wild Beasts, Hot Chip and even Coldplay. Check out the track “Matilda.”