popwreckoning

Here’s the soundtrack to the New Moon movie. Whatever your feelings toward Twilight, you must admit this is a heck of a soundtrack.

Soundtrack hits stores Oct. 20.

Tracklisting:
01. Death Cab for Cutie – Meet Me on the Equinox
02. Band of Skulls – Friends
03. Thom Yorke – Hearing Damage
04. Lykke Li – Possibility
05. The Killers – A White Demon Love Song
06. Anya Marina – Satellite Heart
07. Muse – I Belong to You (New Moon)
08. Bon Iver & St. Vincent – Roslyn
09. Black Rebel Motorcycle Club – Done All Wrong
10. Hurricane Bells – Monsters
11. Sea Wolf – The Violet Hour
12. Ok Go – Shooting the Moon
13. Grizzly Bear – Slow Life
14. Editors – No Sound But the Wind
15. Alexandre Desplat – New Moon (The Meadow)

San Francisco’s Indian summer is around the corner and with it brings the 3rd Annual Treasure Island Music Festival, the West Coast’s most anticipated boutique music festival. Set against panoramic views of the city by the bay, Treasure Island Music Festival will stick true to form in offering an electronic and dance centric lineup on Saturday, October 17th and an indie rock lineup on Sunday, October 18th. With two stages and no overlapping sets, fans can enjoy every note of every act. Noise Pop and Another Planet Entertainment are pleased to announce the following lineup…

Saturday, October 17th, 2009
MGMT
MSTRKRFT
Girl Talk
Brazilian Girls
The Streets
Passion Pit
LTJ Bukem feat. MC Conrad
DJ Krush
Federico Aubele
Dan Deacon
Murs
Crown City Rockers
The Limousines

Sunday, October 18th, 2009
The Flaming Lips
The Decemberists
Beirut
Grizzly Bear
Yo La Tengo
The Walkmen
Bob Mould
Thao with The Get Down Stay Down
Vetiver
Spiral Stairs
Sleepy Sun
Tommy Guerrero
Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros

In only its 3rd year, Treasure Island Music Festival has garnered national acclaim and become a must see on the United States’ festival circuit.Treasure Island Music Festival will continue its tradition of exposing emerging and critically established artists to the tastemakers and fans of independent music. In addition to the tunes, there will be a multitude of activities for the audience including a 60-foot tall Ferris wheel, an interactive art tent, a vendor village showcasing local designers and an array of healthy and affordable food and beverages.

A limited quantity of $99.99 2-Day tickets and VIP Single Day 2-Packs went on sale on Tuesday, July 14th at 12pm PST through www.treasureislandfestival.com. A VIP 2-Pack includes 2 VIP tickets to one day, 1 parking spot on island, preferred viewing area with bleachers, lounge with full bar and other amenities. Single Day tickets went on sale today, Friday, July 17th at 10am PST.

To off-set traffic congestion and the limited amount of parking on the island, Treasure Island Music Festival will be providing shuttles on and off the island to ticket holders at no additional cost.

Treasure Island Music Fest: website

Lessons learned from Day 1‘s crash course in surviving Bonnaroo, but not so well-rested (it is hard sleeping in a muggy tent in the Tennessee weather), we awoke early to check out the first real day of Bonnaroo. Thursday was like practice Bonnaroo, which turned out to be much needed for Friday’s and the rest of the weekend’s adventures.

One nice thing about the artists at Bonnaroo is that they are very accessible. So instead of running off to see bands perform on stages first thing Friday morning, I took some time to sit in on a press conference that Big Hassle Media organized with Janeane Garofalo, Matthew Vasquez of the Delta Spirit, Grace Potter, Ani DiFranco, and Galactic Band. The artists spoke about their Bonnaroo experiences and struggles to get there. Things got a little heated between Garofalo and DiFranco. At the start of the conference, Garofalo and DiFranco joked how they looked alike with Garofalo reminding DiFranco to be at her set in the comedy tent at 2 pm. However, when things got a little political, the differences between the two came out:

“It’s so heartbreakingly disappointing how Obama has acquiesced in the name of bipartisanship,” Garofalo said. “I can’t find humor in that.”

DiFranco later said, “I don’t think one person can do everything. It takes all of us to make something radical happen.” She said Obama shows us how to be like “family and forgive.”

The two had their different opinions, but at the end of the conference, they hugged.

Leaving the press conference, a large crowd had gathered for Gomez‘s pop rock and audience members got extra excited when they realized that, “OMG! That song was on Grey’s Anatomy” as the band played “Moon and Sun.”

Over at This Tent, Kaki King impressed the crowd in her own way as her fingers flew across her guitar in blend of pressing and tapping on the strings.  Her backing band complimented her well with the typical drums and bass, but also some wind instruments on the occasional tune.

After Kaki King, Animal Collective got the crowd dancing at Which Stage. The audience danced as if they really were a collection of wild animals (the many masks probably helped, too). Arms flailing in dance, while singing along, some in masks, Animal Collective had some solid fan representation at the fest. The guys bounced around vocal and instrumental duties between each other and never had a dull moment in their set.

Playing against Animal Collective was the amazingly talented St. Vincent and she was probably one of the best secrets of the festival. There was a good crowd there, but if she hadn’t been up against Animal Collective, I think more would have discovered her greatness. She is like a feistier Feist. The indie darling’s powerful voice carried out far beyond the reaches of That Tent and instrumental solos from her violinist colored me impressed.

Another press conference was next on the agenda. This time, Julia Nunes, John Gourley from Portugal the Man, Kaki King, Justin Vernon of Bon Iver, Lucinda Williams, Justin Townes Earle and Ben Knox Miller from Low Anthem were the ones to join the press. Justin Vernon turned out to be quite the comedian. After Kaki King said the most challenging part of an outdoor festival were the “strings and sweatiness on the guitar,” Vernon said, “Sweatiness is what I’m going for. I’m trying to look as wet as possible.”

Several members of this conference were new to the festival and talked of their nervousness and experience, the legendary Lucinda Williams spoke of playing this festival since its second run and even gave her advice about the music industry.

“Can you imagine Neil Young trying to get a record deal right now? Or even Bob Dylan?” Williams said. “You have to believe in yourself. I was doing this without a label for 15 years. It took an English punk label to sign me because I fell in the cracks between rock and country.”

As the conference let out, Karen O of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs was starting her signature vocals on the Which Stage in front of a backdrop of blue swirl and the eye from “Zero.” We could hear her vocals the entire walk to Brooklyn very own Grizzly Bear on This Tent. The boys were running a bit late, but their indie rock soon filled the tent and they were quite tight, but we had passes to the comedy tent and had to get over there in time for Triumph the Insult Dog and other comedians. After a jam from the house band and a video introduction, Triumph was soon slinging the insults at everyone from the audience to the artists.

“You hippies can make anything out of hemp,” Triumph said. “Except deodorant.” With a paw over his face he explained, “You see? It is because you smell. Haha.”

He attacked Trent Reznor for ending his career and Flava Flav for setting back the civil rights movement with his clock. Even bands not at the festival weren’t safe from his insults.

“Not everybody could be here. Fall Out Boy couldn’t be here today,” said Triumph. “Because they all got their periods at the exact same time.”

After breaking ourselves away from the funny (and she swears unracist) comedian, Amy Schumer, we dashed back to the Which Stage (there is a lot of running at Bonnaroo) and watched TV on the Radio blast through “Wolf Like Me” and other hits. As always, the element of brass gave these guys an extra special element that made them worth watching.

Taking a breather before rocking out (err….rapping out with Beastie Boys), I had my first taste of true fest food and ventured to try an “arepa.” For those who were in the dark like I was, an arepa is a fried patty of corn with melted mozzarella in between the patties. Ridiculously greasy and ridiculously delicious. Stomach full at last, I somehow managed to work my way up nice and close to see the Beastie Boys who brought out all the hits and some guests. In the first big Bonnaroo surprise Nas joined the guys for a few numbers.

The Beastie Boys were a blast to “Jump, jump, jump around” with, but I couldn’t miss the chance to catch a Talking Head perform. Across the park, David Byrne was rocking out with his own tunes after a busy day of curating some of the other tents.

Phish jammed out at the What Stage after the Beasties finished, but knowing they had a second performance, I snagged a spot up close for the much buzzed about French band Phoenix. “Lisztomania” started things off and I was surprised with how energetic and bold the band was after seeing them acting rather shy back in the press area. It wasn’t long before other hits off their American debut had the crowd dancing and the singer joined them out in the audience.

They were just the start of a crazy night at That Tent. Alice Glass from Crystal Castles had the crowd rapt with her blend of electronica goth. In a zombie like manner she wrapped a strobe around her neck and jumped on the crowd multiple times. Glow sticks began to appear during this set and That Tent was quickly transformed into a rave. They didn’t disappear until well after Girl Talk‘s performance. Instead of jumping on the crowd like their predecessors in That Tent, Girl Talk brought the crowd up on stage to join in the dance party. The DJs were joined by costumed characters and blow up seats. It was an oraganized chaos that was fun for everyone (except maybe security). Girl Talk’s set lasted well into the night, but even they couldn’t keep up with Paul Oakenfold‘s set, which didn’t stop until after 6 am in the morning. People staggered back to camps or just passed out in the main grounds before they were ready to embrace an even bigger Day 3 of Bonnaroo.

Stay tuned…

Bonnaroo: website | Day 1 | Quick News

Photos by: Joshua Hammond

In this third and final installment of my three-part interview with Friendly Fires‘s Edd Gibson (guitar) and Ed Macfarlane (vocals/synths/bass), we turn to weightier issues. I get suggestions from the boys on what to pick up at the record shop round the corner. We get into a deep philosophical discussion about the state of American and English popular music and come to the surprising realization that we don’t listen to our countrymen as much as we probably should. And they look forward to their oh so little precious time off in the coming months they’ll have to record Friendly Fires’s album number two. Read on and enjoy.

Parts 1 and 2 of this interview are available here and here.

Mary Chang, PopWreckoning: So, what kind of music are you guys listening to now?
Ed Macfarlane, Friendly Fires: I’ve been listening to a band called Nomo, American band. I wish I knew more about them, they’re from the northern part of America. [Author's note: Nomo are from Ann Arbor, Michigan.]
MC: What kind of music is that?
EMac: It’s kind of Fela Kuti-inspired, it’s got like a jazzy feel to it. It might be Afrobeat, I dunno. I dunno know what proper Afrobeat is.
MC: It’s not like Vampire Weekend?
EMac: No, it’s not like Vampire Weekend at all. It’s like quite jazzy meets postrock meets…but not Do May Say Think…more jazzy. If that makes any sense at all. The head guy plays an electric kalimba, which is like an African instrument with metal tongs. It’s like a thumb piano, but with a jack on the back. It’s full of hooks. It’s not like pretentious, arty noise. It’s got beautiful and interesting, really great trumpet and saxophone lines and is really engaging. It’s the perfect combination of artiness and actual catchy, interesting music.
Edd Gibson, Friendly Fires: Are there loads of them [about the number of members]? Do they have a brass section?
EMac: Yeah…about 10?
MC: Whoa, big band.

EMac: So, what are you listening to, Ed?
EG: A lot of hip, ambient, drony music. Yeah, a band called Seefeel, and Cocteau Twins, who I haven’t properly listened to them before but I’m just getting into them because when we signed with XL [Recordings], they’re part of the Beggars Group, so we got to raid their warehouse. Gather up all these old LPs, CDs. Going through all of that. Really incredible. So for me, it’s Seefeel and Cocteau Twins.
MC: Seefeel…are they an English band?
EG: No, they’re American. [Author's note: After a search on MySpace, I believe he's referring to an ambient band based in London.]
EMac: To be perfectly honest, we haven’t heard that much English music lately.
EG: Yeah, English music sucks at the moment. (Edd and Ed laugh)
MC: No, don’t say that. I don’t listen to much American music, just a lot of British radio.
EMac: (looks shocked) You’re missing out!
MC: It [American indie music] just never gets played on the radio.
EG: What, English music? (puzzled)
MC: No, American indie music. Like the Airborne Toxic Event, they’re from L.A., and they’ve been to the Black Cat, all over America, all over the UK. They get played on 6music but they wouldn’t have a chance on local radio. And don’t get me started on local radio stations that have no DJs ands are just 7-hour continuous loops.
EMac: American indie bands, this is just a generalization, but I feel like they have less of a desire to sound poppy. Or popular. Whereas in England, it seems like lots of people are trying to write accessible, poppy music. Which is…there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that at all, but I think it means it’s harder for American bands to…I think Vampire Weekend was the last band to have penetrated the English market because their songs are very popular.
EG: And MGMT.
EMac: Yeah, MGMT. But then, their songs are really straight up pop melody and pop hooks. Anything remotely arty or that isn’t trying to be pop or poppy doesn’t really succeed in England. (turns to Edd for agreement) Is that true?
EG: Um, well yeah…I mean, you’re not going to get loads of artsy music [on British mainstream radio].
EMac: Not artsy music, but do you know what I mean, it’s got to be accessible and catchy and poppy in order for it to break in England. But that may apply to American music as well.

MC: I didn’t think Fleet Foxes would become so popular in England. But they did, and then the whole folk-rock-pop thing happened. They’re another band I first heard on British radio. They didn’t become popular in the U.S. until they were massive in Britain first.
EG: Yeah, they got loads of love in the broadsheet papers here and then middle-aged people started listening to them. Saying “Crosby, Stills, and Nash is cool again, but it’s got a different name!”
EMac: I was never a massive fan of Fleet Foxes, but when we were driving through middle America, surrounded by endless fields, someone put it [the Fleet Foxes album] on the soundsystem, and I thought, “now this works, now I get what this is all about.”
MC: Yeah, you might need the right scenery to go with the music.
EMac: The perfect soundtrack.
EG: Their EP was quite good too, but I thought the album was really boring. I think the new Grizzly Bear album is fucking amazing, I think it beats the shit out of that one. (chuckles) So, so beautiful.
EMac: The new Grizzly Bear sounds…”Two Weeks,” “While You Wait for the Others” – they sound like Beach Boys tracks.
EG: And they can pull it off live as well. I don’t know if Fleet Foxes can can do that. Hearing these harmonies live, really amazing.
EMac: It’s funny, I can’t really think of many English bands I listen to. I mean, I enjoy Foals live, but really, Foals sound like they’re a band emulating American bands. I feel like we kind of don’t emulate anyone. Or maybe a little bit. Maybe Do May Say Think in a post-rock sort of way?

MC: We’re almost to the end of May, heading into June and the rest of 2009. What are you most looking forward to doing the rest of the year?
EG: We’re playing Calvi on the Rocks, a festival in Corsica, which is really out of the way. It’s supposed to be one of the most idyllic places. That should be good!
EMac: (smiles broadly) The line-up is brilliant. All sorts of music we love. Good house music. Superpitcher‘s playing. James Murphy DJaying. It’ll be incredible!
MC: So a sort of Ibiza vibe?
EMac: Ah, a little bit, no…it’s kind of not as gross. (all laugh)
EG: (interjects) …unspoiled, untouched…
EMac: A little bit more classier, let’s say. You know, it’s French!
EG: If you take an amazing line-up that you’d be happy to see anywhere, and transport it to some otherworldly, beautiful place. Yeah! That’s what I imagine it to be like. I’ve never been to Corsica! (chuckles)
MC: That sounds like it’ll be a fun time.

EMac: I’m looking forward to finishing new songs, so we have some new material to play onstage. Yeah, that’s what I’m most looking forward to.
MC: Are we going to hear anything new tonight?
EMac: Not tonight, no.
EG: But the brass sections are new.
MC: I haven’t heard “Photobooth” live either.
EG: (puzzled) Have you not?
MC: No, you guys didn’t play that in D.C. [24 March, the first date on the "NME Presents" 2009 tour of North America]
EMac: (frowns, shakes head) That’s because we were made to support, when we were actually supposed to headline.
EG: (to Ed) No, in D.C., we were made to headline but were supposed to support. But they [White Lies] were in L.A or something…
MC: No, they were taping David Letterman in New York.
EMac: (to Edd) They were late, and so we had to support, and then they turned up, they came out.
EG: Oh yeah, you’re right.
EMac: Had we headlined, we would have played it. But, to be fair, we kind of changed “Photobooth” around and added brass to it, so I think it’s good you’re over here now to hear the new live version of it. It’s way better. (grins) But yeah, looking forward to having new songs done, and yeah, being able to have some fucking free time to write some music. Don’t get me wrong, I love playing live, but when you play live all the time, you’re like, you really want to write something new and interesting. A different part of the whole creative process of being in a band. If you’re not doing that creative element, you’ll go insane.
EG: It’ll be good to have another load of songs to choose the best from.
MC: Do you think you’ll be done with the new material before the end of the year?
EG/EMac: No, no way! (both laugh loudly)
MC: (laughs) Sorry, I don’t know what your time frame for finishing songs is!
EG: It’d be amazing if we could. It’s because we haven’t had a proper chance to sit down and do it. It took 2 years to do the first one. Hopefully this one won’t take as long…
EMac: I dunno, maybe 5 years to do the next one… (both laugh)

MC: When will you guys be able to get off the road and go home?
EMac: It doesn’t seem like we ever can! I mean next year, I think we’re booked through June.
EG: We’ve got definite chunks off between September until halfway through October. Towards the end of the year there’ll be patches of free time.
MC: Oh yeah…is it true you’re touring with Maxïmo Park in the fall?
EG: (nods) Yeah, in Germany. They’re huge over there.
EMac: It’s one of those things where it’s a good opportunity, and we get to play to lots of people and yeah, see if we can steal some fans. I’ll be honest, I’ve never been a massive fan of Maxïmo Park, but it was nice of them to ask us. So yeah, so we can to play to a lot more people than perhaps we would on our own.
EG: And people like that are bound to like what we do.
EMac: (laughs) Yeah, if they like them, I’m sure they’ll like us!

MC: Well guys, I think that’s all the questions I have. Is there anything else you’d like to say to America?
EG: (grins) Now I feel like I’m Bernie Mac. (attempts a lower-pitched voice) “Listen up America!”
EMac: But Bernie Mac’s dead though.
EG: Yeah, I dunno then…we love you America!
MC: (to Edd and Ed) Come back to America soon and often, please?
EG: Yeah, and America, keep coming to our shows, please! (smiles)

Author’s note: I’d like to thank Edd and Ed of Friendly Fires very much for taking a large chunk of time out of their day in Nottingham on 24 May for this candid interview and for being so gracious. You chaps are ace – best wishes to you all and cheers.

Three-part interview conducted and transcribed and gig photos in this post by: Mary Chang

Friendly Fires: website | myspace | Friendly Fires album review | Remix Monday: Friendly Fires “Skeleton Boy” | @ Black Cat, Washington D.C. | @ Dot to Dot Festival, Rock City, Nottingham, England | Dot to Dot Interview with: Edd Gibson and Ed Macfarlane of Friendly Fires (Part 1) | Dot to Dot Interview with: Edd Gibson and Ed Macfarlane of Friendly Fires (Part 2)