Friday, May 27, 2011

Monstrously good Sasquatch! music recommendations

By Korina Lopez, USA TODAY

Can't make it out to the Sasquatch! Music Festival? Not to worry. NPR Music will webcast and broadcast the last three days of the George, Wash., event (Saturday through Monday, 11:30 a.m.-11:30 p.m. PT), and we've come up with a few suggestions from the lineup to add to your listening list.

  • Aloe Blacc will be among the dozens of acts performing at the Sasquatch! Music Festival in George, Wash., this weekend.

    By Ian Gavan, Getty Images

    Aloe Blacc will be among the dozens of acts performing at the Sasquatch! Music Festival in George, Wash., this weekend.

By Ian Gavan, Getty Images

Aloe Blacc will be among the dozens of acts performing at the Sasquatch! Music Festival in George, Wash., this weekend.

Rodrigo y Gabriela: If two people sitting on a big stage strumming guitars sounds like a snorefest, you haven't seen Rodrigo Sanchez and Gabriela Quintero perform. Their thrilling mastery of the instruments began on the streets of their native Mexico City and led them to busking on Dublin's Grafton Street, a mecca for street performers where many artists have been discovered. They've been a festival treat since they released their self-titled debut album in 2006. The interplay between Rodrigo's intricate melodies and Gabriela's dizzying rhythmic strums is a heart-pounding, jaw-dropping experience.

Bassnectar: In the '90s, electronica dance parties were called raves, often held on shoestring budgets in empty warehouses with questionable plumbing where drum 'n' bass DJs shook dance floors with bass-heavy, organ-shifting grooves. DJ and electronica artist Bassnectar (aka Lorin Ashton) explores dubstep, a descendant of drum 'n' bass that slows the fast-paced tradition down a notch. The result: a primal musical experience of grinding bass lines and raw soundscapes.

Pink Martini: For world-music fans, this group will be a feast for the ears. The "mini-orchestra" is comprised of 12 musicians and led by Thomas Lauderdale, a Portland, Ore., native. Self-described "music archeologists," their sound is a playful blend of Hollywood musical, classical, jazz and pop.

Aloe Blacc: This modern soul artist channels Al Green and Marvin Gaye into thoughtful, beautiful melodies such as I Need a Dollar and Loving You Is Killing Me. If you're a fan of old R&B and soulful songs about heartbreak, Blacc is well worth a listen.

Matt & Kim: This duo hails from Brooklyn, along with seemingly every aspiring indie-rock darling. But these two deserve the accolades. Their bouncing brand of dance punk, along with their funny, playful onstage banter, makes them a hot ticket to see live.

The Antlers: Another Brooklyn-based group, this electronica outfit is the opposite of Matt & Kim. They create haunting melodies and expansive soundscapes.

Honorable mentions: These bands are well known as far as indie artists go, but if you haven't heard of them yet, they're well worth your time.

Ratatat -

Iron & Wine

Robyn

Wolf Parade

Yeasayer

Local Natives

Sleigh Bells

Fitz & the Tantrums

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