Some of the Others

OK, so I'm not going to go through every Summer Sonic band, because frankly, I don't intend on seeing them all.

So here's a few bites of other bands that we may stumble upon...

3OH!3

I'm posting the Colorado boys' old hit, only because I really can't stand the new one with slurry pop girl, and I've already posted the teaser track from the new album that's been absolute ear worm this year. So yeah, maybe we'll hang back for a few tracks to represent the 303.



Pavement

OK, so I know I'm supposed to like Pavement and be all hip to their cult status and the impact they've had on music, etc, etc, etc...

The problem is I never really got into them. I mean I've heard of them, heard of Stephen Malkmus, but you'll notice if you peruse this blog that my taste in music doesn't really reflect what was big in the mid to late '90s here in the States. That goes for most of the grunge bands, and what followed.

My ears belonged to Europe and Asia at the time, and it was significantly much more upbeat on either side of either pond. Which suited me just fine.

So maybe this will be an opportunity to discover a band I should have listened to the first time around. Or maybe I'll be catching...

A-Ha

...instead. I mean if this is Pavement's reunion tour, then isn't there some value to the 80's Nordic popsters' farewell tour?

The real question is what do A-Ha fill a farewell tour with? Everyone knows Take On Me, and there was the follow-up video on MTV when the drawn guy runs around the real world. And I think they did the theme to one of the lesser Bond flicks.



Apparently they have more songs. And this is it -- Not that I was ever too concerned about missing them the first time around.

Thirty Seconds to Mars

That Jared Leto can really emote. So maybe it'll be neat to see the theatricality that is Thirty Seconds to Mars.



I don't know if I can take so much pseudo-angst. But I bet they know how to work the stage, and the music can be catchy.

Jay-Z

So he may be the big headliner, and plenty of people have told me he's been the highlight of many a festival lately. But hey, it's not really my cup of tea. Not to mention he's playing at the same time Calvin Harris is doing his DJ set and electronic masters Orbital are getting all techno on other stages.

And I bet he doesn't have Alicia Keys along to sing about New York.



Nas, Richard Ashcroft, The Offspring, The Smashing Pumpkins (and others)

The best part of a festival is that there's a little bit of something for everyone else, no?

Look at me, oh look at me. Is this the way i'll always be?

Looking back, I'm thoroughly surprised I haven't written much about Passion Pit, especially considering I saw them rock out The Ogden here in Denver earlier this year.

Super catchy recorded, these guys are even better live. Even half exhausted sitting in the rafters they got my feet tapping, and had the crowd on the floor pumping.

So it's with some giddiness that I'm glad to get a second chance to see them this year at Summer Sonic, hopefully a little more energetic myself.

Sleepyhead


Little Secrets


The Reeling

Delphic Take on Japan

Delphic is probably one of the bands I'm most excited to catch at Summer Sonic.

Their debut album Acolyte has been a constant companion in the car this summer. If you haven't given these electronic wizards a spin, CATCH UP HERE. Their videos

Alas, they've already beat me to Japan, it seems...

No, I can talk...

I've already given a bunch of love to Two Door Cinema Club, so I think I've made my point. Clearly, I'm excited to see them in Osaka!

Yes Giantess

The beauty of a music festival is that you start planning your way around the timetable and find yourself looking up bands you've never heard.

So it's thanks to the post-Hurts slot at Summer Sonic that I gave Boston-based electro band Yes Giantess a whirl.

Guess what?

They're a lot of fun, and should put on a high energy show! No surprise, seeing as they're pals with the Passion Pit guys, who also know how to get a crowd going (and play later on the same stage).

The Ruins

Wonderful Life

For the next week, consider this corner of the internet a Summer Sonic 2010 playlist.

First up, the early band we'll be aiming to catch over at Maishima.

I've already introduced you to Hurts early leaks, and some are comparing them (for good reason) to 80's icons Pet Shop Boys. A band with a clear image and solid tunes, I'll be surprised if this suited-up duo don't give it a real go.

Here's the spruced up, sexier, video for Wonderful Life, now the official lead single for their upcoming debut album, Happiness.



A great way to start a festival, indeed

We are all illuminated. Lights are shining on our faces.

Hurts finally have their debut album Happiness hitting those proverbial shelves in September, so they're ramping up the leaks to try and get you to actually buy it (as if there's any question I will).

Here's the latest tune they're testing out with the masses. It's live and it's Illuminated.



I'm definitely now more excited to see them live in a few weeks at Summer Sonic!

There's also some sort of new full-fledged video about to drop. Keep an eye out for it here.

Two Door Cinema Club

The neatest part of going to a music festival, especially when there are already plenty of bands you know, is the discovery of new things you might like.

Later this summer we'll be hitting one of the Summer Sonic days in Japan. Filled to the brim with up-and-coming musicians we've had on our radar (Orbital, Hurts, Delphic, Passion Pit, Calvin Harris and 3Oh!3 among others), the festival is already having a spillover effect on our iPods.

Take Two Door Cinema Club, for instance. Were they not playing on the same stage as some of the above, they may not have gotten our attention just yet. Effusive and likeable, this Northern Irish group is proving to be a nice frothy summer addition to the ol' iPod.

Something Good Can Work


Undercover Martyn


I Can Talk


Fittingly, they also have a cheeky little lushy tour of Japan they've posted up...