Saturday at Sasquatch

June 15, 2012

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Pickwick - Hacienda Hands on the Mainstage

Hacienda Hands on the Mainstage ::: Photo by Josh Lovseth

Saturday’s Sasquatch was marked by both the bigger names and the up-and-comers in our schedule really showing up for the crowd.

Pickwick –> Charles Bradley and the Menahan Street Band on the Sasquatch Mainstage

Pickwick’s selection to open the Saturday mainstage put the band on their biggest stage yet, and they proved their booking wise with one of the more fiery performances I’ve seen from them and with it the biggest showing of Hacienda Hands yet. The “Screaming Eagle of Soul” Charles Bradley and his Menahan Street Band followed them up and with a combination of expert hip shaking and robot moves that never fails to bring a smile. With such a strong showing by both bands my only lament is that this pairing wasn’t on later in the so they could be in front of more people.

Alabama Shakes

This actually from Alabama five-piece is the latest band find a tidal wave of early interest thanks to the magnifying effect ye ole Internet, and yet they actually have the chops to be deserving of those roving eyes and ears. A southern Soul band the likes of which recent generations haven’t seen, lead singer Brittany Howard sings intuitively and full throated over a locked in guitar groove. By contrast to the buttoned up and tightly rehearsed soul of yesteryear putting spit and shine on life with harmonies and a horn section, the Shakes garage gospel is naturally funky and rough, not just “rock” but a true helping of vintage “rock and roll” to stir up the adults as much as the kids.

Shins –> Jack White

The newest iteration of the Shins has James Mercer surrounding himself with a group of ringers to bring life to the latest batch of songs and breathe some into plenty of old ones. The differences caught me off guard at first, but I mostly dug the rhythm changes Mercer thew our way. Jack White’s surrounded himself with his own set of ringers, and too be sure, they are also unfuckwithable. It’s an ultra-competent gospel leaning blues band that White has probably always wanted to assemble as a backing, one where the band stands out as much as the frontman. And as we all know, that is really saying something.