Fatal Lucciauno ::: Photo by Josh Lovseth

The smallest stage was nestled on a hill in the center of the Gorge grounds but played host to some of the weekend’s biggest personalities and most entertaining sets. Whatever you might think of Seattle as a hotbed, this year’s edition of Sasquatch’s hip hop focused Maine stage (as in the northeastern state and the slang?) each day was a glorious afternoon primer in the best the 206 has to offer. The inclusion of Sub Pop’s dynamic interconnected duo of duo’s THEESatisfaction and Shabazz Palaces on larger stages elevated the weekend from a primer to an eloquent treatise on the finer points. Situated just yard from the Banana Shack dance tent with crowds constantly passing by, a few groups stuck out for their ability to deliver an attention-grabbing set under a dusty sun and divert folks from the oh-so-enticing lasers.

Metal Chocolates [Friday]

Late afternoon Friday Producer/MC OC Notes and Fresh Espresso MC Rik Rude had the unenviable job of keeping Girl Talk fans interested for more than 45 seconds. Upon hearing of their taste for blunts in the opening remarks, one such fan was kind enough to dance and roll a lengthy blunt at the same time (mad skills!), and pass it to the stage mid-burn. Like DTTC (see below) the duo’s goofy repoire could just as easily have been booked in a transition slot between comedy and dance music in the Banana Shack. The unofficial dancers who made their way to the stage weaving between the duo as the pair themselves dropped lines over OC Notes basement beats, wouldn’t be the last time the crowd took to the stage to show their approval and participate.

Metal Chocolates ::: Photo by Josh Lovseth

::: Photo by Josh Lovseth

Fatal Lucciauno [Saturday]

Fatal Lucciauno’s set was host to probably the most frenzied crowd at Maine Stage I saw all weekend (though apparently Sol’s was also hype). Lucciauno’s a street poet who commands his audience, providing a scathing entertainment to emphatically point middle fingers in the air with. He’s utterly comfortable with the core traditions of rap, and often riffing a capella his self-confident literate performance leaves little room for doubt about his command. After his crowd took over the stage Lucciauno ventured into the audience and surrounded himself, feeding off of the crowd’s response himself and going even harder. It was a rare positive feedback loop I can’t say I’ve often experienced, and expected least of all at a massive festival.

Don’t Talk To the Cops ::: Photo by Josh Lovseth

Don’t Talk to the Cops [Monday]

There are joke bands and then bands that make jokes. Late Monday night Jack Black and Friends doing “The Pick of Destiny” with a giant inflatable cock-and-balls as a backdrop were the joke, and a tired one that didn’t bear repeating after 2006 (or maybe even in 2006). Earlier that day on the other hand Emecks and BlesOne (and DJ El Mizell) were a band for whom life is the joke to be constantly milking amusement out of. Ferociously serious about being unserious, their coordinated dances and uncommonly wry raps about coffee and getting rich lend a light-heartedness to the very important business of ushering along the party times. In short, they were perfect for Sasquatch.

Don’t Talk To the Cops ::: Photo by Josh Lovseth