Words by Timo Mitchel
Top 10 sets of North Coast Music Festival
1) The Disco Biscuits – These guys stole the show on Friday night. Their production was by far the best at the Last Stand stage, and it was refreshing to hear live instruments at a stage that leaned heavily to the mainstream DJ’s all weekend. Lasers, lights, and groovy tunes kept us in awe the entire hour and twenty minutes.
2) Big Gigantic – One word to describe the sound. Overpowering. At some points I felt like I was engulfed by bass, but right on cue the sweet sounds of Lalli on the saxophone would keep me grooving. At one point there were hundreds of beach balls bouncing around in front of the stage, and a cat that was destroying a city with laser beams shooting from its eyes. Colorado flags were waving high and proud during this set.
3) Porn and Chicken – It’s hot out and it’s early in the day. Well, no one told that to the massive crowd that showed up 2:30 P.M. for Porn and Chicken. Chicago’s very own brought the fire in a set that featured non-stop twerking, confetti, heart-pounding bass, and the ladies in the crowd having a chance to dance on stage. This group knows how to throw a party.
4) Aloe Blacc – Soul, and lots of it. This was by far one of the best performances that went on at North Coast or anywhere in the world on Saturday. He’s a performer that keeps the crowd singing and dancing for his entire set. Definitely one of the most talented musicians at the festival. But sadly, we didn’t see a live collaboration with Big Gigantic on “I Need a Dollar.”
5) Gramatik – This was the first time I’d seen Gramatik add a live electric guitar player in his set. The flow was effortless. Soul, bass, samples, and a Hendrix like guitar cry came together to put on one hell of a performance. Lalli did take the stage during this set to add a beautiful bluesy saxophone rift to one of Gramatik’s new tracks. This show’s originality is untouchable at this point.
6) AlunaGeorge – Front woman Aluna Francis is hella sexy as she pops and drops to each of this group’s dance-pop hits. Though the set was cut in half by weather, the talented duo from the U.K. still dropped hit after hit to keep the crowd grooving. “Attracting Flies,” “White Noise,” and “Your Drums, Your Love” were some highlights of their set.
7) Capital Cities – Another of Friday’s best shows that was unfortunately cut by weather. The boys kept everyone inspired by the Funk, and ended with a condensed version of “Safe and Sound” before they exited the stage and the park was evacuated. Harmony and a fantastic live band are the elements that give this group such an infectious sound.
8) Cherub – I’ll be honest, I went to see “Doses and Mimosas.” However, the band puts on a fantastic performance throughout that seemed to build in excitement until the inevitable climax that everyone was waiting for
9) Zoogma – They debuted a ton of new material that showed the band’s evolving sound. This experimental electronic rock band brought my ears to their happy place for the entire set. The boys from Nashville have a sound that’s growing into something special.
10) Brassft Punk – The boys from New Orleans brought the heat during their daytime set at North Coast. Everything you love about Daft Punk with a New Orleans inspired funky twist. It’s still early for this project, but look out for some big time performances from this group and anything else The Madd Wikkid gets his hands on.
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