80/35 Festival 2012 Preview

Since 2008, downtown Des Moines (where the I-80 meets the I-35) has played host to a diverse line-up of alternative acts and more as close as the weekend can...
80/35 Festival 2012 Preview

80/35 Festival 2012 Preview

Since 2008, downtown Des Moines (where the I-80 meets the I-35) has played host to a diverse line-up of alternative acts and more as close as the weekend can get to the Fourth of July, bringing the music to your favorite state in the heartland (producing presidential primary upsets, not to mention pioneering the legalization of gay marriage).  So celebrate America, Friday & Saturday, July 6th & 7th, at Western Gateway Park:

 

FRIDAY, JULY 6TH

Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield Stage

The Avett Brothers, 9:00 PM

One of the bigger – and better – hits of today’s new Americana (QRO photos at a festival), The Avett Brothers (QRO photos) won a wide audience with 2009’s fine country of I and Love and You (QRO review), including playing on The Grammys with Bob Dylan.

The Avett Brothers
Dinosaur Jr., 7:00 PM

Back & better than ever!  In the late eighties and early nineties, one of the biggest & best bands in the punk-grunge revolution was Dinosaur Jr. (QRO live review), combining a hippie-punk ethos (and artwork) with feedback-driven guitar from the legendary J Mascis (QRO solo album review).  The trio (QRO live review) was also characterized by Mascis’ controlling tendencies, leading to the departure first of bassist Lou Barlow (QRO solo album review) for his Sebadoh (QRO live review) and eventually even beloved drummer Murph, with Mascis retiring the ‘Dinosaur Jr.’ moniker in 1997.

But then the band reunited (QRO live review outdoors) – with original line-up! – to tour their re-release of old, Barlow-era records.  And they kept going (QRO photos at a festival), putting out two new records that are some of their best yet, Beyond (QRO review) and Farm (QRO review), with I Bet On Sky coming out this fall.  So revel in the glory that is Dinosaur Jr. (QRO photos) – but bring your earplugs, because J’s ‘circle of amps’ is a force to be reckoned with (QRO photos at a festival)…

Dinosaur Jr.
Fucked Up, 5:00 PM

While Holy Fuck (QRO live review) lost the Polaris Music Prize in 2008, that kind of a name didn’t stop Fucked Up from winning it the following year with Chemistry of Common Life (though it almost derailed The Pool Parties at Williamsburg Waterfront in Brooklyn – QRO photos), and the band followed that up with singles collection Couple Tracks (QRO review) and last year’s concept rock opus, David Comes to Life.  Whether their hardcore music lives up to praise rarely given to hardcore is still up for debate, but what isn’t is how nuts the crowd goes for this act out of Toronto (QRO photos outdoors), with singer/frontman Damian Abraham bringing it, shirtless and crazy (QRO photos at a festival).

Fucked Up
Hy-Vee Triathlon Stage

Pieta Brown, 8:00 PM

Iowa City’s own Pieta Brown has played with the likes of Amos Lee & Calexico, but comes to 80/35 all on her own to headline the Hy-Vee Triathlon Stage.

 

Also:

Bright Giant, 7:00 PM

Tajh, 6:00 PM

80/35 Play In Slot*, 5:00 PM

Pieta Brown
Kum & Go Stage

John Solarz, 11:00 PM

Alex Brown, 10:00 PM

DJ Eight Ten, 9:00 PM

Freddie Gibbs, 8:15 PM – QRO photos at a festival

Useful Jenkins, 7:00 PM

Dumptruck Butterlips, 5:45 PM

Dustin Smith & The Sunday Silos, 5:00 PM

Freddie Gibbs

 

 

SATURDAY, JULY 7TH

Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield Stage

Death Cab for Cutie, 9:00 PM

When Pacific Northwest alternative favorite Death Cab for Cutie (QRO photos at a festival) left long-time indie imprint Barsuk for major Label Atlantic in 2005 with Plans, fans thought the sky might be falling.  But instead, Death Cab (QRO photos) has released not one, but two of their best records to-date, following up Plans in 2010 with the excellent Narrow Stairs (QRO review) – and their latest, Codes and Keys (QRO review), out last year.

Singer/guitarist Ben Gibbard may have gone from dork to looking like a Cascadian beefcake (QRO photos at a festival) – he was married to Zooey Deschanel of She & Him (QRO live review)/The New Girl (meanwhile, his side project, The Postal Service, may never release a follow-up to the much beloved Give Up), but guitarist Chris Walla is still an indie producer extraordinaire (and kept his alt-cred with his own solo record la few years ago on Barsuk, Field ManualQRO review).  And with over a decade’s worth of strong material (QRO photos), their well is deep for a wide performance (QRO photos at a festival).

Death Cab for Cutie
Leftover Salmon, 7:00 PM

From Boulder, Colorado comes the “Polyethnic Cajun Stamgrass” of Leftover Salmon, with their unique blend of bluegrass, rock, country, and Cajun zydeco making them a mainstay on the jam-band festival circuit (QRO photos at a festival).

Leftover Salmon
Atmosphere, 5:00 PM

The DJ/producer and rapper duo hailing all the way from Minneapolis, Minnesota, has already garnered themselves the reputation of one of hip hops most cacophonous and respected acts.  Known for his aggressive and energetic performances, Atmosphere’s set is a definite must-see (QRO photos at a festival).

Atmosphere
Greensky Bluegrass, 3:15 PM

From Kalamazoo-zoo-zoo comes the progressive Greensky Bluegrass – and yes, they play bluegrass (this ain’t File Under: Easy Listening…).

 

Also:

Christopher the Conquered & His Black Gold Brass Band, 1:30 PM

80/35 Play In Slot*, 12:00 PM

Greensky Bluegrass
Hy-Vee Triathlon Stage

Dead Larry, 8:00 PM

Leslie & The LY’s, 7:00 PM

Mantis Pincers, 6:00 PM

The Sundogs, 5:00 PM

Maxilla Blue, 4:00 PM

Mumford’s, 3:00 PM

The Sun Company, 2:00 PM

Little Ruckus, 1:00 PM

80/35 Play In Slot*, 12:00 PM

The Sundogs
Kum & Go Stage

DJs:

Brad Goldman, 11:00 PM

Jesse Jamz, 10:00 PM

Jade Reed, 9:00 PM

Brad Coleman
Dan Deacon, 8:00 PM

One of the acts bringing the wild, DIY element to 80/35 is Dan Deacon (QRO photos).  The Baltimore native is a man of many talents, including throwing his own DIY festivals & tours, like 2009’s ‘Round Robin’ tour (QRO live review) with No Age (QRO live review) & Deerhunter (QRO live review).   But he’s still best known as an electronic musician, most recently with Bromst (QRO review) but soon with the new America, which get wild live, whether with his fifteen-piece backing band (QRO live review) or Deacon standing & playing from in the crowd (QRO photos, outdoors at a festival).

Dan Deacon
K-Holes, 6:45 PM

K-Holes (QRO photos at a festival) crushed all in their path with their seventies-style demolition punk rock on last year’s K-Holes (QRO review), and did it again with this year’s Dismania, so check them out – if you date (QRO photos at a festival)…

K-Holes
Jason Isbell and The 400 Unit, 5:45 PM

Still probably best known for his work in Drive-By Truckers (QRO album review, post-Isbell), since driving off in 2008 Isbell has been focused on his solo work, with backing band The 400 Unit, most recently with last year’s Here We Rest and touring earlier this year in support of Ryan Adams.

Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit
Jaill, 4:45 PM

Milwaukee’s Jaill (with two ‘l’s) come to 80/35 behind last month’s new Traps, out on Sub Pop Records sister-label Hardly Art.

Jaill
Night Moves, 3:45 PM

Described as a “country-flavored MGMT” (QRO live review), if you can imagine that, or even if you can’t, check out Domino Records’ newest signee, Night Moves.

Night Moves
Mark Mallman, 2:45 PM

Maybe nobody in music works harder than Mark Mallman (QRO live review).  The energy keyboardist has put out a ton of albums, including 2009’s Invincible Criminal (QRO review), but is best known for his ‘marathon performances’, most recently a seventy-eight hour performance in his hometown of St. Paul (with 576 pages of lyrics), where he injured his foot but kept on going.  Major Chris Coleman made that October 7th-10th ‘Mark Mallman Days’, with a proclamation that includes the statement, “Whereas Mark Mallman is totally AWESOME.”  Couldn’t agree more…

Mark Mallman
Delta Rae, 1:45 PM

The latest female-led folk-rock outfit to capture wider notice has been Durham’s Delta Rae, behind this year’s Carry the Fire.

Delta Rae
Now, Now, 12:45 PM

From just up north in Minneapolis comes indie-rock outfit Now, Now (QRO photos – previously Now, Now Every Children and NNEC), who come to 80/35 (QRO photos at a festival) behind this year’s Threads (QRO review).

 

Also:

Derek Lambert & The Prairie Fires, 12:00 PM

Now, Now

 

 

For festival website, go here: http://80-35.com/

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