KAABOO Texas 2019 Preview

One of the classiest festivals out there has been Southern California’s KAABOO Del Mar, which this year first expanded to the Cayman Islands and now Arlington, Texas, Friday-Sunday, May...
Kaaboo Texas

KAABOO Texas 2019 Preview

One of the classiest festivals out there has been Southern California’s KAABOO Del Mar (QRO 2018 recap), which this year first expanded to the Cayman Islands (QRO recap) and now Arlington, Texas, Friday-Sunday, May 10th-12th:

 

 

FRIDAY, MAY 10th

Metroplex Stage

The Killers, 9:30 PM – 11:30 PM

The Killers (QRO photos) broke out of their Las Vegas home in 2004 with debut Hot Fuss and great singles “Somebody Told Me” and “Mr. Brightside” – and have failed to match that since. 2006’s attempt at greatness Sam’s Town didn’t make it, and after 2008’s middling Day & Age (QRO review) singer Brandon Flowers went solo for his own middling work. But the group has since come back (QRO photos) with 2012’s Battle Born (QRO review) and 2017’s Wonderful Wonderful (QRO review) – and they still play Hot Fuss live (QRO live review).
The Killers
Alanis Morissette, 7:45 PM – 9:00 PM

“Isn’t it ironic?” With that line and 1995’s Jagged Little Pill, Alanis Morissette became the musician that “You Oughta Know”, practically the poster girl for the wave of nineties indie-rock songstresses. No, nothing’s matched that since, but she’s kept busy in music & more, including appearing as God in Kevin Smith’s Dogma and starring in the Philip K. Dick adaptation Radio Free Albemuth. She plays KAABOO Texas after doing the Del Mar edition in 2017.
Alanis Morissette
Bush, 6:15 PM – 7:15 PM

Britain’s Bush (QRO photos) became an American breakout in the nineties alt-grunge scene thanks to frontman Gavin Rossdale and songs like “Glycerine” (which Homer Simpson’s own grunge band Sadgasm did as “Margarine”). Of course they broke up as the new millennium dawned, and of course they reunited, behind 2010’s Sea of Memories (QRO review). They come to KAABOO Texas (QRO photos at a festival) behind 2017’s Black and White Rainbows.
Bush
Blue October, 4:45 PM – 5:45 PM

From just over in Houston, alt-rock outfit Blue October come to KAABOO Texas behind last year’s I Hope You’re Happy.

Blue October

Ford Pegasus Stage

Lionel Richie, 8:45 PM – 10:15 PM

For a huge-name, mainstream headliner, how about Lionel Richie (QRO photos at a festival)? He was barely out of Motown icons Commodores before he got his first big hit in 1982 with “Truly”, and is a mega-star not just in the States but also around the world, most recently gaining a following in the Middle East. He’s got the pipes and knows how to craft a tune, and is even a judge on the revived American Idol.

Plus, he’s got a Mogwai song named after him, “You’re Lionel Ritchie” (QRO video)…
Lionel Richie
Ms. Lauryn Hill, 7:00 PM – 8:15 PM

Welcome back, Ms. Lauryn Hill (QRO photos)! Originally a member of nineties hip-hop/soul breakthrough collective The Fugees, Hill broke out on her own in a huge way with 1998’s solo debut The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, which debuted at number one, swept the Grammys, and made Hill an international celebrity.

However, all that attention took its toll, and after 2001’s far less acclaimed or successful MTV Unplugged No. 2.0 Hill’s appearances and releases became sporadic and erratic, and she still has yet to release a proper solo follow-up. Things seemed to hit a nadir a few years ago, when she not only infuriated fans by showing up hours late to her own shows, but was convicted of tax evasion and served a three-month prison stint.

But since then Hill has majorly bounced back, on-time and out there, and with that she comes to play KAABOO Texas (QRO photos at a festival).
Ms. Lauryn Hill
Ludacris, 5:15 PM – 6:30 PM

One of the first and most influential Dirty South rappers, Ludacris has found a whole new audience in The Fast and The Furious movies as Tej Parker.
Ludacris
Also:

Larkin Poe, 3:45 PM – 4:45 PMQRO album review

Larkin Poe

Choctaw Maverick Stage

Joan Jett & The Blackhearts, 7:20 PM – 8:50 PM

“I love rock ‘n’ roll / So put another dime in the jukebox, baby!” Joan Jett (QRO photos at a festival) emerged from the seventies glam-rock scene but soon moved into rock with The Runaways (and was played by Kristen Stewart in the movie about the band’s career), produced The Germs’ one-and-only album (GI), but found fame fronting her own Blackhearts and that 1982 hit single. Other hits followed, and Jett helped inspired the Riot Grrrl movement of the nineties (as well as producing lead Grrrl act, Bikini Kill), and was recently inducted into the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame. Plus, she’s still kicking it live (QRO photos outdoors).
Joan Jett & The Blackhearts
Old 97’s, 5:45 PM – 6:45 PM

Old 97’s (QRO live review) helped forget the alt-country sound-scene in the nineties alongside the likes of The Drive-By Truckers and Uncle Tupelo, and have just kept on truckin’ ever since, past the double-digits in full-lengths with 2017’s Graveyard Whistling (QRO review).
Old 97’s
Los Lobos, 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM

Back when Hispanic culture was virtually unknown in mainstream America, Los Lobos introduced gringos to Chicano rock, which draws from all sides of all borders, from traditional boleros to gospel to rock ‘n’ roll. They’ve evolved from touring in a Dodge van to playing the White House (not the current administration…), yet have stayed true to their roots.



Also:

Acid Dad, 2:45 PM – 3:30 PM

Los Lobos

Coors Light Rowdy Stage

Chromeo, 12:45 AM – 1:45 AM

There are combos and then there are combos: Montreal’s Chromeo (QRO live review) are the electro-funk duo of Dave 1 (David Macklovitch) and P-Thugg (Patrick Gemayel) has been best friends since childhood (QRO live review), billing themselves as, “The only successful Arab/Jewish collaboration since the beginning of time” (but what is their stance on Québécois independence?…). And their electronica works outdoors (QRO photos outdoors), day or night (QRO live review), even at a festival (QRO photos at a festival). They come to KAABOO Texas (QRO photos at a festival) with their great show (QRO live review), off of this year’s Head Over Heels (QRO review), to do a late night DJ set (QRO photos DJing).
Chromeo
Cash Cash, 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM

The trio of DJs that is Cash Cash (QRO photos at a festival) from their native New Jersey, off of 2016’s Blood, Sweat & 3 Years and countless remixes.
Cash Cash
Also:

Chantel Jeffries, 4:15 PM – 5:30 PM

Kap Slap, 2:05 PM – 3:05 PM

Kap Slap

Geico Humor Me Stage

Jim Breuer, 11:45 PM – 12:45 AM

Jim Breuer has been all over the place, maybe best known from his time on Saturday Night Live (including his ‘Goat Boy’ character, host of the fictional MTV program Hey, Remember the 80s?) – or Half Baked, of course. But he’s also been everything from the resident comedian on hit radio show Opie and Anthony Show to Mets super-fan to opening for Metallica on their tour this year.
Jim Breuer
Dennis Miller, 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM

The greatest ever host of Saturday Night Live’s ‘Weekend Update’, he’s also had his own HBO talk show, did color commentary on Monday Night Football, his own radio show, and a long-running stand-up career.
Dennis Miller
Also:

Garfunkel & Oates, 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM

Chad Daniels, 3:15 PM – 4:15 PM

Garfunkel & Oates

Maker’s Mark Palate Stage

Sean Brock, 5:50 PM – 6:45 PM

Bryan Caswell, 4:45 PM – 5:40 PM

Brad Albers, 3:35 PM – 4:15 PM
Sean Brock

 

 

SATURDAY, MAY 11th

Metroplex Stage

Kid Rock, 10:05 PM – 11:35 PM

My name is KID! ROCK! (QRO photos at a festival)!!! You’re already well familiar with Robert James Ritchie, who’s become one of the most popular musicians out there as Kid Rock. He pulled that off by seamlessly moving from rapping to country, maybe the only person who’s ever pulled that off (there was even some metal in there, too), and is loved by everyone from Jon Stewart to Red State America.
Kid Rock
Lynyrd Skynyrd, 7:50 PM – 9:20 PM

Do you really need to be told who Lynyrd Skynyrd (QRO photos) is? The band that made and spread the southern rock sound in the seventies, they suffered a massive loss in a plane crash at the height of the success in 1977 – but reunited ten years later with new lead singer Johnny Van Zant, the younger brother of late singer/founder Ronnie Van Zant, and kept on since. And while they’re best known for the best state song ever, “Sweet Home Alabama”, they’re actually from Florida (QRO photos at a festival) – plus a chance to finally get your request for “Freebird” answered…
Lynyrd Skynyrd
Collective Soul, 6:20 PM – 7:20 PM

Another nineties alt-hit playing KAABOO Texas, Collective Soul and frontman Ed Roland (QRO photos at a festival) bring their long history to the festival – including, yes, iconic song of the era, “Shine”.
Collective Soul
Rick Springfield, 5:05 PM – 5:50 PM

We all wish we had “Jessie’s Girl”, the seminal hit by eighties rock icon Rick Springfield, who’s had a slew of other great singles, not to mention acting work from General Hospital to American Horror Story.
Rick Springfield
Also:

The Band Camino, 4:00 PM – 4:35 PMQRO photos

The Band Camino

Ford Pegasus Stage

Black Eyed Peas, 8:00 PM – 9:30 PM

One of the most popular groups of the twenty-first century, Black Eyed Peas moved from alternative hip-hop to dance-pop to find massive fame (about when Fergie joined). If that lost them critical love, that got them tons of popular love, making will.i.am, apl.de.ap, and Taboo superstars. They come to KAABOO Texas behind last year’s politically charged Masters of the Sun Vol. 1.
Black Eyed Peas
Flo Rida, 6:00 PM – 7:15 PM

Flo Rida, who surprisingly enough hails from well, Florida, makes club music. He makes music that makes babies. Ok, maybe not babies, but it makes sweat, and that sweat comes from the writhing bodies that smush together when listening to music from Flo Rida. Expect the same writhing, sweaty bodies during his KAABOO Texas set, after playing KAABOO Cayman earlier this year (QRO photos from KAABOO Cayman ’19).
Flo Rida
Garbage, 4:30 PM – 5:30 PM

After Butch Vig produced a little ol’ album called Nevermind, he went on to form Garbage (QRO photos outdoors), who broke out fast & in a huge way in the mid-nineties with hits like “Only Happy When It Rains”, “Queer”, “I Think I’m Paranoid”, and more (QRO photos outdoors). Fronted by frontwoman extraordinaire Shirley Manson, they went on to do theme songs for James Bond & Romeo + Juliet – and played the opening of the Scottish Parliament.

Unfortunately, label issues, health problems, and releasing an album right after 9/11 limited their twenty-first century success, and their hiatus seemed permanent, as Vig went back to producing (winning Grammys for the likes of Foo Fighters’ Wasting LightQRO review) and Manson joined the cast of FOX’s Terminator: Sarah Connor Chronicles. But the group regrouped (QRO photos at a festival – and FOX cancelled Chronicles) in 2010, and are back & great with 2012’s Not Your Kind of People (QRO review) and 2016’s Strange Little Birds (QRO review). The band (QRO photos from the prior weekend) plays KAABOO Texas after doing the Del Mar edition in 2017.
Garbage
Also:

Los Lonely Boys, 3:00 PM – 4:00 PMQRO photos at a festival

D and Chi, 2:00 PM – 2:30 PM

Los Lonely Boys

Choctaw Maverick Stage

Violent Femmes, 7:15 PM – 8:45 PM

The New Wave that acts like The Talking Heads ushered in back in the eighties saw a number of ‘geek rock’ outfits grab the listening public, from They Might Be Giants to Violent Femmes (QRO photos outdoors), who hit it big in 1983 with the self-titled debut and singles such as “Blister In the Sun” and “Kiss Off”. Follow-up records didn’t find the same success, and the band went on numerous hiatuses/break-ups. Drummer Victor DeLorenzo left in 1993 only to return in 2002, but the biggest split was between singer/guitarist Gordon Gano and bassist Brian Ritchie over Gano selling the rights to “Blister” to be used in a Wendy’s commercial in 2007. A lawsuit ensued, and this break-up seemed to be for good, but in 2016 they somehow reunited again for another run at the festival circuit (QRO photos at a festival), though DeLorenzo’s left again, to be replaced by Brian Vigilione of Dresden Dolls (QRO photos with Vigilione at a festival). That year they even released a new album, We Can Do Anything (QRO review). Let them go on.
Violent Femmes
Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real, 5:45 PM – 6:45 PM

Rivaling Sean Lennon and Jakob Dylan in fatherly shadows to get out of, Willie Nelson’s own son Lukas (QRO photos of them together at the elder Wilson’s 80th birthday celebration) has established his own country name with his band, Promise of the Real (QRO live review).
Lukas Nelson
X, 4:15 PM – 5:15 PM

A hugely influential punk band playing KAABOO Texas is X (QRO photos). Begun back when punk begun in 1977, fronted by the likes of Exene Cervenka & John Doe, they achieved only limited mainstream success, but have since been hailed as possibly the best live band ever (QRO live review). They’ve even been recognized by their own City of Los Angeles (QRO photos at a festival in Los Angeles) – and have even played their own 1980 debut Los Angeles in its entirety (QRO photos of X playing Los Angeles at a festival).
X
Also:

American Aquarium, 2:45 PM – 3:30 PMQRO photos

The Dip, 1:35 PM – 2:15 PM

American Aquarium

Coors Light Rowdy Stage

Cheat Codes, 12:45 AM – 1:45 AM

Electronic trio Cheat Codes (QRO photos at a festival) come to KAABOO fresh off the international success of hit single “Sex” (which samples Salt-n-Pepa’s 1991 classic “Let’s Talk About Sex”).
Cheat Codes
Paul Oakenfold, 5:45 PM – 7:00 PM

One of, if not the first superstar DJ/producer, Paul Oakenfold paved the way for the electronica boom of the nineties (as well as giving birth to the famed Ibiza rave scene on the Spanish tourist isle), but he himself was hampered by touring and label issues. But he’s kept on keeping on, working with everyone from Shifty Shellshock (of Crazy Town and Celebrity Rehab) to opening for Madonna, and playing festivals.
Paul Oakenfold
Also:

The Him, 3:15 PM – 4:45 PM

CVBZ, 1:15 PM – 2:15 PM

CVBZ

Geico Humor Me Stage

Brad Garrett, 9:15 PM – 10:15 PM

Everyone in America & beyond know Brad Garrett as Raymond’s morose brother Robert on long-running hit sitcom Everybody Loves Raymond – Robert may have always been in the shadow of his brother Raymond on the show, but Garrett often outshone the star on the show. He’s had a lot of work since then, from cartoons like Finding Nemo to stand-up comedy, which he brings – with his distinctive deep voice – to KAABOO Texas.
Brad Garrett
Also:

Bate Bargatze, 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM

Heather McDonald, 4:45 PM – 5:45 PM

Kate Willet, Billy Wayne Davis, Chris “CP” Powell, 2:15 PM – 3:15 PM

Heather McDonald

Maker’s Mark Palate Stage

Michelle Bernstein, 5:50 PM – 6:45 PM

Kent Rathbun, 3:45 PM – 4:40 PM

Jeremy Ford, 2:30 PM – 3:15 PM

Eduardo Garcia, 1:30 PM – 2:15 PM
Michelle Bernstein

 

 

SUNDAY, MAY 12th

Metroplex Stage

Sting, 9:35 PM – 11:35 PM

In KAABOO Texas’ roster of ‘musicians that need no introduction,’ no one is less needing than Sting (QRO photos). From his days fronting The Police to his storied solo career, this Knight of the British Empire (QRO photos) has given the world such seminal songs as “Every Breath You Take”, “Roxanne”, “If You Love Somebody Set Them Free”, “Fields of Gold”, “Desert Rose”, and so many more. He’s done numerous soundtracks and acting roles, collaborated with everyone (QRO photos with Paul Simon) from Mary J. Blige to Dire Straits to most recently Shaggy (QRO photos of Shaggy at KAABOO Cayman ’19) – it’s a man well worthy of his one-word name.
Sting
Counting Crows, 7:50 PM – 9:05 PM

In the alternative boom of the early nineties, Counting Crows (QRO photos) always leaned more to the adult contemporary side, but that didn’t stop much wondering over who “Mr. Jones” is. That hit single, and singer Adam Duritz’s trademark look (QRO photos), established them as a consistently successful act for a quarter-century (QRO photos), including recently at KAABOO Cayman (QRO photos at KAABOO Cayman ’19).
Counting Crows
Pitbull, 6:20 PM – 7:20 PM

If Miami could be a person, it would be Pitbull (QRO photos at a Formula One after-party), who pretty much everyone likes.
Pitbull
St. Paul & The Broken Bones, 5:05 PM – 5:50 PM

From Birmingham, Alabama, St. Paul & The Broken Bones (QRO photos at a festival) bring the true southern soul. They come to KAABOO Texas after 2016’s Sea of Noise (QRO review) and last year’s Young Sick Camelia (QRO review).
St. Paul & The Broken Bones
The English Beat, 4:00 PM – 4:35 PM

One of the seminal acts in the early eighties British Two-Tone ska movement, The Beat were a hit in their native country before their 1983 break-up. In the twenty-first century, there have been two editions, U.K.’s The Beat and America’s The English Beat (QRO live review), the latter of which come to KAABOO Texas behind their PledgeMusic funded reunion record, Here We Go Love, after doing the Del Mar edition last year.

The English Beat

Ford Pegasus Stage

Little Big Town, 8:00 PM – 9:30 PM

The four-part harmony vocals of Little Big Town have been making big waves out of Nashville in the country scene.
Little Big Town
The Avett Brothers, 6:00 PM – 7:15 PM

One of the bigger – and better – hits of today’s Americana (QRO photos at a festival), The Avett Brothers (QRO photos at a festival) 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, and followed that up in 2012 with The Carpenter (QRO review). 2016’s True Sadness (QRO review) did sort of show a limit to their ability, but their country will be great in Texas (QRO photos at a festival), as they play in the run-up to the anticipated tenth album.
The Avett Brothers
Andy Grammer, 4:30 PM – 5:30 PM

Singer/songwriter Andy Grammer (QRO photos) high multi-platinum with 2014’s Magazines or Novels. He plays KAABOO Texas after doing the 2017 Del Mar edition.
Andy Grammer
Eric Burdon & The Animals, 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM

“Spill the wine / And drink that girl” with seventies R&B vocal legend Eric Burdon (QRO live review), who plays KAABOO Texas after doing the 2017 Del Mar edition.



Also:

Mamafesta, 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM

Eric Burdon & The Animals

Choctaw Maverick Stage

The B-52s, 7:15 PM – 8:45 PM

Amidst a lot of blasts from the past, here’s one you wanted back (whether you admit it or not), The B-52s (QRO photos outdoors). The most fun of the eighties post-punk acts, actually perhaps the most fun act of the eighties, period, nothing was more infectious than songs like “Private Idaho”, “Love Shack” and “Roam”. The 1990 departure of Cindy Wilson was the peak of the band’s fame, but she returned in 2000 as the band started touring the hits. But not one to stay that way, in 2008 The B-52s (QRO photos at a festival) put out an honest-to-god new record, Funplex (QRO review). With Kate Pierson, Keith Strickland, and of course the signature vocals of Fred Schneider (QRO interview), “Tin roof – rusted!”
The B-52s
Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, 5:45 PM – 6:45 PM

From east in New Orleans, Trombone Shorty (QRO photos) doesn’t just toot his horn but also integrates more modern funk and rap into his jazz.
Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue
Also:

Jon Anderson of Yes, 4:45 PM – 5:15 PM

Israel Nash, 2:45 PM – 3:30 PM

Your Smith, 1:35 PM – 2:15 PM

Israel Nash

Coors Light Rowdy Stage

Matoma, 7:15 PM – 8:45 PM

Norwegian DJ & producer Tom Stræte Lagergren comes to much warmer Texas as Matoma (QRO photos at a festival).
Matoma
Also:

Mix Master Mike, 5:00 PM – 6:15 PM

Le Youth, 2:45 PM – 4:00 PM

Mix Master Mike

Geico Humor Me Stage

Demetri Martin, 8:45 PM – 9:15 PM

Check out the deadpan comedy of Demetri Martin, who’s no stranger to festivals – he played Woodstock founder Elliot Tiber in Ang Lee’s biopic Taking Woodstock.
Demetri Martin
Whitney Cummings, 6:15 PM – 7:15 PM

One of the most successful women in today’s sitcom scene, Whitney Cummings created 2 Broke Girls and is a producer on the Roseanne revival, along with long-running stand-up success. She comes to KAABOO Texas after appearing at the Del Mar edition last year.
Whitney Cummings
Also:

Orny Adams, 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM

Fortune Feimster, 1:45 PM – 2:45 PM

Fortune Feimster

Maker’s Mark Palate Stage

Michael Mina, 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM

Dylan Benoit, 3:10 PM – 3:50 PMQRO photos at KAABOO Cayman ’19
Dylan Benoit

 

 

For festival website, go here: https://kaabootexas.com/

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