Kaaboo Festival 2017 Preview

Head out to Del Mar for the third year of Kaaboo Festival, which features great music plus comedians & cooking, Friday-Sunday, September 15th-17th:

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 15th

Sunset Cliffs by Mercedes-Benz Red Hot Chili Peppers, 8:25 PM – 9:55 PM How can you be into music and not know the Red Hot Chili Peppers? RHCP (QRO photos) emerged from the same sweaty Los Angeles eighties music scene that gave birth to Jane’s Addiction & more, and the Peppers (QRO photos) mix alt-rock with the funkified bass of the one-and-only Flea plus the sexy energy of singular frontman Anthony Kiedis. Along with drummer/Will Ferrell-look-alike Chad Smith and guitarist John Frusciante, the band racked up awards and record sales with such classics as Mother’s Milk, Blood Sugar Sex Magik, “Higher Ground”, “Under the Bridge”, and much more. Frusciante left in 1992 to be replaced by Jane’s Addiction’s own Dave Navarro, before Frusciante returned in 1999 for the band’s biggest selling record ever, Californication. More recently, Frusciante has left again, to focus on his solo work (QRO review), replaced by upgraded touring guitarist Josh Klinghoffer for 2011’s I’m In You (QRO review) and this year’s strong The Getaway (QRO review). Ain’t nothin’ stoppin’ the Red Hot Chili Peppers (QRO photos).
Weezer, 6:25 PM – 7:55 PM For a long time, the new output from Weezer (QRO photos at a festival) like 2010’s Hurley (QRO review) and Death To False Metal (QRO review) or the previous year’s Raditude (QRO review) wasn’t up to their nineties classics (and 2008’s red album-covered self-titled – QRO review – couldn’t hold a candle to the blue- and green-covered earlier Weezers – QRO blue Weezer live review – or Pinkerton – QRO deluxe edition review), but they still played those nineties classics like “My Name Is Jonas” (QRO video), “Say It Ain’t So” (QRO video), “Buddy Holly” (QRO video), “No One Else” (QRO video), “Surf Wax America” (QRO video), “Falling For You” (QRO video), and “Dope Nose” (QRO video), which can even lift later pieces like “Islands In the Sun” (QRO video) and “Beverly Hills” (QRO video). And their live show (QRO live review) – especially outdoors (QRO live review outdoors) headlining a festival (QRO photos headlining a festival) – has stayed great (QRO photos headlining a festival). 2014 came Everything Will Be Alright In the End (QRO review), their best record in years & years (QRO Everything live review), then last year another Weezer, the white one (QRO review), another good one (QRO White Album live review) – plus dude, Hurley (QRO photo).
X Ambassadors, 4:55 PM – 5:55 PM Ithaca’s X Ambassadors (QRO photos) come to Kaaboo (QRO photos) behind 2015’s hit debut, VHS.
Grandview by Synchrony Financial David Guetta, 7:55 PM – 9:25 PM In 2009 Paris’ David Guetta went from producing The Black Eyed Peas’ number one hit “I Gotta Feeling” to putting out his own One Love (QRO review), capping it the next January with a Grammy win. He’s followed that up by working with such high-profile ladies as Lady Gaga, Madonna, Céline Dion & Britney Spears, as well as international #1 singles of his own like “Sexy Bitch” (featuring Akon) and “Memories” (featuring Kid Cudi), and 2011’s Nothing But the Beat. One of the first DJs to get into the electronic dance music scene, he’s known as the ‘Grandfather of EDM.’
Kesha, 6:10 PM – 7:10 PM Kesha Rose Sebert has been something of a divisive figure in popular music. She’s had some huge success – at one point her single “Tik Tok” was the best-selling digital single in history, and she’s worked with everyone from Brittany Spears to The Flaming Lips. She’s also been derided as a pretty face, but trashy rapper, currently in a legal dispute with her former producer – even her former stylized name ‘Ke$ha’ was a subject of debate. Regardless, she brings her big show to Kaaboo.
DJ Diesel (Shaquille O’Neal), 4:35 PM – 5:40 PM One of, if not the, most-loved personalities in basketball is Shaquille O’Neal. The giant known worldwide as Shaq is a celebrity even outside of sports, including movies & music, and at Kaaboo spins as ‘DJ Diesel.’
Smash Mouth, 3:05 PM – 4:05 PM A band that’s popped in and out genres & popular conscience, Smash Mouth (QRO photos) started when ex-rapper Steve Hartwell decided to form a ska-punk band, and broke through with single “Walkin’ On the Sun” in 1997. They then shifted into a more laid-back pop and hit it even bigger with single “All Star”, which became a soundtrack staple (even if it didn’t help original soundtracker, little-noticed comic book-comedy Mystery Men). But declining sales and sound followed, leading to the band being dropped by Interscope in 2003, and dropping out of the public eye, until Hartwell appeared as part of the cast of Season Six of VH-1’s The Surreal Life in 2006, and even had a hilarious sketch about them on Saturday Night Live (“Smash Mouth may not be Mozart, but they never claimed to be. They’re just some positive guys from San Jose trying to have some fun.”)
Also: Little Hurricane, 1:40 PM – 2:35 PM – QRO photos at a festival
Trestles by Voss Michael McDonald, 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM The Magpie Salute, 5:20 PM – 6:30 PM Dave Mason, 3:50 PM – 4:50 PM The Motet, 2:15 PM – 3:15 PM – QRO photos at a festival Tristen, 1:15 PM – 1:45 PM
Humor Me by MGM Grand’s Aces of Comedy Nick Swardson, 11:00 PM – 12:30 AM You may know comedian Nick Swardson from all sorts of places, including work in various Adam Sandler movies, his sketch show Nick Swardson’s Pretend Time, or his pièce de résistance, Terry Bernadino on Reno 911!.
Patton Oswalt, 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM Modern, laugh-track free comedy has been enjoying a serious renaissance, from Judd Apatow movies to Flight of the Conchords to Pixar animation to even sitcoms, and one of the most significant kick-starters of that was ‘The Comedians of Comedy’ Tour, originated by Patton Oswalt, who brought alternative comedy & stand-up out of comedy clubs and into rock clubs. Once just the sidekick on King of Queens, Oswalt has become a top-tier stand-up comic, as well as wowing with his dramatic chops as the lead in 2009’s Big Fan. Comics don’t always work well at a music festival, but between ‘Comedians of Comedy’ & his previous appearances at northwestern fests like Bumbershoot and Sasquatch!, Oswalt knows what he’s doing.
Arsenio Hall, 4:15 PM – 5:15 PM Swirl your fist in the air and hoot for Arsenio Hall. The comic broke the late night color barrier in the nineties and helped open up talk shows to everyone who wasn’t Carson or Letterman.
Also: Laugh Pass Distribution, 3:30 PM – 4:00 PM Bryan Callen, 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM Laugh Pass Distribution, 1:30 PM – 2:00 PM
Tourmaline by Virgin Produced The Last Internationale, 6:45 PM – 7:15 PM – QRO photos Luna Aura, 5:15 PM – 5:45 PM Lawrence, 3:45 PM – 4:15 PM Trouble In the Wind, 2:15 PM – 2:45 PM Ethan Tucker, 1:00 PM – 1:30 PM
Palate Michael Voltaggio, 5:50 PM – 6:45 PM Kelis, 4:45 PM – 5:40 PM Kevin Gillespie, 3:35 PM – 4:15 PM Chris Adams, 2:45 PM – 3:20 PM Claudia Sandoval, 1:45 PM – 2:30 PM
Club Elevate by MGM Grand’s Jewel Nightclub Martin Jensen, 12:00 AM – 1:00 AM Le Youth, 10:45 PM – 11:45 PM Kap Slap, 9:30 PM – 10:30 PM
Basik by MGM Grand’s Wet Republic FOMO, 6:00 PM – 8:30 PM Erick Diaz, 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM DJ Byrd, 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM Nitecap, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM
Silent Disco by Sennheiser Murphi Kennedy, 12:00 AM – 1:00 AM Will Hernandez, 10:45 PM – 11:45 PM DJ Byrd, 9:30 PM – 10:30 PM

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 16th

Sunset Cliffs by Mercedes-Benz Pink, 8:25 PM – 9:55 PM For the pure pop star experience, you can’t go wrong with Pink. Alecia Beth Moore hit it big at the start of this century/millennium with her debut, Can’t Take Me Home, and then upped her game with Moulin Rouge! hit “Lady Marmalade”. She’s racked up Grammys, Billboard number ones, and worldwide acclaim ever since.
Ice Cube, 6:55 PM – 7:55 PM Ice Cube (QRO photos at a festival) is one of the most significant figures in rap. He was one of the core members of the seminal N.W.A., whose life story just came to the silver screen in Straight Outta Compton. While Cube has done much more since then, including a solo career and many acting gigs, he comes to Kaaboo working on his next album, Everythangs Corrupt.
Garbage, 5:10 PM – 6:25 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 Light – QRO 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 last year’s Strange Little Birds (QRO review).
Machine Gun Kelly, 3:40 PM – 4:40 PM Catch the rapid machine gun fire rapping of Machine Gun Kelly (QRO photos at a festival), who comes to Kaaboo behind this year’s Bloom.
LANY, 2:10 PM – 3:10 PM L.A. electro-pop outfit LANY (QRO spotlight on) are already getting big (QRO interview), and that was even before their recent release of their self-titled debut full-length. Also: Darenots, 12:40 PM – 1:40 PM
Grandview by Synchrony Financial Muse, 7:55 PM – 9:25 PM Devon’s Muse (QRO photos at a festival) is now established as full-fledged mega-stars. The trio reached for true stadium glory with 2009’s The Resistance (QRO review), as their electric bombast, which had already conquered Europe, set its sights on the States, playing Saturday Night Live (QRO Music on Late Night TV) and headlining Madison Square Garden (QRO photos). Yet 2012 was in even bigger, with the gigantic (in every sense of the word) The 2nd Law (QRO review) – not to mention making the official song for the London Olympics, “Survival”. 2015 saw Drones top charts in U.K. & America, and win the Grammy for Best Rock Album. They’re completely suitable to headline Kaaboo (QRO photos headlining a festival).
Jane’s Addiction, 5:55 PM – 7:25 PM One of the first bands to emerge from the early nineties alternative music scene, you knew Jane’s Addiction’s break-up right at their height of popularity in 1991 would never knew last. They’ve since reunited not once, not twice, but thrice! Starting in 2008, all four original members got back together for the first time since the first break-up, joining Nine Inch Nails on the ‘NIN/JA’ tour (QRO photos outdoors), playing the classics. Admittedly 2011’s new The Great Escape Artist was not that great (which is why bassist Eric Avery left before it was made), but the classics still are, and they come out in force at their live shows (QRO live review), with the band’s gaudy, extreme, alt-sexual antics (QRO photos). Oh, and singer/frontman Perry Farrell basically invented the alternative music festival with his original Lollapalooza, and he’s still majorly involved, even curating his own stage. So you know the band knows how to do this festival right (QRO photos from a festival)…
Logic, 4:25 PM – 5:25 PM Sir Robert Bryson Hall II (“Sir” is part of his name, not an honorific, apparently…), has become a top songwriter as Logic (QRO photos at a festival).
The Knocks, 2:55 PM – 3:55 PM Electronic duo Ben ‘B-Roc’ Ruttner and James ‘JPatt’ Patterson form The Knocks (QRO photos at a festival). Also: Lost Kings, 1:25 PM – 2:25 PM One Drop, 12:15 PM – 1:00 PM
Trestles by Voss The Wallflowers, 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM The Wallflowers formed over two decades ago in Los Angeles around Jakob Dylan, son of yes, that ‘other’ Dylan (Thomas?…). Jakob came out from his father’s massive shadow with 1996’s Bringing Down the Horse and hits like “8th Avenue Heartache” and “One Headlight” (though JD was outshone by Bruce Springsteen when they did “Headlight” together on the 1997 MTV VMAs…), though haven’t reached that height since. Jakob Dylan has done his own solo tours (QRO live review), but gotten a new Wallflowers behind him (QRO live review).
Eric Burdon & The Animals, 5:20 PM – 6:30 PM “Spill the wine / And drink that girl” with seventies R&B vocal legend Eric Burdon (QRO live review).
Toad the Wet Sprocket, 3:50 PM – 4:50 PM One of the more melodic of the nineties alt-rock boom acts was Toad the Wet Sprocket (QRO photos) – they had songs in Buffy the Vampire Slayer and My So-Called Life.
Also: The Tubes, 2:20 PM – 3:20 PM Emily Warren, 1:05 PM – 1:50 PM The Stone Foxes, 12:00 PM – 12:35 PM – QRO photos at a festival
Humor Me by MGM Grand’s Aces of Comedy Sebastian Maniscalco, 11:00 PM – 12:30 AM Chicago stand-up Sebastian Maniscalco has appeared everywhere, and now comes to Kaaboo.
Norm Macdonald, 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM The phrase ‘comedian’s comic’ can easily be overused, but it’s very apt for Norm McDonald. From running the Weekend Update desk at Saturday Night Live, which he was fired from, to failed sitcom ventures and even a movie, as much as he’s never found wide commercial appeal, he’s always been a favorite of comedians – just see his epic appearances on Conan.
Maria Bamford, 4:15 PM – 5:15 PM Like the nineties boom in stand-up comedians doing network sitcoms after Seinfeld, in recent years alt-comedy stars have been getting their starring turns on their alt-comedy cable & streaming programs after Louie. One of the best is Maria Bamford, and her absolutely hilarious and groundbreaking Lady Dynamite.
Also: Laugh Pass Distribution, 3:30 PM – 4:00 PM Al Madrigal, 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM Laugh Pass Distribution, 1:30 PM – 2:00 PM Taylor Williamson, 12:15 PM – 1:15 PM
Tourmaline by Virgin Produced Armos, 7:00 PM – 7:30 PM Ages and Ages, 5:40 PM – 6:20 PM – QRO photos at a festival Jared & The Mill, 4:30 PM – 5:00 PM Band of Gringos, 3:20 PM – 3:50 PM Lost Beach, 2:10 PM – 2:40 PM Josh Arbour, 1:00 PM – 1:30 PM Zeal Levin, 11:45 AM – 12:20 PM
Palate Kaaboo Rock ‘n Chef Competition, 12:00 PM – 5:30 PM Club Elevate by MGM Grand’s Jewel Nightclub Sam Sparro, 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM The Him, 10:45 PM – 11:45 PM Steeviewild, 9:30 PM – 10:30 PM
Basik by MGM Grand’s Wet Republic FOMO, 6:00 PM – 8:30 PM Sir Pearce, 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM Mr. Brown, 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM Will Hernandez, 11:30 AM – 2:00 PM
Silent Disco by Sennheiser Cheyenne Giles, 12:00 AM – 1:00 AM Aidin, 10:45 PM – 11:45 PM Will Hernandez, 9:30 PM – 10:30 PM

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 17th

Sunset Cliffs by Mercedes-Benz Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, 7:05 PM – 9:05 PM One of the best-selling artists of all time, Tom Petty (QRO photos) has been active since the seventies and “Breakdown”, keeping it up through the eighties and nineties, when a whole new generation found him in such hit singles as “Free Fallin’”, “Into the Great Wide Open”, and “Mary Jane’s Last Dance”. His popularity has never wavered (QRO photos), he’s even done acting (like as a future version of himself in Kevin Costner’s The Postman…), and he comes to headline Kaaboo behind 2014’s Hypnotic Eye, his first full-length since 2010’s Mojo (QRO review), and a big tour with his Heartbreakers (QRO photos), reportedly his last ‘big tour’ ever.
Alanis Morissette, 5:15 PM – 6:30 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.
LÏVE, 3:45 PM – 4:45 PM You remember LĪVE as a hit nineties act, with their album Throwing Copper and “Lightning Crashes”. More recently, singer Ed Kowalczyk split with the band in 2009, a new singer was recruited & new album released, but last year Kowalczyk returned for the full LĪVE experience.
Trevor Hall, 2:20 PM – 3:10 PM Take in the roots, folk, and reggae mix of Trevor Hall (QRO photos).
Fishbone, 1:05 PM – 1:50 PM There’s really no act out there like Fishbone (QRO photos at a festival). Starting way back in 1979, their afro-punk mélange of ska, punk, funk, soul, and more truly stood out (they also added some color to the lily-white American punk scene of the eighties). While they never broke through to the mainstream, that might be for the best, as it would likely have sanded down their unique rough edges (QRO photos at a festival).
Also: The Shadowboxers, 11:55 AM – 12:40 PM – QRO photos
Grandview by Synchrony Financial Jason Derulo, 5:35 PM – 7:05 PM “Whatcha Say”, Kaaboo? That debut hit launched Jason Derulo (QRO photos at a festival) into the big time, and the singer has stayed there with singles like “Wiggle”, “Talk Dirty”, and “In My Head”.
Andy Grammer, 3:45 PM – 5:05 PM Singer/songwriter Andy Grammer (QRO photos) high multi-platinum with 2014’s Magazines or Novels – here’s hoping his work on the follow-up will be displayed at Kaaboo.
T-Pain, 2:15 PM – 3:15 PM Maybe no one is as ubiquitous as T-Pain (QRO photos at a festival), who’s been featured on over 50 chart-topping singles, and has ranged from Flo Rida’s “Low” to Lonely Island’s “I’m On a Boat”. He’s also something of a master of Auto-Tune, with extreme parameters to create distinctive vocals sound.
Milky Chance, 12:45 PM – 1:45 PM Mixing folk with reggae and even electronica is the fast-rising German duo Milky Chance (QRO photos at a festival).
Timeflies, 11:45 AM – 12:15 PM Exciting indie-pop duo Cal Shapiro & Rob Resnick, a.k.a. Timeflies (QRO photos), come to Kaaboo off of 2015’s Just for Fun.
Trestles by Voss Jackson Browne, 5:25 PM – 6:55 PM Jackson Browne rose among the folk troubadours of the seventies and really never looked back. He fought nuclear power, played Farm Aid, and supported revolutionary Nicaragua – to the 2004 ‘Vote For Change’ tour and even playing at Zuccotti Park for Occupy Wall Street (he also successfully sued the McCain campaign & Republican National Committee for unauthorized use of his hit, “Running On Empty” – what makes GOP candidates still think that they can get away with such things?…).
Pete Yorn, 3:55 PM – 4:55 PM Pete Yorn (QRO photos) debuted in a big way in 2001 with musicforthemorningafter, and has kept charting ever since, most recently with this year’s Arranging Time. He’s (QRO photos) also worked with everyone from Peter Buck (of a little band called R.E.M.) to actress/’musician’ Scarlett Johansson (QRO photo).
Pepper, 2:25 PM – 3:25 PM A rare rock group from Hawaii, Pepper (QRO photos) is a Vans Warped Tour regular (QRO photos on Vans Warped Tour). Also: Led Zeppelin 2, 12:55 PM – 1:55 PM Matthew Phillips, 11:40 AM – 12:25 PM
Humor Me by MGM Grand’s Aces of Comedy David Spade, 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM For the final night of stand-up, Kaaboo got David Spade. He originally became known on Saturday Night Live for his ‘what’s in / what’s out’ ‘Hollywood Minute’ & ‘buh-bye’ flight attendant segments, before heading to the movies, first as sidekick to Chris Farley, then his own movies like the classic Joe Dirt. He’s also starred in multiple sitcoms, such as Just Shoot Me!, Rules of Engagement, and 8 Simple Rules, but hasn’t lost his sarcastic edge.
Also: Demetri Martin, 3:15 PM – 4:15 PM Laugh Pass Distribution, 2:30 PM – 3:00 PM Bridget Everett, 1:15 PM – 2:15 PM Laugh Pass Distribution, 12:30 PM – 1:00 PM
Tourmaline by Virgin Produced Moonsville Collective, 5:40 PM – 6:20 PM The Steppin Stones, 4:30 PM – 5:00 PM Spencer Venson & The Squatters, 3:20 PM – 3:50 PM Cordovas, 2:10 PM – 2:40 PM Mamafesta, 1:00 PM – 1:30 PM Kira Lingman, 11:50 AM – 12:20 PM
Palate Robert Irvine, 5:00 PM – 5:45 PM Richard Blais, 4:00 PM – 4:45 PM Jon Shook & Vinny Dotolo, 3:10 PM – 3:50 PM Julio Cabrera, 2:15 PM – 3:00 PM Brooke Williamson, 1:00 PM – 1:45 PM Shirley Chung, 12:15 PM – 1:00 PM
Basik by MGM Grand’s Wet Republic Will Hernandez, 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM FOMO, 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM Erick Diaz, 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM Murphi Kennedy, 11:30 AM – 2:00 PM

For festival website, go here: https://www.kaaboodelmar.com/