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September 21, 2007
Monolith: Day 1 | 09.14.07
[Red rocks from the south east]]
Last weekend, for the first time ever, a rock festival was held at Colorado's breathtaking Red Rocks Amphitheater. In some ways hard to believe it took this long. Then again there sure was a lot of hiking involved getting around the five stages. Red Rocks surroundings may be beautiful, but the place makes you earn it. I kinda dig that though, and it's not like excessive walking is an unexpected labor for rock fests. It just might be a difficult endeavor for those incapable of strenuous activity.
Big kudos in the direction of Monolith organizers for coming up with the idea of two indoor stages for a genuine feeling of small rock club atmosphere. Housed in the bowels of Red Rocks in the visitors center. Hands down the best place at the entire festival was the elongated WOXY.com stage sponsored and curated by the revered online radio station. Excellent lineups each day showcased up and coming bands in what was ironically the least picturesque stage at a festival quite literally named for magnificent natural sandstone formations. How Rock and Roll. Also indoors was the Rock Stage (because it was in front of a big exposed section of rock (natch) left protruding through the wall) which for the most part hosted an eclectic mix of local bands. Not enough can be said for Monolith to include Colorado area acts. Nice touch.
I mentioned the lack of festival-y things as a sore point to the whole experience in this post. Some disagreed. I stick by it however. The closest most cities in the US get to a rock festival is in the shape of a radio sponsored all day event at the nearby hockey rink, or more humiliatingly in said hockey rink's parking lot. Increasingly irrelevant with each passing year these lame radio stations complete their handshake deal of our era's payola scheme with guaranteed radio plays in exchange for the appearance at their "festivals". Now, I'm not at all inferring Monolith approached the levels of cheese associated with the radio gigs, but at the same time it didn't convey any resemblance of a unifying theme either. Besides the sculpture of this recycling spacecraft, little or no art was set up.
I would like to see future editions take a page from the Coachella & Bonnaroo playbook and litter the grounds with interactive displays of art and general weirdness. Critics to this will say its all about the music, and why are such distractions needed, and I'll say because it adds to the festival vibe and its cool. I'll stress again that for a 1st year you couldn't really ask for more. But I'll do it anyway from a slight sense of entitlement. Here's a start if anyone cares to follow up on this suggestion.
Quick note to the rude, dirty, drug-dealing, ratty-haired, sorry excuse for a human being hippie swinging his wares in the lot. Suck it fucktard and I ain't your brah. I'm not even a hippie hater, just an asshole hater.
Sermon over, Monolith as seen and heard by Merry Swankster.
Ghostland Observatory - Main stage
[Photo cred]
Painted on jeans look better in dark, dank nightclubs with mirrorballs and disco lights. I imagine the same is true for Ghostland Observatory.
Rev. Peyton's Big Damn Band - New Belgium stage
[Photo cred]
Hillbilly Appalachia with a sharp (though harmless) wit, and a big momma playing hardcore washboard. Hailing from Nap town, not West Virginia.
Ra Ra Riot - WOXY stage
[Click for larger]
My favorite performance of Monolith. Completely killed it from a performance perspective. ATJ Fest & Syracuse alumni hailing sextet was a charged unit of non-stop motion on the WOXY stage. Like six energy balls bouncing off one another throughout the show. Unbelievably causing only one instance of "wire spaghetti" from all the tangled cables caught in the movement. Big crowd pleasing set marked their first time poking this far west. Possibly the best thing to come from Syracuse University since the entire Merry Swankster.com crew (minus the adopted bastard Dave Klein, who is very much loved regardless) and the 2003 National Title.
Continued...
Ra Ra Riot
Kings of Leon - Main stage
[Photo cred]
Less chest exposure since this was much appreciated. Thank you.
Decemberists - Main stage
[Photo cred]
Colin Meloy promised no U2 references in what was a fun set of lighthearted conversation on the main stage. "Valencia" introduced as not being about "Dracula's daughter." "16 Military Wives" was dedicated to the "military men that are killing our country" and beautifully done. End singalong of "la dee da dee dee dee dee di da" made for a great day 1 highlight.
[Photo cred]
BRMC - New Belgium stage
Tightly structured sharp as a razor guitar licks cut through the heavy fog of the red silhouetted BRMC. I think their sultry blues about girls and sex pretty much calls for that type of treatment.
Posted by Merry Swankster at September 21, 2007 04:00 PM
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