Ah, the radio station sponsored summer festival. The show where everybody and their little sister is there. Walking into Shoreline Amphitheater for this year’s Live 105′s BFD I had the same pout as everybody else (besides the crazy FlyLeaf fans) that the lineup was less than desirable. This however, turned out to be a reasonably decent show, despite the mass amounts of hackeysack games being played (poorly) around the venue.

With two stages and a tent, there’s something for everybody, however most people I asked who they were there to see, they just gave me a blank stare and said “uhm, everybody.” This makes for a boring crowd to say the least. Unenthusiasm was abound for some of the best sets. Spoon played an incredible set (as usual) yet the crowd stood there and only slightly moved around for “I Turn My Camera On.” Brit Daniel’s voice live never ceases to amaze me, but I suppose that’s just not good enough for everybody else. The Temper Trap also fell to the radio-friendly crowd while playing one of the best sets of the Festival stage. Every single member played with extreme vigor and the switches between guitar and high hat and drum shows how versatile frontman Dougy Mandagi is. The crowd of course, was relatively dead for most the set, although they did know the words to (only the chorus) of “Sweet Disposition.” Typical.

The general ambiance of the Subsonic tent was very sweaty and dancey, even the Shoreline security got into the DJ sets by Dyloot and BT. The Limousines, subsonic tent alumni and local favorites, played harder and louder than I have ever seen them. Along with new material, iPad fingerbanging, and confetti – they also announced that their first full length album is due out next month. The headliners for the tent were the mind blowing Matt & Kim. There are very few bands who sound better live than recorded, and they are one of them. The pair’s stage presence is phenomenal, full with climbing on top of speakers, drums, and even booty dancing on top of the crowd. Kim hits her drum kit faster than anybody, all with a huge smile on her face while Matt compliments it with another smile and charming vocals and keys. There’s more to them than the cute factor, their live set can surely turn any cynic into a super fan.

Hole started the 90s flashback at the main stage, and surprisingly better than I expected after seeing them a couple months back at Terminal 5. I could go on about the shouting instead of singing or how Courtney Love just isn’t how she used to be, but that’s a tired concept and she knows it, stating “I’m old and I can’t sing, so give me a fucking break.” The fact is, although the quality isn’t the same, she’s an icon whether you want her to be or not. She knows what people think, but she doesn’t care. She continues to make new music whether you want to hear it or not, (she begged the crowd to let her play new songs with rewards of playing tracks off Celebrity Skin “for you fuckers that can’t get out of the nineties” ) Surprisingly, the best of the set were the two covers they played. The first being Leonard Cohen’s “Take this Longing” which put the entire amphitheater in a complete silent awe which Courtney later thanked them for. The set closed off with a cover of Alex Chilton’s “Big Star” which she showed some humbleness and took a step to the side for the guitarist, whom she had earlier yelled at on stage about the set list, for his solo. While her crazy antics have toned down, her boobs “stay in these days, but they’re still perky!” as she explained to a fan, this is the perfect analogy for herself.

The headliners were Sublime with Rome. Now, I went into this set with a bad attitude and expecting it to be terrible. Now take note because I don’t swallow my pride often, but they were actually pretty decent. They had a weird set up that was less Sublime with Rome and more Rome with Sublime, as he way up front and everybody else in the back, despite this everybody but Rome provided a quality performance. Drummer Bud Gaugh made the show worth seeing, while Rome’s vocals were decent as a lead to massive sing-along’s to old favorites (he’s still no Bradley though) and his guitar playing lacked luster. Fortunately, I doubt anybody noticed what with the massive smoke cloud hovering over the amphitheater.

BFD lessons learned: nostalgia does wonders for filling a show and there’s always some shining gems in a not that great lineup.

For as long as I can remember, Live 105 has put on their annual BFD Festival at the Shoreline Amphitheatre. Festivals just aren’t my gig: too hot, too expensive, too crowded, etc.  Because of my propensity towards loathing those festival experiences, I often suffer from what I’ve coined as the “Bored-at-Home-While-the-World-Sees-My-Favorite-Band Blues.” Thanks, Live 105 for helping remove some of the remorse I’ve felt for missing those favorite bands play your festivals! The BFD Pre-party featuring The Soft Pack, The Golden Filter and Matt & Kim was, to quote Kim Schifino (the Kim in Matt & Kim), “A sweaty drunken dance party!” All three bands (along with DJ Aaron Axelson) contributed to the energy and excitement of the evening with their own very distinct brands of danceable indie rock.

First to play was San Diego four-piece, The Soft Pack. Having just left a relaxing BBQ to attend the show, this band was the perfect musical transition to the night. They are the type of band you wish was playing your BBQ. With their unadorned blend of pop vocal hooks and straight forward guitar driven indie rock, The Soft Pack had the early crowd bobbing and clapping along. Their song “ Mexico ” brought to mind early Built to Spill meets Calexico, the perfect song for a drive through the desert with the windows down.

Between bands, the crowd was kept dancing by DJ Aaron Axelson. Spinning an awesome mix of pop hits and indie favorites, he kept the room moving and the adrenaline pumping.

The Golden Filter took the stage amidst smoke and lasers, as lead singer Penelope Trappes, looking like a 21^st century Stevie Nicksdressed in linen and lace poured herself out to center stage. An electronic duo consisting of Trappes and synth guru Stephen Hindman, The golden Filter began making a name for themselves remixing such notable artists as Peter, Bjorn and John, and Cut Copy. Their debut album Voluspa is named after a Nordic poem about the creation and destruction of the earth, and that description could accurately be applied to their sound as well. Comparisons between Trappes and Fever Ray/The Knife’s Karin Dreijer Andersson vocal styling’s are unavoidable; soft yet caustic, ethereal but organic, both ladies have a unique talent for making the human voice truly inhuman.

Headlining the show was the Brooklyn duo Matt & Kim. I’m going to be very upfront about this, Matt & Kim are my unabashed favorite band; I love them. I have their patch on my backpack, I can sing every lyric to almost every song; I love them. And it was quite obvious that the crowd at the Mezzanine last night loves them too. From the instant the pair took the stage, the energy in the room was palpable. Matt Johnson and Kim Schifino truly are musicians who make music because they love to entertain, and entertain they did! Between jumping on their instruments and belting out songs from both their albums. The duo found time to cover Guns-N-Roses andEurope, challenge audience members to a “Drop-it-Low” dance contest, throw out balloons for the audience to inflate, and admit to “being a little drunk, that’s why we’re talking so much.” The crowd was pogoing like it was the 1970’s, singing along and clapping in time to the arpeggio rhythms emanating from the drum and synth combo.

At first we were a bit skeptical about the partial lineup announcement for this year’s Outside Lands Festival, save for Pearl Jam. Then, the remaining bands were rolled out and a collective sigh could be heard around the bay.

The initial Outside Lands Music & Arts Festival lineup is:

Pearl Jam, Dave Matthews Band, Beastie Boys, Incubus, Black Eyed Peas, M.I.A, Jason Mraz, Ween, The Mars Volta, Thievery Corporation, Modest Mouse, Band of Horses, TV on the Radio, Dead Weather, Atmosphere, Tom Jones, Silversun Pickups, The National, Q-Tip, Brett Dennen, Built To Spill, Mastodon, Raphael Saadiq, Calexico, Os Mutantes, Midnite, JJ Grey & Mofro, Kinky, Deerhunter, Lila Downs, Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, The Dodos, Bettye, LaVette, Dengue Fever, Heartless Bastards, The Dirtbombs,, Lenka, Akron/Family, John Vanderslice, Matt and Kim, Portugal., The Man, The Morning Benders, The Duke Spirit, Zee Avi, Blind Pilot, SambaDa, Ryan Bingham,West Indian Girl, Extra Golden

Now watch this ridiculously clever video that has us nostalgic for Fraggle Rock.

- Article by Anna Gazdowicz.

If you hover long enough over at SF Gate the page peels back and reveals a partial list of this year’s 2009 Outside Lands lineup. It’s pretty sneaky for us so we’ll just post it here for you and save time: Pearl Jam, Dave Matthews Band, Beastie Boys, Incubus, Black Eyed Peas, Jason Mraz, M.I.A, Mars Volta, Thievery Corp, Modest Mouse, Ween. OMG. Any of these bands would be huge on their own. We personally have a slight obsession with Pearl Jam. Can you imagine Eddie Vedder warbling away under a canopy of Monterrey Pine?

Once again, here’s a few things to keep in mind this year.

1. Where comfortable shoes. You’ll be walking like a modern day John Muir.
2. Bring water and ibuprofen. The booze, dust + smoke, and noise will drain your life.
3. Start light, but bring something warm to wear. It’s August in SF, anywhere else it’s smoldering like a Vietnamese clay pot. Not here.
4. Pick your bands and map out a plan of attack early. There’s no way you’re going to see everything. Just plan out your must sees.
5. Don’t even try to meet someone by the soundboard or entry gate. You’ll never find them. Just show up together.
6. Don’t smoke pot if you’re inclined to have bad trips.

- Article by Anna Gazdowicz.