Jackson Hole Underground

(Editor’s note: This dispatch comes from Clint Troxel, eminent computer guru, J-lister and mandolinist who with a group of friends trucked it out to The Gorge for Memorial Day weekend. Sasquatch Fest has become a popular road trip for Jacksonites looking for a spring fix of new music.)

The Sasquatch Festival at The Gorge has provided this music fan a necessary good-music-infusion for a few years running. It never fails to surprise, inspire, and re-invigorate. Check out the lineup.

Highlights included Blue Scholars’ conscious hip-hop, Yeasayer’s awesomely re-created set of self-described “Middle Eastern-psych-snap-gospel” — and, let’s not forget The Flaming Lips! I know jhunderground is a Michael Franti fan, but my vote for Musical Prophet Of The Year goes to Wayne Coyne. The Flaming Lips UFO show might actually have been from out of this world. If you haven’t heard (or seen!) The Flaming Lips since “She don’t use jelly,” do yourself a favor. This show is a spectacle.

In terms of “most memorable” it was hard to beat, but I can’t stop thinking about R.E.M. I’ve never paid much attention to R.E.M. — for some reason they never clicked. Until Sasquatch.

This weekend I learned that I should have paid more attention to R.E.M. as a teenager. Michael Stipe’s lyrics are uplifting, timely and thought provoking. And, R.E.M. rocks.

As they took the stage in front of the Columbia River Gorge, the western sky started its familiar sunset/rainstorm act. Entering stage left, guitarist Peter Buck slipped in the rain and fell on his back … and promptly got up smiling. Michael Stipe took off his shoes and socks for traction and was equally shoeless and engaging; a perfect performance in a perfect storm. I remember Buck, foot up on stage monitor, eyes closed, leaning into the wind and the warm rain, playing the HELL out of his guitar. It was awesome. Thank goodness for this guy, because this is the only picture I got. I think I was too busy boogie-ing.

Listen to R.E.M.’s new album “Accelerate” here.

Also, have you heard the latest on this summer’s Jackson Hole Music Festival? Wilco, Avett Brothers, Son Volt !? Wow!

This entry was posted on Thursday, May 29th, 2008 at 6:35 am and is filed under music, travel, festivals, clint. You can subscribe via RSS 2.0 feed to this post's comments. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.