This year I was annoyed at how difficult the schedule made it to camp out at one stage all day, but I guess I have to appreciate that it got me to see more music throughout the day (granted I'm paying the price today). Rather than sit through breaks, I would walk to another stage, so I saw approx. 20 bands in 3 days.
Some of the incredible shows I saw:
(1) The Flaming Lips: highest level of showmanship on stage. Wayne crawls out into the audience via a massive bubble, confetti everywhere during every song, dancing Santa's, and inflatable aliens and astronauts. Plus the great music!
(2) Muse: definately redeemed my May 2005 concert experience. What an intense show...the album comes close but isnt quite the same as seeing their energy live. I felt like the soundwaves were going to make my chest burst open!
(3) Thievery Corporation: loved it, even though I was sober. Just simply badass and makes me want to get more of their music....most people just knew the Garden State song, but they have alot more than that. Plus it made me want to be a bellydancer!
(4) Tom Petty: the sing alongs to every song were amazing...especially Free Falling. sad he got interrupted by the rain, but the show picked up right where it left off.
(5) Kings of Leon: rocked out hard and made me wanna dance. Kway and I had a great view on the hill.
(6) Raconteurs: rocked out, but wished I had been in a better spot. Hopefully they come back to ATX again soon. It still motivated me to buy their album.
(7) The Shins: I think our position in the audience ruined this show for us, because once we started to bail, they started to sound awesome. boo.
(8) KT Tunstall: although i was on the street making my way in, i still thoroughly enjoyed hearing my favorite song, Miniature Disasters. and she did an interesting take on her single Black Horse and a Cherry Tree.
(9) Nada Surf: I love the bassist. always a good time, but my girls weren't digging it so it made me wish I was at Secret Machines.
(10) Ben Kweller: his songs were great, but when the poor guy had to shove a tampon in his nose to keep more blood from streaking across his guitar and piano keys, we knew it was time for him to get off stage. He ended up getting a blood transfusion after losing so much blood!
(11) Calexico: way less chill and more entertaining than I expected.
(12) Cat Power: her voice reminds me of Etta James and Ella Fitzgerald. she seems a little crazy and did some weird dance moves...but I guess knowing that she has stage fright issues, that explains alot about her stage presence.
Other shows I saw: John Mayer, a little Willie Nelson, a little of Ben Harper, Jose Gonzales, Ween, New Pornographers, Ray Lamontagne.
What I'm sad I missed: Secret Machines, WMMF, Paolo Nutini, Iron & Wine, Explosions in the Sky, The Long Winters, Pheonix, Nickel Creek, Gnarls Barkley, Tragically Hip, Sun Volt.
Hopefully some of them will make it onto the dvd. The rest of my pictures are at http://picasaweb.google.com/megan.elizabeth.peters/september2006.
