HANGOUT (continued from Page 13)
Brown Band and My Morning Jacket (also veterans) were both headliners and both came sporting new album releases. The New Orleans
based Preservation Hall Brass Band is no stranger to Hangout Fest
either. This time they had four, that’s right, 4 time slots and were
named the un-official crowd favorite. Beck made his debut appearance at Hangout Fest with a fresh Grammy under his belt. Arriving
10 minutes late he expressed regret: “Sh** nobody told us it would
be like this. The kind of festivals we’re used to there’s a bunch of
mud, a bunch of rain and a bunch of port-o-potties. This is paradise
right here!”
Reggae Royalty, Damian Marley (Bob Marley’s youngest son) was
also a first timer. The crowd erupted when Damian “Jr Gong” Marley
took to the stage. With dreads that nearly sweep the floor, he seems
larger than life. When Marley opens his mouth it’s there… the gift
passed on to him by his father. His energy is magnetic and contagious. Marley is rooted in traditional reggae but his style possesses
a rhythmic pattern that sets him apart from the rest. Marley covered
his father’s song “Could You Be Loved” and the crowd seemed to be
in some type of trance as they sang along. Another crowd favorite
was “Welcome to Jamrock”, the title track from the album that
landed him a Grammy. Traditional tunes mixed with bass heavy
hip-hop beats, sweet soulful harmonies from two lovely backup singers, and some solid rock’n roll guitar licks and you got yourself
some serious “Phunky Reggae”. Damian Marley is definitely Reggae Royalty, a nice addition to this year’s lineup.
The BMI stage hosted quite a few newcomers. The Districts, a four piece Indie-Rock band all under the age of 21 and Americana
all-stars The Lone Bellow were personal favorites. Other acts included Drive By Truckers, Skrillex, Future Islands, Foster The
People, Jack U, Galactic, Paramore, Trampled by Turtles, Umphrey’s McGee, Vance Joy, TV on the Radio, Father John Misty and
many more.
Drive-By Truckers, the boys from Muscle Shoals, are right at home on the festival circuit. With strong Southern Rock roots,
these guys can hold their own. Nearly 20 years of touring has resulted in a devoted fan base and 10 records under their belt.
DBT owned the Hangout stage Saturday, mixing both old and new into their set list. They too are Hangout Fest veterans, but this
was the first time they’ve been granted the main stage with a prime time slot. DBT seem to still be gaining momentum despite
major changes in the bands’ entire dynamic. The Truckers came back from their hiatus last year recharged and gaining speed.
Saturday’s set was everything I expected and more. Songs like “Where the Devil Don’t Stay” and “Marry Me” were DBT staples
while others li