Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings Monolith 2008

Sharon Jones came on the stage with style. Her Dap-Kings warmed up the crowd, then she strutted on to the mainstage, filling the amphitheater with presence despite being a diminutive 4'11". The backing band was tight and Sharon brought tons of personality to the party.

Monolith -- Saturday pictures

Saturday at Monolith offered the best kind of festival experience. I got a chance to see a ton of awesome bands for the first time and in a beautiful venue to boot.


The skyline reminded my co-pilot of a joke from Tad during their Red Rocks show approximately one million years ago: "Joining us, on that precipice, Richie Sambora on lead guitar!"


We started the day with Denver band The Laylights. They sounded terrific and looked quite fashionable in their vests. The generous gents followed the show by bestowing free EPs to the audience.


Having missed Bob Log III at Laramie's own Buckhorn Bar, we completely enjoyed his wayward banter and slippery guitar at Red Rocks.



After catching a short bit of the Little Ones' set, we watched Margot and the Nuclear So & So's on the main stage. What energy on the drums! And lovely songs for a sunny afternoon.


Brian Jonestown Massacre delivered a predictable meltdown. Debate ensued about whether Anton brings more rock or schtick, but when they were playing and not tuning the band sounded tight and melodic.


I came into Matt & Kim's show cynical about all the SXSW reports of their unflappable enthusiasm. Guess what? It's all true! They proved themselves truly sweet, good-natured and all around adorable, thanking the universe for bringing them to "show heaven" at Red Rocks.


None of my photos adequately demonstrate the true intensity and delight of Art Brut's live performance. Again I doubted the hype, as the album did not rock my socks, but man oh man the live show! Please, if Art Brut plays near you, buy tickets. You will not regret seeing the funniest front man touring today.

Monolith -- Friday pictures

Gearing up for another day of awesome music, but a short report... So far all of the bands have started on time (!), the bathroom lines are reasonable (!), and the sound is amazing. I've seen Ghostland and the Decemberists at other festivals, and both bands benefited yesterday from the amazing sound quality at Red Rocks.


We arrived rather early, allowing plenty of time to meander and strategerize and watch Colin Meloy take some photos of Red Rocks.


With energy to burn, a killer horn section and a shoutout to Cheyenne, local faves Everything Absent or Distorted were one of the day's favorites.


Ghostland always brings full energy to a performance. They never fail to make the cool kids dance. And again my mind wandered to Aaron's pants. Where does a person buy such tight, perfectly fit jeans? Amazing.


To Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, I said "meh".


The Kings of Leon offered a tight LOUD show. This drummer amazed me by blowing bubbles and drumming at the same time. My mother likes to point out that I can't walk and chew gum.

More pics and reports from Saturday to come!

Monolith Schedule Announced

I already see some potential conflicts... who are you excited to see?

Main Stage
Friday
3:00pm: Everything Absent or Distorted *
4:30pm: Ghostland Observatory *
5:45pm: Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
7:00pm: Kings of Leon
8:30pm: The Decemberists
10:15pm: Cake

Saturday
2:30pm: A Verse Unsung
3:30pm: The Little Ones
4:30pm: Margot & the Nuclear So & So's
5:40pm: Brian Jonestown Massacre
7:00pm: Art Brut
8:30pm: Spoon *
10:00pm: Flaming Lips *

New Belgium Stage
Friday
4:00pm: The Broken West
5:00pm: Reverend Peyton's Big Damn Band
6:15pm: Das EFX
7:45pm: Editors *
9:30pm: Black Rebel Motorcycle Club

Saturday
2:00pm: Laylights
3:00pm: Bob Log 111 *
4:00pm: Meese
5:10pm: Matt & Kim
6:15pm: Lords of the Underground
7:45pm: Earl Greyhound *
9:30pm: Cloud Cult *


WOXY.com Stage
Friday
3:50pm: Mason Proper
5:10pm: Cat-A-Tac *
6:30pm: Ra Ra Riot
7:50pm: De Novo Dahl
9:10pm: Mobius Band
10:30pm: Kid Sister & Flosstradamus

Saturday
2:30pm: Via Audio
3:50pm: Forget Cassettes
5:10pm: Ian Ball (of Gomez)
6:30pm: White Rabbits
7:50pm: Hot IQs *
9:10pm: Au Revoir Simone *
10:30pm: Yacht *

Rock Room Stage
Friday
3:10pm: On a Sun
4:30pm: AutoVaughn
5:50pm: No More Kings
7:10pm: Born in the Flood *
8:30pm: Monster Maker (feat C-Rays Walz & Sharkey)
9:50pm: 3OH3!

Saturday
3:10pm: Stranger Lazy
4:30pm: The Thieves
5:50pm: Nathan & Stephen *
7:10pm: Minus Story
8:30pm: The Swayback
9:50pm: Machine Gun Blues

Songwriter Stage
Friday
4:00pm: Ian Cooke
5:15pm: Scott Leger
6:30pm: Angie Stevens
8:00pm: Bela Karoli
9:45pm: Vienna Teng

Saturday
2:00pm: Gregory Alan Isakov
3:00pm: Nina Storey
4:00pm: Tim Barry of Avail
5:10pm: Otis Gibbs
6:30pm: William Elliot Whitmore
8:00pm: Cameron McGill
9:30pm: Rocky Votalato *

* WyoMusic wants to see!

Monolith Tickets Presale

Thanks to Julio over at Cause=Time for a tip on Monolith pre-sale tickets today.

Also up on the Monolith website, daily schedules. It looks like I might need to attend both days, just unsure whether my definitely-not-20-years-old body is up to the task.

Friday September 14th:
CAKE
The Decemberists
Kings of Leon
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
Ghostland Observatory
Editors
Juliette & The Licks
Flosstradamus
Kid Sister
Das EFX
Vienna Teng
The Broken West
Everything Absent or Distorted
Ra Ra Riot
Reverend Peyton's Big Damn Band
Mason Proper
Born in the Flood
De Novo Dahl
Cat-a-tac
Mobius Band
AutoVaughn
Angie Stevens
On a Sun
A Verse Unsung
Bela Karoli

Saturday September 15th:
The Flaming Lips
Spoon
Turbonegro
Art Brut
Brian Jonestown Massacre
Cloud Cult
Matt & Kim
The Dears
Au Revoir Simone
The Little Ones
Bob Log III
William Elliot Whitmore
Rocky Votalato
Earl Greyhound
Ian Ball of Gomez
Yacht
Hot IQ's
Lords of the Underground
Otis Gibbs
Forget Cassettes
Tim Barry of Avail
Cameron McGill
Laylights
The Thieves
Machine Gun Blues
The Swayback
Minus Story
Gregory Alan Isakov
Nina Storey
Stranger Lazy

Monolith coming to Red Rocks!

The most exciting music news I've heard in some time out here in the Mountain West... Red Rocks hosts the Monolith Music Festival September 14-15.
Most excited about Ghostland's return to Denver. At the Hi-Dive last fall, they played as though there were 5000 screaming fans in front of them rather than the 50 extremely pleased and surprised fans gathered round the stage. They even stayed for chat and photos after the show. I love me some GLO and can't wait to see them at Red Rocks.
[thx to Cause=Time and The Denver Post for Monolith news!]