ALBUM REVIEW - Vampire Weekend: Modern Vampires of the City

I always look forward to Rolling Stone's annual edition of naming their favorite songs and albums of the year. This year, an interesting choice stood on top of the list - above Arcade Fire's Reflektor, Lorde's Heroine, Arctic Monkey's AM and 47 other albums from the likes of Daft Punk, Kanye West, Pearl Jam, and Sir Paul McCartney - was the third studio album from Vampire Weekend - Modern Vampires of the City.

Sure, I knew a bit about Vampire Weekend at the time. I knew they were an indie band that all met while attending Columbia University and had so much success as a college band that it carried over to a music career. And I mean who doesn't love the songs "A Punk" or "Oxford Comma?" - but I was shocked to see them receive album of the year recognition from Rolling Stone.

But such a coveted statement could not be ignored, and I had to purchase the album and give it a try. My reaction - Rolling Stone may have been spot on! Front man Ezra Koenig and his three backing band members put together one of my favorite albums of the year so far.

As I sit down to write this review, I'm realizing this may be the most difficult post I have yet to create. Not because I lack knowledge on the band, but simply because it is so difficult to describe this music. Definitely in the alternative category, Vampire Weekend seems to combine punk rock with toe tapping guitar riffs, African drum beats, and even a full orchestra section at times. It's very complex.

The album abruptly opens with "Obvious Bicycle," setting a very chill tone while telling the story of a man contemplating not shaving because he can't find a job regardless. You then have the first single, "Unbelievers," which uses a great drum beat and a more poppy chorus to up the tempo of the album.

My personal favorite is "Step," a smooth song that Koenig sounds very old-fashioned singing. The chorus is sung over a xylophone background with a catchy piano overplay. This song really displays the lyrical genius of Koenig. It's full of references to bands that Vampire Weekend has crossed paths with (there was even a twitter contest to solve the "Step" family tree), while also describing the fame this bands found with their second album, after having a more exclusive following for their debut.

You then have another standout, "Diane Young," which is simply a play on actually dying young. This one best displays the constant theme throughout the album - getting older, maturing, and dealing with the uncertainty of the future. Koenig sings, "nobody knows what the future hold, it's bad enough just getting old / You know I love the past, cause I hate suspense."

Other references:

• Don't Lie: "I want to know, does it bother you - long click of the ticking clock."
• Step: "Wisdom's a gift, but we trade it for youth / Age is an honor, but it's still not the truth."
• Unbelievers: "I'm not excited, but should I be? / Is this the fate that half of the world had planned for me?"

One recommendation I have for listeners is to play this album in order, song by song as the band intended. I'm usually a "shuffler" of music myself, and will frequently go in order of spotify's top 10, but this album has excellent flow from one song to the next, creating an overall better listening experience. This is perfected as "Diane Young" flows flawlessly into "Don't Lie."

The back half of the album has plenty of excitement as well. "Finger Back" and "Worship You" will get everyone jumping at their live shows; "Ya Hey" and "Everlasting Arms" show off some interesting musical talent; "Hannah Hunt" is a slower one that builds up to a great final verse.

The only songs I'm not a fan of are the final two on the album, "Hudson" and "Young Lion." They're just ok, which on an album like this, makes them seem very out of place. That's the only thing that keeps this from being a 5 star album.

Overall, Modern Vampires of the City is difficult to describe but is delightful. It's worthy of the Grammy it received for Best Alternative Album, as well as the prestigious placement it was awarded by Rolling Stone. It's a must buy in my opinion. For all my Tampa followers, these guys headline Big Guava Festival next Saturday, May 3rd. Be there!

Album Rating: 4.5 Stars

The Neighbourhood's "I Love You," One Year Later

One year ago today, an album was released by a young band called The Neighbourhood. Despite the spelling of the band name, the group is not British. They are in fact a five piece alt rock group formed in California. Following two successful EP's, they released their debut album, entitled, I Love You.

I first heard of the band while researching lower tier groups on the Lollapalooza lineup. They had a large amount of followers for their position on the lineup, largely due to a strong internet presence they built up from individually released singles. I purchased this album to get ready for a small show they were playing in a downtown Orlando bar, and was very pleased to discover it's a very solid listen.

The group is led by singer and lyricist Jesse Rutherford. At 22 years of age, Rutherford is the oldest member of the group. He puts together a very edgy and moody 11 tracks. In fact, the title of this album is quite ironic. It is frankly a very dark and somewhat disturbing album, complete with hate-lyrics and plenty of drama.

As you can tell from the album art above, the theme throughout the album is black and white. This visual is carried over to the groups music videos, using film-noir imagery. They even requested to be photographed only in black and white during their festival debut at Coachella last year.

This black and white theme coordinates nicely with the music. Rutherford's voice sounds haunting at times as he both sings and raps throughout the album. The song that best displays his ability to blend these two is "Let It Go," as he raps the verses and sings one of the more "poppy" choruses the album features.

My personal favorite is the track, "Female Robbery," which sits towards the end of the album. A nice bass groove and drum beat make this an alt-rock classic. The clear favorite from the crowd though is "Sweater Weather," a cool single that rose to number one on the alt-rock charts last summer. Any band that can make that claim is impressive to me, especially one of this age.

One of the negative points that brings this album down a bit for me are the lyrics. I believe this is where the youth of the band is shown. An example is the hook to "Afraid," as Rutherford sings - "You're too mean / I don't like you....You suck anyway / You make me want to die." They are simply lacking.

But despite the lyrics seeming like they were written by a child, this album will keep you entertained. More soul is shown in "Flawless." The other stand out tracks are "Alleyways" and "W.D.Y.W.F.M?"

In conclusion, I believe this a great opening statement for a young band. They definitely bring a different sound to the alt-rock table, but they need to develop more. Their lyrics should improve, as should their live shows. I was able to see them a number of times in 2013, but was never blown away with their live performance. I'd love to see their sound on the album transfer over to the stage.

ALBUM RATING: 3.5 Stars

Concert Review: Local Natives

Throughout the past few years I have always heard the band name, Local Natives, but couldn't tell you one specific song they sang. They even were present at Lollapalooza last year, but I overlooked them in choosing to watch someone else in the Saturday afternoon slot. But when seeing them on a calendar of events for the State Theater in St. Pete, I figured I'd give them a try. I luckily acquired real tickets for face value on Craigslist, as this sold out show had tix reselling for triple figures on Stubhub.

After the first few songs of the show, it was easy to see that I've been missing out on being exposed to this great band. This indie group from Los Angeles came out rocking and had a great crowd backing them. Right away, the fans started jumping to opener "Breakers," and got even louder when the band dove into one of their more well know tunes, "Wide Eyes," early in the set.

Local Natives themselves are led by guitarist and vocalist Taylor Rice, who properly sports an iconic mustache to give off the indie frontman feel. Rice led the crowd through a tour of the bands two albums, hitting all of the most well know tunes. He had the crowd singing along all night. The highlights were "Ceilings," "You & I" and "Airplanes."

One of the most impressive things about the group was their switching of instruments and responsibilities on stage. All members, with the exception of Matt Frazier on drums, seemed to rotate from guitar to percussions to keyboard to vocals and acoustics. This was best displayed by utility man Kelcey Ayer, who provided passionate vocals and sang lead on more Local Natives songs than you'd expect.

While all of the songs sounded great throughout the evening, there was a unanimous crowd favorite. The final song of the night, "Sun Hands," was absolutely epic. This is probably the heaviest song Local Natives has. It almost feels like a ritual as it builds up and gains momentum. The best part is when all members of the band shout together - "And when I can't feel with my sun hands / I promise not to lose her again," before exploding into a jam session. Rice even came into the State Theater crowd to sing a few of the most intense lines. From the fans reaction, it was easy to see that this is Local Natives' anthem, and it sent the crowd home very happy and energetic.

In total, the 18 song set included 7 tunes off the guys debut, Gorilla Manor, and 9 from the sophomore album, Hummingbird. They also mixed in two covers that sounded just as good as the originals - "Warning Signs" by The Talking Heads and "Out Among the Stars" from Johnny Cash.

The overall feeling I took away from the show is that this is one of those bands you have to see live to appreciate. Their music seems mellow going from track to track on Spotify, but their live performance displays an entire new side of the band. I definite recommend seeing them! Local Natives will be busy this summer with festival stops at Shaky Knees, Firefly, Urban Roots, Forecastle, Osheaga, Fashion Meets Music and Outside Lands.

CONCERT RATING: 3.5 Stars



SETLIST:
1. Breakers
2. World News
3. Wide Eyes
4. Black Balloons
5. Warning Sign (Talking Heads Cover)
6. Ceilings
7. You & I
8. Shape Shifter
9. Mt. Washington
10. Colombia
11. Wooly Mammoth
12. Out Among the Stars (Johnny Cash Cover)
13. Camera Talk
14. Airplanes
15. Who Knows, Who Cares

Encore:
16. Bowery
17. Heavy Feet
18. Sun Hands

CONCERT REVIEW - Cherub

Alright, this review is a bit out of my usual musical genre, so please bear with me. On Monday night, the Red Bull Sound Stage rolled into Tampa. This is a great initiative by Red Bull to promote local music and celebrate hard working bands that are gaining popularity. They take these bands on a mobile stage around the country and allow them to play free concerts on Red Bull’s dime, enhancing the bands reach and providing music fans an opportunity to see free shows.

Currently headlining this tour is an electro-funk group by the name of Cherub. This duo is comprised of Jordan Kelley and Jason Huber. They’re based in Nashville, Tennessee and have two albums released – Mom and Dad in 2012, and 100 Bottles in 2013.

Cherub performed on the outdoor stage at The Cuban Club in Ybor. The crowd was a bit small for a free concert, but everyone seemed to be having a great time! I was on the fence about attending, but Cherub proved to be one of those groups that sound better live than off the record.

The duo provided lots of funk and synth-pop, with some keyboard accents to get the crowd into the music. Kelley and Huber both played the guitar at times, and seemed to sing almost entirely in falsettos, producing a surprisingly high voice for the size of these men. In fact the only instruments on stage were the guitars, the vocals and a mysterious funk-guitar attachment.

Overall, it was a high energy, good-vibe show. The guys displayed excellent showmanship and really hyped up the crowd. (Despite no alcohol being sold at the venue) One of the coolest moments was a remix to Calvin Harris’ “Feel So Close” to get everyone dancing.

The final song was their most well-known tune, entitled “Doses and Mimosas.” This satisfied the crowd and capped off a fun night in Ybor. Cherub definitely has some fans and it’ll be interesting to see if this Red Bull Tour increases their popularity. They already have gigs booked at Bonnaroo, Firefly and Osheaga this summer.

CONCERT REVIEW: 2.5 Stars

Acoustic:

Live:

ALBUM REVIEW: Bastille - Bad Blood

By now everyone knows the English rock band Bastille. This small group from London is responsible for one of 2013's biggest songs, "Pompeii." The success of their lead single has turned Bastille into one of the busiest festival bands in the world this summer. And the good news is...their backing debut album, Bad Blood, is just as strong!

The group is led by singer and lyricist Dan Smith. Smith has an interesting songwriting technique, writing immensely about destruction. This is most easily heard in “Pompeii,” “Things We Lost in the Fire,” and “Icarus.” Despite their dark lyrics though, the songs seem to have a positive feeling, almost inspiring even. The constant theme seems to be not accepting defeat, reminiscent of some Mumford and Third Eye tunes.

Smith has been an avid songwriter many years before the formation of Bastille. He centers his songs on interesting stories and grand historical subjects. This comes through with the greek mythology based “Icarus;” and “Daniel,” telling the Biblical tale of Daniel in the lions den. The tunes are appropriately placed back to back on the album.

One of my favorite things about this album is that Bastille displays great variety with each song. While “Pompeii” is an uplifting radio hit that gets everyone involved, “Overjoyed” is an emotional solo tune. You then have tunes that display quartet singing like “Get Home,” and quirky ballads like “Flaws.”

I also like this album because for me it reminds me immensely of Imagine Dragons. I love the Imagine Dragons debut, Night Visions, and I believe Bad Blood has many similarities. Following Imagine Dragons example, Bastille relies largely on heavy-handed percussion and full band chants. The beginning of “Icarus” sounds very similar to the opening of Imagine Dragon’s “Nothing Left to Say.” Bastille’s “Laura Palmer” also sounds like it should belong on Night Visions. 

In my opinion, the strongest song on the album is self-titled “Bad Blood.” The collaboration of this song makes it a stand out, with a heavy drumbeat and catchy “oh-oh-oh” backup vocals from the rest of the band. The highlight is when Smith sings the lyric “All this bad blood here, won’t you let it dry?” over all the other music.

I have to admit that I’m slightly afraid Bastille could be labeled, “that band that plays Pompeii.” This album though displays they are more than one big radio single. Bad Blood is a great backing album for their lead single that broke them through the indie rock mold.

One thing that I am sure of is that they will put on a great live show. Most of their songs are emotional rock ballads. That type of material always sounds best in a small venue with a crowd of people jumping and singing along. The House of Blues Orlando should provide the perfect setting. Bastille will perform there on Friday, May 16^th. This is not a show you want to miss!

But...if you can't make it to Orlando...our favorite radio station 97x just announced a free concert in St. Pete on Saturday, May 17th featuring Bastille among others! Check out the details HERE!

ALBUM RATING: 4 Stars

A Review of Two of 2012's Strongest Albums....2 Years Later

I wasn't planning on writing a blog today until I discovered something very interesting on Twitter. Two of my favorite debut albums from different bands were released exactly two years ago today - April 3rd, 2012. (I'm posting a day late) They are the self titled debut from The Lumineeers, and the debut from Of Monsters and Men, entitled My Head is an Animal.

Both of these albums were highlights in a 2012 that featured some outstanding new music. Two years after their release, I look back at these notable debuts. If you haven't listened to these albums before, I advise you to jump on the bandwagon now. You will not regret it. Enjoy.

The Lumineers are an Americana folk-rock trio, formed in Denver, Colorado. They are led by front man Wesley Schultz on lead vocals and guitar. They're supported by Jeremiah Fraites on the drums and Neyla Pekarek on the cello.

The story of The Lumineers is told best through their standout track, entitled "Dead Sea." The lyrics - "I headed west I was a man on the move; New York had lied to me I needed some truth" - is a true tale of Shultz and Fraites, who struggled to break into the NYC music scene. They had to travel west to Denver and find Pekarek before they could break out big.

And that is exactly what they did. In about a 10 month span The Lumineers went from releasing a debut album and playing small bars, to filling arenas and being nominated for two Grammy's. Most of the early recognition came from lead single "Ho Hey." This foot stomping single builds up momentum and carries a pleasant melody with plenty of tambourine and chants. It's perfect for a live performance.

The backing album is just as good. You have your share of slowly accelerating love songs, similar to "Ho Hey," But you also have upbeat American songs like "Flowers in Your Hair" and "Classy Girls." Then you have old-time feel good tunes like "Parade" and "Flapper Girl." One last standout is "Stubborn Love," a song that is both haunting and uplifting at the same time.

Overall, this debut from The Lumineers is simple, catchy and meaningful, with plenty of shouts, claps and stomps along the way. My only complaint is that their songs are all so short that the album's length is only 42 mintues. You're left wanting more!

ALBUM RATING: 4 Stars

Very different from an Americana trio from Denver, is the six piece group, Of Monsters and Men. Although potentially looking American and speaking English, all members of this indie-folk-pop group hail from Iceland. They actually gained popularity by winning a national Icelandic Battle of the Bands in 2010, and eventually rode that success and a catchy EP into the states.

It was not until that same date of April 3, 2012 when the US was treated to the full length debut from Of Monsters and Men, entitled My Head is an Animal. The debut album featured lead single "Little Talks," which would grace alt radio stations throughout all of 2012. This first tune contained a great collaboration of the full band, highlighted by a strong trumpet and a series of enthusiastic "HEY's" sang by the backup vocalists.

The band itself is led by 2 singers - Ragnar Borhallson and Nanna Bryndis Hilmarsdottir. (Remember, they're from Iceland) The pair works very nicely off each other. Ragnar draws comparisons to Marcus Mumford, with a soft voice despite a husky frame. Nanna has a very pleasant voice, one capable of making it in a solo career.

But there's no argument that the band sounds its best when all six instrumental and singing voices are being heard at the same time. "Your Bones," "Mountain Sound," and "Six Weeks" are prime examples. They get everyone involved, crowd included. After going through some of these tunes it's no surprise why they have a reputation for being such a fun festival band.

Overall, My Head is an Animal is a fantastic debut. It has the ability to be great background party music with up tempo numbers, but also has slower story telling songs that balance out the album quite nicely. ("Love Love Love" is a prime example) Look for the strong lyrical theme of beasts, forests, blood, bones and wolves. (I realize that didn't sound appealing at all...but trust me, this is a good album!)

ALBUM RATING: 4 Stars



It'll be very interesting to see which of these two bands comes out with their sophomore album first. The Lumineers have been staying relevant with some international tours and a planned trip to Firefly this summer. Of Monsters and Men have been very quiet, possibly preparing for album number 2. Fingers are crossed that both can have strong follow up albums and avoid the dreaded "Sophomore Slump."

2014 US Music Festival Power Rankings

See what surprising festival passed the big boys and became the favorite to win Festival of the Year

It’s getting close to festival season!

With the release of the Lollapalooza lineup last week, we now know who will be performing at all of the major music festivals in 2014. There are many great options and it is a bit overwhelming. I have spent some time looking at the respective lineups and have come up with my preseason top 10. The goal is to get to at least 3 of the following 10.

Please enjoy and I hope this can help you make some decisions on which festival to attend in 2014!

#10: Boston Calling

Boston, Massachusetts

May 23^rd – 25th 

Bean Town was one of the few major cities missing a music festival until Crash Line Productions started this show last summer. Year number two displays some solid growth. My first opinion was that it’s lacking in headliner depth - I’m not sure how many will be excited about Death Cab for Cutie grabbing the Saturday headlining slot.

Fortunately though, what is lacking with headliners is made up for with solid supporting acts. I love Edward Sharpe, Bastille, Head and the Heart, and Frank Turner, so that peaked my interest.

This festival probably could be condensed from three to two days, but it still should be a pleasant weekend of music listening at city hall. Overall, I’m glad Boston now has a music fest, and they did just enough to nab the 10 slot in the countdown.

#9: Big Guava Music Fest

Tampa, Florida

May 2^nd – 4^th

Gotta show some love for Tampa here! I’ll admit I was shocked when I saw this lineup. Last year, this festival was called “Funshine Music Fest” and the largest name they drew was Train (who killed it by the way). But this year Tampa’s biggest fest was re-named Guava and put out a lineup on steroids.

I’m probably most excited for Vampire Weekend, performing their new album Modern City of Vampires (it is excellent!). Foster the People and Outkast should be entertaining. Additionally, Guava is featuring some different bands that don’t show up on many other lineups, such as Slightly Stoopid and Cake.

Look for Twenty One Pilots to draw one of the largest crowds here. They are beloved by many in the Tampa Bay area, and I expect their presence alone to have an impact on ticket sales.

#8: New Orleans Jazz Fest

New Orleans, Louisiana

April 25th - May 4th 

Now this lineup features Bruce Springsteen, Arcade Fire, Vampire Weekend, and Avett Brothers, along with legends Eric Clapton, Carlos Santana and Phish. The argument can be made that this should be number one on the power rankings chart.

What hurts that argument is that this music fest is spread out over two weekends, with each band only taking the stage once. This makes it very difficult to see everyone, unless you live locally in New Orleans. Festival organizers really seemed to spread out the bands at the top of the bill as well, making it difficult to choose which day to attend if opting for a one-day pass.

Overall, it’s a great first few lines of lineup, but not a ton of depth in my opinion. I’m sure some of these jazz bands are huge in Nola, but unfortunately it pushes them down the list.  

#7: Shaky Knees Music Fest

Atlanta, Georgia

May 9^th – 11^th

I think this is one of the most intriguing festival lineups, and a show that I’m really hoping to attend. Rather than spreading out to satisfy fans of multiple genres, it appears that Shaky Knees is trying to attract the niche market of indie, folk-rock fans. I like this strategy!

Festival organizers started by securing the perfect headliner to represent this genre – Alabama Shakes. I think they’re fully worthy of this position. They then went to work building a solid body of indie folk-rockers – Edward Sharpe, Local Natives, Gaslight Anthem, Conor Oberst, Iron & Wine, Trampled by Turtles, Jason Isbell, Dawes, Lord Huron, Deer Tick…the list just goes on and on!

You also have Cage the Elephant, Dropkick Murphy’s and Airborne Toxic Event to add some alt-rock into the mix. I think this could be a great weekend in Atlanta!

#6: Governors Ball

New York, New York

June 6^th – 8^th

Governors Ball once again put out a solid lineup for NYC’s largest music fest. They secured popular headliners Outkast and Jack White, while also adding a very nice combo with Vampire Weekend and The Strokes.

The rest of the top of the bill shows some solid depth. Phoenix, a headliner at Lollapalooza last year, appears on the 5^th line of Governors Ball this year. Skrillex is also further down here than most lineups he appears on.

Overall, this show will be a bit more rap and EDM heavy that the other festivals on this list. But I still think it’d be cool to check out. For me, there’s lost of good support with Fitz and the Tantrums, The 1975, Frank Turner, Bastille and Broken Bells all appearing in the middle of the lineup.

#5: Hangout Festival

Gulf Shores, Alabama

May 16^th – 18^th

Hangout seems to be getting bigger and better every year, with 2014 being no exception. What stands out for me here is a great group of headliners. They seem to have grabbed The Black Keys for one of their only US headlining shows. They also have The Killers, who I can confirm are professional headliners and will appropriately “kill it” in Gulf Shores this year. Jack Johnson and The Avett Brothers round out a really respectable group.

The only reason they can’t push pass the big guys is because they have to work on their mid-day support a bit. They have some fun bands with Capital Cities, Portugal the Man, Dawes, Bastille, The 1975…just not enough though to pass Lolla yet. Don’t be discouraged though, the headliners are worth the wait here. Plus it all takes place on the beach – sounds like a great weekend to me.

#4: Lollapalooza

Chicago, Illinois

August 1^st – 3^rd

I wish I could place Lolla in a higher place than 4^th, (it was #1 last year) but their lineup just can’t measure up to 2013. What’s lacking for me is that I’m really not excited and do not plan to see 4 of the top 6 artists on the bill. (That’s not a good sign.) Founder Perry Farrell seems to be going away from his alt-rock influences and moving towards a heavier rap and house music festival, more like an Ultra Music Fest than a Bonnaroo.

Enough negativity though, there’s still TONS of positives here. How about Arctic Monkeys appropriately being given a Friday night headlining slot?! It’s the first time they’ll take the main stage for a US festival, and I cannot be happier about it. AM is this years Babel, so maybe they’ll be just as good as the Mumfords were last year.

Looking at the top of the bill, I’m excited for Kings of Leon, Foster the People, Avett Brothers and especially Lorde. I think she’ll draw a huge crowd and be very entertaining.

What’s most exciting about Lolla though is the outstanding group of sub headliners. You have Young the Giant, Head and the Heart, Cage the Elephant, Broken Bells, Portugal the Man, Grouplove, Fitz and the Tantrums, Temper Trap, The 1975, J Roddy Walston, Phantogram, Chvurches…and oh so many more. This is a rare festival where you may have more trouble deciding which bands to see in the afternoon, versus the nighttime.

And although it dropped to 4, Lolla is by no means suffering. They still sold out of 200,000+ tickets in less than an hour. This festival takes place in gorgeous Grant Park in downtown Chicago, and features ample after shows every night. In my opinion, it is a MUST GO!

#3: Coachella

Indo, California

April 11^th – 13^th and April 18^th – 20^th

Two weekends for Coachella this year, adding flexibility for festivalgoer’s and a chance for fans to see the biggest names in the business twice. This will be the fist show of the reunion of Outkast, so that’s quite exciting. The Saturday headliner is Muse, making a rare US headlining appearance.

The supporting headliners are very solid. Coachella also attracted Lorde, and added Beck and Haim. Pharrell Williams will also be huge there! You never know who he may bring up on stage with him.

But the reason this is number three for me is because of the Sunday headliner – ARCADE FIRE. I love Arcade Fire, and I think they should have been headlining many more US festivals this year. They are reason enough to look at flights to LA this April. Arcade Fire is a prefect festival band and they will be the highlight of Coachella. I wish I could be there to see it.

#2: Bonnaroo

Manchester, Tennessee

June 12^th – 15^th

So many headliners here! Elton John, Jack White, Kanye, Vampire Weekend, Avett Brothers, Arctic Monkeys, Phoenix….man how can you not have a good time heading to the farm and camping out while listening to music for four days?!

The body of the lineup features the usual suspects, with a few standouts that I’d be really excited to see. I’ve been itching to see Dr. Dog again after getting a taste of their live shows last September. I also would love to see Jake Bugg after he’s gained some US popularity.

Unsurprisingly, Bonnaroo put out an A list lineup. Well done. 

#1: Firefly Festival

Dover, Delaware

June 19^th – 22^nd

Oh my…. where to begin?! Is this an alt-rock fans dream lineup here? Out of nowhere, Firefly Festival has become number one in my power rankings and put out possibly the best music festival lineup I have ever seen!

Let’s begin with the second line of this lineup. You have both Imagine Dragons and the Lumineers, two really fun bands that killed it at Lolla last year and are just so great to see live. I would have been happy if those were the headliners!

When I went over Lolla for 2014, I mentioned Young the Giant, Portugal the Man, and Cage the Elephant. Well all of those are here as well, plus more!

Since I’ve started this blog, I’ve reviewed many concerts. The only bands to receive 3.5 stars or more at a show I’ve rated is The Arctic Monkeys, Band of Horses, and Jake Bugg. Well all three of those bands will be at Firefly.

If that’s not enough, two of my favorite bands ever are here – Third Eye Blind and Twenty One Pilots! It’s almost too good to be true.

This lineup is so good in fact, that my 2013 pick for Rookie of the Year, The Mowgli’s, is on the lower half of the lineup, displaying just how good the upper half is.

And we haven’t even made it to the headliners yet. Jack Johnson one night, and festival favorite Outkast another. That’s acceptable, but who will headline the third night?

FOO FIGHTERS?! Dave Grohl is like a walking God among alt-rock fans. I can’t believe the Foo’s will be at Firefly. So far it seems like it is their only festival appearance, and the guys have enough material to put on a show you will never forget. This just caps off an epic festival lineup.

You know what… a picture is not enough. Watch this festival revealing lineup: