If there’s one thing we learned over the weekend at the second annual Treasure Island Music Festival, it’s that David Byrne and Neil Young deserve a few ‘thank you’ notes for being such influential forces, from electronic phenoms Hot Chip to the disarming harmonies of Fleet Foxes.
Justice and the Raconteurs headlined the respective electronic and rock line-ups that blew audiences away via heady beats and heavier guitars (even more so than the high winds). Acts from the U.K. to Brazil to Brooklyn rocked a former military base on a small, artificial island in the San Francisco Bay against a backdrop of breathtaking city views.
~SATURDAY~
Justice’s [pictured] banger beats created a frenetic dance frenzy amongst fans that were borderline evangelical in their enthusiasm. Their massive, glowing cross provided an altar for the ongoing DJ worship that pervades the current music scene, but they earned it as they explored every intricate aspect of their eclectic electro beats with innovative re-imaginings of “Genesis” and “We Are Your Friends,” punctuated with sly references to pop hits and Metallica.
Hot Chip, whose rhythmic vocals were unstoppable, brought the crowd to dance ecstasy. Alexis Taylor’s voice is evocative, reminiscent of David Byrne and well-matched by his band mates. “And I Was a Boy From School” and “Ready for the Floor” were crowd favorites, while an unorthodox “Nothing Compares 2 U” closer left the set feeling slightly lackluster. Earlier in the day, Foals’ raw, angular post-punk continued to make the skinny jeans scenesters dance wildly to their twitchy guitars and yelping vocals that recall Les Savy Fav.
TV on the Radio, joined by the funky flair of Antibalas’ horn section, played a selection of tracks from their new album Dear Science, along with old favorites like “Wolf Life Me” and “Staring at the Sun.” CSS (Cansei de ser Sexy) didn’t seem tired of being sexy, with a sassy, energetic stage presence courtesy of front woman Lovefoxxx and even better elastic outfits, their brand of electro-dance-pop left the crowds feeling warm and fuzzy, even as outside winds approached gale force levels.
~SUNDAY~
The Raconteurs were loud and larger than life. Jack White, with his distinct vocal style and nasty Nashville mix of blues and rock and roll, is an unparalleled performer, moving restlessly from his guitar to the keys and back again. While White was clearly the star power, it was thrilling to see Brendan Benson hold his own alongside such a rock superstar.
The Kills were electric with energy and lived up to my memory of their show I caught back in 2001 when the transatlantic team got their start. Crackling with chemistry, Mosshart and Hince (in extraordinarily good spirits following his break up from supermodel Kate Moss) performed drilling duets set against a metronomic synth sample that served as percussion.
Fleet Foxes, whose album one can listen to for days on end, performed their signature disarming harmonies and reverb sound. The sonic reverie was punctuated by postmodern stage banter that would make Tom Stoppard proud. What’s most astounding is the band’s incredibly faithful rendering of their album recordings live, whose intricate harmony structures limit improvisation, but still astound. Their baroque pop sound owes much to the work of Neil Young, et al., but speaks to a broader movement to resurrect the Americana sound in a fresh, modern way.
Buzz band Vampire Weekend elicited pre-teen squeals with their signature Upper West Side Soweto sound with irresistible melodies and mannered, witty lyrics that recall Paul Simon’s stint with Ladysmith Black Mambazo, and David Byrne’s global pastiche. I just wish they’d bring their string section on tour with them to give their sound more street cred the next time they name drop Lil John.
Bay Area favorites, The Morning Benders’ sunny mid-century melodies were perfect for the sun-drunk masses who swayed to songs from their debut album Talking Through Tin Cans. Other weekend highlights were the lo-fi rockers Okkervil River, 12-piece afrofunk alliance Antibalas, and the naco electro-folklorico sound of Mexico’s Nortec Collective.
--Jenna Glass [October 5, 2008]
