Subsisting on processed snack bars. Navigating around hairy crust punks. Appreciating fantastic music groups. Last year's Harvest of Hope Festival was a three-day blur. This year's line-up looks like it will be another adventure. From Gainesville's own The Mercury Program to beloved Canadians Broken Social Scene, I have a feeling that I'm going to have a whale of a time in St. Augustine. Here's five of my most-anticipated acts.
Broken Social Scene
Broken Social Scene were great at Jannus last year, so that's the main reason I'm excited to see them. These indie rock titans are touring in support of an upcoming new album, the first in five years. The years spanning the gap have seen what seems like a million side projects (Stars, Do Make Say Think, Metric, not to mention the solo work of Leslie Feist, Kevin Drew and Leslie Feist.) Perhaps making up for the lack of its presence last year in St. Petersburg, it would also be nice to hear music from their first album, Feel Good Lost, an instrumental album that instantly relaxes and soothes me every time I hear it
Dr. Dog
Well, the reason I want to see Dr. Dog is simple: I like The Beatles and I like the Beach Boys. But wait, you say, Dr. Dog is not those two groups — they don't even have the same letters! Very astute, but the soul and sound of the Beach Boys and the Beatles live on in this 60s throwback group. Dr. Dog recreates the psychedelic pop and melodies these two groups are renowned for. In this sense, it'll be like being transported back to Woodstock for a set. And since I have no desire to do acid or travel through any space-time continuums, I think this is the best way I will achieve my desire for a trip.
The Mercury Program
This group is a bit of a wild card, see-what-happens-when-I-get-there group. I don't know much about their catalog, nor have I ever seen them live. I'm just going on the trusted recommendation of a friend who knows how much I like intricate, soothing instrumental music. MySpace research turns up that they produce exactly this type of music and are from Gainesville, land of orange and blue. My logic for this choice is similar to why I won't learn much about a movie other than the director sometimes. I don't want to spoil the surprise. I'm going with my gut on this group.
Kimya Dawson
Indie, lo-fi, anti-folk, singer-songwriter. Described her in only four words. Beat that, William Faulkner. Anyway, I chose Ms. Dawson because she writes pleasant little ditties that have warmth and a sort of silly sympathy. And because I crumple before women with acoustic guitars. I was introduced to the folk singer on a mix I got in high school. And then we caught up again when she released some tracks for the movie Juno. I'm glad I met her. And I can't wait to see her live.
Man Man
The best way to describe Man Man would be a cross between the throaty voice and clanging instrumentation of Tom Waits and the general bizarreness and artistic dissonance of Captain Beefheart. But enough of lame Mr. I'm-Going-To-Analyze-Music-To-Death Guy, I'm sure these guys know how to put on a good show. Their albums have enough chaos and unhinged ideas to entertain even the most easily distracted. Words and phrases that come to mind to describe this group include: squawking parrots, beer-fueled anarchy, sea chanteys, junkyard and yo-ho-ho! So…imagine that…but live.
This article appears in Feb 24 – Mar 2, 2010.