BuzzSugar

Surviving the 2008 Outside Lands Music Festival

BuzzSugar — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 16:30:13 -0700

In theory, the Outside Lands Festival here in my little city by the Bay seemed like a lot of fun - especially since I didn't have to pay the exorbitant ticket prices ($250 for a three-day pass!). As such a gigantic concert in Golden Gate Park, it seemed like an experiment I should witness firsthand, like I might be a part of history or something.

The lineup for the weekend was impressive: Radiohead, Beck, Wilco, Regina Spektor, Tom Petty, Jack Johnson, Cake, The Walkmen, The Black Keys, and a bunch more. Then again, you'd have to have those cartoon speedy legs that turn into blurry wheels as they propel you forward at warp speed in order to actually see all the bands you'd like to see. The stages were pretty far apart, and there was a noticeable lack of helpful signs. On Friday I walked in the wrong direction for a while before doubling back toward the box office, and by the time I got my pass the only act I could catch was Radiohead. They were excellent - no complaints about the actual performances, really - but it was a lot of running around (literally), not to mention a royal pain in the neck dealing with the public transportation system, which was clearly overwhelmed by the multitudes of concertgoers.

Anyway, for the most part, I liked the concerts once I got to them. To check out some of my impressions, read more.

I hadn't seen Radiohead perform in years, so it was a real treat to check them out. For all the vast space in the main-stage area, the sound was good (well, perhaps a little too good for many of the residents living near the park).
Tom Petty was one of my very first concerts as a teen, so getting to see him again was sweetly nostalgic. His set was also the one where I found a pretty wide variety of ages in the audience; it was really cool to see how many generations know and love Petty's music. As he and the Heartbreakers began their final song I decided that those first sounds of "American Girl" (tun-tunga-tun, tatata, tun-tunga-tun) might be some of the most recognizable in all of American music.

There is definitely something uniquely awesome about a Summer music festival with all the raucous dancing in the sun and carefree belting out of lyrics. It's fun to see how unifying music can be, even with crowds of thousands.
The bands seemed to agree. Almost every act I caught appeared to be having an almost blissful time and giving spirited performances in return. Broken Social Scene's multitextured sound was boosted by its collective mirth.
Even Jeff Tweedy, the often-surly lead singer of Wilco, was downright giddy as his band closed out the Twin Peaks stage on Sunday night. Unfortunately, the sound at the Wilco show could have been turned up a notch or two; it was too hard to hear, even from the VIP section on the sidelines.
The Drive By Truckers, on the other hand, were as wonderfully over-the-top as always, rocking through a tight set and passing their standard bottle of Jack Daniels back and forth in the waning afternoon sun. In fact, I probably most enjoyed the experiences on the smaller side stages, where the crowds were rollicking but not impenetrable like on the larger venues.
Another favorite part about fests: Though I always have an itinerary of shows to hit, I love stumbling onto the ends of other performances I didn't plan to catch - in this case, Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings. I never understood all the fuss about Jones until I caught the last 15 minutes of her set; damn, that woman is intense, and intensely sassy. Hearing her live is clearly the way to go.

Did John Mayer Ruin Petty's "Free Fallin"?

BuzzSugar — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 05:30:13 -0700

Last week's release of John Mayer's live performance at L.A.'s Nokia Theater included an acoustic cover of Tom Petty's classic song "Free Fallin," and at first I thought I would probably enjoy it. Because what's not to like? At first blush it sounds pretty, I already know the lyrics, etc.

But then I happened to hear the original version on the radio the other day and was reminded of how great it is, and I started to have sour feelings toward Mayer for laying his paws on such a classic. But then I thought, "Maybe it's just different and maybe that's OK." So, now I'm torn.

Take a listen for yourself and weigh in!

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What Did You Think of Tom Petty's Halftime Show?

BuzzSugar — Sun, 03 Feb 2008 17:45:49 -0800

Tom Petty took the field at the Super Bowl today, performing a set of his best-known songs including "American Girl" and "Free Fallin'" for the cheering crowd. Do you think he rocked? Or were Petty and his Heartbreakers showing their age?

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Halftime Shows Aplenty - Even If You Don't Like Tom Petty

BuzzSugar — Sat, 02 Feb 2008 11:00:00 -0800

The Super Bowl is playing it relatively safe with its halftime entertainment this year, lining up a show by Tom Petty, who is - how shall I put this? - not exactly known for doing suggestive things with his guitar. If you're bored by the idea of "Free Fallin'," cable networks are dialing up their own halftime programming. As the head of the dude-focused Spike TV told the Hollywood Reporter:

"We see an opportunity at halftime because young viewers may not be into watching a musical performance suited to older guys. To get the competitive juices flowing, we have a better idea."

That idea? A competitive eating contest in two stages: an appetizer of scarfing hard-boiled eggs, followed by a headliner of devouring ham.

Some others:

Animal Planet's Puppy Bowl will air its own halftime show, the Kitten Bowl.
Oxygen is putting the premiere of Deion and Pilar: Prime Time Love, a reality show starring former NFL player Deion Sanders, online for two hours, starting roughly around halftime. It will also cut away from programming to show it on TV during the halftime show itself.

So, what'll it be? Kitties? Eggs? Or is Tom Petty sounding better and better?

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Buzz News Roundup, 12/3

BuzzSugar — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 13:31:33 -0800

TV Guide reports that Tom Petty has been picked for the Super Bowl halftime show.
Christian Bale is in talks to play John Connor in Terminator Salvation: The Future Begins, reports Variety.
Amy Sedaris, Chris Kattan, and Tom Everett Scott will star in Tanner Hall, an indie film set at a boarding school that started its life as a failed UPN pilot, writes The Hollywood Reporter.
Rosie Thomas, Califone, and Mark Kozelek are among the musicians pitching in on a new compilation with songs about every U.S. president, Pitchfork reports.
Ratatouille leads the field with 13 nominations for the Annie Awards, which recognize achievements in animation, writes The Hollywood Reporter.
NBC is buying blocks of reality and "adventure" programming from the producers of Ice Road Truckers, reports The New York Times.
Michelle Trachtenberg and Melora Hardin (Jan from The Office) will join Zac Efron and Matthew Perry in the movie 17, writes Zap2It.

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