Popfest in profile
Day 1, Oct. 12
Stories
40 Watt’s opening night brings ladies to the stage
The first night of PopFest has come to an end. And at 40 Watt, female-fronted bands dominated the establishment.
PopFest: First night at Caledonia yields mixed results
Downtown was swarming. Compared to a typical Wednesday, the nightlife was unexpectedly vibrant: running shorts-wearing girls sat happily on every other corner enjoying frozen yogurt, while others lined the sidewalk waiting to eat at Pepper’s.
BombsBombsBombs kicks things off right (w/video)
No matter what anyone says about BombsBombsBombs henceforth, here or elsewhere, keep this in mind: this a young band, and it opened Athens PopFest 2011 in the middle of a Wednesday afternoon — and did it with a bang.
Sea of Dogs makes old school sounds sound new (w/video)
It’s pretty easy to mock old school folk-country, especially if you’re in a little liberal oasis like Athens — and plenty of people do.
Younger Siblings blends ukulele, harp in eclectic show
I know very little about Alabama. I don’t know what the key exports are, probably something to do with agriculture, and I know that we hate the Crimson Tide and their stupid elephant.
El Hollin experiences growing pains with new instruments
“There are so many instruments I wish I could play, including this one,” sang lead singer and guitarist of El Hollin Dena Zilber.
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Day 2, Oct. 13
Stories
PopFest: Bob Mould leads night of strange, strong performers at 40 Watt (w/videos)
PopFest continued for the second night at the 40 Watt yesterday, and the evening was full of bands and solo acts that weren’t afraid to perform specific styles — some mediocre, most good and a few that defied a traditional vocabulary altogether.
A second night of Caledonia ranges far and wide
Caledonia’s second night of PopFest felt like a blast from the past. Five different bands representing different genres performed before the venue’s comers-and-goers. The only thing in common — the sounds were not reminiscent of anything heard recently.
Band rides acclaimed album into Athens
Holopaw is living the dream. “I guess the most memorable is the tremendous kindness we were offered along the way: hot cobbler in Chattanooga, moonshine in Knoxville, folks that had driven great distances to see us,” said vocalist and band artist John Orth. “All in all, a charmed tour indeed.”
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Day 3, Oct. 14
Stories
Olivia Tremor Control returns with simple goal: ‘the important thing is playing music with your friends’
It’s easy to look back in retrospect and see The Elephant 6 Collective as legendary. This is the group that created indie music as we know it today — that defined the tenor of a generation of musicians.
Third afternoon at Caledonia sees grunge, goodbyes, Hawaiian shirts
Another day of PopFest, another afternoon at Caledonia — which saw a series of sets in what has become typical ‘fest fashion: that is to say, no two were alike.
Easter Island, Gift Horse lead third evening at Caledonia (w/videos)
The shows continue: on the third night of PopFest at Caledonia, a series of bands, both local and national, came to the stage and stated their case: why they were great, why they should break-out. The good news is a lot of them were, and a lot of them did.
Elephant 6 Collective takes center stage
There are so many words that can describe the 40 Watt on PopFest’s third night; and the same can be said for the Elephant 6 collective acts that took the stage and the reemergence of Masters of the Hemisphere.
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Day 4, Oct. 15
Stories
A buyer’s guide to Poptober Fair
Along with the now standard fare of diverse national and local acts, this year PopFest is also incorporating an artist’s market of sorts hosted by the Classic Center, with wares as varied as the music on the other end of downtown.
Dead Milkmen crash last afternoon at Caledonia
Caledonia’s final day show was filled with surprises. Whether it was a secret show, raunchy comedy or watching a fan dance like a jellyfish, everything the show offered was smooth and went off without a hitch.
Last night at Caledonia closes country strong
The final PopFest show at Caledonia went country. It wasn’t always full-on, in-your-face country — but the elements of the genre made its appearance throughout all five of the acts; and a collection of artists from Athens and Houston gave the show a strong Southern flair.
PopFest: Pop-punk gets fresh face, voice at closing show
PopFest saw a steady stream of indie, pop-punk bands on its final night, leading up to a headlining performance by The Dead Milkmen. It was an evening of small surprises and strong musicianship. And now it’s over — and so, for another year, is the festival.
PopFest: Best of the ‘fest
The 2011 PopFest is over, and the acts which performed have moved on. Approximately 70 of them graced the stages of 40 Watt and Caledonia, and some were better than others.
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