Sound On Sound Day Two – Pouya, Big Boi, Beach House

With little to no rain, the sun trying to break through the clouds, and festival attendees pouring through the gates, day two proved another successful day in the forest. There were three artist particularly on my radar for Saturday, including Pouya, Big Boi, and Beach House.

Starting at the Forest Stage for the second day in a row, I was shocked to find somewhat of a bleak crowd formed around the stage. From behind the speakers and light fixtures, and tall lanky white boy emerged onto the stage with the beat following. Pouya performed songs “Growing Pains” and “Energy 2,” which embody a lot of what kids these days are calling “hype.” Towards the end of his performance he told the crowd, “don’t sing, just mosh,” so with body parts flying around in the front, and people bumpin’ in the back, the show came to an end.

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Photo: Charles Hackleman

The next performer on my radar was Big Boi, a rapper best known for being a member of the hip hop duo Outkast, alongside Andre 3000. We’ve all shaken it like a polaroid picture once or twice, but Saturday night I was ready to get down and boogie. Unfortunately, Big Boi conquered the stage later than scheduled, but the wait was well worth it. He performed songs from his duo Outkast including, “B.O.B,” “The Way You Move,” and my personal favorite, “Mrs. Jackson.”

In addition to Big Boi’s notable work with Outkast, he played songs from his collaborative work with Phantogram, titled Big Grams. Although Phantogram was at the festival on day one, Big Boi performed their songs “Lights On” and “Fell In The Sun” solo. During the infectiously catchy song “Drum Machine” the crowd was bouncing, twerking, and shaking what their mama’s gave em’. The energy from the crowd out of control, and it was awesome.

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Photo: Jackie Young

Lastly and slightly later than scheduled, Beach House took the stage. Despite the anxious fans waiting, there’s nothing better than the moment you close your eyes and hear a sea of voices chattering go silent before cheering on an artist to take the stage. The base crept in, and with a steady beat, and the strings of guitars chiming in, Beach House took the stage opening with “Wild.” Beach House embodies a very melodic and soothing sound in many of their songs, creating a wonderful concert experience during songs like “Myth” and “10 Mile Radio.” With lots of swaying and subtle movements around the crowd, the show had a kind of feeling you’d experience while listening to a lullaby. It was breath taking.

Sound On Sound Day One – Clipping, Denzel Curry, Run the Jewels

Sound on Sound Fest’s first day of music was packed with talent and high energy performances. Making my way through the mystical Sherwood Forest, I saw performances by Clipping, Denzel Curry, and Run the Jewels. Can you tell I was ready for some rap?

Starting at the Forest Stage, titled due to it’s placement around tall beautiful trees, Clipping, an experimental hip hop artist was about to take the stage. With sounds of electronic music and quick thoughtful raps, the beats and energy from this guy we’re very pronounced. During his songs “Wake Up” and “Wriggle,” the crowd was groovin’ to the beat, despite how scattered the sounds may have seemed. Some songs we’re so top loaded with different melodies, it was almost hard to keep up dancing, but all in all it was a wild performance.

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Photo: Reagan Hacklmen
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Photo: Reagan Hacklmen

 

As I continued my ventures in the forest, I found myself lost trying to find The Keep stage, where rapper Denzel Curry was gearing up to take the stage. Once I floated around the festival, lost in thought, music, tents, and a sea of magical people, I finally found it. Like many rap shows, the energy from the crowd was rowdy, and Curry was there to light up the night. Before performing his hit “Ultimate,” he asked the kids in the crowd to get on stage, and for the ladies to step out from the middle of the crowd, so a wall of death could be formed. In other words, it was time to mosh, and mosh they did.

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Photo: Chad Wadsworth

To finish my night off with one last rap performance, I saw Run the Jewels. With it being their first show in a month, they we’re ready to party. Unfortunately, the sound went out on the first song, but that didn’t stop Killer Mike and El-P from bouncing around the stage in front of the crowd. Once realizing what happened, they requested the volume be turned up “louder than legal” so the party could continue. With songs like “Blockbuster Night Part 1,” “Close Your Eyes (And Count to Fuck),” and “Lie, Cheat, Steal,” the crowd was headbanging and throwing their bodies around to the heavy beats. If you’ve never experienced a Run the Jewels show and you have the chance, I highly recommend you go jam with these guys. They’ll make you dance your socks off.

Sound On Sound Fest Day One – Setting the Stage

On November 4th, the first day of a new festival, Sound on Sound Fest, kicked off it’s inaugural year in the magical Sherwood Forest. Day one had an excellent line up, highlighting some of my favorite acts including, Clipping, Denzel Curry, Empress Of, Run the Jewels, and Phantogram. However, the fans we’re the real stars of the fest.

The attendees of Sound on Sound are amongst some of the most dedicated festival fans I’ve had the pleasure to fest with. Despite the weather, these people came with open minds, a raincoat, boots, and a tent, to set up camp for the weekend, while others embark on an hour long journey from the city each day.

Prior to the fest, many fans showed concern about the transition from Fun Fun Fun Fest, to this new mysterious festival in the woods. However, I found many attendees blown away with the new venue and set up of the festival.

At a glance, the fest lays on the grounds where an annual renaissance fair is held, so castles turned into stages, and marketplaces turned into eateries. While the map may seem a little spread out and confusing at times, the walk between attractions can be very mystic and mesmerizing with light embellishments hanging from trees, and unused renaissance attractions you can hang out by, like houses, chapels, and fountains. There’s even multiple interactive games to play between your favorite shows! The festival also posses a designated “sober space” where you can kick back before furthering your adventures around the festival.

One of the most respected attributes of the festival was due to the spread out nature of it, which enhanced the quality of each individual stage by allowing enough space between stages, so artists can jam to their full potential without hearing other performers around the fest.

Now, on to day two for another magical day in the forest…see you there!