Chicagoist: PreFork: Pitchfork Music Festival Saturday Preview

ktr

Thu, 17 Jul 2008 11:48:23 -0600

jay reatard got his name when he started a band called the reatards (no one could spell "retard" so maybe it was an apt name). he was 14 at the time so yeah, juvenile to be sure but in keeping with the punk rock tradition of taking your band name as a surname (ramones, oblivians, etc.) he's been jay reatard ever since.

lamgray

Wed, 16 Jul 2008 17:48:35 -0600

I think there's a little more to it, if you give it a few more listens. A great summer album, and a great thing to sit back and catch on a fast day. And, I would say its does copy the stylings of CSN&Y (and associated bands), just as Band of Horses and MMJ alludes to. Sorry, though I dig those bands, they didn't bring anything relatively new to the table either.

lamgray

Wed, 16 Jul 2008 17:45:31 -0600

Yeah, I guess it would have been a nice highlight to focus on bands that haven't played Pitchfork or its parent festival (Intonation 2005 prior to the split, since the organizers went on to produce pfork). . or that don't regularly play the festival bills such as Lollapalooza.

mike_thoms

Wed, 16 Jul 2008 17:42:21 -0600

Fleet Foxes are good but it's like MMJ committed incest with Band of Horses and they had Fleet Foxes.

smussy

Wed, 16 Jul 2008 17:33:29 -0600

so ... this will be my first time to pitchfork, and i'm really bummed that my three day pass doesn't allow me re-entry to the park. i thought that would be part of the deal, ala lolla. (ala lolla ... say that three times fast.) anyway, this has thrown me in a dilemma of choices, given the weather and all of that. i thought i'd be able to come and go as i pleased ... they won't even allow you to bring food, at least according to the website. sealed bottled water, but still. gah. boo.

Tankboy

Wed, 16 Jul 2008 17:26:14 -0600

That Fleet Foxes disc is really pretty, but it just doesn't connect with me on any level beyond appreciating its harmonies.

lamgray

Wed, 16 Jul 2008 17:22:37 -0600

No comment about Fleet Foxes? Their lastest album is GORGEOUS. If I were going to the festival, it would be just to see them, as I've seen all the other bands at festival rounds. But, luckily I can catch them at the free show on Thur and avoid the heat.

ThisGuy

Wed, 16 Jul 2008 17:21:43 -0600

Jay Reatard live is quite an experience. It'll be over before you know it, but those 30 minutes sure pack their punch.

Tankboy

Wed, 16 Jul 2008 16:51:58 -0600

mike_thoms, no argument his name is asinine and juvenile, but your decision not to listen to him because of that is also kind of asinine and juvenile. Slate put it well: What better way to poke fun at flimsy notions of official morality than to adopt a blunt, post-FCC band name? For others, though, the attempt at provocative humor can go awry. Names like AIDS Wolf—a noisy, abrasive Montreal band—and Jay Reatard—a shockingly talented young Memphis garage-punk, one-man act—aren't literally profane, but both flirt with a sophomoric crudeness.

sonic

Wed, 16 Jul 2008 16:51:00 -0600

saw Jarvis Cocker at Fuji Rock Fest last year and he was boring as hell. It's just lame, vanilla song writing. He was witty as hell in between songs, despite jabbering to a mostly Japanese crowd. Hopefully he's ramped up his performance because I do love the guy.

mike_thoms

Wed, 16 Jul 2008 16:48:32 -0600

Can someone tell me about Jay Reatard? I find his name to be asinine and juvenile and therefore refuse to listen to his music. Is that decision asinine and juvenile?