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Posted in music on June 20, 2007

Long Winters vs the Hold Steady & Decemberists @ Bonnaroo

DOWNLOAD: The Long Winters - Ultimatum (MP3)

The Long Winters' John Roderick blogged Bonnaroo this year.

The DEcemberists @ Bonnaroo

In all fairness, I should probably recuse myself from reviewing the Decembrists. They are a band I know, we’ve toured together and I’ve appeared in one of their music videos. Also, Decembrist Chris Funk guested on the Long Winters’ most recent album. I can’t possibly review their show impartially, because I like them too much.

On the other hand, I’ve been in a “fake feud” with them for several years, involving some “smack talking” and pranking, which despite my best efforts has failed to catch fire mostly because they reciprocate too passively. (I think they’re holding out for a fake feud with Sufjan Stevens or something). So I can’t really be trusted not to call them a bunch of fruity, Vaudeville, pirate-song-singing sissies just to burn their britches a little.

But in this instance I’m acting as a professional journalist and I must honor my caste by reporting the news without adornment. They played their epic song, "The Tain," which was a bold choice, and their kitchy theatricality played exceptionally well with the big crowd.

At one point Colin led the audience in bidding the sun to set, and the effect was like a pagan ceremony — 15,000 people all motioning in unison toward the sun. In the end Mavis Staples joined them for a song, which was a little like... Like... Well, there is no better analogy for an unfathomable incongruity than: Like Mavis Staples jamming with the Decembrists. [John Roderick]

John was not as nice about the Hold Steady....
These fellows have a rabid popularity that leaves me deeply conflicted. Although their live show is undeniably full of energy, full of engagement, and full of whimsy, their music is full of s--t.
...which I guess serves the Hold Steady right for recently talking s--t about Jim Morrisson and The Doors.

More Decemberists photos (by BV Bonnarooo correspodent Andrew Fischler) below....

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Tags: andrewfischler, Bonnaroo, The Decemberists, The Hold Steady, The Long Winters
posted at 2:50 PM on June 20, 2007 in music | Comments (17)

Comments (17)

I'm with John on the Hold Steady.

Posted by Anonymous | June 20, 2007 4:37 PM

John Roderick didn't like ANYTHING about Bonaroo. He proved himself to be boring, sad, burned out and with no sense of humor. I don't understand how anyone thought it was anything but the tired and jaded yammerings of someone who clearly thinks he's better than anyone else. Why on earth did they bother to send him just to diss everyone and everything about the festival? Is this a part of hipster culture I just don't get? Probably.

Posted by jukeboxgraduate | June 20, 2007 4:43 PM

I don't know how, but on a regular basis, somehow this blog turns into a Hold Steady diss fest. I don't understand why people are so offended by their music. It's just fun rock 'n' roll.

Posted by Jeff | June 20, 2007 4:58 PM

please - is there really any band out there after say 1990 or so that CAN'T be accused of ripping some other band off? Hold Steady fucking rule, and if hipsters hate them, so be it, more room for me at their Prospect Park show.

Posted by dogdoor | June 20, 2007 5:11 PM

I don't know, some of the things John said were actually pretty funny.

Posted by Anonymous | June 20, 2007 5:29 PM

Roderick is the man. Maybe conceded, but what he says about the hold steady is true. That new album was overhyped. Mediocre, party cock rock.

Posted by Anonymous | June 20, 2007 5:52 PM

Took me a while to get into the Hold Steady and every time I see them, I enjoy them. Enjoyed them at Southpaw and loved them at NYU. They also blew away everyone at the Bruce tribute at Carnegie Hall.

Now the Decemberists-that is an acquired taste. Saw them in Paris in February, and my wife enjoyed much more than I did.

Posted by Adam | June 20, 2007 6:12 PM

hold steady are my least favorite band out there

Posted by Anonymous | June 20, 2007 8:15 PM

kudos to John for seeming to be the only person other than blog commentors like me to say something negative about the hold steady. and who said hipsters hated them? the only people i know who like them are hipsters and pitchfork. what an unfortunately overhyped band.
maybe we're passed this by now, but doesn't anyone else still find it weird that Bonnaroo was the biggest hippie/jam music festival only like two years ago? i guess everyone figured out that those bands suck too.
in other news, i recommend the new Pharoahe Monch, out next week.

Posted by todd | June 20, 2007 10:36 PM

I don't know what all the "John Roderick doesn't like anything" hand-wringing is about. He lauded the White Stripes, the Decemberists, T-Bone Burnett, Wilco, and Leslie Feist, and that's just off the top of my head. Based on the level of writing on your blog, Jukeboxgraduate, you sound jealous that he presents ideas cogently.

Posted by Parker | June 20, 2007 10:45 PM

All that matters... is the Decemberists... played the Weight... with Mavis Staples.

Wow.

Seriously I want an MP3 of this so bad.

Posted by Sam | June 20, 2007 10:54 PM

The Doors are terrible.

Posted by Anonymous | June 21, 2007 1:33 AM

"Based on the level of writing on your blog, Jukeboxgraduate, you sound jealous that he presents ideas cogently."

Well said.

Posted by Anonymous | June 21, 2007 1:54 AM

Oh, and is Jukebox U highly selective? Do you think I could get in?

Posted by Anonymous | June 21, 2007 1:56 AM

Feeling a little about Jukebox guy. Sorry.

Posted by Anonymous | June 21, 2007 3:27 PM

Feeling a little guilty about Jukebox guy. Sorry.

Posted by Anonymous | June 21, 2007 3:28 PM

Well, it should be...

Posted by louis | October 17, 2009 11:39 AM

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