OK, so I’m not live from Sasquatch any more. But I had to share a few more pics. Plus, this post is kind of a Critic’s iPod thing, too, since you can click on the links in the cut lines below to hear samples from all the CD’s I picked up at the Gorge.

Also, scroll down the Nine Inch Nails set list and click on the first couple of songs for something special (but well within “fair usage” standards. Too bad my recorder conked out before Reznor and company covered Gary Numan’s “Metal.”

South African indie-rock outfit BLK JKS features (from top) singer-guitarist Lindani Buthelezi, guitarist Mpumelelo Mcata, Molefi Makananise and drummer Tshepang Ramoba on the Yeti Stage. I knew next to nothing about the band - which blends prog-rock and dub into its trippy, uplifting sound - but checked them out on the Yeti stage at the insistence of Seattle Weekly’s new music editor, Jonathan Cunningham. I like! Good pick, J.C. Listen: "Summertime, "Lakeside".

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I was planning to wait until I got back to Tacoma to post a Sasquatch photo gallery. But after witnessing Tel Aviv garage-rock madmen Israel's Monotonix over at the Sasquatch Music Festival's Wookie stage, I had to give you a little taste of what you may have missed. Check it out.

Things I learned about Monotonix today: They don't like the actually use the stage, instead preferring to set up shop amid or even on top of their fans. Ring master Ami Shalev demands lots of crowd participation. Plus, he sweats a lot. (Ewww! He got some on me as I took these shots.) And just in case you still doubt their bad boy credentials, their bio in the Sasquatch festival guide says they've "had the cops called on them more times than you." Unless, of course, you're DMX, of course. Click here to see what happened last time they did Bumbershoot.

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TV on the Radio's set at Sasquatch earlier today? Fabulous, befitting a band that will, deservedly, be headlining arenas next couple of years. "Young Liars" was transcendent absolutely transcendent. And it was fun seeing comedian Aziz Ansaris (and a couple of other celebs I couldn't identify from where I was standing) helping out with percussion on "A Method."

"I wish I could go back in time and tell my teenage self that I would be playing music on the same stage as Jane's Addiction," shaggy bearded singer-guitarist Kyp Malone early in the set, after "Wolf Like Me." "It's pretty sweet."

"It's pretty f----- sweet," agreed singer and "Rachel Getting Married" star Tunde Adebimpe before the band launched into "Blue Down Here" from the "Return to Cookie Mountain" CD.

Apologies to Jane's Addiction, though. But Nine Inch Nails set should have topped the bill today. I am covered in sweat and beer and probably bruises after jumping around in the pit. And I'd have to rate it one of my favorite concert experiences ever, all the more memorable for being Nails' final Washington tour stop, if Trent Reznor's declared intent to quit touring is to be believed. Let's hope not.

“This is one of my favorite places in the world to play. There’s nowhere I’d rather be than here right now,” said Reznor, one of several artists (also Mos Def, TV on the Radio's Kyp Malone) to shout out the Gorge's majestic beauty.

Nails' set was equally gorgeous. Reznor and company shed the mind-blowing special effects from last year's tour and, through the haze of faux fog, let the music do the talking.

During a set list that focused a little more than usual on 1999 double album "The Fragile," the songs spoke volumes. Nails' set featured heaviest version of "Terrible Lie" I've heard the band; a reverent cover of "Metal," an underrated cult classic by Reznor's idol, Gary Numan; Nails rarity "Burn," from the "Natural Born Killers" soundtrack; and intense performances of "The Becoming" and the title cut from the aforementioned "Fragile" disc. Before making way for tour mates, Jane's Addiction, the band capped things off with a cathartic encore that consisted of just about the only track Reznor could say good-bye with - signature ballad "Hurt."

Not sure I can give you the entire set list considering how badly the ink in my note pad is smudged. But here's most of it, anyway. Anyone else who witnessed this happening feel free to chime in on the cuts the cuts I'm missing here.

Nine Inch Nails set list *
Sasquatch Festival, Gorge Amphitheatre
May 24, 2009

Home
Somewhat Damaged
1,000,000
Terrible Lie
March of the Pigs
Metal (Gary Numan)
The Becoming
Echoplex
I Do Not Want This
Burn
Gave Up
La Mer
The Fragile
"Ghosts" instrumental/ The Way Out Is Through
Wish
Survivalism
Hand that Feeds
Head Like a Hole

Encore:
Hurt

* Props to reader Aaron K who helped fill in a couple of gaps in my soggy notes.

The early Saturday Sasquatch buzz was about super-group Street Sweeper Social Club. But this afternoon that was overshadowed by the over-the-top spectacle of Murder City Devils front man Spencer Moody, whose belligerent antics are sure to warrant a few mentions in Spin and the other nation media on site.

Said antics included staggering and rolling around the main stage; stuffing the microphone in his mouth and screaming when (I'm guessing) he forgot the words (and he did this often); pausing, appearing to unzip his pants, possibly to water the front row. [Update: A source tells me he was actually giving one of the photogs a special but probably unwanted shot]. Oh, and he made out with several dudes, including guitarist Dann Gallucci and some skinny fella he picked up carried across the stage for several moments.

Based on Moody's semi-coherent ranting there seemed to be some underlying point about homophobia. “Sometimes now we play these shows,” he slurred a few songs into the set, “and I just see a bunch of disgusting high school jocks in the audience, and what we do is for all the beautiful (ironically used gay slur).”

He continuously baited the crowd and, at one point, demanded that all the heterosexuals turn around and face the other way lest he assume they were "homosexuals like us." I didn't see any morons fall for this, though I did spy a few one-finger salutes. And while I don't claim to know anything about Moody's sexual orientation, I'm guessing his shenanigans were mostly calculated to piss a few close-minded people off, add to his band's notoriety and maybe generate some publicity in the process.

As a fan of Iggy Pop/Jim Morrison-style nuttiness I found the whole thing pretty hilarious, even if the shtick wore thin after a minute. And I have to admit to being a bit bummed as Moody plodded and screamed through and off-beat rendition of my favorite MCD cut, "I Want a Lot (So Come On)," seemingly only vaguely aware of what his band mates were playing. But, hey, whaddaya gonna do?

OK, enough typing. TV on the Radio is on, and that means I gotta bounce. Big time. Check back for updates.

A few of you may remember back in 2006 when I broke some news about the Coup’s Boots Riley and Rage Against the Machine/Audioslave shredder Tom Morello teaming up for a new super-group, called Street Sweeper Social Club.

Well, it took long enough for 'em to unveil their project to the world at large, but looks like it’s gonna be worth the wait based on their main stage set here at Sasquatch this afternoon.

SSSC has easily generated the biggest buzz on day two of the festival. The band’s self-titled debut is due on June 16, so mark your calendars. And I managed to scored a bit of face time with the pop provocateurs shortly after their set.

Click the links below to hear clips from my interview. After I get back in Tacoma, I’ll see if I can't get you all some video to look at, too.

Boots (first voice) and Tom talk about how they hooked up.

Tom on how even he was surprised by the three-quarters Soundgarden reunion that happened when they played Seattle in March.

OK, so I’m finally connected and I’ve got a couple of things to report from Sasquatch. For starters, Live Nation has switched the layout around quite a bit. The comedy/dance stage has migrated to the field where the Wookie stage was last year and it’s a lot bigger and covered. I’m blowing off the massively annoying Tim & Eric’s performance there as we speak. And the Wookie stage is a lot bigger, too, and looks kind of like a scaled down version of the main stage.

I’ve been dealing with tech issues and have been trying to stay hydrated. It’s hella hot this year, y’all, with Honey Buckets that feel like old-school prison sweat boxes, but stinkier. But I’ve managed to check out a full set by the oddly named Mount St. Helen’s Vietnam Band which, thanks to savvy marketing and an odd back story, seems destined to follow Fleet Foxes as Seattle’s next “it” band.

I was skeptical of the hype, which led to a recent mention by Spin, since it didn’t seem as if these guys have actually played many shows. They play an angular style of dance-rock that’s sure to draw comparisons to Franz Ferdinand, with lots of stop-start rhythms. And I kind of dug ‘em. Will have to pick up a copy of their self-titled debut at the merch booth to fully digest.

And I spoke to drummer Marshall Verdoes, who has generated a little buzz of his own, and not just because of his kinetic, Brann Dailor-style drum fills, but also because the guy won’t be able to drive legally for another two years. He told me he just turned 14 after the set. And he’s actually band leader Benjamin Verdoes brother, despite the fact that they look nothing alike and Benjamin is 13 years older. The singer-guitarist's mother adopted Marshall when he was a baby, according to the Spin profile, which you can read here.

Forgot to ask him about his bands odd uniforms, which feature mustard-colored pants and wallpapery vests. Oh well. I’ll have to look that up later.

OK, less typing, more music. Think I’ll hoof it on over to the Wookie stage for Mos Def next.

Top: Mount St. Helens Vietnam band's Benjamin Verdoes and percussionist-wife Traci Eggleston. Bottom: The new comedy-dance stage setup.
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In case you haven’t guessed by now, I’ll be headed down I-90 to the ol’ Sasquatch Fest this weekend. It’s a no-brainer. All those amazing bands in one spot? That breathtaking backdrop? The fresh, desert air? I looove the S’quatch! It’s a highlight of my year every year. You know, in spite of the two-hour shower lines. And even when the weather gets all apocalyptic and whatnot, like the time hail and lightning chased Neko Case off the main stage a few years back. (Note to self: Think like Bear Gryls when you pack tonight.)

Anyway, the point is that you should check back often this weekend. The plan is to post photos, updates and maybe an interview clip or two a couple of times a day depending on who's hanging out near the press trailer.

Kings of Leon, Jane’s Addiction and Ben Harper’s new band, the Restless 7, will headline the main stage this year, on Saturday, Sunday and Memorial Day, respectively. (See the full lineup here.) But I’ll focus on several of the acts playing Sasquatch’s three stages and the comedy tent earlier each day, too. You better believe I’ll have something to say about Nine Inch Nails’ possibly last tour stop in Washington. (Trent Reznor announced plans to quit touring indefinitely, in case you missed it. Read Paste's report on that here.) And hopefully I’ll get a chance to snap a few pics of our local boy Vince Mira, who tells me he’s added some new originals to his set, along with his Johnny Cash and Dylan covers.

Bookmark, and check out the Twitter, yo. Out.

The view at Sasquatch 2008.
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Two more acts I plan to check out at Sasquatch over Memorial Day weekend. Two more days, y'all!

Two more reasons to be geeked for Sasquatch this weekend. Here's Erykah Badu performing her ethereal jam "The Healer." She'll hit the Gorge's main stage at 7:30 p.m. Monday (May 25).

Last time I saw her, she was at Dave Chappelle's Block Party show in Seattle. Hmmmm. Who else rocked it that day? Oh yeah! The mighty, mighty Mos Def, one of my favorite hip-hop lyricists of all time. His set is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Saturday on the Wookie stage. But you never know. Maybe you'll catch him kickin' it in the middle of a cipher like this ...

Yesterday, I posted the lineup for Sasquatch 2009, which will include appearances by Nine Inch Nails and a fully reunited Jane's Addiction. What I didn't realize then was that their Sasquatch gigs were part of a planned NIN/Jane's tour. And the bad news is that Trent Reznor is characterizing said tour as a curtain call on the 20th anniversary of his influential band.

Well, all good things come to an end, I guess. And how well would "Closer" go over with a geriatric Trent Reznor performing it 15, 20 years from now, when he's Mick Jagger's age? It's not pretty when I picture that scenario in my head.

Nine Inch Nails, TV on the Radio, Kings of Leon, the Decemberists, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Erykah Badu and Jane's Addiction, with all the original band members, are among the biggest names that Live Nation announced for Sasquatch 2009 this morning. The Gorge Amphitheatre's annual kickoff gala will take place from May 23 to 25 this year, and tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Feb. 28. Prices are set at $56.50 per day and $154.50 for a 3-day pass through March 1, $66.50 per day and $199.50 for a 3-day pass from March 2 through May 10, and $76.50 per day and $229.50 for three days after that.

Click the read more button to be blown away by one of the festival's strongest lineups to date.

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So why haven't you been to the Gorge yet, again? This was the view during Sasquatch.
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Former Faith No More and Mr. Bungle front man Mike Patton unveiled his new band, Crudo, for local fans. And during a performance of “Anger Management,” a song from another of his projects, Lovage, he jumped from the Wookie Stage in search of a young fan he’d spotted in the crowd. (Wish I had an in focus shot of the little girl and her dad onstage. It was kinda cute, even if Patton was dressed in a gory looking butcher’s smock.)
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Cancer Rising fans get crunk over at the Yeti stage.
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J. Tillman plays a solo set the day after performing twice on the main stage with Fleet Foxes.
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Seattle boy Rainn Wilson was on site pimping his forthcoming flick, “The Rocker.” Here, he’s on the main stage big screen reading the wikipedia entry on foxes. You know, to introduce Seattle’s Fleet Foxes.
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Dengue Fever bassist Senon Williams and singer Chhom Nimol talk to Filter magazine at the press trailer (with Nimol tending to a lip injury.)
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