Outside Lands 2014 Listening Guide Part 3
Nahko and Medicine for the People
Acoustic Thump-Hop
Hailing from the music melting pool that is Portland, OR, the band draws influence from genres like hip hop, folk, jazz and tribal. You’ll note traces of inspiring acts like Erykah Badu and Digable Planets in their sound.
Nicki Bluhm and The Gramblers
Rock, Soul, Alt-Country
Nicki Bluhm is a skilled musician residing in the bay area. Constantly in search of new projects, she’s served as a guest-performer to Chris Robinson, Bob Weir and festival mates The Brothers Comatose.
Night Terrors of 1927
Indie, Synth Pop
Starting to breakout from the dense abyss of the indie genre, the talented members of the aptly named Night Terrors of 1927 will no doubt win over any audience willing to give them a look. Outside Lands should prove an appropriate venue for their unique sound.
NOCONA
Indie
Blending high energy with songs that paint a picture for listeners, NOCONA recall memories of setting suns, crisp surf and ageless desert. Formed by husband and wife team of Chris and Adrienne Isom and their friends, the collection gave songs Chris wrote years earlier new life.
Paolo Nutini
Pop Rock, Soul, Blues
27-year-old Nutini wasn’t born a Scottish singer, songwriter and all around musician — he instead believed at an early age he would follow his father into the fish and chip business. Fortunately his grandfather’s passion for music eventually rubbed off, opening the door to the UK chart success Nutini has recently enjoyed, having reached #5 on the UK singles chart.
Phosphorescent
Indie Rock, Pop, Folk
The working moniker of American singer-songwriter Matthew Houck, this artist originally hails from southern Alabama. Having received favorable marks from outlets like Pitchfork and Stylus Magazine, Phosphorescent is about as critically acclaimed as they come.
Ray LaMontagne
Folk, Rock, Blues
Born in New Hampshire, LaMontagne is an American singer and songwriter with a deep body of work including four studio albums. The subsequent sound has critics making ready comparisons to noteworthy names like Otis Redding, The Band, Van Morrison, Nick Drake and Tim Buckley.
Rayland Baxter
Indie, Folk
Rayland has been described as a gentleman, singer of song and teller of tale among many other things — this is a man who wears many hats, literally and figuratively. His sound covers a lot of ground but can be considered a more uptempo brand of folk.
Run the Jewels (El-P & Killer Mike)
Hip Hop
The masterwork of veteran underground MCs El-P and Killer Mike, Run The Jewels catapulted to the top of hip hop blogs with their self-titled album in 2013. Any self-respecting fan of hip hop will want to check out this set, and rightfully so — both artists hold their weight across solo work, but as a duo they create some of the most raw and intelligent hip hop currently running.
SBTRKT
Post-Dubstep, Indie Pop, Electronic
The musical project of Aaron Jerome, SBTRKT has a body of work that includes remixes of songs from MIA, Radiohead, Modeselektor and many more. His music gets heavy rotation from taste making outlets like BBC Radio 1. He prefers to perform under relative anonymity, using masks of native ceremonial designs during live shows.
Spoon
Indie
A veteran indie rock outfit out of Austin, TX, Spoon has been together since 1993 but has enjoyed major commercial success for years following hits like ‘That’s The Way We Get By’ and ‘I Turn My Camera On’. Perhaps not the biggest draw for some attending Outside Lands due to their relatively stagnant releases, they’re by no means an empty addition to the 2014 billing.
Tedeschi Trucks Band
Rock, Blues, Soul
A blues and rock group out of Jacksonville, Florida, this band came together in 2010 under the leadership of married couple Derek Trucks and Susan Tedeschi. Quickly showing off their talent, the group picked up the Grammy for Best Blues Album in 2012, only two years following their formation.
Tegan & Sara
Indie Rock, New Wave
The Canadian indie rock duo of sisters Tegan Rain Quin and Sara Kiersten Quin formed the band we know today as early as 1995 in Calgary. Both sisters are accomplished musicians, taking turns on guitar, drums, keyboards and general songwriting. Indie icons in their later lives, this duo is a favorite among many Outside Lands fans.
The Brothers Comatose
Acoustic, Indie, Folk
Drawing comparisons to artists like The Devil Makes Three and Trampled By Turtles, the boys behind The Brothers Comatose still find a folksy sound all their own. Actual brothers, the members of the band cut their teeth as young musicians living within a house with a reputation with parties full of music.
The Districts
Indie Pop, Rock
A four-piece collective from the small town of Lititz, Pennsylvania, the band formed in 2009 when members were still in high school. Their sound blends jangly indie Americana with blues-inspired rock.
The Flaming Lips
Indie, Art Pop
There are few bands if any in the world that can earn comparison to Wayne Coyne’s charmingly weird outfit of alternative rockers. Beginning in Oklahoma, the band initially broke through in the 1990s and has elevated to elite status in recent decades. Their live show is a visual spectacle and dazzles the eye, leaving much people with dropped jaws and blown minds.
The Killers
Pop, Rock, Electronic
Brandon Flowers and co. were lumped into similar sounding bands like The Bravery but only they managed to rise to the top of the pop charts in record time during the early 2000s — the album Hot Fuss has reached classic status. Their sound takes a heavy loan from 80s-style synth pop and draws shades of Interpol and Franz Ferdinand.
The Kooks
Indie Rock, Britpop
Listening to The Kooks is like venturing into popular sounds of the past, but their sound is far from an efficient recycling job. Named for a song on David Bowie’s Hunky Dory album, the group united at a young age over a shared interest in bands like the Police, the Strokes and the Everly Brothers.
The Soul Rebels
Brass Band, Soul
What’s a music festival without a little taste of New Orleans? Nola natives behind The Soul Rebels fit that bill perfectly well, an eight-piece brass ensemble that incorporates elements of jazz, funk and hip-hop.
Tiësto
Big Room House, Electro Progressive, Trance, Techno
One of the most acclaimed producers currently at the top of his game, Tiësto is held in high regard by outlets like DJ Magazine and EDM mainstream audience alike. Those who dismiss Tiësto outright for pandering to a massive audience are similarly dismissing one of the best sets of the weekend.