Live Blog: Eaux Claires Fest Day 2 (Saturday)

We’ll be live from Eaux Claires Fest this weekend, and will be giving you our thoughts. Enjoy!

12: 16 – wasn’t attacked by a bee on bus ride today. Things are looking up.

12:27 – weather update: sunny and beautiful. No rain!

12:38 – reminder that art installations are amazing and shoudn’t be missed.

12:47 – loal boys done good Alpha Consumer on the big stage. Their off-killer, Pavement-meets-classic rock sounds fantastic under the early afternoon sun with a beer in hand.

1:07 – Colin Stetson’s new band Ex Eye are outstanding. They were billed as “metal,” but it is well beyond that. Drone, Sabbath crunch, epic post rock. All within first three songs. Stetson on horn with guitar, drums and Moog. Wow.

1:37 – weather update: hot. But worth sunburn to see Mavis Staples.

1:54 – Mavis Staples is an American treasure. Anyone withing 30 miles not watching this set is out of their mind.

2:21 – Mavis Staples covering Talking Heads “Slippery People” and The Band ” The Weight” back to back. Amazing. It doesn’t get better than this.

2:34 – Mavis Staples was the best set of the weekend. Hands down. Legend.

2:42 – no one was going to keep pace with Mavis, but Shabazz Palaces are a great follow up. Wonky space rap at its finest.

3:15 – Shabazz Palaces seem to have won over new fans. A great set as usual from the duo.

3:42 – Saw Phil Cook revue as part of the Thursday night kickoff. Fun,soulful, swampy blues/folk. I think this crowd will eat it up, but going to check out soul sampler Moses Sumney.

3:52 – Sumney does a cool blend oflooping and auto-tuned soulful vocals. Really atmospheric yet grounded. Cool stuff.

4:07 – no matter how good it is, I’ve reached peak “songwriter with autotune” for the weekend. Beware.

4:34 – Fog are bringing it. A nice twist on the the afternoon’s sound. Their whacked-out electronic/pop sounds deliriously rich under the hot afternoon sun. A keys/dj/guitar three piece today.

4:44 – “I was punched by a methhead, I always knew I’d need to leave this place,” is a favorite lyric of mine.

4:55 – I love that Fog play their slow, melodic, in-depth songs. Full credit for doing them.

5:06 -Unknown Mortal Orchestra sound pysched out, going a bit uptempo, but bringing the goods to their late afternoon set.

5:18 – weather update: it is hot.

5:24 – forgot how much i liked funny friends.

5:45- taco/tamale place behind flamboux stage is a highlight of the weekend. So good.

6:12 – doubles jump rope going b4 Grateful Dead tribute. Jump in…

6:18 – day of the dead tribute starts with kettle drums. Shocked.

6:24 – Bonnie Price Billy, Phil Cook and Justin Vernon are first guests for Day of the Dead. I’m more of a Live ’72 guy myself.

6:47 – Grateful Dead cover show to Melvins, for the win.

6:53 – launch us into space, buzz

6:57 – warped take on “take me out to the ballgame” by Melvins. Wonderful

7:06 – Har Mar is bringing an under-utilized quality to the fest — unironic joy. Got the full band, including horns, with him.

7:12 – big crowd at Har Mar. He is lapping it up.

7:16 – young girl hits ballon over fence during Har Mar. Sad. Security drive by and stop to throw it back over. Happy. Security reach for it and it pops. Sad. #life

7:36 – Har Mar covered Prince…alert the local paid corporate media. Click bait!

8:04 – William Tyler starts set by noting he recorded Modern Country in EC 2 winters ago and that they will play it live for first time tonight. Can’t wait..such a stunning LP.

8:09 – yep, sounds amazing. With a full band.

8:14 – like rolling down a dusty road on a summer day…sounds delightful,esp with full band.

8:22 – albion moonlight is one of my favorite songs of the last few years, and it gave me chills hearing it live fleshed out with a full band..

9:04 – coming up on 20 minutes late for Erykah Badu’s set. Hope she is up soon.

9:12: band is up on extended funk/soul vamp, but no Badu.

9:21- drum solo, but no Badu. Getting weird..

9:26 – she’s here! Slow, sultry funk.

9:29 – playing low key, but what a voice!

9:39 – ramping it up towards funk/soul nirvana. Worth the wait

9:49 – just amazing

9:59 – you better call Tyrone!

10:06 – started 40 minutes late, ended 10 minutes early. Still one of the best sets of the weekend.

10:15 – the soft lights glowing on the trees of the path between stages, as organ swirls echo in the trees, is an experience that everyone should have. Feels magical.

10:26 – least surprising news of the weekend: tent for Beach House is overflowing.

10:37 – Beach House reverb soaked dream pop is uniquely qualified to be played under a spaceship looking tent on a warm summer night.