Taking A Guess At The Rock The Garden 2011 Lineup
Rock The Garden is coming up, 89.3 The Current and the Walker Art Center’s annual outdoor music festival. Every year we attempt to guess the coming lineup using a highly scientific formula based on various factors: What the Current is playing, who are the kids listening to, the stock price of Starbucks, and more. We did pretty well in our guesses last year – let’s see if we can do it again.
Josh
HEADLINER
Prediction: The headliner will probably be a popular band with a broad appeal to the urban middle class as well as the kids. Probably white, mostly male, and with a “safe” sound.
Best Guess:
Mumford and Suns
Previous year’s equivalent:
MGMT, The Decemberists, Andrew Bird
Runner Up:
Florence and the Machine
Awesome Long Shot:
Neutral Milk Hotel
Most Terrifying prospect:
Mumford and Sons, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes
2ND HEADLINER
Prediction: A more youth oriented band with a less accessible sound. Something to appeal to the hip kids without scaring away the old folks.
Best Guess:
Fleet Foxes
Previous Year’s equivalents:
Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings, Yeasayer, New Pornographers
Runner Up:
Cake
Awesome Long Shot:
Sufjan Stevens
Most Terrifying Prospect:
Death Cab for Cutie, Dawes
OPENER
Prediction: Probably a popular local or regional band that have a big fan base in the Cities.
Best Guess:
Trampled By Turtles
Previous Year’s Equivalents:
Cloud Cult, Bon Iver
Runner Up:
Free Energy
Awesome Long Shot:
Lifter Puller or Hockey Night Reunion
Most Terrifying Prospect:
Umphree’s McGee
OPENER (First)
Prediction: Probably local
Best Guess:
Dessa
Previous Year’s Equivalents:
Retribution Gospel Choir, Cloud Cult
Runner Up:
Jeremy Messersmith, Gayngs
Awesome Long Shot:
Food Pyramid, Marijuana Deathsquads, Velvet Davenport, Haunted House, Vampire Hands, Buffalo Moon, Sleeping in the Aviary, Mother of Fire
Most Terrifying Prospect:
Koo Koo Kangeroo
Jon
HEADLINER
Best Guess:
Dead Weather
Runner Up:
Hold Steady
Awesome Long Shot:
Wu Tang Clan
Most Terrifying prospect:
Kings of Leon
2ND HEADLINER
Best Guess:
Owen Pallett
Runner Up:
Grizzly Bear/Beach House
Awesome Long Shot:
Budos Band
Most Terrifying Prospect:
The Dawes/Mumford/Avett folk/country/rock explosion
OPENER
Best Guess:
Gayngs
Runner Up:
Owl City
Awesome Long Shot:
Peaking Lights
Most Terrifying Prospect:
Owl City
OPENER (First)
Best Guess:
Low
Runner Up:
Doomtree
Awesome Long Shot:
Michel Yonkers & The Blind Shake
Most Terrifying Prospect:
Idle Hands
HEADLINER
Prediction: The headliner will probably be a popular band with a broad appeal to the urban middle class as well as the kids. Probably white, mostly male, and with a “safe” sound.
Best Guess:
The Black Keys
Previous year’s equivalent:
MGMT, The Decemberists, Andrew Bird
Runner Up:
Mumford and Sons
Awesome Long Shot:
Superchunk
Most Terrifying Prospect:
Mumford and Sons
2ND HEADLINER
Prediction: A more youth oriented band with a less accessible sound. Something to appeal to the hip kids without scaring away the old folks.
Best Guess:
Dawes
Previous Year’s equivalents:
Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings, Yeasayer, New Pornographers
Runner Up:
Matt and Kim
Awesome Long Shot:
Boris
Most Terrifying Prospect:
Weezer
OPENER
Prediction: Probably a popular local or regional band that have a big fan base in the Cities.
Best Guess:
Trampled By Turtles
Previous Year’s Equivalents:
Cloud Cult, Bon Iver
Runner Up:
Dessa
Awesome Long Shot:
Lifter Puller reunion
Most Terrifying Prospect:st Most Terrifying Prospect:
GB Leighton
OPENER (First)
Prediction: Probably local
Best Guess:
Jeremy Messersmith
Previous Year’s Equivalents:
Retribution Gospel Choir, Cloud Cult
Runner Up:
Tapes N Tapes
Awesome Long Shot:
Birthday Suits
Most Terrifying Prospect:
Owl City
Co-founder, photographer, writer
This is always a fun post to watch.
I actually just got into an e-argument over at Secrets of the City about the zoo’s concert lineup, and how different people define “diversity” in different ways. Hurray for the internet.
But yeah, good picks. I’m not sure if they’d book Gayngs, though– wouldn’t their whole sound/vibe not really translate well to an outdoor/daytime show?
My Awesome Improbable Longshot: Squirrel Nut Zippers.
oh god. please. no. mumford and sons. please.
also, i agree with guante– i would have guessed gayngs too, but their fuzzy purple lights and balloon drops would totally be thrown off by the light of day.
also also, each day i am prouder to be apart of the outstanding work of Reviler. Yall’s sarcastic cynicism never ceases to entertain me. mad love.
another also: my most terrifying prospect would probably be the hold steady. or tapes n’ tapes. sorry that i’m a hater.
Trampled by Turtles just announced their last Twin Cities show this year will be the Cabooze outdoor plaza in July, so I’d say they’re out. The Black Keys are playing Roy Wilks in July so they’re out. I like the other guesses. Here are mine.
Headliner: The Hold Steady
Second: Mumford & Sons
Third: Low
Fourth: Jeremy Messersmith or Dessa
Mumford & Sons are definitely not playing it…
they have 2 shows in Denver the days before and one in Telluride, CO the day after.
pretty sure My Morning Jacket are playing it.
wouldn’t be surprised if Phantogram do too
my guess:
My Morning Jacket
Local Natives or Fleet Foxes
Smith Westerns or Phantogram
Jeremy Messersmith or Dessa or TBT
my wishlist:
My Morning Jacket
The Roots
Explosions In The Sky
Doomtree
Dawes should be ruled out, too. They’re out on the west coast during RTG. I agree with Kyle on MMJ…wouldn’t be shocked if Local Natives, Peter Bjorn & John or Fleet Foxes were in the middle.
They should just have AC/DC play it and call it good
i kinda hope you’re not right on PB&J Steve…
they’re fine and all, but i honestly like maybe a half dozen of their songs and didn’t think they were that great live years ago
Matt & Kim are also out (playing elsewhere on 6/18), thank god
My Morning Jacket would kick arse! Even though I’ve been hoping for a show here on their new tour, I never thought of them as a Rock the Garden band.
they play in Chicago on June 17th (day before RTG) and their next gig isn’t until 6/22 in LA
i would be surprised if they don’t play it
oh and good point about TBT playing the Cabooze, hadn’t noticed that yet.
hmm… looking more closely, Mumford have 2 days between Denver & Telluride, but i still would be surprised if that happens as they’d have to fly back and rent everything then fly right back and drive all the way to Telluride from Denver.
This just in:
Pulp to play “The Queen is Dead”
Fucked Up to play “Rocket to Russia”
The Shins to play “Sounds of Silence”
Red Pens to play “Let It Be”
Seriously though, it’d be awesome if MMJ and Fleet Foxes played.
FF are probably somewhat of a longshot as they’ve got shows in the UK 2 weeks before RTG and a week after, but certainly possible.
I’m thinking it’ll look like this:
My Morning Jacket
Local Natives
Peter Bjorn & John or Smith Westerns
Rogue Valley or Dessa
I’d like to see (but know it won’t happen):
Belle & Sebastian
Ryan Adams
Yuck
12 Rods Reunion
I would not like to see:
Animal Collective/Panda Bear
Edward Sharpe (or Alexander)
G Love and/or Special Sauce
GB Leighton
I’ll also repeat what I said last year:
Here’s the lineup it’d take to get me to attend:
Boris
Suicide
Os Mutantes
Dengue Fever
Steve, did you watch any of Yuck’s SXSW webcasts?
sadly they seemed really dull live, and the people i know who saw them in person felt that way too 🙁
Dang. Yuck is one of my most anticipated at PK4…
oh, i wouldn’t be that surprised if ‘Fitz & The Tantrums’ might not be the 2nd opener too, forgot that one
oh, i wouldn’t be that surprised if ‘Fitz & The Tantrums’ might not be the 2nd opener too, forgot that one
Yeah Kyle, I watched the KEXP one…they don’t seem the best live, but I would take them as the 2nd band just to hear the songs outdoors. Would you rather have them or PB&J? 🙂
Yuck?
that’s a tough call… i’d be indifferent towards both kinda 😉
I’ve heard the Current use the term “keeping mum” twice now when referring to the RTG lineup. Mumford & Sons may indeed fly in-and-out.
I think that’s just how Mark Wheat talks
I sure hope so.
if they do play, it’s all your fault
If they do headline, can’t we just blame Cities 97 for not booking them for the Basilica?
If they play, I’ll hold a benefit show to fly in Mark E Smith to throw a bottle at them again
In that case, I hope they do play then
I’m not liking the Mumford talk, and although I like MMJ, I can’t say I’m dying to see them live. Too bad Okkervil River is in town prior to this, because they would be a great choice.
i wouldn’t worry too much about the Mumford talk Jake.
as for MMJ, have you ever seen them live? because if you have, i’m surprised to hear you say that.
DING DING DING …… Zoe for the win. She nailed my thoughts to a T!
I will supply the bottles to throw at at Mumford and Sons.
I have not seen MMJ, or any form of Jim James, beyond anything on ACL. I also have to admit that I never listened to Evil Urges. Never struck me as something I needed to hear. Listening to “Circuital” as we speak, though.
Cher? I say spill the beans, simply because it would piss so many people off.
spill em
Jake, Evil Urges is MMJ’s worst album by a WIDE margin. check out At Dawn, Z, and It Still Moves.
and live they are one of the more exciting rock acts around IMO.
although nevermind… 2007 had two “locals”, Bon Iver as the first act and Cloud Cult second.
who is the other local you heard was playing?
My Morning Jacket’s album “Z”, is one of my favorite album ever. I agree with solace that “Evil Urges” isn’t their best.
oh, just the first act has always been a “local” somewhat (Bon Iver in 2007, Solid Gold in 2008, Retribution Gospel Choir in 2009) is all
I have heard their other albums, I just never listened to Evil Urges. I’m not an MMJ newbie, I just don’t feel like they would be an exhilarating live act.
What, you don’t find self-indulgent endless guitar noodling exhilarating? You must be crazy
Jake, well, i hope you’re converted 🙂
their shows at the Ascot Room, Fine Line & Entry are some of my favorite eve.r
and Jon, they aren’t very noodley at all honestly…
noodles, I say!
never thought I would hear the words “Ascot Room” and “favorite show” used in the same sentence from you though solace! 😉
as much as i do love At Dawn, Z, & It Still Moves, their live show has been the reason i’ve been a huge fan the last decade.
Noodely = Nels Cline.
none of their guitar work is even remotely like that… it’s actually pretty concise compared to most of their peers.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZfjPZoT5kc&feature=related
You leave Nels out of this!
Haha, I kid. Jake, honestly I have heard from multiple people that the MMJ live show is suppsedly great if you are a fan. I am not really into them so I just don’t think I would enjoy it.
If you like MMJ though you should probably try to see them live
yeah… that’s what i tell people, if you’re even remotely interested, it’s worth your time live. that’s the main reason they’ve got the following they do, not because of any of their records really.
and if you’re not a fan, hopefully you’ll at least appreciate their tight musicianship and great light show 😉
Just pray the band doesn’t let Carl Broemel play any of his solo shit
lol.
i actually prefer the old lineup of the band with Johnny Quaid on guitar and Danny Cash on keys that they had up until 2004.
new lineup is very solid too tho
I don’t really read this site much, and I’m regretting that because you all seem like a friendly, informed lot. I’m going to go out on a limb and trust your opinions. If the 3/4 lineup listed above is correct, I will definitely be at RTG this year.
Anybody heard this Jezabels band yet? I can’t stop listening, but I feel like they’ll be relevant for only about 6 more months.
still better than ‘Walk It Off’ tho :/
any headliner is better than MGMT last year tho. what a joke
Yup, they have an ‘actual’ headliner this year.
I’m still hoping for Roxette.