I about lost it when they played Brain Damage and Eclipse. Holy fucking awesome, I wasn't expecting any DSotM last night.

9/11/2011 10:13:04 AM

i thought Flaming Lips started strong, the set took a little dip in the middle, and then ended in incredible fashion.

definitely one of my highlights of the weekend; i had seen them before and all, but that show gave me the energy for day 3. after feeling totally worn out, that show and then Toro Y Moi/ Future Islands immediately after that were just the shot in the arm i needed.

[Edited on September 11, 2011 at 10:15 AM. Reason : .]

9/11/2011 10:14:10 AM

yeah man yesterday was a little rough getting going

big ups to la volta for getting me through another hopscotch and not telling me to get off their lawn yet. maybe next year.

9/11/2011 10:42:56 AM

^^^Yeah, that was pretty incredible, especially because they played it more like it sounded on the original record than their weird reworking of it.

[Edited on September 11, 2011 at 10:43 AM. Reason : ^]

9/11/2011 10:43:06 AM

Flaming Lips were good. Shame on the crowd. It was pretty weak and Wayne did his best to get people into it.

9/11/2011 10:59:30 AM

Quote :

"especially because they played it more like it sounded on the original record than their weird reworking of it."

exactly

9/11/2011 11:22:59 AM

loved the flaming lips.

Quote :

"I about lost it when they played Brain Damage and Eclipse. Holy fucking awesome, I wasn't expecting any DSotM last night."

me too! so great

9/11/2011 11:27:15 AM

Quote :

"But speaking of Raleigh; I've never been to so many shows clouded by complete douchebags in my entire life. I can only think of a handful of shows from the Festival where I don't have a memory of some douchey situation; or some situation where the crowdedness didn't get on my absolute nerves. Some fine examples include all the people pushing up into a show when it's clear there's nowhere to go. Huge pet peeve of mine; it's the same type of people (I'm sure) that run out the merging lane on a highway; they're so much more important than anybody else. Also, the many people that were there for the scene and alcohol...didn't really care about the music; it was pretty obvious. While at the Diamond Rings show, this group of two wiry, flat-featured hipster-looking girls tried to bitch me out about how long I was taking to close my tab out, or something else completely distorted or irrelevant, and they needed to be told off...This other group of girls during Toro wouldn't shut their fucking mouthes the whole time; just being all Glenwood and overboard obnoxious.... I really don't think I've had such a bad crowd experience ever as I have had in the last week. Maybe it's all circumstancial, but the shit was phenomenally and markedly terrible. I feel like last year's Hopscotch experience was 10 times better and I feel like this year too many people just came to be...seen or wanted to be there for some other reason (God only knows) than to watch bands. With everything considered I had a decent experience. The VIP was extremely worth it; to counter what I said before. I WAS sick and tired of getting the stink eye from all these folks in line whenever we'd show up and get preference of admission when all these other folks'd had to do was buy a fucking ticket that was $50 more expensive. I'm really gonna loathe what I'm expecting from the Moog audience when they see my VIP status if it's anything close to what it was like for Hopscotch. You could literally FEEL these assholes gazing at you with lazy, drunken angriness because you've got preferential treatment that you fucking PAID for... That being said, I kinda hope they raise prices in the future to keep all these scene ass-shits out. The stink of douche ran pretty rampant this year, and a lot more than I remember from last year's... Lastly, "we've got 2 more left for you guys." Nobody act like they didn't constantly hear that shit and that it didn't get on your last nerve. Always '2 more left...'"

WHAT THE FUCK??!?!?!

9/11/2011 11:59:33 AM

why do people think that it's ok to throw things at the band while they are on stage?

shit infuriated me

and I, too, thought the crowd for the Lips was super weak

I'll come back with more later

9/11/2011 12:33:27 PM

all the glow sticks did start to piss me off, but that said, Hopscotch, other than the clusterfuck at King's on the first night was great.

9/11/2011 12:34:19 PM

I thought the crowd for the Lips was great, but I was right up front, so I didn't see how it was further back. I didn't have any issues with the crowds, either; guess I just got lucky.

9/11/2011 12:39:16 PM

The crowd was kind of weak for the Lips, but at the same time I'm not sure you can expect a crowd to stay up when you take 5 minutes between each song.

9/11/2011 12:40:48 PM

Oh man, I would've loved to see Titus perform Born in the USA. How was it? Pretty faithful cover or did they jam it out?

9/11/2011 1:14:03 PM

Quote :

"Finally got to try this Beasley's Chicken and Honey that everybody keeps tweeting about... As much as I wanted to hate the place, I couldn't. The service was great and everybody there was absolutely hospitable. Everything came out on time, and the food was delicious. If I had but a couple nitpicky complaints, I'd say the food was too rich and it was just slightly overpriced. If I had to rate the place, however, I'd give it a B+, and would consider going back when I'm in Raleigh again. "

Who the fuck are you and what did you do with Mr Scrumples?

Ashley Christensen hacked his account!!!!!

[Edited on September 11, 2011 at 1:26 PM. Reason : c]

9/11/2011 1:26:10 PM

^^it was pretty faithful, I guess. Patrick Stickles prefaced it really well by saying since it was after midnight it was 9/11, and their next song wasn't meant to be a joke or anything. The song felt like a celebration.

Also, who was the guy who recited the Abraham Lincoln part at the beginning? That was awesome. He must have been looking forward to that.

9/11/2011 1:34:03 PM

^That was actually Greg Lowenhagen. That was awesome.

Stickles' introduction of the song was definitely great...the cover itself was pretty faithful, but it definitely had a Titus Andronicus jam thrown in. So it was kinda both, to answer your question.

9/11/2011 1:39:36 PM

awesome, thanks for the details. it's such a tragically misunderstood song, so it makes sense that he introduced it as 'not a joke'

9/11/2011 1:48:21 PM

wow, Mr Scrumples bitchfest itt

I had a great time and didn't encounter anything douchey in the club shows, aside from too many photographers pushing up to the front with huge camera bags

I'm not sure why there were at least three photographers at every show I went to (even the mostly empty ones!)

9/11/2011 1:50:26 PM

I was bored to tears by Flaming Lips. Three minute breaks between covers are supposed to be forgiven because they have toys? They're a great band with a great catalog, but you wouldn't know it from that show.

Shit Horse ruled as usual, because everyone likes rock music, candy cigarettes, and topless women. The Men were cool but a little heavy for me. Beach Fossils sounded great, with a lot more energy than their records, and the first earnest guitar smash I've seen in person. Titus, of course, were amazing.

Disappointed I missed Invisible Hand again, as I like to see them whenever possible, but I was just too tired to make it to Moving Island last night.

Will post more about the weekend later.

9/11/2011 2:04:51 PM

Quote :

"The crowd was kind of weak for the Lips, but at the same time I'm not sure you can expect a crowd to stay up when you take 5 minutes between each song."

Quote :

"I was bored to tears by Flaming Lips. Three minute breaks between covers are supposed to be forgiven because they have toys? They're a great band with a great catalog, but you wouldn't know it from that show. "

truth, although i've had a hard time getting into the city plaza shows, no matter how close i am.

anyone hear the chick yell "i don't give a fuck" as patrick stickles was talking about 9/11? other than her and douchy girlfriend-protector man, the titus crowd was amazing.

9/11/2011 2:40:14 PM

Yeah, I'm 1-for-4 on City Plaza shows being engaging, with Public Enemy being the only one where I was having a lot of fun. I love GBV to death, but even the greatest bar band songs ever written don't really suit themselves to that atmosphere.

Overall I enjoyed this year a lot more. Saw everything I wanted to (VIP was an even better investment this year), and really enjoyed the stuff I hadn't heard before.

9/11/2011 3:15:08 PM

Glad TA was good. Glad I got to see them at the cradle a while back. Probably should have seen them again. If some dude was standing up front and didn't expect to get bumped into he was pretty stupid. I just move back when shit gets rowdy which it did at their concert but it put a smile on my face. Good to see that energy.

9/11/2011 3:37:51 PM

Quote :

"first earnest guitar smash I've seen in person"

On that topic, I was at the last love language show at 506 when Stu smashed his guitar because it was fucking up. Missy Thangs was nearly in tears.

9/11/2011 4:09:23 PM

second annual "this invisible wristband is driving me nuts" Sunday after Hopscotch

9/11/2011 5:26:46 PM

loved every second of my hopscotch weekend

raleigh is beautiful

9/11/2011 5:34:37 PM

Quote :

"It was pretty weak and Wayne did his best to get people into it."

By saying "C'mon, motherfuckers" between literally every song?

9/12/2011 3:24:56 AM

^Yep, pretty much, guess people weren't getting the message. I understand you may be going all weekend and you've had your naps in between, but damn it close out the weekend strong Raleigh.

9/12/2011 7:59:02 AM

i don't know, that seems to be his thing. i checked out a few of their live videos on youtube and he's doing the same thing there.

9/12/2011 9:12:00 AM

Quote :

"wow, Mr Scrumples bitchfest itt"

Yeah, about the crowds. Couldn't stand them. Probably had nothing to do with being in Raleigh (it was late and I was still high and intense from Red Bull from the Future Islands show/needed something to blame apparently when I wrote that rant), but I certainly had a string of bad happenings related to crowd situations. Maybe coincidental, but I know I can't be the only one.

Overall I had a great time, but the lineup would have to be pretty insane for me to go again, and this is solely because I fucking hated the amount of people there.

Also, it's pretty much what vinylbandit said about the City Plaza shows, with the exception that I thought Panda Bear from last year was totally fine. This year I certainly didn't see anything there worth watching/standing in lines and crowds for.

9/12/2011 10:11:24 AM

BTW, rich was absolutely right about PC Worship. Crazy good.

9/12/2011 11:30:52 AM

^

9/12/2011 11:45:01 AM

I had a great weekend too. Just as much fun as last year with the only complaint coming from the first night at Kings. Everything else for me went off without a hitch.

Toro Y Moi and Cold Cave were two of my favorite shows. Wish i had caught some of the shows at 5 Star but not sad about it. I wish Hopscotch would have opened the festival with Lips and closed with a different big act. I just think everyone was too tired to be as "up" as the band wanted.

overall a success for me and I am already looking forward to next year. kinda glad im missing moog lol.

9/12/2011 12:10:10 PM

Scrumples is autistic as fuck

9/12/2011 12:17:21 PM

im sad that kadwhackle met you but not me

9/12/2011 12:54:51 PM

I think calling Slim's a "music venue" is autistic as fuck.

9/12/2011 1:03:18 PM

Why do people hate on the way Slim's sounds? If a rock band is playing, it sounds fucking great. SHIT HORSE 4 LYFE.

Also, holy hell is Fletcher an amazing room. I'm disappointed in myself that I had never been in there before, but it is awesome, and not a bad seat to be had.

9/12/2011 2:10:06 PM

so after a day to wrap my head around things, I think Japandroids' set was the highlight for me

Julianna Barwick couldn't have played at a better time in a better venue, that was as close to perfect as it gets

I am pissed at myself for being so insanely exhausted to enjoy Budos Band as much as I should have (still loved them, just had to not pass out at certain times during their set)

PC Worship are better than a 5 Hour Energy

Birds of Avalon fucking destroyed

I think I lost one days worth of energy during the Cold Cave show

Twin Shadow ruled

Motorskills played one of the best 3am shows I've ever seen

not a fan of the new VIP lounge, the patio was one of the best aspects of last years Hopscotch

the preview of Fox Liquor Bar was an absolute highlight. that place is a true gem

Braids were great

as others have said, the City Plaza shows were the lowlight of the festival

maybe I'll think of more things later

[Edited on September 12, 2011 at 2:12 PM. Reason : set]

9/12/2011 2:12:04 PM

I know Fletcher Opera Theatre is meant for dance and productions, but man they really need to get some more bands and music venues in there.

9/12/2011 2:36:23 PM

I caught The Necks, J. Mascis, Bombadil and Lost in the Trees at Fletcher.

Four of my favorite shows, and besides the talent, I think the room had a lot to do with it.

9/12/2011 2:49:13 PM

yeah, I had never even been in there before the Julianna Barwick set

was amazed at how gorgeous of a place it is

and cozy

9/12/2011 2:51:49 PM

cheveu was my favorite thing ever and i had a lot of favorite things at this hopscotch.

9/12/2011 3:51:55 PM

Quote :

"I think calling Slim's a "music venue" is autistic as fuck."

dude, weren't you begging for a Love Language ticket during their residency there?

lol

9/12/2011 4:06:05 PM

mr scrumples is such a fucking baby fart

9/12/2011 4:09:40 PM

^^Nah, that was me, Mr Scrumples is the one who sold it to me.

I find Mr Scrumples' posting persona pretty funny, I just assume he's fucking around most of the time.

9/12/2011 4:23:15 PM

he is
he loves raleigh

9/12/2011 4:27:49 PM

Quote :

"^^Nah, that was me, Mr Scrumples is the one who sold it to me."

nah, was joking Mr Scrumples because i think he was asking nutsmackr for tix prior to that.



[Edited on September 12, 2011 at 4:42 PM. Reason : .]

9/12/2011 4:41:21 PM

Fletcher was awesome but I kinda got vertigo. Back row of the balcony + Hopscotch drunk = bad news.

9/12/2011 5:31:57 PM

I've played two shows at slims both times it was full to capacity

Inb4 "what were there 6 people?"

I'm Krallum and I approved this message

9/12/2011 6:11:08 PM

lips followed by toro/future islands was awesome.

near the end of the lips set i was growing tired of all the flash and no substance. then toro y moi literally played straight through their set and said 5 words. now thats what im about.

future islands was even sexier.

i have two regrets. missing pc worship, and bombadil.

9/12/2011 8:02:36 PM

caught netherfriends at the saturday king's day party. it was awesome. i bought the record and it's fantastic. check it out: http://netherfriends.bandcamp.com/album/barry-and-sherry

9/12/2011 9:08:04 PM