RFC Was Barn On the 4th Of July: A Daytrotter Adventure. Part 2.
Well, kids, sometimes even Editor in Cheifs toddle off to
the keg and don’t make it back to the barn in a timely manner. In this case
“not making it back to the barn in a timely manner” means wandering off after
Jonny Corndawg and Dawes tore Codfish Hallow to pieces and making it back only
just in time for Dawes to take the stage again. Where was I? What was I doing?
Oh, it doesn’t matter. What does matter is that photographer Mark Fain was not
only right in the thick of it for These United States but also loved every
second of it.
“These United States front man Jesse Elliott has not only
what is probably the coolest name in indie music but also a slight resemblance
to Robin Pecknold, a positive energy that travels through every extremity
before bursting out of his coolly strained voice, and most importantly, a
really great band behind him. While it is hard to imagine many of these songs
working as acoustic tunes that could be played solo, that does not seem to be
the goal. Don't get me wrong—these aren't Andrew W.K songs or anything. These
songs acknowledge sadness, certainly, but then they transcend it. The sonic
bliss that comes from the pedal steel atmospheres and rocking guitar, bass, and
drums is the vehicle for the substance, which seems for the most part to say,
‘I've had bad times, but I'll find a way to feel good.’ ‘Feel better southern
folk punk’ is a descriptor that seems as silly as it does appropriate. Aside
from all of the above, I'm just a huge sucker for pedal steel.”
My trend of being m.i.a. continued, spanning from These
United State’s set and bleeding over that of Justin Townes Earle’s. Thankfully,
I’m surrounded by good people that pick up the slack when I stumble off.
R.F.C.’s own Spencer Wells was present and accounted for and according to him,
I missed out on quite the set. Here’s Sepncer’s take on Earle:
“Seeing Justin Townes Earl I felt like I had stepped into
1955 - his southern drawl, vintage clothing, and rambling lyrics made it
apparent he could not have been a product of the last few decades. He single
handedly breathed life back into a nearly dead genre, picking up where Elvis
and Johnny Cash left off. Telling barely discernible anecdotes between songs,
it was more the honest, down-to-earth, non-chalant vibes he gave off that
conveyed his messages instead of the actual words. His lyrics were much more
discernible, speaking of traveling, gambling, women (including one about
"mama") and other classic Americana topics.”
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