It’s not Sasquatch! if your neighbors aren’t Canadian and you don’t see at least one person who thinks they are at Paradiso. While this year wasn’t nearly as stacked as last year and there was that whole second-weekend-cancelation ordeal, The Gorge Ampitheatre was as lively as ever.
Best Overall: Outkast
The big rumor swirling around pre-Sasquatch was that Outkast got booed at Coachella. Who knows whether it’s true or not [ed. note: it is], but the air Friday evening was thick with nervous anticipation. Everyone wanted it to be amazing, and it was. André 3000 and Big Boi played the hits (“Roses”, “So Fresh, So Clean”, “Ms. Jackson”, etc.), plus a few older tracks to please the hip hop heads. Fuck Coachella.
Best Comeback: Kid Cudi
I first saw Kid Cudi at Sasquatch! back in 2010 on the heels of Man on the Moon. I thought “Soundtrack to My Life” was the soundtrack to my life. Lolz. Anyways, he opened with a few of his newer tracks (which like ten people knew), but then things got goin’ with “Erase Me” and “Day ‘N’ Nite”. Cudi ended with a remixed version of “Pursuit of Happiness” that got the pit and hill jumping. While it was nothing new, it was a hell of a party.
Most Likely to Remember: Shakey Graves
The Yeti stage can be painfully empty or it can be totally crackin’. Plenty of men with guitars have come across that stage only to have a few stray hippies dance along with their hula-hoops. That did not happen here. People crowd surfed during Shakey Graves set – no, I am not joking. His gritty voice and dynamic chords were unique and 100% beautiful. It also doesn’t hurt that Alejandro is easy on the eyes.
Biggest Disappointment: HAIM
I almost deleted this category because I saw HAIM back in October at Neumos and it was one of the best shows I’ve been to. Ever. Danielle’s epic guitar rips couldn’t save the fact that we couldn’t hear a word coming out of her mouth. I mostly blame the sound issues, but HAIM would have been a better fit on the Bigfoot Stage. They just can’t carry the Main Stage quite yet.
Best Dance Party: Ryan Hemsworth
Mr. Hemsworth doesn’t talk much, but he doesn’t need to. The mega babe started off with slower, smoother tracks and then dirtied us all up.
Best WTF Moment: (TIE) Tyler, The Creator & Die Antwoord
Die Antwoord scared me. The important thing is to not take them too seriously, but…is it ever possible to take them seriously? To their credit though, they are wildly entertaining. Tyler, The Creator called us idiots (plus a few others NSFW names) and made us yell “Jason Derulo” at the top of our lungs, but what’s new?
Most Talked About: Major Lazer
Diplo made a surprise appearance and Major Lazer made everyone take off their shirts and throw them up in the air. It was a trashy good time. Hey, we all haven’t showered in like three days anyways so why not pretend you’re 18 again?
Most Likely to be a Headliner Next Year: PAPA
Any man who can cover “Love Is A Battlefield” is a man after my own heart.
Best Up & Comer: Lucius
Don’t let the blonde hair and big sunglasses fool you, these two best friends and three dudes are on the cusp of blowing up.
Other bands that rocked: Band of Skulls, BANKS, Rudimental
Why was it a surprise appearance by Diplo if he is the brainchild behind Major Lazer? He is the founding member…
When Major Lazer came to Sasquatch in 2011, Diplo didn’t join him. So that’s why I counted it as a “surprise” as people weren’t expecting him. But you’re right though, they are usually a package deal.