PItchfork Music Festival: Days 1 & 2

Got to Union Park Friday night and met my cousin just as Mission Of Burma were finishing up their performance of Vs. Having seen them play most of that album last year at the Double Door, I was ok missing them. Up next was Sebadoh, performing Bubble and Scrape in its entirety. Never one of my favorite Sebadoh albums, I enjoyed hearing them nonetheless. Only stuck around for a few Public Enemy songs (playing It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back). I was a tired puppy.

I "worked" a few hours today (server was down the entire time I was there and I didn't care to wait around) and then headed over to the park with a few minutes to spare before the always incredible Caribou played. Met up with K. and my cousin toward the end of their set and headed over to the adjacent stage to catch Fleet Foxes. After a few songs, K. and I headed over to catch Fuck Buttons whose album I love but had yet to see live (also plan on catching them again next month when they open for Mogwai. Oh yesss...!). I do like me some abrasive electronic music, the more tribal the better. Passed on Vampire Weekend and did some walking around the merchandise areas before heading over to !!!, my runner up to performance of the day. Up next was a few songs by The Hold Steady before heading over to catch Atlas Sound. By this point, humidity and fatigue set in and I spent a good portion of their set sitting down. Stayed put for a few songs by No Age (whose album debut is quite good) and then headed out to catch the one, the only, the highlight of the festival so far, Animal Collective. Holy fucking shit were they phenomenal. AC are a notoriously unpredictable live act from what I've read and their insistence on playing primarily new, unreleased songs was a testament to that. That having been said, new songs, a few of their "hit" songs and even a tune selected by a member's solo album, combined with a stunning light show made for a thoroughly enjoyable performance. I cannot recommend Animal Collective enough.

My summary so far? Pitchfork 2008 was an improvement sound-wise over last year; still not nearly enough porto-potties, and drink tickets for bottled water? Come on now.