Day 2 and Friday night kicked off in exactly the laid-back-kind-of way I liked it too. Eskimo & Sons played the opening set at the Towne Lounge offering up their multi-layered compositions that seem to totter on the edge of collapse. The saving grace, as always, is the inter-play between vocalists Dhani and Danielle which truly is the icing on the cake. Ths is how rock music ought to be. Watch the video here. [The Towne Lounge apparently has no lighting so things are grainy but worth it just to listen.]

Although I’m very familiar with Jenny Lewis [does that sound wrong?] as I’ve spent plenty of time with her last solo album where she paired up with the Watson Twins, I have to confess to not having heard Rilo Kiley [clearly I've moved further away from alt rock than I thought.] after tonight’s set I can see why. Without the magnetic personality of Jenny Lewis this band would be nowhere; rather plodding, pedestrian songs ably performed sure, but again, take away Jenny and there’s nothing there. The crowd loved it though, of course. I just longed for the energy from Thursday night’s hip hop outing but never mind. And as if to cement the dullness of this evening for me anyway, Jonathan Rice [boyfriend to Jenny apparently] played a rather mundane set too.

Rilo Kiley video | Rilo Kiley video number 2 | Jonathan Rice video

Related Posts: Eskimo & Sons played our back yard, Dntel featuring Jenny Lewis

The Thermals, Portland’s best rock trio dropped in to the Doug Fir this afternoon to deliver an impromptu set of their particular brand of frenzied pop-punk anarchy. As always they were awesome and you can see why by watching 3, yes 3, videos. I’m sorry I’m lame and didn’t catch the song titles but I swear that at least one of the songs is by The Wipers another great Portland outfit of yesteryear….
Video 1. Video 2. Video 3 (Wipers?).

The Thermals - Here’s Your Future [MP3]

So once again I missed Spoon. I just had to check out Portland’s new favorite hip hop sons, SandPeople. Judging by the reaction from the floor of this sold out venue these guys are going to give Portland’s Lifesavas a run for their money. The video is grainy but worth watching.

And right after SandPeople Seattle’s The Blue Scholars killed it too. Here’s video from the side of the stage and video from the audience POV. And just in case you’re wondering “what’s up with all this hip hop?” Tonight is alt rock night for me - Rilo Kiley, The Upsidedown, Typhoon and Eskimo & Sons. Stay tuned…

This festival is rocking and it’s just beginning to dawn on me how hard it is for one person to cover this much music. Adam Bagerski from Nemo Design is my sidekick in all of this. Having been in the right place at the right time he was enrolled by KEXP to be the official KEXP blog photographer. Last night kicked off with a great party at the Ace Hotel after the Cat Power show. I spent some time chatting with Portland’s TV glamour girl Storm Large and other local luminaries before heading up to the Crystal Ballroom to catch part of Black Joe Lewis‘ set. If you haven’t come across this Austin TX-based bluesman you are missing out. Completely amazing. Here’s the Video.