I had the pleasure this past Halloween weekend of attending the inaugural MoogFest in Asheville, North Carolina. Surrounded by the beautiful sight of the Blue Ridge Mountains, I witnessed sets ranging from the achingly beautiful sounds of jónsi to the infectious electro-pop of Hot Chip. The festival was a huge success and one of the most fun weekends I've had all year. Instead of doing the usual "write a paragraph about each act you saw," I offer you a list of various this and that's. Stay tuned for a gallery of photos from the weekend coming soon. Enjoy.
Best show of the weekend: Massive Attack and jónsi (tie)
Most common theme of the weekend: Acts who are laid-back on record being not-so-laid-back live (see Thievery Corporation, Four Tet, Massive Attack)
Coolest instrument: Neon Indian guitarist Ronald Geirhart's guitar, featuring an embedded LED screen
Most common smell: It was a music festival. In Asheville. Figure it out.
Best surprise guests: Mark Mothersbaugh and Gerald Casale of Devo (who were forced to cancel their set due to a hand injury sustained by guitarist Bob Mothersbaugh) coming out at the end of The Octopus Project's set to perform a couple songs (including my personal favorite, "Beautiful World")
Best stage show: Massive Attack's absolutely stunning set-up, featuring several LED screens displaying socio-political messages alongside striking visuals
Most amusing moment: Part of the floor in the Thomas Wolfe Auditorium sinking in due to hardcore dancing during Sleigh Bells and Neon Indian, forcing security to clear the pit and front row
Best non-musical moment: Yelling "WOOT WOOT" at a gaggle of (real) Juggaloes
Biggest surprises: RJD2 and Pretty Lights, neither of which I'd been a huge fan of before the festival
Best costume: The giant sasquatch
Person having the most fun: According to a brief exchange I had with him, head of AC Entertainment (one of the main forces behind this festival, as well as Bonnaroo) Ashley Capps
Did you attend MoogFest? Who were your favorite acts? What were some of you favorite moments?
