Skrillex performing Monday May 30 in the Banana Shack
Sonny Moore, who is known professionally as Skrillex, is a breakbeat,house, dubstep DJ from Los Angeles CA. Before becoming a DJ Sonny was the lead singer for the Screamo band From First To Last. In 2007 Sonny split from From First To Last and went to record as a solo artist, embarking on the AP tour in 2007 . A solo record “Bells” was made but Moore has said that it won’t be released.
In 2008 his DJ alias Skrillex was introduced to Los Angeles nightclubs. He released his first EP “My Name Is Skrillex” for free download on June 7, 2010. Moore then signed a contract with Mau5trap records and toured with Deadma5 later on last year. Skrillex also released his second EP “Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites” last year. The title track from the album became a huge hit along with the song “Kill Everybody.”
Skrillex is one of the artists that I can’t wait to see perform because I just recently started getting into his music. The first song that I heard of his was “Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites” when my friend had it as her ring tone. That song immediately got me hooked, the bass drop that he put in is one of the sickest I’ve ever heard. He almost puts extra distortion into his wobbles so that it sounds more like a guitar.
Matt and Kim performing on the Bigfoot stage at Sasquatch on Saturday May 28.
Matt and Kim are a pop/rock duo from Brooklyn New York. The band, formed in 2004, consists of Matt Johnson (keyboard/vocal) and Kim Schifino (drums/vocals).
The band got its break in 2009 after the release of their album “Grand”. Matt and Kim scored major hits with the songs “Daylights”, and “Lessons Learned.” In 2010 the duo released the follow up album “Sidewalks” which I think is a step forward for the band. On the new album they bring in some more eclectic sounds to their music. Their new single “Cameras” has a great hook at the intro and some really creative lyrics.
Seeing Matt and Kim live is a total blast. I think they have a goal of bringing as much energy to the crowd that is humanly possible. Both performers are natural showmen on stage; cracking jokes, standing on their instruments, throwing beach balls into the crowd, and stage diving. I got to see Matt and Kim at Outside Lands 2009 and I have been a fan ever since. They put on one of the best performances of the weekend and drew the biggest crowd to the smallest stage at the festival. At the end of their set the sun came out just as they started playing “Daylight”, which was very fortuitous.
Major Lazer, Diplo (left) and Switch (right), will be performing at Sasquatch on Monday May 30 in the Banana Shack.
Major Lazer is a collaborative music project between producers Diplo and Switch which started in 2009 with the album “Guns Don’t Kill People … Lazers Do.” The original idea came when the two created a cartoon character, a one armed Jamaican ex commando who battles various forces of evil named Major Lazer. On stage they are joined by Skerrit Bwoy, who is probably the best hype man that you’ll ever see. Skerrit is famous for daggering and stage diving during the Major Lazer shows he is also the vocals behind the bands biggest hit “Pon De Floor.”
I got a chance to see Major Lazer perform at Portland’s Music Fest NW last summer, and it was probably the most fun that I have had at a show. The Roseland Theater was packed with people by the time Diplo hit the stage to start the show everyone was cheering ‘Major….Lazer”. Skerrit Bowy daggered, got people to wave their shirts in the air, stage dived, and did his famous ladder routine. He also tweeted the day after saying how much he loved the show. The only draw back was that Diplo did the show solo and Switch wasn’t on stage. Hopefully, for Sasquatch that isn’t the case.
Recently in 2010 Major Lazer released an EP titled “Lazers Never Die” which contains two new tracks and some remixes of tracks from their 2009 debut album. Diplo has also released a couple of great compilations titled “Blow Your Head: Diplo Presents Dubstep” and “Riddimentary: Diplo Selects Greensleeves.” “Blow Your Head” is a great collection of the best artists from the underground dubstep movement. “Riddimentary” was just released and it’s the ultimate companion album to Major Lazer. Diplo selects and mixes an awesome collection of classic reggae artists such as: Barrington Levy, Gregory Issacs, and Triston Palma.
Bassnectar, appearing on the Bigfoot stage at Sasquatch 2011 on Saturday May 28
Bassnectar (Lorin Ashton) is a DJ/Producer who hails from Santa Cruz, California. He is known for his energetic live shows and amazing light shows.
Bassnectar’s style of music combines mainstream music with the “wobble bass” that is used by many dubstep artists. The most prominent characteristic though is Bassnectar’s use of different tempos during his songs. This creates what he calls, “omni-tempo maximalism,” and describes it as, “an algimation of every sound I’ve ever heard mixed with ultra wicked basslines.”
Ashton recently released two EP’s in 2010 “Timestretch” and “Wildstyle”. His new single “Basshead” is an amazing mix of heavy dubstep with a great mainstream hip hop hook that grabs you from the beginning.
I saw Bassnectar twice while attending college at the University of Oregon in Eugene. The first one was actually my first electronic music concert and it was a small venue that was about the size of a school gymnasium. It was a totally different experience the second time around, Bassnectar played to packed house at a concert hall called the McDonald Theater. I would say that seeing him perform made electronic music one of my favorite genres to listen to.
This year will be my first time attending Sasquatch. I will be up at the Gorge for all four days. This years festival is bigger than ever, a fourth day (Friday May 27th) was added with The Foo Fighters headlining the first night. The Flaming Lips, Modest Mouse, Death Cab For Cutie, Wilco, and The Decemberists will also be making appearances at the Gorge this Memorial Day Weekend. 2011 marks the ten year anniversary of the festival. Tickets sold out on Monday February 14, pretty much as soon as they went on sale.
Bands That I’m Excited To See
This will be my third time seeing The Foo Fighters, and after hearing their new single I'm more excited than ever
This will also be my third time seeing Bassnectar live. His music is amazing, and it transcends so many different genres of electronic music.
Fitz and The Tantrums are my favorite new artists right now. Their debut album "Pickin' Up The Pieces" is simply amazing, every song is so well composed and expertly produced.
This will be my second time seeing Major Lazer live. This DJ duo of Switch and Diplo always get the party started, last September they got sold out crowd in Portland bouncing off the walls.
Ratatat is a band that I've always wanted to see live ever since I first heard their music. Seeing them just might make my weekend.
Skrillex, former From First Last singer Sonny Moore, is an amazing new DJ. "Scary Monster and Nice Sprites", "Scatta", and 'Kill Everybody" are my three favorite tracks by him. He's also done amazing remixes of Lady Gaga and La Roux.
This is going to be my third time seeing The Decemberists live, and it will be the most special since it will be at Sasquatch. The new album "The King Is Dead" is their best yet, and it reached number one on the Billboard charts.
