ATH Abroad: Kilby Block Party Preview
Team ATH agrees on one thing, we all love New Order‘s melding of post-punk grit with synth-driven textures that range from full on dance party to brooding goth. Kilby Block Party offers up a festival lineup that resonates with our vibes. New Order headlining on Thursday is not only a nod to their lasting influence but also a primer for the festivals exploration of jams. Here is a quick preview as we take the show on the road.
Click through for some thoughts on the best festival lineup of the year on this side of the Atlantic.
Devo brought a quirky, futuristic edge to the synth-pop scene. Their robotic stage presence and eccentric performance style contrast yet complement New Orders measured intensity. Future Islands offers a refreshed take; dynamic arrangements capture raw emotion, providing a modern interpretation of the synth-pop aesthetic, though readers know I have yet to warm to their live performances. Their set is likely to evoke the nostalgic vibes of that first listen of Seasons, but will there be too much guttural roar?
Beach House creates immersive, atmospheric soundscapes with a dream pop flair that deepens the emotional experience (what if Sumner wrote more ballads?), while Justice infuses a dance-party energy, delivering tracks that are as visually engaging as they are sonically powerful. TV on the Radio and St. Vincent experiment with layered production and innovative sound, offering fresh takes on the traditions that New Order helped define. Will Tunde get to play any solo jams? You cant deny that Nation of Language stands on shoulders with bass lines that evoke the quarter wielding Hooks brooding foundations and synth flourishes from Gillians fingertips, though NoL also lean on other New Wave and New Romantic staples like OMD and Visage.
I could go on relating the whole weekend to Thursdays headliners, but I wont. To say that this is the best festival lineup of the year according to ATH is an understatement. Been Stellar, Being Dead, Hovvdy, Wishy, Friko, Panda Bear, Toro Y Moi, Real Estate, POBPAH I am going to be so busy shooting, that I’ll have to force myself to chill out and listen every once in a while.
LINKS: Join me in Salt Lake City – LINEUP and TICKETS
