Shaky Knees 2015: Third Time’s a Charm
written by: Brad Lee
After two years of widely acclaimed success, Atlanta’s Shaky Knees festival returns in its third incarnation May 8-10. The inaugural event in 2013 covered a lot of ground both musically and geographically, taking place at the Historic Fourth Ward Park and Masquerade Music Park. Last year’s festival moved to midtown Atlanta’s premiere outdoor shopping mall, Atlantic Station. This year will mark a homecoming of sorts as the festival moves to Central Park, located within the Fourth Ward parameters and close enough to be paying an homage to the festival’s original stomping ground.
What sets Shaky Knees apart from every other festival in the country and incidentally has everyone all abuzz, is that it stays true to its roots. Founded on the spirit of indie and alternative rock, the festival makes no effort to sell out to the corporate entities that so saturate today’s music festival scene. That is not to say that the event lacks sponsorship, but compared to the Bonarroo’s and Coachella’s of the world, Shaky Knees’ list of sponsors is rather short in comparison and predominantly local, just like the food trucks that will nourish the festival. This dedication to vision is very apparent in the line-up, which similar to years prior is nothing short of jaw-dropping.
A defining characteristic in the Shaky Knees line-up is the representation of multiple generations of indie/alt rockers. Friday’s schedule is jam-packed full of delicacies with a headlining performance from The Strokes. This marks one of only two American performances on the band’s schedule so far this year. If that little factoid isn’t enough to wet your beak, The Strokes are preceded by Pixies, who personify the spirit of independent alternative rock through a legendary career spanning from the mid 80’s. Other supporting acts for Day 1 of Shaky Knees include TV On The Radio, Mastodon, Manchester Orchestra, Tennis, and Mac Demarco to name a few.
Saturday’s festivities will also provide a wealth of diversity with a headlining gig from The Avett Brothers, showcasing the folksier side of rock. The Avetts are immediately supported by Wilco who will undoubtedly compliment the headliners with their unique blend of alt-country and Beatles-esque rock/pop. Some other guaranteed highlights from Saturday’s lineup include Neutral Milk Hotel, Flogging Molly, Social Distortion, Real Estate, ZZ Ward, Built To Spill, and Atlanta’s own The Black Lips. Another name that is sure to instill a welcomed sense of 90’s nostalgia is none other than Noel Gallagher, whose band Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds will be championing their latest release Chasing Yesterday.
The final day of the festival is bound to deliver. Aussie psych-rockers Tame Impala will close out the festival after recently dropping Let It Happen, their first single in over two years. Impala fans have been starving for some new material and their latest release is one of epic proportions, clocking in at just under eight minutes. Other Sunday acts that are sure to entice festival-goers include Ryan Adams, Dr. Dog, Panda Bear, Heartless Bastards, Best Coast, and The Sheepdogs. If this lineup weren’t enough to have Atlantans counting down the days until May, Shaky Knees recently announced the addition of Ride to Sunday’s lineup, legendary British shoegazers who have reunited for a handful of North American dates. Not only will Ride participate in what is sure to be the best Sunday Funday of the year, but they have also signed on to play a late-night set Friday night at Terminal West. The late-night sets have proven a signature characteristic unique to Shaky Knees in that even after the festival site shuts down each day, there is still plenty of music to be heard in various clubs around Atlanta. 
We enter The Vogue, in Indianapolis, a bit late, but we get there in time to catch the tail end of The London Souls’ set. It’s amazing. I love their sound. Incredible lead vocals, and guitar work by Tash Neal, and tight jams, made tighter by the solid groove coming from Chris St. Hilaire on drums. I love big bands, but the simplicity put forth by hard-rocking bands like this make a person recall what is truly rock and roll. I’d love to catch The London Souls again, seeing their entire set. If you’re a person, who happens to be out there reading this, I’d suggest that you do the same. Get online. Check the tour. They’re probably coming to a town near you, and if not, who doesn’t like a little road trip to hear some good music?
I’d never seen JJ Grey with Mofro before tonight, having only caught him as part of the Southern Soul Assembly’s tour last year, which was great, but I’ve been a longtime fan, and I can’t fully express how excited I am to catch him with his usual band this evening. Their music is, simply put, incredible. There are so many different genres that seem to be a part of their sound. It could be so easy for a person to casually classify them as southern rock, but when you break down the pieces, you find so many influences that come out. Categorization is not so cut and dry. They are filled with blues, rock, soul, funk, country, and gospel. When the music comes pouring out, numerous sounds come to the forefront. As I stated before, their music is incredible.That’s true, even more so, when it’s presented live and in-person. Songs, that were once only four minutes long, become extended jams that might last even a quarter of an hour. It really depends on how the band is feeling about it, and how the crowd is receiving it. I doubt any crowd, in the right mindset, wouldn’t want to see the songs they love extended.
Speaking of the crowd, tonight, The Vogue is packed. It’s always a standing-room-only affair coming here, but this evening, a person could be hard pressed to find a spot to stand that doesn’t make him feel like a sardine in a tin. Along the main-floor bar, the wings, and in front of the stage, rivers of people are standing, or sitting, and swaying to the music. Up above, in the balcony, a small amount of breathing room can be found, but it’s fairly full, as well. I don’t think anyone really minds. They’re all here for the same reason: to watch JJ Grey and Mofro get down! For that, you can pack me in like that sardine in a tin, and I won’t mind a bit.
Eventually, the show does end, but before they call it a night, the band comes back on stage and graces us with an encore of a few lengthy jams. It’s a great night, and I’m glad that I got the chance to be here. Whenever JJ grey and Mofro come back around, at whatever venue they’re playing, I imagine you’ll probably find me there, too.
The house lights went down and Jefferson Waful’s always breathtaking stage lights came up and the band launched into a dark and mysterious intro with “Catshot”. Umphrey’s tipped their version of a cowboy hat to the Ryman with original hillbilly foot stomper, “Mullet (Over)”, after which Brendan Bayliss (lead vocals, guitar) thanked the crowd “for allowing us to play this room”. Ryan Stasik lays down a funky number on the bass for “Puppet String” and the crowd knows it’s time to get down to business. Fans were treated with a couple rarities smack in the middle of the first set with “Alex’s House” and “Snake Juice”. 
As the band plays the first chords of “I Want You (She’s So Heavy)” and stops, the anticipation grows and Bayliss looks to the crowd for approval. With bellowing yells from the gut of the Ryman, the band launches into this classic Beatles cover and doesn’t hold back. Jake Cinninger plays this tune with visible passion running through his body as he dances with his guitar. The band keeps the high energy going with a heavy “Eat”. Slowing down a bit, Bayliss straps into his acoustic guitar with a rare “Rocker” and for the first time ever UM segues straight into fully electric “Rocker Pt. 2” with a solid disco jam to finish the first set.
Adding to the list of rarities, this night presented keyboardist Joel Cummings taking the spotlight with “Den” and the dance party resumed. The band throws themselves into a flawless cover of Led Zeppelin’s “Kashmir” as Brendan sings most of the vocals and Kris screams the peaks with an undistinguishable imitation to Robert Plant as he wails on his set simultaneously. 
The bands strong jazz influences shine through on original, “Intentions Clear”, with a nod to Wayne Shorter’s “Footprints” and then dives directly into jazz jam. Jake Cinninger lets a little bit of his classical influence shine through with a taste of the traditional “Simple Gifts” in the intro of the powerful original “Glory”. UM finishes this set with an always impressive finish to “Nothing Too Fancy” and got heads banging with strong “Stranglehold” teases. As the band left the stage, the crowd was stomping their feet and roaring for the encore. They would not leave disappointed as the band came back with an “All In Time” plus a “Jimmy Stewart” with lyrics including a Kris Myers drum solo closing out the high energy show.
