pitchfork music festival, live update 2:2

if Deerhunter were airy and ghostly, Menomena were thick and grizzly, throwing up splotches of sound that hit like cannonballs. The set never quite found its feet, but scattered moments -particularly those helmed by snarling, skronking sax, had a terrific force.

Junior Boy built slowly; the songs seemed slight at first, better suited for a dark club than a bright field. Eventually, though, the mix was corrected; the keyboards went down and the bass kick went way, way up and as it did, the whole field started twisting and grinding in unison.

And now, after a full 30 minute delay, Nomo have roared to life. The four piece horn section is blasting out in fine Fela style, a simple staccato horn figure that sounds like a fanfare over the simmering rhythm. I’m tempted to say there are sound problems – it’s not quite as loud as it should be. But as they ease into their second song, grounded by bubbling bass and a steady, clattering percussion, it seems possible that this could be yet another slow building set. The sax has just peeled away from the rest of the band, a looping solo part as crisp and clean as the Sunday breeze.