This year's Sasquatch disappoints with headliners, scores with lesser-known bands
By Roya Ghorbani-Elizeh
Hipsters, hippies and music snobs alike across the nation flooded the 2010 Sasquatch Music Festival's Web site Tuesday morning all in hopes of catching the latest lineup. Boasting a diverse and well-known line-up for the past eight years, the ninth annual Memorial Day weekend music extravaganza is sure to please fans of all musical tastes.
This year being my third trip down to the Gorge for Sasquatch, I was expecting a lot with this year's lineup. Putting down the $170 for a three-day pass and the $100 a car for camping meant that Sasquatch had to wow me.
I was ecstatic to see that Sasquatch was able to pull my favorite bands, like MGMT and Vampire Weekend, who will both perform on the main stage. These two bands alone made me want to bite the bullet and drop my hard-earned minimum wage paycheck.
Other highlights for the 2010 Sasquatch lineup include previous festival favorites such as Tegan and Sara and the New Pornographers, who both bring a unique and different sound to the festival with their girl-driven cries of "love gone bad."
Smaller but equally well-received bands such as Passion Pit and Minus the Bear are guaranteed to please die-hard fans as well as create new ones with their eccentric electro-rock sound that will blast across the infamous massive grassy hill at the Gorge.
Sasquatch is unique in that it focuses on indie singer-songwriters while still embracing the hip-hop artists that all of us love. Previously featuring favorites like Blue Scholars and Mos Def, Sasquatch again hits a homerun with hip-hop acts for the 2010 festival.
Sasquarch! brings the hip hop love with popular artists Kid Cudi and Brother Ali while including throwback group Public Enemy (yes, of "Fight the Power" infamy).
My only complaint with the 2010 festival would be the headliners. Featuring My Morning Jacket, Massive Attack and Ween, I am honestly confused about what organizers were thinking when they signed up these three bands to headline for this huge music festival.
The three just seem unappealing and slightly boring as finales for each night. Although each band merits a spot on the Sasquatch lineup, they are a far cry from being crowned a headliner. With past headliners including greats such as The Cure, R.E.M. and Nine Inch Nails, this years lineup has left me wondering who the hell is Ween and why should I care?
With some Internet research I found that Ween is a band formed in the mid 80s who has had small success and a loyal fan base, but no mainstream recognition. Thanks Sasquatch, but no thanks. I want some Modest Mouse or some Radiohead love instead.
My suggestion: Go see and hear from your current and old favorites play on the three stages and then skip out early on the headliners. Partying at your campsite will be much more rewarding.
