Stop Breakin' Down

This weekend I was at the Shoreline Amphitheatre for the Download Festival, which contrary to the name had nothing to do with downloads and everything to do with muzak. Unfortunately, circumstances prevented Wolfmother from performing. No, satan's guitarist did not challenge them to a duel. It turns out that the bassist's wife had a baby the day before the concert.

The mother of the wolf was the major draw for me, but I was mildly interested in seeing the rest of the lineup. I had heard that the Yeah, Yeah, Yeahs put on a really good live show. Well, let me be the first to tell you that they do not. No amount of Karen O dancing around can make up for boring music, nor were they helped by a lackluster mix from the soundman.

I had seen Beck once before and at that concert he basically told the audience that he didn't like to have fun anymore. Well, its nice to see that the years have mellowed Beck out some. Unfortunately, more focus was on the puppet simulacrum performing behind the band.



Thankfully, there was a diamond in the rough to save the day. I had never heard Muse before Saturday, but let me tell you, those guys rock. And I'm talking the kind of rock where you have to get your foot up on the drum platform just to get out all the rock that needs to get out.