ALTAMONT -- Set between the mountains in Altamont, the SoCo Music Experience was a free event with both national and regional bands put on by the maker of Southern Comfort liquor, and it sure wasn't your everyday music fest.
Many were there to see the group MGMT, which was a no-show (due to an injury) but there was something special to take its place.
Hailing from Paris, headliner Justice opened with the theme to "2001: A Space Odyssey," and promptly hit giant beats.
Looking like '70s porn stars in mustaches and vests, Xavier de Rosany and Gaspard Auge worked the turntables and smoked cigarettes.
But, it was a dark, crowded field next to where cows are shown each summer for the Altamont Fair.
When MGMT had to bail, a call went out at 10 p.m. Friday night to Brooklyn's Matt & Kim, who less than 24 hours later completely charmed the unsuspecting crowd. A drums-keyboard duo who weren't afraid to act silly and play really loud, Matt (keys) and Kim (drums) were obviously thrilled to be there. The audience fed off their unfiltered joy, and an hourlong love fest began. A cache of catchy pop tunes delighted a whole lot of new fans.
The Whigs from Athens, Ga., put their heads down and plowed through a decent set featuring grungy rockers "Like a Vibration" and the poppy, piano-driven "Nothing Is Easy." However, they received virtually no feedback from the early crowd.
Sadly, trio Heartless Bastards got the same reception as The Whigs.
On the second stage, The Erotics came out back in black and blazing with "Push Comes to Death," Severe Severe offered echoey, distant fare, while Skadee provided a more rockin' version of ska, with plenty of upbeats and pro-pot lyrics.
Disasters of Hollywood pulled off a high-energy smart set that included "I Am" and "Untitled" with power and punch.
David Malachowski is a freelance writer from Woodstock and a regular contributor to the Times Union.
BOX:
Music review
SOCO MUSIC EXPERIENCE
With Justice, Lotus, Matt & Kim, The Whigs, Heartless Bastards
When: 2 p.m. Saturday
Where: Altamont Fairgrounds, Altamont
Length: 2:15 to 10 p.m.: main-stage acts played an hour, second stage, a half hour.
The crowd: Though slow to arrive, a fair-sized crowd older than 21 and younger than 30.
Highlights: All of Justice's groove set, all of Lotus' hypnotic set, and all of Matt & Kim's joyous set.
WEBHEADLINE:
SoCo fest delivers despite no-show
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ALTAMONT -- Set between the mountains in Altamont, the SoCo Music Experience was a free event with both national and regional bands put on by the maker of Southern Comfort liquor, and it sure wasn't your everyday music fest.
Many were there to see the group MGMT, which was a no-show (due to an injury) but there was something special to take its place.
Hailing from Paris, headliner Justice opened with the theme to "2001: A Space Odyssey," and promptly hit giant beats.
Looking like '70s porn stars in mustaches and vests, Xavier de Rosany and Gaspard Auge worked the turntables and smoked cigarettes. It was as if you were in a dark, crowded New York City nightclub.
But, instead, it was a dark, crowded field next to where cows are shown each summer for the Altamont Fair.
There wasn't a star in the sky as lights flashed and a giant video screen pulsed images, while the crowd thrust hands into the air in matching time, which made for a surreal atmosphere.
In baggy, untucked shirts, Philly's Lotus had the novel approach of combining repetitious techno keyboard parts with funky guitar lines. The textures and layers were mind-boggling, as the masses danced and grooved in an organic trance.
When MGMT had to bail, a call went out at 10 p.m. Friday night to Brooklyn's Matt & Kim, who less than 24 hours later completely charmed the unsuspecting crowd. A drums-keyboard duo who weren't afraid to act silly and play really loud, Matt (keys) and Kim (drums) were obviously thrilled to be there. The audience fed off their unfiltered joy and an hour-long love fest began. A cache of catchy pop tunes delighted a whole lot of new fans.
The Whigs from Athens, Ga., put their heads down and plowed through a decent set featuring grungy rockers "Like a Vibration" and the poppy, piano-driven "Nothing Is Easy." However, they received virtually no feedback from the early crowd.
Sadly, trio Heartless Bastards got the same reception as The Whigs.
On the second stage, The Erotics came out back in black and blazing with "Push Comes to Death," Severe Severe offered echoey, distant fare, while Skadee provided a more rockin' version of ska, with plenty of upbeats and pro-pot lyrics.
Disasters of Hollywood pulled off a high-energy smart set that included "I Am" and "Untitled" with power and punch.
David Malachowski is a freelance writer from Woodstock and a regular contributor to the Times Union.
Music review
SOCO MUSIC EXPERIENCE
With Justice, Lotus, Matt & Kim, The Whigs, Heartless Bastards
When: 2 p.m. Saturday
Where: Altamont Fairgrounds, Altamont
Length: 2:15 to 10 p.m.: mainstage acts played an hour, second stage, a half hour.
The crowd: Though slow to arrive, a fair-sized crowd over 21 and under 30.
Highlights: All of Justice's groove set, all of Lotus' hypnotic set, and all of Matt & Kim's joyous set.
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