We managed to dart back to the South Stage where The Black Keys were wrapping up their set with “Strange Times.” It was nice to hear a little taste of home as the duo hails from Akron, OH. Lead singer Dan Auerbach stated “we’d like to play a couple of songs, just a couple more, and we have Lil Wayne to thank for that.” Disgruntled but not discouraged the rock/blues act finished up their time slot spite having someone else steal their performance time.
Again I had to make a decision between two bands I wanted to see. Stone Temple Pilots (STP) and Bob Dylan both took the stage at the same time. I chose Dylan on the South Stage as I had never seen him before and I have seen STP a few times. I know very few Dylan songs, in fact the only song I picked out was the opener “Rainy Day Woman” but I still wanted to see such an important figure in rock history. Bob Dylan took stage very slowly dressed in black. He moved slowly and his voice was raspy as he kept in one place mostly. I did not see him pick up the guitar and he kept his duties to the keyboard and harmonica, still to see him live was incredible. As I looked around me I could see fans that grew old with Dylan and I thought how remarkable that was for them to come to the performance.
I left Dylan to see a band on the North Stage I have been a fan of since I was a kid, Nine Inch Nails (NIN). I was excited to hopefully finally see this industrial rock super band live and I was also excited it was the last performance of the weekend. I was worn-out. Word that Trent Reznor canceled his Friday night performance, due to being sick sat in my head all day. I really wanted to see them live but seeing their logo on stage equipment earlier in the day ended any questions about NIN performing.
As soon as NIN took the North Stage any sign of me being exhausted immediately escaped. I was completely engulfed into Trent Reznor and company’s performance. Visually they had the greatest stage set up I have seen with a LED like duel screen that was raised and lowered throughout the set. The LED screen added distorted images as well as forest like scenes and falling water to make this beyond exciting visually and musically. Busting through old and new songs the band looked so happy to be there and the fans were going insane at every song with many coming and going as Kanye West was closing out the South Stage.
Article comments
1 - Jordan Richardson
Wasn't STP there?
2 - Sandra Possing
I have to say, I was very impressed with the green aspect of the festival as well. Hopefully all festivals in the future will follow this example and build on it.