BottleRock Festival 2013 Preview

The Napa Valley is famed for its vino, and it’s a well-deserved reputation, but in 2013 it reaches for something more in the inaugural BottleRock Festival. Mixing everything from country and blues to indie & hip-hop, not to mention comedy, food, burlesque, and even beer, it’s gonna be one hell of a trip to wine country, Wednesday-Sunday, May 8th to 12th:

WEDNESDAY, MAY 8th

Uptown Theater Louis Prima Jr., 10:15 PM Carrying the legacy of the ‘King of Swing’, Louis Prima, is his own son, Louis Prima Jr. Also: Steve Lucky and the Rhumba Bums, 9:00 PM Eclectic Approach, 8:00 PM

Citi Stage Macklemore and Ryan Lewis, 8:15 PM With last year’s Wing$, Seattle’s Macklemore & Ryan Lewis (QRO photos at a festival) take on the holy grail of hip-hop, Air Jordan sneakers, making them ultra-revolutionaries in rap. Has anyone else ever rapped about thrift shops?… Also: Family of the Year, 6:15 PM KAPTN, 5:00 PM

THURSDAY, MAY 9th

WillPower Stage Furthur, 7:00 PM You can’t have a festival with even a hint of jam and not have a Grateful Dead (QRO photos at a festival)-connected artist, and BottleRock has that in Furthur, formed by Deadheads Phil Lesh and Bob Weir.

The Black Crowes, 5:00 PM Atlanta brothers Chris & Rich Robinson hit it big in the early nineties as The Black Crowes (QRO photos at a festival), with such output as Shake Your Money Maker and “Remedy”. When the record sales in the late nineties couldn’t match up, label problems followed, but the band found success on the road. Yet they still went on hiatus for much of the first half of the last decade, but their blues-rock jam returned, most recently with 2010’s Croweology.

ALO, 3:15 PM The Animal Liberation Orchestra – or ‘ALO’ – is a well-regarded festival circuit regular.

Also: Moonalice, 1:30 PM – QRO photos Ray Bertolino and The Forget Me Nots, 12:15 PM


Citi Stage Primus, 8:00 PM Mixing alternative and funk in a Frizzle Fry sauce is Les Claypool’s (QRO interview) Primus (QRO spotlight on). Fronted by one of the most acclaimed bassists out there today, Primus first came to widespread notice in the early nineties thanks to Sailing the Seas of Cheese (QRO live review) and Pork Soda, with songs like “Jerry Was a Race Car Driver”, “Tommy the Cat”, “My Name Is Mud”, and “Mr. Krinkle”, delivering a weird funk-driven rock sound akin to an accessible Residents (QRO live review). Primus went on hiatus at the start of this century/millennium (after composing the theme to South Park), with Claypool working solo (QRO photos at a festival – and composed the theme to Robot Chicken), before reforming, first as nostalgia, but then with 2011’s new Green Naugahyde (QRO review), and have kept on going strong (QRO photos).

Café Tacvba, 6:15 PM A must-have at any California music festival is some Latin flavor, and bringing that from south of the border is the mix of Latin, alternative, hip-hop, rock and more, Café Tacvba.

Joan Jett & The Blackhearts, 4:30 PM “I love rock ‘n’ roll / So put another dime in the jukebox, baby!” Joan Jett emerged from the seventies glam-rock scene but soon moved into rock with The Runaways (and was played by Kristen Stewart in the movie about the band’s career), produced The Germs’ one-and-only album (GI), but found fame fronting her own Blackhearts and that 1982 hit single. Other hits followed, and Jett helped inspired the Riot Grrrl movement of the nineties (as well as producing lead Grrrl act, Bikini Kill), though took some time off from studio albums until 2006’s Sinner. And she’s still kicking it live (QRO photos outdoors).

X, 2:45 PM A hugely influential punk band playing BottleRock is X (QRO photos). Begun back when punk begun in 1977, fronted by the likes of Exene Cervenka & John Doe, they achieved only limited mainstream success, but have since been hailed as possibly the best live band ever (QRO live review). They’ve even been recognized by their own City of Los Angeles (QRO photos at a festival in Los Angeles) – and have been playing their own 1980 debut Los Angeles in its entirety (*QRO photos of X playing Los Angeles* at a festival**).

Also: The Refusers, 1:15 PM Cosmos Percussion Orchestra, 11:30 AM


Miner Family Stage The Avett Brothers, 8:15 PM One of the bigger – and better – hits of today’s new Americana (QRO photos at a festival), The Avett Brothers (QRO photos) won a wide audience with 2009’s fine country of I and Love and You (QRO review), including playing on The Grammys with Bob Dylan, and now come to BottleRock (QRO photos at a festival), with last year’s follow-up The Carpenter (QRO review).

Violent Femmes, 5:45 PM The New Wave that acts like The Talking Heads ushered in back in the eighties saw a number of ‘geek rock’ outfits grab the listening public, from They Might Be Giants (QRO live review) to Violent Femmes, who hit it big in 1983 with the self-titled debut and singles such as “Blister In the Sun” and “Kiss Off”. Follow-up records didn’t find the same success, and the band went on numerous hiatuses/break-ups. Drummer Victor DeLorenzo left in 1993 only to return in 2002, but the biggest split was between singer/guitarist Gordon Gano and bassist Brian Ritchie over Gano selling the rights to “Blister” to be used in a Wendy’s commercial in 2007. A lawsuit ensued, and this break-up seemed to be for good, but this year they’ve somehow reunited again for another run at the festival circuit.

Richard Thompson Electric Trio, 3:45 PM One of the most acclaimed singer/songwriters in rock history, Great Britain’s Richard Thompson has been covered & name-checked by the great likes of R.E.M. (QRO album review), Elvis Costello (QRO live review), and Bob Mould (QRO live review) – he was even knighted in 2011. Thompson comes to BottleRock behind this year’s Electric with his stripped down, simply titled ‘Electric Trio’.

Delta Spirit, 1:45 PM Out of San Diego comes the indie-Americana/soul of Delta Spirit (QRO photos), who come to Shaky Knees (QRO photos at a festival) behind last year’s great self-titled record (QRO review) & it’s own “California” (QRO video). Just watch out for frontman Matthew Vasquez (QRO photos going crazy at a festival)…


Comedy Closet Tig Notaro, 7:15 PM Bill Burr, 4:45 PM Anthony Jeselnik, 2:45 PM Ron Funches – hosting prior to each Thursday comedian

FRIDAY, MAY 10th

WillPower Stage The Black Keys, 8:30 PM The blues-rock from guitar/drums duo of Dan Auerbach & Patrick Carney (QRO photos) sounds like it comes from the deepest (and blackest…) part of the South, but these two white men (QRO photos at a festival) hail from Akron, Ohio. However, The Black Keys (QRO photos outdoors) are as gritty as anyone, whether on records like 2008’s Attack & Release (QRO review), or live (QRO photos at a festival), as depicted on the Live at Crystal Ballroom DVD (QRO review). And their latest, last year’s Brothers (QRO review), channels all their inspirations into a great sound (QRO photos at a festival) that’s even better at a festival (QRO photos at a festival).

The Shins, 6:00 PM The Shins (QRO photos) are back! The Shins are back! The band (QRO live review) that caused Zach Braff (and the world) to fall in love with Natalie Portman in Garden State had one of the most-anticipated & best-received records of 2007 in Wincing the Night Away (QRO review). Then the band (QRO photos) left label Sub Pop, and soon started losing members around main man James Mercer, who eventually put The Shins on hold to work with Danger Mouse as the middling Broken Bells (QRO album review). But Mercer & whoever makes up the rest of The Shins (QRO photos at a festival) now are back, reclaiming their indie crown with last year’s great Port of Morrow (QRO review). They’re once again playing big stages (and big shows, like Austin City Limits – QRO live review on Austin City Limits) and big festivals (QRO photos at a festival), and are perfect for BottleRock (QRO photos at a festival).

Alabama Shakes, 4:00 PM Actually from Alabama, throwback rock ‘n’ rollahs Alabama Shakes (QRO photos at a festival) are well loved from their numerous, energetic live shows.

Vintage Trouble, 2:00 PM From Hollywood, Vintage Trouble (QRO photos at a festival) brings some soul & funk to BottleRock (QRO photos at a festival). Also: Flagship, 12:15 PM


Citi Stage The Flaming Lips, 7:15 PM There’s a good reason The Flaming Lips (QRO photos at a festival) have been so popular for so long on the festival circuit (QRO photos at a festival), as there is no live show out there like a Flaming Lips live show (QRO live review). Confetti cannons, costumes, video screens, balloons from the sky, puppets, singer/guitarist Wayne Coyne (QRO interview) surfing the crowd in a giant plastic bubble – The Lips have it all (QRO photos), and expect them to take it even higher (QRO photos at a festival). Oh, and they’ve got some great music, too, from early nineties hit “She Don’t Use Jelly” to seminal The Soft Bulletin (QRO photos from top-to-bottom performance, at a festival), as well as 2006’s Grammy Award-winning At War With the Mystics (even put out a movie, Christmas On Mars – QRO review), and 2009’s Embryonic (QRO review) to the just-out The Terror (QRO review). Plus last year they (QRO spotlight on) played The Colbert Report’s ‘Pepsi Presents StePhest ColbChella ‘012 Rocktaugustfest’ (QRO photos)!

Andrew Bird, 5:00 PM Chicago multi-instrumentalist Andrew Bird (QRO live review) plays everything from guitar to whistle, but is best known for his impressive violin work (QRO photos), which manages to be both timely and timeless (QRO photos) on such albums as Armchair Apocrypha (QRO review), Noble Beast, and last year’s Break It Yourself. Bird (QRO photos) is a great addition for a new festival (QRO photos outdoors).

Dirty Projectors, 3:30 PM What began as a solo project by songwriter David Longstreth has become so much more (QRO photos). His Dirty Projectors (QRO photos at a festival) have not only grown in size (with three female co-vocalists – QRO photos at a festival), but also acclaim, thanks to 2009’s Bitte Orca (QRO review), followed up last year with Swing Lo Magellan (*QRO Magellan* tour photos). Their arrhythmic stylings married to pitch-perfect harmonies take some getting used to (QRO live review), but many have (QRO photos at a festival*), allowing for experiments like Rise Above, Longstreeth’s ‘reimagined’ back-to-front cover, from memory, of Black Flag’s seminal punk record Damaged, and performing their Getty Address* top-to-bottom (QRO photos at a festival) to numerous festival appearances (QRO photos at a festival), including headlining (QRO photos headlining a festival).

Allah Las, 1:15 PM ‘60s psychedelic band from LA, influences by The Byrds and Captain Beefheart with a laid-back sound faintly reminiscent of Beach Fossils (QRO album review). Also: They Went Ghost, 11:45 AM


Miner Family Stage Matt Nathanson, 8:15 PM Contemporary folk-rock artist comes to BottleRock behind 2011’s Top Twenty Modern Love, opening for Kelly Clarkson (QRO live review) on her ‘Stronger’ tour last year – and serenading on The Bachelor.

Blues Traveler, 5:45 PM Princeton, New Jersey knows how to bring the jam, from Phish frontman Trey Anastasio to all of the Blues-rock Blues Traveler, who hit it big back in 1994 for fourth album Four. The drug overdose of bassist Bobby Sheehan & singer John Popper’s weight struggles caused struggles for the band, who were dropped from their major label at the start of this millennium/century, but that only opened the door for an independent road, including the festival circuit.

Also: Justin Townes Earle, 3:15 PM – QRO photos outdoors Tristan Prettyman, 1:15 PM The Whiskey Sisters, 12:00 PM


Comedy Closet Jim Breuer, 7:15 PM Demetri Martin, 4:15 PM Natasha Leggero, 2:15 PM Sarah Tiana – hosting prior to Demetri Martin and Jim Breuer

SATURDAY, MAY 11th

WillPower Stage Kings of Leon, 8:30 PM Kings of Leon (QRO photos) are back! Kings of Leon (QRO photos outdoors) are finally back! The Tennessee brothers & a cousin Followill emerged amidst the revival of indie-rock early in this century/millennium, with critics calling them the ‘Southern Strokes’ and hailing the return of Confederate alt-rock with 2007’s excellent Because of the Times (QRO review). The following year’s Only by the Night (QRO review) didn’t hit the same high critically, but saw them hit major highs commercially – as well as in the Grammys. Unfortunately, in rock music the highs often come with some lows. 2010 follow-up Come Around Sundown (QRO review) still found commercial success, but the rock ‘n’ roll life seemed to catch up with singer/frontman Caleb Followill, who rambled off stage at a concert, never to return. The rest of the tour was cancelled, and a six-month hiatus was announced in late 2011 – but only now is the band back on the road. Of course, they’re still headlining fests from coast to coast, and the songs are still strong.

Jane’s Addiction, 6:15 PM One of the first bands to emerge from the early nineties alternative music scene, you knew Jane’s Addiction’s break-up right at their height of popularity in 1991 would never knew last. They’ve since reunited not once, not twice, but thrice! Starting in 2008, all four original members got back together for the first time since the first break-up, joining Nine Inch Nails on the ‘NIN/JA’ tour (QRO photos outdoors), playing the classics. Admittedly 2011’s new The Great Escape Artist was not that great (which is why bassist Eric Avery left before it was made), but the classics still are, and they come out in force at their live shows (QRO live review), with the band’s gaudy, extreme, alt-sexual antics (QRO photos). Oh, and singer/frontman Perry Farrell basically invented the alternative music festival with his original Lollapalooza, so you know they know how to do a festival right (QRO photos from a festival)…

Hells Belles Burlesque, 6:00 PM Hells Belles Burlesque is an all girl dance review that blends modern dance styles with classic pin-up burlesque.

Bad Religion, 4:00 PM BottleRock has recruited some veteran punk acts, and there might not be a more veteran punk act than Bad Religion (QRO photos outdoors). Born in the eighties punk scene of southern California, Bad Religion’s aggressive yet intellectual, and socially minded, punk has inspired/influenced so many bands that those bands are even influencing new acts today. While they peaked commercially in the early nineties with Recipe For Hate and Stranger Than Fiction, guitarist Brett Gurewitz’s 1994 departure only lasted until 2001, and even if they’ve basically been making the same record for years now (most recently this year’s True North), it’s a good record, with singer Greg Graffin’s literate lyrics still on target. Oh, and they founded Epitaph Records, home to big names like Alkaline Trio (QRO album review) and even Weezer (QRO live review).

RNDM, 1:30 PM Pearl Jam (QRO live review) bassist Jeff Ament formed his own side-project last year, RNDM, with singer/songwriter Joseph Arthur (QRO live review) – who knows a thing or two about team-ups (QRO photos of Arthur with Ben Harper & Dhani Harrison as Fistful of Mercy).

Best Coast, 12:00 PM Los Angeles’ Best Coast (QRO live review) is a practical veteran at the still-new garage-scene (QRO photos at a festival), but a goodie (QRO photos at a festival), combining surf, garage, indie, and pop for a sound (QRO photos) that’s sure to be sweet coming from frontwoman Bethany Cosentino (QRO live review) outdoors (QRO photos outdoors). They come to BottleRock behind last year’s simplistic The Only Place (QRO review).


Citi Stage Ben Harper & Charlie Musselwhite, 7:30 PM It was a bit of a slow burn for Ben Harper (QRO photos at a festival), whose mixture of skilled guitar, vocals, and activism first hit it big in Europe (QRO photos in Europe) and especially Australia, before he really boomed in his native States (QRO photos in America). But boom he did, hitting the Billboard Top Ten with his band Relentless7 – not to mention appearing with Will Ferrell, ZZ Top, and Conan O’Brien on his last Tonight Show. He’s done other great team-ups, like with Joseph Arthur (QRO live review) & Dhani Harrison as Fistful of Mercy (QRO photos), or now with legendary bluesman Charlie Musselwhite (reportedly the inspiration for Dan Ackroyd’s Blues Brother character & plays on his own on Sunday – see below), on this year’s Get Up! and on tour (QRO photos together at a festival).

Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, 5:15 PM Alex Ebert, former singer of Ima Robot (QRO interview), got a ton of buzz right after forming Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros (QRO live review) – is it justified, or just PR hype (QRO spotlight on)? Judge for yourself (QRO photos at a festival) – but watch out for him jumping into the crowd (QRO photos at a festival)!

Dwight Yoakam, 3:30 PM Dwight Yoakam has done so much over the years, one can almost forget that he helped bring country music into the modern era. Hailed by none other than Johnny Cash as his favorite country singer, he somehow still hit a new peak last year with 3 Pears, which seemingly graced more ‘Best of 2012’ lists than any other album. He’s also dabbled on screen, from playing the abusive boyfriend Billy Boy Thorton killed (spoiler alert!) at the end of Sling Blade to being one of the most frequent musical guests on The Tonight Show.

Allen Stone, 2:45 PM Allen Stone began his singing in a church, and his soulful sound has kept that connection.

Sharon Van Etten, 1:00 PM While there’s a ton of stripped songstresses out there, one of the nicer ones is Sharon Van Etten (QRO photos at a festival), who evoked the sad strains of Appalachia on her debut, Because I Was In Love (QRO review), while 2011’s Epic (QRO review) made her the Brooklyn ‘it girl’ (QRO photos in New York), and last year’s Tramp (QRO review) has gotten her get even more acclaim – and attention (QRO photos). She’s even had a star-studded show in NYC (QRO photos), where she had special guests like Thurston Moore (QRO live review) of Sonic Youth (QRO live review) & Aaron Dessner of The National (QRO spotlight on).


Miner Family Stage Iron & Wine, 8:15 PM As Iron & Wine (QRO photos), Samuel Beam has become one of the leading voices in today’s alt-folk troubadour arena, making it to #6 on the Billboard charts with 2011’s Kiss Each Other Clean (QRO review), despite it being a bit of a slide in accomplishment. Beam & co. (QRO live review) come to BottleRock behind this year’s follow-up, Ghost on Ghost.

Jackson Browne, 6:00 PM Jackson Browne rose among the folk troubadours of the seventies and really never looked back. He fought nuclear power, played Farm Aid, and supported revolutionary Nicaragua – to the 2004 ‘Vote For Change’ tour and even playing at Zuccotti Park for Occupy Wall Street (he also successfully sued the McCain campaign & Republican National Committee for unauthorized use of his hit, “Running On Empty” – what makes GOP candidates still think that they can get away with such things?…).

Donavon Frankenreiter, 4:00 PM Donavon Frankenreiter began as a professional surfer, but like Jason Lee going from professional skateboarding to Kevin Smith movies, he found a second calling when he followed good friend Jack Johnson into music. He comes to BottleRock (QRO photos at a festival) behind last year’s Start Livin’ – and with the best ‘stache this side of Earl Hickey.

Also: Carolina Chocolate Drops, 2:15 PM Tift Merritt, 1:15 PM – QRO album review Martin Harley, 11:45 AM


Comedy Closet Jim Gaffigan, 7:15 PM “Hot Pocket!” With those words Jim Gaffigan (QRO photos outdoors) launched himself into stand-up stardom, riffing on being lazy and eating food (not to mention his pale skin, which brought him to team up similarly melatonin-deficient comic Conan O’Brian as animated superhero duo ‘Pale Force’), while matching with smarter and more pointed observational humor. He also followed comic all-star Louis C.K. in selling tickets to his shows direct from his website – but you can catch him at BottleRock (QRO photos outdoors) without a two-drink minimum.

Aasif Mandvi, 5:00 PM You can’t have a comedy stage at a music festival without at least one correspondent from The Daily Show, and filling that role at BottleRock is Aasif Mandvi, who will bring the crowd ‘Behind the Scenes of the Real Fake News’.

Wyatt Cenac, 2:00 PM You also can’t have a comedy stage at a music festival without at least one former correspondent from The Daily Show, and filling that role at BottleRock Wyatt Cenac (QRO photos). Also: Nick Rutherford – hosting prior to Jim Gaffigan

SUNDAY, MAY 12th

WillPower Stage Zac Brown Band, 7:45 PM Zac Brown fronts the many-membered country/rock Zac Brown Band.

Train, 5:30 PM The pop-rock locomotive Train (QRO photos outdoors at a festival) comes into BottleRock. The San Francisco group has had many adult contemporary hits, from early singles “Meet Virginia” and “Drops of Jupiter (Tell Me)” to more recently “Hey, Soul Sister” in 2009 and “Drive By” from last year’s California 37 (QRO review).

Michael Franti and Spearhead, 3:30 PM The Bay Area’s own multi-ethnic Michael Franti is a mixture, as he fuses hip-hop & jam-band with Spearhead (QRO photos at a festival). Also noted for his peace and social activism (including going barefoot since 2000), it won’t fly over the heads of his hometown crowd. Also: Kacey Musgraves, 1:30 PM The Secret Sisters, 11:45 AM


Citi Stage CAKE, 8:00 PM A band that covers a lot of musical ground, CAKE (QRO live review) draws from more than just the indie-rock well. While best known for singles like “The Distance” and “Short Skirt/Long Jacket”, the repertoire is varied (QRO photos), including the theme song for NBC’s Chuck. Look for material old and new at BottleRock (QRO at a recent festival).

The Wallflowers, 6:15 PM The Wallflowers formed over two decades ago in Los Angeles around Jakob Dylan, son of yes, that ‘other’ Dylan (Thomas?…). Jakob came out from his father’s massive shadow with 1996’s Bringing Down the Horse and hits like “8th Avenue Heartache” and “One Headlight” (though JD was outshone by Bruce Springsteen when they did “Headlight” together on the 1997 MTV VMAs…), though haven’t reached that height since. Jakob Dylan has done his own solo tours (QRO live review), but recently got a new Wallflowers behind him (QRO live review).

Grouplove, 4:00 PM Last year rock collective Grouplove (QRO photos) have had two of the most enjoyable recent hits, “Tongue Tied” (QRO video) and “Colours” (QRO review) from the otherwise somewhat unremarkable debut, Never Trust a Happy Song (QRO photos at a recent festival). Live, they take it to another level (QRO live review), with a massive spectacle (QRO photos outdoors at a festival).

Rogue Wave, 2:15 PM Out of the dot-com bust came newly unemployed Zach Schwartz’s (a.k.a. ‘Zach Rogue’) Rogue Wave (QRO photos outdoors at a festival). The band has endured serious lows, like the death of former bassist Evan Farrell shortly after leaving the band, to drummer Pat Spurgeon’s struggles with kidney disease, but also highs, from the breakthrough success of single “Publish My Love” to 2007’s Asleep At Heaven’s Gate (QRO review). Later records didn’t exactly set the world on fire, but alongside the new material will be older songs from the band (QRO photos at a festival) like “California” (QRO video at a festival) and “Ghost” (QRO video at a festival). Also: Girls and Boys, 12:30 PM


Miner Family Stage Rodrigo y Gabriela, 8:15 PM Rodrigo Sanchez y Gabriela Quintero (why are there no male-female duos with the woman’s name first?…) mix Mexican song stylings with an Irish troubadour nature. Their classy nature has led them to grace such stages as Radio City Music Hall (QRO photos there) and Austin City Limits (QRO photos there).

Brandi Carlile, 5:45 PM Singer/songwriter Brandi Carlile (QRO interview) has emerged alongside a whole new generation of socially minded melodic songstresses (QRO photos), and last year she (QRO spotlight on) put out her first live album (QRO photos outdoors), Live at Benaroya Hall with the Seattle Symphony.

Mavis Staples, 3:45 PM BottleRock welcomes artists old and young, and one of the legendary vets this year is Stax icon Mavis Staples, who’s played everything from Lincoln Center (QRO live review there) to The Daily Show/The Colbert Report’s ‘Rally To Restore Sanity and/or Fear’ (alongside friend/admirer Jeff Tweedy of Wilco – QRO live review).

Charlie Musselwhite, 2:00 PM Legendary bluesman Charlie Musselwhite (reportedly the inspiration for Dan Ackroyd’s Blues Brother character) teamed up with Ben Harper on this year’s Get Up! and on tour (QRO photos together at a festival) – including earlier at BottleRock (see above) – but also plays solo. Also: Erin O’Hara, 12:00PM


Comedy Closet Rob Delaney, 7:15 PM Greg Behrendt, 4:45 PM Kristen Schaal (Bob’s Burgers Live), 1:15 PM – QRO photos outdoors J Chris Newberg – hosting prior to each Sunday comedian, 1:05 PM