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 Less Than Jake |
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Review and photos by Frances Sealy Minor problems with the entertainers booked were quickly eliminated and the weekend went on without a hitch. Desiigner had difficulties making his flight into Phoenix on time. He missed his original stage time earlier in the afternoon. Action Bronson cancelled his appearance on short notice. "Panda" rapper, Desiigner, gave a rousing performance in the Action Bronson timeslot giving the crowd his powerhouse performance. Here are some of the highlights of the music festival. G-Eazy headlined the first day and his set was laced with all the glitz expected of a rapper who has enjoyed recent huge success. There was pyro, confetti, video images and his brand of rap. Tall, lean and drop-dead gorgeous, he seems to have everything going for him. Best of all, he appeared to be having the time of his life and so were the fans. Sublime with Rome is a reggae band with surf rock influences. This is not the original Sublime band. Lead singer, Rome Ramirez, has established his own sound and appeals to an entirely new generation of fans. The fans were out in tow, dancing, singing and crowd surfing. More music of the day: Rae Sremmurd, hip-hop duo or, Ear Drummers spelled backwards, is a platinum selling band consisting of two brothers. Their energy, vibe, and stage presence was unparalleled. 311 gave the crowds their rap and alternative rock. This veteran band delivered the goods for the fans. Matisyahu and his band captivated the fans with their reggae groove. This was a low-key set. On Saturday, sets were more rock oriented. Headliners, Flogging Molly provided a high-energy show. Flogging Molly has melded punk and Irish musical traditions to achieve a rollicking sound. They were engaging and funny with perfect vocals. Their set was filled with Celtic punk goodness. Death Cab for Cutie's set was an example of rocking, buttery smooth vocals from Ben Gibbard. The Death Cab experience was definitely much livelier than their recordings. The set was too short. NOFX and Less Than Jake provided Indie Punk rock bands that exploded on stage and rocked non-stop until the sets were finished. Both bands are classic punk staples. They celebrated all that is fun in life and they were a true hoot to watch. Fitz and the Tantrums was another band with an infectious energy delivered a very tight, well-rehearsed live show. They have an innate ability to engage the audience. Too bad the press was not allowed. |
 Death Cab For Cutie |
 Death Cab For Cutie |
 Death Cab For Cutie |
 Death Cab For Cutie |
 NOFX |
 Less Than Jake |
 Less Than Jake |
 NOFX |
 Matisyahu |
 Sublime with Rome |
 Sublime with Rome |
 Sublime with Rome |
 Rae Sremmurd |
 crowd |
 Rae Sremmurd |
 Rae Sremmurd |
 Rae Sremmurd |
 Rae Sremmurd |
 G-Easy |
 G-Easy |
 G-Easy |
 G-Easy |
 Desiigner |
 Desiigner |
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