Well, the rain held and held. Until it didn’t.
But rock and roll fans, we aren’t deterred by a little mud. A little slop. If anything, the rain cuts the wheat from the chaff. The people who are about the music overcome, and the weather only added to the epic atmosphere.
Royel Otis kicked things off at the Piedmont Stage, their infectious energy drawing in a sizable crowd right from the start. The Australian duo’s blend of jangly indie pop and dance-friendly beats had everyone moving, with singles like “Oysters in My Pocket” and “Kool Aid” eliciting singalongs and smiles all around. Their cover of “Murder on the Dancefloor” was a particular highlight, and as they closed with the War on Drugs-esque “Kool Aid,” it was clear that Royel Otis had just delivered a serious contender for surprise set of the weekend.
Over at the Criminal Records stage, Nova Twins brought their genre-bending mix of hip-hop, punk, and alt-rock to an enthusiastic audience. The UK duo, fresh off a stint touring with Foo Fighters, showed how they got the Dave Grohl seal of approval.
As the afternoon rolled on, The Struts took to the Piedmont stage with their signature blend of glammy, ’80s-inspired rock. Front man Luke Spiller was in fine form, strutting and preening like a modern-day Freddie Mercury. Old-school showmanship.
Meanwhile, buzzy Men I Trust brought their dreamy Canadian indie-pop to the main stage like a gentle breeze. A breeze, which, incidentally kept picking up until the skies opened up.
You want Shaky Knees memories? Waxahatchee’s set at the Piedmont stage was the place to be for those who braved the downpour. As the rain pounded down, turning the festival into an absolute mid pit, Katie Crutchfield and her band leaned into the drama of the moment, turning songs like “Can’t Do Much” and “Fire” into rain-soaked anthems. The set reached a thrilling climax when Crutchfield was joined by her partner, fellow Shaky Knees performer Kevin Morby, for a duet to close things out.
By the time the rain subsided, mostly, it was time for the sun to shine through on the classics. And who better to bring it back in gear than the forever young Billy Idol with the songs that will keep us that way. Nostalgia, or just good stuff, Billy Idol’s tunes stand the test of time and so does his performance apparently. Billy’s still got it.
Soaked, and caked in mud. Name a better way to check out iconic pop rock act Portugal. The Man. The Portland-based band’s indie rock sound always had a joyful, life-affirming quality to it, and that spirit was on full display as they launched into fan favorites like “Purple Yellow Red and Blue” and “Feel It Still.” Front man John Gourley’s voice is just from another world. It soared above swirling guitars and pulsing rhythms, while the crowd danced away the last of the rain.
And what would Shaky be without a little bit of rock and roll royalty? Sunday’s headliner, Dave Grohl and his little band Foo Fighters brought a stadium-sized sound to the main stage, tearing through a hit-packed set that had the crowd screaming along to every word. The set was the first at Shaky since losing drummer Taylor Hawkins who was a major part of the Foo Fighters experience. New drummer Josh Freese (a veteran of acts like Devo and Nine Inch Nails) took center stage for an extended solo, with Grohl looking on. It’s hard to see Grohl, after losing his most pivotal band mates not once, but twice. But the Foo experience marched on.
As Foo Fighters closed out the festival with “Everlong,” it felt like a fitting end. Always a bummer when the festival ends.
Until next time, Shaky Knees. Rumor is we’ll see you next year, in Piedmont Park.
- Check out our full SHAKY KNEES 2024: Day 1 photo galleries: here
- Check out our SHAKY KNEES 2024: Day 1 Review, Friday Edition: here
- Check out our full SHAKY KNEES 2024: Day 2 photo galleries: here
- Check out our full SHAKY KNEES 2024: Day 3 photo galleries: here
All photos by Mike Gerry
