With the 2015 version of Shaky Knees Festival‘s official schedule being announced, now it’s time to start planning out your own personal schedule.
For those difficult decisions, we present to you the Shaky Knees Death Match. We will have each band in every time slot pitted against each other. You make the decision on who you must catch. Check back daily as we explore each time slot.
Shaky Knees Saturday Day 2, 1:15PM time slot includes two artists that have built quite the following, yet are still on the rise in Mariachi El Bronx at the Peachtree Stage and Speedy Ortiz at the Boulevard Stage.
Mariachi El Bronx – Peachtree Stage
By Mike Gerry
LA punk band The Bronx has been slaughtering stages since 2002 and play at 5:45 Saturday of Shaky Knees on the Buford Highway Stage. But before that, their alter ego, Mariachi El Bronx plays the Peachtree Stage at 1:15. In 2006, the band set out to create this alter-ego — as a mariachi band, complete with the black charro suits and trumpets, after being asked to do an acoustic set.
The Bronx decided to challenge themselves musically exploring these Latin sounds. They released their debut album (1I) in 2009. After releasing 2011’s (II), in late 2014 they released their third album to much success, focusing not as much on the mariachi part, as taking a little more of an indie rock approach using sequencers, synths, and an ARP. But make no mistake, the mariachi is still quite prevalent, they are just exploring more sounds.
Let’s recap. A hardcore punk band from LA is playing mariachi music at Shaky Knees Fest. Really, how could this go wrong? Not only has this band built quite the following from their punk shows, but this is a band of talented musicians always looking to challenge themselves. Plus it’s a punk band from LA playing mariachi music. There is no doubt in my mind that those people that are at the Peachtree Stage at 1:15 on Saturday, will look back upon this set as one of the best of the whole festival.
I can already imagine the Latin dance party that breaks out in the rain at Shaky Knees Fest, after all, dancing in the rain is a Shaky Knees past time.
Speedy Ortiz – Boulevard Stage
By Taylor James
Saturday at 1:15 Speedy Ortiz will be taking the Boulevard stage at the Shaky Knees Fest. Still pretty new to the scene, only having been a band since 2011, in their three year tenure Speedy Ortiz has been making waves. Speedy Ortiz just released their second full-length, Foil Deer, and dropped an EP between their two proper albums.
Most prevalently recognized for singer Sadie Dupuis’s dark, biting lyrics, she brings a legitimate level of brooding and sass to the table Lorde only wishes she were capable of manifesting. Surprisingly, the most obvious difference between Foil Deer and Speedy Ortiz’s debut album, Major Arcana, is that Foil Deer is significantly darker in nature than its predecessor. If you desire to see the musical equivalent to a David Lynch or early Wes Anderson film when you’re at the Shaky Knees festival, Speedy Ortiz is the band you have to check out.
Musically, Speedy Ortiz plant their roots in golden age, indie rock and roll. Akin to the classics such as Pavement and Sonic Youth, Speedy Ortiz has no need for electronics in their music. They play it mysteriously sloppy and tight at the same time with angular guitar riffs constantly being showcased alongside Dupuis’s childishly cute voice. Speedy Ortiz have proven that there is something special, and classic, yet different they are doing, and they should not be missed when they take the stage at Shaky Knees.
Check out these artists on the Shaky Knees Spotify Playlist
