Shaky Knees Festival is this week! 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, 7:45PM time slot has 2 great bands that have all built huge following throughout the years from their current work or previous and also an up and comer making noise in the pop realms in Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds at the Piedmont Stage, Wilco at the Ponce De Leon Stage and ZZ Ward at the Buford Highway Stage.
Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds – Piedmont Stage
By Zachary Shelter
When was the last time you were able to close your eyes, listen to an album and have the music paint you a vivid picture? If you answered with “The Soundscapes Music Channel on TV” then my immediate rebuttal would be “You should probably get out more”. Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds do just that; they create vast Soundscapes that envelope you body and soul. Their unique throwback 90’s Smooth rock sound is nothing to shake a stick at. What many Bands have tried to capture in their sounds, Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds have succeeded at in just four short years. They truly are every soft rock lover’s wet dream.
If the name Gallagher sounds familiar that may be because Noel Gallagher made his debut with his brother with their band Oasis, a brit-pop band who put the genre back on the map in the 90’s. After the bands falling out in the early two thousands Noel Gallagher formed “Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds” (try saying that five times fast) with Oasis’s Keyboardist Mike Rowe; former Lemon Trees Drummer Jeremy Stacy and Percussionist Lenny Castro. The Band made their debut in 2011 with their album (brace yourselves) “Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds”. Very recently this year they released “Chasing Yesterday” which really honed in on their desirable 90’s sound, creating just a beautifully finished album. The release of “Chasing Yesterday” brought with it a song of Critical acclaim “In the Heat of the Moment” which houses so much energy, it’s really incredible.
Sadly the group is still very young so there are only so many good graces I can bestow upon them. That being said this presents an exciting opportunity to see something still fresh and new that as of now is one of a kind. Who knows when these Brit’s will come to GA again? This may very well be a once in a life time opportunity wouldn’t you hate to miss that? These guys are the Brit-Pop revolution incarnate. Don’t miss it.
Wilco – Ponce De Leon Stage
By Terence Robertson
If you like your country with a little bit of folk, a dash of alternative and a whole lot of experimentation, then look no further than Wilco. This is one band you will not want to miss on Saturday at Shaky Knees Festival!
Once you hear the simple but effective acoustic guitar strumming accompanied by a pain filled voice, classic country drums and an electric guitar with a wah you can swear is whining, know you are about to experience musical bliss. And with that thought you are destined to travel to whatever reality Jeff Tweedy is bellowing out. One moment you feel as if you are near a camp fire when Tweedy starts singing You and I . Then, the next song picks up and in an instant you feel as if you have a first person view of a leather jacket filled, rage pit of youthful ignorant love. All this accompanied by the audio that is Heavy Metal Drummer.
If you would like to not only hear something amazing but witness something amazing then don’t miss the pure polished talent that is Wilco. Catch them Saturday at 7pm on the Ponce De Leon Stage.
ZZ Ward – Buford Highway Stage
By Mike Gerry
ZZ Ward grew up in rural Oregon listening to her Dad write and sing the blues, even performing with him in his blues band as a kid. Eventually she moved to the college town of Eugene, Oregon and fell in love with hip hop, writing hooks and performing with local rappers.
All of these influences came together in 2012 as she blew up behind a mix tape, EP, and her debut full length album. Behind that momentum, ZZ Ward has played The Tonight Show, had her music featured in various TV shows and commercials, while also headlining and selling out multiple dates across the US.
With soulful smokey vocals, ZZ Ward brought together these hip hop and blues influences to make impactful pop that has been taking the country by storm. Her first album even featured rappers such as Kendrick Lamar and Freddie Gibbs. With more music to come, ZZ Ward is an artist that is still coming into her own. Her brand of pop has the chance to really blow up over the next few years as she continues to become a more recognized national artist.
A spot later in the day at Shaky Knees up against Noel Gallagher and Wilco, gives fans of the pop genre, people looking to dance, something to look forward to. There is no doubt this up and coming artist will put on a great show, a show you may be looking back on when she is on top of the world and say “I saw her at Shaky Knees first!” And being the hip hop capitol of the world in Atlanta, who knows, maybe she will even bring some special guests to get the crowd hype!
Check out these artists on the Shaky Knees Spotify Playlist
