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, 2:00PM time slot has 3 great bands, depending on your tastes, any of these could steal the festival with The Whiskey Gentry at the Piedmont Stage, Palma Violets at the Ponce De Leon Stage and Viet Cong at the Buford Highway Stage.
The Whiskey Gentry – Piedmont Stage
By Enna Garkusha
Bluegrass and Country lovers unite! The Whiskey Gentry is playing the Piedmont Stage at 2pm on Saturday. These Atlanta-natives are playing both the Shaky Knees and Shaky Boots festivals so be sure to check them out if you want to hear some tunes that are true to their Southern roots.
The Whiskey Gentry is in the midst of a tour through the South, progressing far from the band that was a local favorite and accumulated a dedicated fanbase in Atlanta from a few years ago. With their most recent release Holly Grove which came out in 2013, the EP is true to its traditional bluegrass foundation, but it’s been updated with more of a punk-rock influence. Listen to “Holly Grove” and “Colly Davis” to hear some fast-paced ‘punk-twang.’ Lauren Staley’s voice is as powerful as ever, loaded with that Country-girl attitude.
The band released their last record almost two years ago, but they continue to tour around the country (including a European tour that took place last summer) because they love to perform together. Their live performances are full of energy that is sure to get a crowd going. Be sure to check out The Whiskey Gentry put on a spectacular show.
Palma Violets – Ponce De Leon Stage
By Enna Garkusha
Be sure to check out Palma Violets’ set on Saturday at 2pm on the Ponce de Leon Stage to hear some British up-and-comers that have their own brand of gritty, psychedelic rock and roll.
Based out of London, Palma Violets’ first came on the scene with their debut 180, named after their repurposed-home-turned-studio in Lambeth, London back in 2013. With their sophomore release due to come out next week, Palma Violets are looking to refine their sound. “Refine” is an odd term, given that their sound is alike the kind that’s sure to start a riot at a late-night bar in London. Their two singles “Danger in the Club” and “English Tongue” are full of shouty-sing-along hooks that could only come from a boozed-up group of musicians.
Their performance is sure to be a riot as well. With the recent release of their newest album, they’ll be playing a bunch of their new tunes. Palma Violets can stir up a rowdy crowd with their high energy. I advise you try not to cause TOO much damage.
Viet Cong – Buford Highway Stage
By Mike Gerry
If there is one band that I’ve never seen before on my own personal Shaky Knees schedule whom I’m looking forward to checking out the most, Viet Cong has to be tops. Ever since hearing their self titled album that was released back in January of this year, I’ve been extremely intrigued by these guys.
Viet Cong is a Canadian post-punk band from Calgary, Alberta. The group consists of two ex-members of the rock band Women, vocalist/bassist Matt Flegel and drummer Mike Wallace, as well as guitarists Scott Munro and Daniel Christiansen. After an onstage fight came the breakup of Women. Viet Cong came together and self released their debut EP on cassette. After relentless touring, an appearance at the 2014 SXSW, word was getting out about how insanely great this band was. Mexican Summer reissued that debut EP Cassette on vinyl in 2014. Viet Cong was blowing the minds of music critics all around.
This buzz brought Viet Cong to the prominent indie label Jagjaguwar with the release of 2015’s Viet Cong. With two albums, both 7 songs long, ranging anywhere from 3 minute songs, to 11 minute songs, Viet Cong shows an expansive range experimenting with electronics and noise. The first album Cassette starts a bit softer, showing off Matt Flegel’s vocals, using more melodies while still experimenting with sounds. That album keeps building until it hits the loud pulse, and that loud noise just expands right into this new album.
This is one of those bands that you can tell just straight rocks, they are loud on record, but live is going to be next level. With the drums, guitars, and amps turned up and festival ready, Viet Cong will be ready to knock your socks off. Heads will bang, anthems will be sang. I’m ready to do a March of Progress, and there is no doubt in my mind that the rest of you should be right there next to me.
And the next time you see me writing about Viet Cong’s Shaky Knees set, I fully expect to be using the word EPIC, over and over.
Give a listen to the songs Continental Shelf and Bunker Buster.
Check out these artists on the Shaky Knees Spotify Playlist
