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Festivals: Monolith 2009

Staff — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 23:58:16 +0000

Monolith, 2009
by Nick Chaivarlis, Photography by Jon Bielecki, Angora Holly Polo, and Jake Cisneros

“She’s a bitch in September,” I heard a bystander mutter to whoever was listening. I was listening. “Who’s a bitch?” The dedicated music fan looked up at the clouds and without even thinking, answered me with, “Colorado.” It didn’t take long to figure out that he was talking about the weather.

Autovaughn put on a decent show for being one of the first bands playing for the smaller crowds outdoors. Festivals are created for the mere fact of supporting musicians, so why be there if you weren’t planning on checking out bands you have never heard of? The indoor stages were cramped regardless of the artist’s mainstream popularity. These United States were playing inside at the WOXY.com stage and the room was packed. Between both days, the Fire Marshal had to step in and regulate the crowds (safety is so lame) between acts.

Girl Talk, of Montreal, and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs all put on stellar performances regardless of the rain sessions during their jam sessions. By the end of the night, no one cared how drenched they were, as long as the headliners were able to keep the party going. Girl Talk entertained the audience by allowing a handful of fans on stage to dance their asses off, while of Montreal put on what seemed to be a one-act play (creepy costumes and lights included).

The Knew kicked off day two with one of the first shows of the day (and it was one hell of a show). Everything seemed to be rolling according to plan (sun, cool crowd, reasonable security) until an announcer informed the entire amphitheater of the cancellation of MSTRKRFT‘s show (the word on the street is that they were a no-show due to illness), which sent an uproar through the amphitheater (but not for too long, as everyone then dispersed to go see another act or two).

Due to MSTRKRFT‘s last-minute cancellation, the lineup changed a bit and some patrons missed a show or were late to one due to not being informed of the schedule change (or due to drugs and alcohol, but who is really keeping tabs?), but for the most part, I think things went smoothly. Passion Pit, Phoenix, and Savoy were all equally tossed around the lineup, but everything worked out in the long run (and it worked out better for Phoenix, as they were moved to the main Esurance stage [which proved to be ideal since everyone in Colorado showed up for their set]).

We all learned that Passion Pit means “to dance,” because that’s exactly what everyone did as soon as the band hit the stage. Right before ending their session, Michael Angelakos took the time to inform everyone to go see their “friends” (Phoenix) down at the Esurance stage (as both bands were originally supposed to play back-to-back on the Southern Comfort stage). The crowd followed suit down the many flights of stairs of the amphitheater and filled in the main stage to hear Phoenix and The Mars Volta end a perfect night.

Phoenix had a late start but were totally worth it, seeing as how they filled up the entire arena and had the crowd up and moving regardless of how chilly the night had become. In terms of energy, it seems as if the final acts of the night delivered more than enough. Phoenix‘s Thomas Mars decided to redefine crowdsurfing by taking his ride into the fans (but at an incline) and making his way up the amphitheater rather than through it.

Regardless of the shifty weather, the Monolith Festival was a complete success. It offered a variety of artists to be appreciated by a variety of different music fans. When you’re surrounded by good music, people, food, and alcohol, you can’t really go wrong. Festivals are for music and Monolith proved just that.

Monolith Festival Nearing

Nick Chaivarlis — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 20:35:53 +0000

As September is nearing, we’re becoming more and more anxious about the Monolith Festival. The impressive lineup can’t really get better since all the slots are full, but if you’re wondering what you’ll be doing between your favorite acts and your favorite beer, the Monolith crew have managed to round up over a dozen local DJs to entertain you during the downtime of switching acts.

Instead of listening to drunken banter between sets, you can be confident that as long as you’re at the festival, there will be music playing constantly.

Just in case you forgot (even though you couldn’t), here is the complete lineup:

Saturday, September 12
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Girl Talk
Of Montreal
M. Ward
DOOM
The Walkmen
OK Go
Ida Maria
The Pains of Being Pure at Heart
Frightened Rabbit
Thao with the Get Down Stay Down
Hollywood Holt + Million $ Mano
Starf*cker
Thunderheist
Woodhands
These United States
Cymbals Eat Guitars
The Antlers
Cotton Jones
Gregory Alan Isakov
Lydia
Generationals
Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros
The Answering Machine
Roadside Graves
Danielle Ate the Sandwich
Speakeasy Tiger
Autovaughn
Avi Buffalo
Wendy Darling
Boulder Acoustic Society
Caitlin Rose

Sunday, September 13
The Mars Volta
MSTRKRFT
Method Man & Redman
Phoenix
The Dandy Warhols
Chromeo
The Glitch Mob
Passion Pit
WALE
The Thermals
Harlem Shakes
Monotonix
The Grates
HEALTH
Deer Tick
The Twilight Sad
The Features
Spindrift
Savoy
Bad Veins
We Were Promised Jetpacks
Beats Antique
Tigercity
French Horn Rebellion
The Pirate Signal
Neon Indian
The Knew
A Shoreline Dream
The Royal Bangs
Red Wire Black Wire
Jim McTurnan & the Kids That Killed the Man
Rachel Goodrich

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All other Monolith details can be obtained from the official Monolith website.

Full 2009 Monolith Festival Lineup Announced

Brianne Turner — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 02:50:19 +0000

After months of exhaustive coverage (not really) of the Monolith Festival, the full lineup has been announced, citing Yeah Yeah Yeahs as the Saturday headliners and featuring The Mars Volta on Sunday. Held in the open-air, naturally-formed Red Rocks Ampitheatre just outside of Denver, Colorado, Monolith has decided to be kind to your wallet with single-day tickets starting at just $52 and two-day passes running for $95.

Get your tickets here.
Get the full lineup below:

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All other Monolith details can be obtained from the official Monolith website.

Monolith Festival Lineup: Updated

Nick Chaivarlis — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 03:22:08 +0000

The Monolith Festival lineup is getting pretty full, which means that we’re here to update you once again on who will be playing at this year’s festival. You can find the updated acts at the bottom of the list marked with asterisks.

Here is the complete list (so far):

Girl Talk
Starfucker
Thao w/ The Get Down Stay Down
Speakeasy, Tiger!
Method Man & Redman

The Pains of Being Pure of Heart
Health
The Walkmen
Frightened Rabbit
Thunderheist

These United States
Passion Pit
Harlem Shakes
Monotonix
Woodhands

Gregory Alan Isakov
The Dandy Warhols
Twilight Sad
The Antlers
Savoy

The Pirate Signal
M. Ward
Viva Voce
Hollywood Holt & Million $ Mano
The Answering Machine

Danielle Ate The Sandwich
The Glitch Mob
Deer Tick
The Thermals
Cymbals Eat Guitars

We Were Promised Jetpacks
Ida Maria
Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros
Neon Indian

The Knew
MSTRKRFT
Lydia
Phoenix
Rachel Goodrich

French Horn Rebellion
of Montreal
Generationals
The Grates
Ok Go
Spindrift

Tigercity*
Avi Buffalo*
Wendy Darling*
Jim McTurnan & The Kids That Killed The Man!*
Cotton Jones*
Beats Antique*

DOOM*
Miniature Tigers*
Roadside Graves*
CHROMEO*
Yeah Yeah Yeahs*

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To get all your Monolith information, join the Monolith Facebook Group or follow them on Twitter @MonolithFest.

Monolith Festival Adds Ok Go, Phoenix, of Montreal

Brianne Turner — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 04:39:52 +0000

The people working on the Monolith Festival would like you to know that they mean business and are continuing to bust their asses on getting the website, ticket information, and the lineup finalized for you. Since our last Monolith rundown, they’ve added a handful (if eleven bands equals a handful) of new artists to the festival’s ever-growing lineup.

The newest bands are at the bottom of the list and are accompanied by asterisks. (MSTRKRFT, Phoenix, and of Montreal fans, chances are high that you’re gonna feel good about this…)

Girl Talk
Starfucker
Thao w/ The Get Down Stay Down
Speakeasy, Tiger!
Method Man & Redman

The Pains of Being Pure of Heart
Health
The Walkmen
Frightened Rabbit
Thunderheist

These United States
Passion Pit
Harlem Shakes
Monotonix
Woodhands

Gregory Alan Isakov
The Dandy Warhols
Twilight Sad
The Antlers
Savoy

The Pirate Signal
M. Ward
Viva Voce
Hollywood Holt & Million $ Mano
The Answering Machine

Danielle Ate The Sandwich
The Glitch Mob
Deer Tick
The Thermals
Cymbals Eat Guitars

We Were Promised Jetpacks
Ida Maria
Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros
Neon Indian

The Knew*
MSTRKRFT*
Lydia*
Phoenix*
Rachel Goodrich*

French Horn Rebellion*
of Montreal*
Generationals*
The Grates*
Ok Go*
Spindrift*

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To get all your Monolith information, join the Monolith Facebook Group or follow them on Twitter @MonolithFest.

Current: Monolith Festival Lineup

Nick Chaivarlis — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 00:24:44 +0000

We filled you in on how The Monolith Festival would be releasing this year’s lineup. If you have been lazy and haven’t been keeping up with the weekly releases, then Audioholic Media is here to make your life just a bit easier.

Here is the collective lineup of the 2009 Monolith Festival (as of today):

Girl Talk
Starfucker
Thao w/ The Get Down Stay Down
Speakeasy, Tiger!
Method Man & Redman

The Pains of Being Pure of Heart
Health
The Walkmen
Frightened Rabbit
Thunderheist

These United States
Passion Pit
Harlem Shakes
Monotonix
Woodhands

Gregory Alan Isakov
The Dandy Warhols
Twilight Sad
The Antlers
Savoy

The Pirate Signal
M. Ward
Viva Voce
Hollywood Holt & Million $ Mano
The Answering Machine

Danielle Ate The Sandwich
The Glitch Mob
Deer Tick
The Thermals
Cymbals Eat Guitars

We Were Promised Jetpacks
Ida Maria
Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros
Neon Indian

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To get all your Monolith information, join the Monolith Facebook Group or follow them on Twitter @MonolithFest.

Monolith Festival Lineup A Secret?

Nick Chaivarlis — Tue, 19 May 2009 01:41:57 +0000

Cradled in the Rocky Mountain Foothills is one of the most impressive amphitheaters. That’s a pretty bold statement to make, but Red Rocks is a geologically formed, open-air amphitheater where one of the most unheard of music festivals will be held on September 12th through the 13th in Morrison, Colorado. I say, “unheard of” because it hasn’t been around for long and is just now utilizing the social networking sites that pretty much run your life now, on a day-to-day basis.

The Monolith Festival, which is presented by Esurance, will be releasing its indie scene lineup by means of communication via Twitter and Facebook. Just when you thought you were about to be too cool and quit using your social networking sites, a music-related incident made you hold on just a little longer.

Starting today, from May 18th, until mid-June, Monolith will be releasing two or three confirmed bands until they have named the lineup that holds more than 50 artists. It’s not so much a secret as it is a cool way to use Twitter and Facebook.

The 2009 lineup was taken directly from suggestions that were posted to the festival’s Facebook group. Owners of Monolith, Matt Fecher and Josh Baker, state that they “hope it creates a real sense of ownership within [the] community.”

Just in case you were curious about the type of artists that flock to this festival, former acts of the Monolith Festival include: Justice, Silversun Pickups, The Decemberists, Spoon, Kings of Leon, The Flaming Lips, Band of Horses, Atmosphere, Vampire Weekend, The Presets, and many more.

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To get all your Monolith information, join the Monolith Facebook Group or follow them on Twitter @MonolithFest.