I’ve been trying to write a review of this Atlanta festival for a week and a half now and it’s been very difficult. Not because it wasn’t good or anything, in fact it was amazing, but I’m having troubles. I think it is because I don’t want to write a “regular” review of the show, but that’s what I always end up doing. By a regular review, I mean a rundown of the bands, what songs they played, and that’s it. I keep straying towards this type of review because nothing crazy/over the top happened as this festival like most shows that I go to. It was just a very straightforward, impressive festival.
Music Midtown was in Piedmont Park in Atlanta, GA on Saturday, September 24. The park was beautiful, with hummingbirds flying everywhere and sun shining. I saw all the bands who played other than The Postelles and The Constellations but I don’t think I missed too much (edit: I don’t mean this as harsh as it sounds, I just did not hear the best things about their sets). Walk The Moon, The Joy Formidable, and Young The Giant all had solid sets that everyone was really pumped about. Band of Skulls were definitely the winner of the afternoon shows though. Their sound is like older Kings of Leon but a lot harder. Their band consists of three members. Russell Mardsen plays guitar and sings, and he destroys both of those things. His guitar skills are absolutely insane and he loves to show them off. Emma Richardson plays the bass and also adds her voice to create some brilliant sounding vocals. To top it off, Matt Hayward pounds the drums and adds to an already fantastic sound.
Manchester Orchestra and The Black Keys are bands who I have seen a number of times and they also killed their sets. I stayed to the back for these which was nice. Both crowds were very pleased by the performances, especially Manchester Orchestra, as this was a hometown show. Cage The Elephant were up next and I didn’t really find them too appealing. But it seems that girls LOVE this band. There were girls screaming all over the place. Ridiculous. The energy of the band was very impressive but the music just wasn’t all that good.
Coldplay were next. This was my 4th time seeing them and it literally gets better every single time. Amazingly, I got to go to the very front for the first three songs to take pictures, and that was absolutely incredible. Being that close to the band was something I could have only dreamed of when I was younger. I now know that I could never get any closer to Coldplay unless I was hidden inside their drum. After the first three great songs (two new songs and Yellow), I went all the way back to a hill and watched Coldplay from there. They played a similar setlist to what I saw at Lollapalooza but they added in Everybody Hurts by the recently-departed R.E.M. and also put a little bit of Georgia On My Mind before Fix You which was so beautiful. Their new songs sounded even better than they did at Lollapalooza, especially their new(ish) single Paradise. They had lasers and fireworks and it was an absolutely spectacular show. I don’t think anyone could leave a Coldplay show without being impressed.
It was a spectacular festival and I’m glad I got to be a part of it. Thanks to 360 Media for their help. So pumped for next year.
Your flippant remark regarding the Postelles (and the Constellations) is a true disservice to your article. I also attended the festival; while I maintain that music is personal and subjective, your assessment echoes commonly held beliefs about very popular bands. I think missed a great opportunity.
You’re right, that was definitely a bit presumptuous of me. I only said this because my friend was there for the first two and said they were not very good. I probably shouldn’t have worded it like I did.