I’m leaving for Evolve right after work tonight at 5pm to camp with my pals. This is my fifth Evolve – and is it just me, or does it seem like people are exceptionally excited to go this year? Maybe it has to do with the lineup, which is pretty good this year, or perhaps it’s because we endured 30 days of rain-induced darkness and everyone is ready to dance and get wrecked in the lovely sunshine. Whatever the reason, everyone has their own favorite things to do and see each year, so here’s mine.
1. Stop at the Giant Tiger in Truro to pick up all the stuff I forgot to pack.
I always try to pack carefully the night before Evolve and generally I forget approximately 40 items, like sunscreen and flip flops and underwear and toothpaste. So we try to stop at the old GT to amass all the things that were left behind on the drive up. The Truro GT is quite exceptional, in my opinion. They have everything, and their clothes are totally cute, and sometimes they have hot dogs.
2. Eat breakfast at the Horn of Plenty.
The Horn of Plenty is a time-honored food stand at Evolve that always has great coffee and tasty, reasonably healthy breakfasts. I’m told they’ve started doing BBQ, which is aces! The lineups in the morning can be brutal so you should either go as early as possible or sleep until you’re woken by hunger pangs.
3. Man Man.
Man Man are one of those bands that I wouldn’t play while I’m, say, doing dishes or something, but they are absolutely made for a festival like Evolve. When I saw them in 2009 (on the heaviest lineup ever – the year with !!! and Battles) I found them hilarious, mindblowingly weird and very proficient. If you don’t like fruity, guttural music you might not be into it, but I do believe everyone should see a Man Man show at least once in their lifetime, just to say that they did. Here is a video. Don’t miss them and don’t be a doink!
4. The Palace Yurt
I’ve always enjoyed the shows in the Palace Yurt (how can you not have fun in a yurt?) and have always vowed to catch more shows there. This year features a number of acts that are worth your while, especially when they’re on such a small stage. I’m planning on checking out The Sheepdogs (who currently have a 50/50 shot of making it on the cover of Rolling Stone and sound exactly like one of my favorite dad bands, The Allman Brothers), Tupperware Remix Party (playing a 2:30am set, ruh roh!) The Terror Pigeon Dance Revolt, The Caravan and No Flyers Please. STOKED AS HELL.
5. Vilify
I’m not familiar with a ton of the DJs on the schedule this year, so I will be relying on my wiser friends to tell me what’s fun. However I’m definitely looking forward to a set from former Haligonian VILIFY. I have a pretty big soft spot for drum n’ bass and jungle (I’M OLD ALL RIGHT?) and she specializes in both, plus ragga and breakbeat, which I also fucking love to death. The music will assist with my ongoing search on How To Dance To Dubstep. I aspire to one day move like this little fella right here.
6. Fred Penner
No words, just video. I may cry.
Also listen for the live mashup with “Crabbuckit.”
Look back here on Monday (later) for a little festival wrap-up replete with my trademarked “shitty iPhone photos.” Safe travels to all and have a time.
This article appears in Jul 21-27, 2011.
the videos are all messed up for some reason, but it’s kind of funny. trying to fix but you can probably figure it out.