"...everything indicates left on a map..." (APW Friday Preview)

(We’ll be at APW on Friday and Saturday this weekend with periodic coverage both here at CotP and on my Twitter feed here.)

Last year’s All Points West Music and Arts Festival was a reasonable success. The shindig was initially billed by the folks at AEG/Goldenvoice (and as a result, the press) as “Coachella East,” but with the promise of more hipsters given the short distance between Williamsburg and the venue, the ferry trip from Manhattan and the location right on the Hudson, it ended up as a very different, though highly enjoyable, festival experience. The lineup, save Sunday’s, was terrific and the weather held, and well, it was a good time.

This year’s APW Festival arrives with a stellar lineup for Friday and Saturday with Sunday’s lagging behind yet again. The pre-event buzz had already begun a few weeks ago, before the Beastie Boys’ Adam “MCA” Yauch announced his cancer diagnosis and the group pulled out of the remainder of their summer and fall tour, including their Friday set at APW. Goldenvoice scrambled and were able to lure Jay-Z to fill the Beastie’s Friday set time late last week.

Count me as excited for Jay-Z’s (and whichever heavy hitters come through with Hov) set. Let’s take a look at the rest of who I’m going to try to check out on Friday (in order of time):

Afternoon
The Knux are one of the bright spots both in hip-hop and New Orleans from the last few years. I'm going to try my damnedest to make their set, but they're the first act on in the afternoon and it might not work out. Shearwater is the former side-project of former Okkervil River member Jonathan Meiburg. They’re based in Austin and an interesting brand of uber-mellow folk music. Telepathe's Dance Mother showed a lot of potential and it'll be interesting to see how that translates live. Seattle’s own Fleet Foxes will be next on my agenda. They’re much more suited for a smaller venue and haven’t been great when I’ve seen them at festivals, but we’ll see.

Shearwater - Rooks

Ra Ra Riot are out of New York (via Syracuse). To be honest, they sound like Vampire Weekend with a dash of melancholy. They are highly effective at working with strings throughout their music (a cellist and violinist are permanent members of the band). The Rhumb Line was a critical success and I’m excited to see them live finally. I saw The National a little more than a week ago at Pitchfork. They were great live, much better than expected, and I'm looking forward to catching all of their set. I’m stoked for the reunion of Pharoahe Monch and Prince Po as Organized Konfusion. “Fudge Pudge” is my jame and hopefully Q-Tip will join them for “Let’s Organize.” No word yet on whether O.C. will show up too. Carolina Liar is the pop band produced by former Britney and Backstreet mastermind Max Martin. I know little of their music, but it seems like they’re worth checking out. Vampire Weekend is everyone’s favorite afro-pop influenced band from Morningside Heights. I can’t remember if I’ve seen them live or not, so hopefully they’ll come through.

Vampire Weekend - Ottoman

Evening
The Pharcyde are slowly climbing their way back into the public consciousness. Three and half years ago, I saw them play for maybe 75 kids at a small Maine college; now they’re in a primo time slot at a major festival. As a huge Bizarre Ride II the Pharcyde and Labcabincalifornia fan, I can’t wait to hear “Soul Flower” and “Runnin’” among others. What more can be said about Yeah Yeah Yeahs? They’re awesome live, Karen O’s the best and they’re going to dominate. Flying Lotus is the king of strange danceable music. For more information, Sasha Frere-Jones wrote a great piece on him here. Q-Tip is one of the coolest dudes around and he’s got his live show down pat. I’m looking forward to this show big time. I feel reasonably confident that Jay-Z will bring some of his friends. (Perhaps Rihanna and or Kanye West?) Everyone’s favorite remixers MSTRKRFT close out the night after Hov. They’re dope, but I’m certain I’ll be a bit too tired to actually enjoy their set.

The Pharcyde - Runnin'

So that'll be that. Hope you enjoy our coverage!