Chet Faker misses mark at CRSSD Fest; Gorgon City, Tycho bring the fire

Chet Faker misses mark at CRSSD Fest; Gorgon City, Tycho bring the fire
Mark E. Ortega
Grimygoods.com
March 9, 2016

Sunday night, it was up to Aussie electronic artist Chet Faker to close the second spring edition of San Diego’s CRSSD Fest. ODESZA had set the bar high the night before with a rousing headline performance. Could Chet Faker aka Nicholas Murphy match the Seattle duo’s intensity the following night?

Unfortunately for those who stayed, Chet Faker fell short — though not all at a fault of his own. Sound issues plagued his entire set and there were many moments where you struggled to hear Murphy’s vocals.

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The Cure, Florence + The Machine, Alabama Shakes top Sasquatch! bill

The Cure, Florence + The Machine, Alabama Shakes top Sasquatch! bill
Mark E. Ortega
GrimyGoods.com
January 12, 2016

Robert Smith and The Cure will headline 2016’s Sasquatch! Music Festival at The Gorge in Washington. If that’s somehow not enough, Florence + The Machine, Alabama Shakes and Disclosure top the bill at the most laid-back camping festival I attended last year. The four-day festival takes place over Memorial Day Weekend from May 27-30. Tickets go on sale January 12 at 10 AM and are priced at $350.

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Mumford & Sons' Bonnaroo redemption highlights Saturday

Mumford & Sons' Bonnaroo redemption highlights Saturday
Mark E. Ortega
GrimyGoods.com
June 16, 2015

Two years ago, Mumford & Sons were set to headline Bonnaroo at the peak of their success. When bassist Ted Dwane had to undergo emergency brain surgery, the band had to cancel their appearance just two days before the festival.

If redemption was what the London-based folk rockers were after, they got that in spades after a lengthy main stage performance to one of the biggest crowds of the weekend.

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Tycho an impressive counter in Mojave to main-stage finishers at Coachella

Tycho an impressive counter in Mojave to main-stage finishers at Coachella
Mark E. Ortega
GrimyGoods.com
April 12, 2015

Scott Hansen has grown Tycho considerably as a live performance over the years, and Saturday night at Coachella he put up quite a fight in the Mojave tent as Jack White raged on the main stage.

Those that opted to skip at least part of White’s gritty rock set were treated to a tantalizing performance from Hansen and his backing band.

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An interview with Craig Nyman: Get to know Life is Beautiful Festival in Las Vegas

An interview with Craig Nyman: Get to know Life is Beautiful Festival in Las Vegas
Mark E. Ortega
GrimyGoods.com
October 9, 2014


Last October, Las Vegas played host to the inaugural Life is Beautiful Festival — a two-day fiesta of music, art, food, and learning that took place on the city streets of the rejuvenated downtown Strip. The festival was such a success that this year’s festival has been expanded to include a third day and will take place Oct. 24 through Oct. 26, headlined by Kanye West, Foo Fighters, and Outkast.

This has made extra work for Craig Nyman, the Head of Music and Live Performances for Life is Beautiful, who is tasked with putting together the music lineup along with Another Planet Entertainment for the unique and up-and-coming festival. After talking to Nyman for this feature, it became clear immediately that the additional workload was exciting rather than stressful.

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