North Coast Redux

Woo! Summer's last stand has come and gone and it is finally starting to feel like fall in our fair city! This year NCMF brought the party to Union Park with larger crowds than ever before...due to which my cell service was pretty terrible and therefore my live-tweets were not so live. Regardless, this year React Presents did an amazing job with North Coast and this is what we at Stic-of-the-Week thought!

Paper Diamond Friday Night

Friday: SOTW got a late start to the day, not heading over to Union Park 'til about 5 only to find out the park was being evacuated. However, festival officials did a great job of keeping festival goers updated through their live tweets. When I finally did make it to the festival I made sure to check out Paper Diamond and Passion Pit. While Paper Diamond pumped up the crowd, Passion Pit delivered a lackluster DJ set that seemed to be more of a standard club soundtrack rather than anything creative or unique. 

Saturday: After being disappointed by the way that Friday night ended I was eager to see how Saturday would go. Saturday I ended up wandering most of the day, checking out new acts that I hadn't ever heard before and the day was well spent, however, nothing truly extraordinary stood out to me.

Purity Ring Sunday Night

Sunday: All I have to say is Purity Ring. Purity Ring, people. The duo knocked it out of the park. I also made it to Rebolution and Lotus, but out of everyone I managed to see at this year's NCMF it was definitely Purity Ring that killed it. 

Overall, NCMF delivered this year to its fans and now the countdown begins 'til next summer! What were your favorite acts this year?!

DeLuna D2!

Deluna day 2 had a more eclectic blend of artists. Not knowing where to begin, I just kinda wandered around. Such good luck because I came across up and coming Pensacola-area band, The Real Hooks. I didn’t know much about them and was stoked when I ran into 2/3 of them later in the day for an interview - Raleigh was at a her high school band competition – HA! Can't wait to see more of them - it's inevitable!

Another band that took me by surprise was Saints of Valory. I didn’t know about them at first but they pulled me – along with a bunch of others – in. I was constantly overhearing people say, “Hey, did you hear those Saints of Valory guys!? They were really good!” This convo was taking place between concert goers, vendors, and even in the media lounge!

The Joy Formidable. They’re doing it right. Ritzy Bryan (lead vocals, guitar) is a firecracker. She was like a jolt of caffeine and can seriously shred on the guitar! Check out her muscles in the pics! Those arms don’t come from a gym routine! This was only their 2^nd show on a beach (the BEST beach at that!) and they killed it. Definitely one to watch right here!

Next up was Joan Jett and the Blackhearts. Joan was celebrating her 54^th birthday this day and I’m sure her gift was looking at the crowd and thinking – I’m more badass than kids ½ my age! Band of Horses toned it down with really chill initial songs though they escalated into a true festivus. Got everyone in the mood to have, as our one friend so eloquently stated, their “Foo-ginity taken!”

Are you serious Foo Fighters? Way to put on a show! Memories of these guys popping Mentos in cheesy videos were distant memories from the show they put on at DeLuna. Ending their 18 month tour, they really showed the world why they’re such legends. Following Foo Fighters with Paper Diamond  was hilarious because that’s when people started to really get weird – LED hoola hoops, horse face masks, the little mermaid, and Poseidon just to name a few. Great end to #delunafest2012 day 2 – just ask the kids on stage at Diplo’s show!


Photo Credits: Thanh Nguyen and Maria Jose Florez