APW Fest: Day 1, Friday Tickets Honored for Saturday & Sunday, Yeah Yeah & Ra Ra

Erika of Heartless Bastards

The colossal indie rock, comedy circus of the summer, All Points West, greeted fans for its second year at Jersey City’s Liberty State Park. The weather managed to hold up for longer than was expected. The forecast predicted rain around noon, but it didn’t start until about 3:40pm when Fleet Foxes was performing. It was just enough rain where it wasn’t annoying and it was actually quite beautiful to see the band on the big screen with the Jersey City skyline right behind me seeing couples embrace, friends chatting, and the crowd enjoying the ‘foxes set. While the rain caused people to buy $5 ponchos and mess up their shoes, it prompted the festival team to welcome concert-goers back to the park saying: "Due to today’s stormy weather, we'd like to invite Friday ticket holders to be our guests at the festival on Saturday or Sunday. Simply bring your Friday ticket or Friday ticket stub for entry into your choice of Saturday or Sunday." But let me back up.

Upon entering the park I was given an All Points West passport, complete with a map and schedules for the three day festival-definitely a cool souvenir. It took a little longer to get to the park, so I had to run to see Heartless Bastards set. I was able to catch about 25 minutes of their wonderful set. Erika's voice was great, similar to Janis Joplin in some respects. The band had a blues-groove rock feel to them and I couldn’t help but think killer an addition they would’ve been to the Dead Weather/Screaming Females tour.

Next, it was time for some laughs with Bo Burnham who delivered his comedy via song. He played on keyboard and guitar providing a catchy set of tunes with a funny twist to them.

Eugene Mirman went on stage right after Burnham came off, but he seemed to make mostly black jokes. I tend to enjoy a variety of jokes. So, I wandered away to check out the craft fair, the food stands, and the art displays before seeing some of Seaside Steve who had a country/rock feel to him. I caught Telepathe as I passing by their stage but they quickly turned me off with their poor drum machine beats and inaudible vocals.

Next was Ra Ra Riot who I believe played everything off their latest and first album, The Rhumb Line. The singer said he thought only 5 people would be watching them due to the rain but that he’s grateful so many people saw the band. “Ghost Under Rocks,” into “Too Too Fast,” and “Dying is Fine,” were great to finish up with. They also announced that they will be heading to upstate New York to work on their second album.

A few songs into Fleet Foxes it started raining but this didn’t seem to bother the crowd, who was really getting into the band’s performance. Carolina Liar had the misfortune of playing when Vampire Weekend was going on but the modest crowd size responded well to the Liar's set. They rocked and got the crowd excited.

Yeah Yeah Yeahs put on one of the best big show live performances I’ve seen. There was a huge on the stage which drew your attention and one by one members of the band made their way on stage. Singer Karen O. strutting her stuff and jumping around to the band’s latest “Heads will roll.” Karen O. moved around, used her mic, shouted, and spoke to the crowd, showing her great stage presence. The band rolled through catchy song, after catchy song and a lighter one as well. One of the catchiest and sweetest parts of the set was the introduction to "Maps." She said "we'd like to sing you a summer love song...so we like to dedicate this song to Yeah Yeah Yeahs family and Yeah Yeah Yeahs loved ones...we like to dedicate this song to MCA and the Beastie Boys...and most importantly we like to dedicate this song to all you lovers in the crowd tonight braving the storm."

"Wait...they don't love you like I love you."

Highlights: Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Ra Ra Riot, Heartless Bastards, Fleet Foxes, Carolina Liar.

All Points West Festival Guide: Tips & Who to See

From rappers to electro acts to indie rock to comedy, this weekend's All Points West Festival in Jersey City looks to be a happening, diverse time. With so many performers and some slight scheduling conflict, including complaints with the overlap in times from Coldplay, MGMT, and Ghostland Observatory, it can be tough to figure out what acts to see. Despite, being a New Jersey festival, there are only two Jersey acts, Steel Train and The Gaslight Anthem. However, there are a number of New York based acts like Gogol Bordello, Ra Ra Riot, We Are Scientists, The Postelles, and big timers Yeah Yeah Yeahs and MGMT. But first, we offer some tips for how to survive the festival.

Tips for Festival Go-ers:

1. Eat before you go to the festival. Food and beverages will probably be expensive, so it's a good idea to at least have something beforehand, so that you're not hungry or thirsty during the first few hours of the fest.

2. Wear comfortable attire and shoes. With three stages, you'll be bouncing around from stage to stage, so make sure your wear comfortable clothing and shoes so your feet aren't sore by the end of the day. Flip-flops or heels may not be the greatest choice, so stick with some kicks. It might rain so be ready for that to.

3. Figure out your show schedule beforehand. Schedules have already been released so print out a copy and list all the acts you want to see. You can see the time, act, and stage conveniently this way.

4. Make sure to bring enough money. You'll need money for food, drinks, and perhaps merchandise. So stop by the ATM before you get there. The vendors will only accept cash, so be ready.

5. Drink plenty of water. It'll be hot, don't dehydrate or underestimate your thirst.

APW Schedule
Directions

Who to see at the festival:

Friday, July 31st
1:00-1:40 Heartless Bastards
4:25-5:10 Ra Ra Riot

Saturday August 1st
2:15-3:05 Cage the Elephant
6:20-7:10 Gogol Bordello

Sunday August 2nd
2:30-3:20 Steel Train
3:45-4:35 The Gaslight Anthem

Steel Train

For their work on “Twilight Tales from the Prairies of the Sun,” Steel Train was once known as a jam band. Some still recognize the band best as a cover band, due to their 2003 release “1969,” an EP consisting of songs from--you guessed it--1969. But, no longer; years past, Steel Train has finally found their sound. The spotless bouncing pop of “I Feel Weird” to the more melancholy “Women I Belong To” bookend the 2007 release “Trampoline.” Reflective lyrics avoid the nonsense present in many of their contemporaries’ music, and the good clean pop music will have you dancing along.

Their stage presence is perhaps the most incredible part of the band--many have been turned into fans after seeing even a short set. The band’s energy is infectious.

Steel Train has toured with bands including Dear and the Headlights, The Format, The Hush Sound, Kevin Devine, and The Spill Canvas. They look to a fall release date for an as-yet-untitled album, and will be heading out on a tour with Sherwood, Hellogoodbye, and legendary 90s-band Hanson.

Root for the home team--go see Steel Train this weekend at All Points West. It won’t be the last.

--Bonnie Falconer

The Gaslight Anthem

New Brunswick's own folk/punk rock act, Gaslight Anthem easily take influence from the Garden's state's own Bruce Springsteen. The band has even toured with the Boss himself. The comparisons don't stop, but Neil Young is also included in the band's influence list. Coming from a scene that fostered underground punk acts, Gaslight has managed to embrace their hometown roots and reflect their love for Jersey both in sound and lyrics. Their song "We Came to Dance" goes: "And if they end it all, By the end of tonight, If the big bomb drops down, Over this quiet Edison sky. We'll blow one last kiss, To all the beautiful nights like this, Under these central Jersey sky."

With a sincere delivery that shines through nicely on the band's latest, The '59 Sound, Brian Fallon and co. indeed have "great expectations" for their performance. This fall they'll be headlining a U.S. tour with Murder by Death and the Loved Ones.

--Star Child

Gogol Bordello

Quite possibly one of the funnest band on the festival, gypsy punksters Gogol Bordello make you want to dance. Bringing together a brand of music that is both catchy and crazy with instruments such as violin and accordian played fast, these New York lads are a band not to miss live. If you live World/Inferno Friendship Society or Flogging Molly, then Gogol is the band for you. So get ready to move and get sweaty.

--Star Child

All Point West Festival in Jersey City 7/31- 8/2, NJ's The Gaslight Anthem, Steel Train w/ Beastie Boys, Tool, and Coldplay

New Jersey's The Gaslight Anthem and Steel Train will perform on the third day of All Point West Music & Arts Festival, taking place July 31-August 2. Headlining will be Beastie Boys, Tool, and Coldplay. The line-up features a mix of rock, electro, indie, and comedy acts.

The ALL POINTS WEST MUSIC & ARTS FESTIVAL LINE-UP (as of 3/30) is as follows:

Friday, July 31: Beastie Boys, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Vampire Weekend, The National, Fleet Foxes, MSTRKRFT, Q-Tip, The Pharcyde, Organized Konfusion, The Knux, Ra Ra Riot, Seasick Steve, Telepathe, Shearwater, Heartless Bastards, Flying Lotus, College Humor Live, Arj Barker, Eugene Mirman and Bo Burnham.

Saturday, August 1: Tool, My Bloody Valentine, Gogol Bordello, Arctic Monkeys, Neko Case, The Ting Tings, Yelle, Crystal Castles, St. Vincent, Tokyo Police Club, The Cool Kids, Kool Keith, Cage the Elephant, Chairlift, White Rabbits, Electric Touch, The Postelles, Black Gold, College Humor Live, Tim & Eric, Judah Friedlander and Jim Jeffries.

Sunday, August 2: Coldplay, Echo & The Bunnymen, MGMT, The Black Keys, Elbow, Silversun Pickups, Mogwai, We Are Scientists, Ghostland Observatory, The Gaslight Anthem, Etienne De Crecy, Lykke Li, Akron/Family, Steel Train, Kitty, Daisy & Lewis, College Humor Live, Janeane Garofalo, Michael Showalter and Todd Barry.

Tickets on sale Friday, April 3 at 12 Noon (EST) via www.ticketmaster.com only. Single day tickets are $89 and three day passes are $199 for a limited time.