JustSayin PRESENTS @ Forward Music Festival 2009

JustSayinIsAll.com is presenting two showcases at the 2009 Forward Music Festival here in Madison this weekend. If you haven't bought your pass yet, go to FMF09.com! With an all-access pass you have to chose between 108 bands, so let me make it easier on you. Preview my picks for the weekend with a quick listen and description below. See you soon!

FRIDAY 9/18
OVERTURE - Capitol Theater
Location: Corner of N Henry & Dayton Streets
Genre: Post-Rock, Experimental

8:00-8:45 El Valiente (myspace): One of the best rock acts in Madison, their freely experimenting instrumentation stretches into the territory of Mogwai.

9:00-9:45 Collections of Colonies of Bees (myspace): Chris and Dan's flair for layered electronics is tempered by traditional folk tendencies which keep the sound accessible. Lately they're known under the moniker Volcano Choir with fellow Wisconsin native Justin Vernon of Bon Iver.***

10:00-11:15 Cougar (myspace): Hardly comfortable under the "Madison rock band" descriptor, the new Cougar album sounds more like guitars tossed in a light vingarette abstraction with an occasional chunk of choir or crescendo.

11:30+ Atlas Sound (myspace): The solo side project of eccentric Deerhunter singer Bradford Cox juxtaposes extended isolation with sudden pops of buzzy garage rock.

SATURDAY 9/19
PROJECT LODGE
Location: 817 East Johnson Street
Genre: Singer-songwriter, Quirky Indie

3:00-3:45 Laura Barrett (myspace) (previous post) (previous post) : JustSayin's favourite Canadian kalimba player returns to Madison with her lightning thumbs and quirky charm.

4:00-4:45 Zach Vinson (myspace) (previous post) (previous post): Zach is an exciting young talent (originally from Sheboygan) whose catchy songwriting and dynamic vocals erupt into a spontaneous, yet mature musicality.

5:00-5:30 The Chairs (myspace) (previous post): An Appleton band with enough raw talent and clever indie covers to delight any Wisconsin hipster.

5:30-6:00 Joe Pug (myspace): A young singer-songwriter from Chicago who strums poetic acoustics and soulful blues.

***This FMF showcase will be the first opportunity to buy the new album by Volcano Choir, the collaboration between Collections of Colonies of Bees and Justin Vernon of Bon Iver.