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SHAKY KNEES 2015 :: Brand New, The Strokes and the Kaiser Chiefs…pics, videos and more
by Adam Keen…
See our Kickoff coverage and pics of Mac Demarco, Jukebox the Ghost and The Kooks here. And see even more coverage of the fest on our home page. Check back soon for coverage of Day 2 and more. Thanks to the Shaky Knees staff and aLIVE Coverage for hooking up the photos.
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Brand New
Brand New was a highlight of the show for us. Lauren, my wife and Beatlanta contributor, counts Brand New as one of her top bands of all time (they have since become a favorite of mine) so we go see them any chance we can, because they don’t tour a ton. We went down to the House of Blues in Orlando this past October to see them so seeing them twice in one tour is quite the treat for our ears. Brand New was one of the better shows at the festival and I don’t just say that because we love them but because they deserve that title. Their songs are often epic feeling and even more so live, with Jessie Lacey’s lyrics being very poetic and always introspective, as well as long and heavy instrumental break downs. While many were off watching the Pixies (see Shaky Knees photo coverage here), we held tight for Brand New. They kicked off their set with 2-3 new songs and the crowd was immediately unhinged. There is also something to be said about the band’s stage presence and lighting…they have that shit locked tight and it really adds to the experience of the show. The lighting has each member looking very shadowy and that contributes to the romance of Jessie’s lyrics and really hammers home that dream like feeling of each song; although they do have their early pop-punk tracks that are a bit different sounding. Some tracks they played at Shaky Knees 2015 include “Mene”, “Sink”, “You won’t know”, “Luca” and “Stole.” If you haven’t seen Brand New live then be on the lookout for tickets. They were a spectacular addition to one hell of a Shaky Knees weekend.
Here are some live videos:
Here is an Instagram clip:
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Kaiser Chiefs
I’ve long wanted to see the Kaiser Chiefs and they did not disappoint. Their show was highly energetic and they pleased with plenty of fan favorites and new hits. Our Great friend Robert Valentine got a video from the crowd:
We got a crowd video here:
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The Strokes
The Strokes speak for themselves. I saw them last year at Bonnaroo and that killed and this show equally killed. Some highlights: It was rumored that Mac Demarco came out and played on “Last Nite” although it has since been reported that Mac Demarco was just side stage to give the band support and a couple hugs. The video for “Last Nite” is below and you can’t see Mac Demarco so I don’t think he was playing. There is another video where you hear Julian Casablancas talking to Mac. They also played their track “You Talk Way Too Much” from the album “Room On Fire” for the first time since 2004. It was an amazing show to say the least. The crowd was wild and the band sounded great. The Strokes are currently playing festivals and shows across the country so be on the lookout for that. And be sure to save the date for Shaky Knees 2016 as they’ve already announced the dates – May 13th-15th, 2016.
more videos below…
