24 May 2003: Sasquatch Festival, Gorge Amphitheater, George, WA, USA

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Setlist

Media Reviews

There are fewer places better suited for a rock festival featuring the likes of Modest Mouse, Flaming Lips and Coldplay than the Gorge Amphitheatre. Located 150 miles east of Seattle in central Washington, the outdoor venue sits high on a rocky hill overlooking the gorge with the Columbia River flowing through it, wowing even the bands called to play in its presence.

"The best part of this show is behind us," noted Lips frontman Wayne Coyne during his group's outlandish 10-song set at the Sasquatch festival, performed as the sun set in the distant mountains. Flanked on all sides by people dressed in animal costumes, and offering the crowd a limitless supply of confetti and overblown balloons, the group provided the day's most memorable performance, drawn mainly from its two most recent albums, 2002's "Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots" and 1999's "The Soft Bulletin." Highlights included a crowd sing-along on the former's title track, the Lips' 1994 hit "She Don't Use Jelly," and a rendition of "Happy Birthday" performed in the spirit of the group's grade-school birthday party atmosphere.

After giving props to the Lips for "the best concert performance ever," lead singer Chris Martin and the other members of headliners Coldplay launched into a spectacular set of their own. The best moments came during songs from its 2002 album "A Rush of Blood to the Head," including a blistering version of "God Put a Smile Upon Your Face."

Coldplay illustrated just what has made it such a bi-continental success. Martin's impressive vocal range, Jon Buckland's piercing guitar work, and Will Champion's powerful drums were all brought to vivid life by the venue's impeccable sound and heavenly location. Beyond highlights from its two studio albums, the group unveiled a new song, "Moses," the B-side "One I Love," and even tacked on a shout-out to the Lips during "Everything's Not Lost."

Equally impressive was the hour-long set by Los Angeles natives Jurassic 5, whose call-and-response tactics and jaw-dropping DJing prompted the warmest crowd reception of the festival.

Earlier in the day, regional celebrities Death Cab For Cutie and Modest Mouse performed on the main stage and both debuted material from albums in progress. Doing his best Lurch impersonation, Death Cab guitarist Christopher Walla took a turn on the keys for a rousing rendition of "President of What" before returning to guitar for great leads on "Company Calls" and set closer "Breaking Out the Friction." Modest Mouse performed three new songs from its forthcoming Epic album, which the group says will be out this fall, as well as concert regulars "Neverending Math Equation," "Interstate 8," and closer "Trailer Trash."

Former indie rock mistress Liz Phair also performed songs from her forthcoming self-titled album, due June 24 from Capitol. Playing the set's first single, "Why Can't I?," Phair sounded uncharacteristically romantic, even sappy -- particularly for someone boasting a schoolgirl dress, a "F***" t-shirt, and a permanent come-hither facial expression. But on the following number, "Rock Me," as well the other Phair staples performed Saturday ("Supernova," "Johnny Feelgood," and "Divorce Song"), the singer resembled her usual provocative self.

The festival's second stage hosted a number of worthy performances, including strong sets by Kathleen Edwards, Calexico, My Morning Jacket, and closer the Music. As one of the first performers in the day, Edwards did a particularly good job warming up the travel-weary crowd, performing selections from her Rounder debut, "Failer," as well as new song "Copy Keys." My Morning Jacket and the Music were especially energetic, their volume often competing with the sound of their main stage counterparts.

Ben French

http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/reviews/live_review_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1896379

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