A quick rundown of the artists I saw yesterday at the third day of the Big Ears festival:
The day started with an 11:00 am performance by Mary Lattimore (background, on harp) and William Tyler (front, on guitar) at the fabulous Tennessee Theater performing Electric Appalachia to a screening of documentary footage of Appalachian history and the Tennessee River Authority.
After Electric Appalachia, I saw Petra Hayden perform a set of songs at the Bijou Theater written for her by composer John Zorn and accompanied by a band including jazz guitarist Julian Lage, but a sign at the door said no photography at the request of the artist. Strangely, I complied with the request, even though people on both sides of me were just clicking away with their phones..
Next up was Meredith Monk and her vocal ensemble, accompanied by the Bang on a Can All Stars back at the Tennessee Theater.
After Monk, I went over to St. John's Cathedral for a meditative, minimalist organ performance by Sarah Davachi.
Next, it was uptown so to speak to The Standard to see guitarist Marc Ribot perform a set of improvisations with legendary jazz drummer Andrew Cyrille.
Also at The Standard and perhaps the highlight of the day was a joyous, raucous performance by Jaimie Branch's Fly or Die. One other spectator near me expressed disappointment that during one song she called Ted Cruz a "racist motherfucking baby."
The final set of the day (for me) was back at The Bijou for the Danish rock band Efterklang. I remembered them as a kind of moody, post-rockish band from the 2010s, but they've apparently reinvented and reinvigorated themselves as a sunny, psychedelic art-rock band. It was quite a surprise - a pleasant one - and they had about the whole audience up on their feet and dancing by the end of their set.
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