Atmosphere’s Soundset finale
Posted on May 25th, 2008 – 9:32 PMBy Chris Riemenschneider
Can we go ahead and say that Rhymesayers officially knocked it out of the park with Soundset ‘08 today? No pun intended on the Metrodome location, either.
The turnout was by all accounts a smash success (12,000 people). The production on both stages ran almost seamlessly, with breaks lasting mere minutes and pretty terrific sound for an outdoor gig (the only snag I witnessed was Crescent Moon’s mike going out during Kill the Vultures‘ set, which cooly resulted in him yelling out his song at vein-popping volume). Even the weather cooperated in downtown Minneapolis as storms kicked up all around Minnesota (proof that God really does love Ugly?!). As for the music, it seemed like all of the acts were trying their damnedest to rise to the occasion, including out-of-towners like Dilated Peoples, who I hadn’t seen in years and thoroughly dug.
I probably only saw a fourth of Soundset’s 35 sets because I had to do the reporting for a news story in tomorrow’s Metro section (look for it online at www.startribune.com/music). So please go to the comments section below and fill in the gap of who/what the standouts were musically.
I did catch all of Atmosphere. I couldn’t believe how well the crowd knew all the words to the new songs. I was also impressed with the overall flow of the 70-minute set, as Slug and guitarist Nate Collis started out slow and moody with “Guarantees” and then gradually built up the tempo in ”Puppets.” Both “Your Glasshouse” and “Always Coming Back Home to You” made for an intense mid-show pairing. And the all-star rendering of “Crewed Up” (from “Strictly Leakage”) provided Soundset with the big, fun, cocky finish it deserved. Here’s Atmosphere’s entire set list:
Guarantees / Puppets / Shoulda Known / Sunshine (w/ Musab) / Like Today / Guns and Cigarettes / Between the Lines / You / Your Glasshouse / Always Coming Back Home to You / Bird Sings Why the Cage I Know / Little Man / Lovelife / Godlovesugly / Shrapnel / Not Another Day / Crewed Up (w/ Brother Ali, Blueprint, St. Paul Slim, Toki Wright, Muja Messiah, Stage One)
5 Responses to "Atmosphere’s Soundset finale"
Atmosphere was amazing. Slug was on his A game last night, Nate was incredible.The new female vocalist adds depth along with the guitar riffs to songs that every true Atmosphere knew from previous albums and really made them fresh and new again. Shrapnel was amazing with the guitar as was lovelife and bird sings…
Brother Ali put on a great set as well. Brother played all his hits and the crowd was definitely into them. P.O.S also really rocked the crowd.
It was amazing, everyone one nice including security, you were easily able to interract with the performers. POS Is unblievable, did you see the entrance doom tree had at the beginning of their set with the weather? Muja Messiah was amazing, and the last song of the festival was a perfect way to end it. All in all a great event that should become an annual thing
Eyedea + Abilities put on a great set its great to see them back together again. Aesop Rock also was superb.
Mike the 2600 King deserves mention. He dropped a tight set on the Fifth Element stage. So did M.anifest - who was super nice when I met him in line for vegan food. His new album is really good. Grayskul rocked the crowd with high energy and Abstract Rude was amazing. Musab was great, the true Minnesota Slicks. Brother Ali reenergized people 5 hours into festival. Which was definitely needed because there were smooth transitions between each set and long lines everywhere else, and you really didn’t want to miss a thing. Aesop Rock came on and rocked it, Dilated Peoples was great and what can I say about Atmosphere? The audience was captured by the storytelling and responded aptly.
Sorry for rambling, but I thoroughly enjoyed myself and I think 11,999 other people did as well. The music protected us from the weather and we all got along in peace and harmony. Hopefully Rhymesayers brings this festival back next year - maybe spread out over a weekend, though. And with better beer.
Chris wrote:
Not only will this event determine whether or not Atmosphere and Co. can bring out more than the 1,500 fans who show up to all their First Ave gigs (how many are repeats when it’s a sold-out three-night stand?), it will test a theory I’ve been floating for a long time: That local promoters should book more music events around the big holidays (Memorial Day, Labor Day and — for those of us who don’t care to see Eddie Money and George Thorogood at Taste of Minnesota –the Fourth of July). The old theory used to be that everyone spends the holidays at their lake cabins.
What do you think: Is Soundset a good idea or not? And how many of you actually have lake cabins?
Looks like the answer was VERY affirmative.
Thanks, Chris, for supporting the scene!
