Mates of State, etc.

You couldn't ask for better festival weather than what we're getting today: low 80s and barely a cloud in the sky. The ambiance of Merriweather is very different from the festival's former setting of Pimlico. The whole venue, especially by the dance stage, is lined with trees and the whole layout has much more open feel to it.

I checked out electronica band Holy F*ck (yeah, really) on the dance stage at 1:00. The Ontario-based band creates an electronic sound without using all of the technological gadgets and instead sticking to more low-tech stuff like keyboards and toy phaser guns. Their set got the crowd jumping and dancing, which was a great start to the festival.

Then I went over and checked out Mates of State, pictured, a husband-and-wife duo who play organs, synthesizers, keyboards, and percussion to create their reverent indie-rock sound. Kori Gardner's vocals are powerful and her chanty choruses work well to balance out the more dreamy keyboards. The poppy "Think Long" was a definite highlight.

Now I'm off! Check back in for more soon!