Do you hear that? It's the sound of people not complaining about Summerfest
Modest Mouse
Normally around this time of the year, we’re busy saying snarky things about the Summerfest lineup as the headliner announcements slowly start to trickle out. But things are different this year, and we’re not the only ones to notice. That’s right: The Big Gig actually looks kind of awesome this year. And by awesome we mean “there’s actually music for kids like us for once!” Summerfest so far has announced Modest Mouse, The Hold Steady, Passion Pit, The Roots, Silversun Pickups, Against Me!, N.E.R.D., Devo, Public Enemy, and Cypress Hill. Even the guilty pleasures aren’t all that shameful this year. (We shall dance drunkenly with pride to “Mr. Jones,” Counting Crows.) Honestly, for the first time in a long time, there’s already two or three bands we want to see practically every day of the festival. (For a complete lineup, go here.)
Which isn’t to say that there’s not also plenty of the same old county-fair level entertainment on the bill. But while Summerfest also made sure to cover its usual classic rockin’ codger bases—today the festival announced Night Ranger, Moody Blues, Yes, and Peter Frampton, among others, for the M&I Classic Rock Stage—there’s no denying the fresh whiff of youth emanating from The Big Gig this year. (That said, we’re also pretty excited to see Yes.) Could Summerfest actually achieve elusive “everything to everybody” status this year? All we know is that summer can’t come fast enough.
