Rock The Garden
Lindsey Thomas
Sharon Jones And The Dap-Kings
Playing to an already packed hill, Retribution Gospel Choir kicked off Rock The Garden 2010 with a slow burn, with Alan Sparhawk’s band making good use of the space's echoing acoustics with vast, turbulent songs. Mournful closer “Electric Guitar” in particular seemed like it might stretch on forever, in length and distance.
Jumping from that stormy trio to OK Go, whose live show is almost as gimmicky as its music videos, had to be the day's most jarring transition. OK Go’s catchy but often forgettable pop songs got a boost from a handbell performance, Damian Kulash venturing into the crowd to play a solo song, a sing-along on "This Too Shall Pass," and frequent blasts of confetti. (Where does all that paper fit into RTG’s goal of being a waste-free event?)
With one of the tightest bands in the business and a frontwoman who can command attention while standing still, Sharon Jones And The Dap-Kings didn't need tricks. Jones took the stage in a sequined dress lined in fringe that accentuated every hip twitch and shimmy. You know you’re in for some serious entertainment when an artist drops to her knee during the very first song. And when she she takes off her heels and earrings halfway through the set, look out, because it's time for a lesson in shakin' what your mama gave you.
After Jones' headline-worthy set, the crowd was ready for the real headliner, and what a strange choice. MGMT’s new Congratulations has received mixed reviews that tip toward the negative, and its reputation as a live act is on equally shaky ground. As expected, the crowd responded to the new songs with polite enthusiasm, but even Oracular Spectacular’s singles lacked punch when put in context. After the soul explosion, just about anything would’ve sounded dull. Those laid-back boys didn’t stand a chance.
