Day 2 of Arroyo Seco Weekend continued with an eclectic lineup of musicians. Soul singer Allen Stone kept crowds dancing to his almost unbelievably silky voice, while Trampled by Turtles reminded us how beautiful bluegrass can be.
The Revolution, sans the irreplaceable Prince, showcased the musicianship behind many of the group’s iconic hits. In keeping with the somewhat 80’s-leaning lineup this year, there were plenty of 80’s hits to sing along to. The crowd got into The Bangles’ spunky rendition of hit “Walk Like an Egyptian” as well as The Violent Femmes’ set which featured a snappy xylophone solo on “Gone Daddy Gone.”
Alanis Morisette took us back to the angsty glory days of the ’90s with her Sunday set, performing a majority of hits off her ’95 album Jagged Little Pill. “Ironic,” “Hand In My Pocket” and more were met with nostalgic appreciation from the crowd, and Alanis’ stage presence was commanding, if a little awkward at times. Her signature move was a backwards box-step of sorts, moving speedily in one direction with exaggerated long strides in random directions. No matter- the hits were still completely croon-able, and her energy and voice were on point. “You Oughta Know” prompted a tidal wave of full-on belting from the crowd, as if attendees were alone in their bathrooms with a hairbrush in hand, singing to the mirror. Except, this time surrounded by a crowd of 25,000 people.
Aaron Neville At age 77, Neville has earned the title septuagenarian. So too, has he earned the title of a legendary performer with a voice as smooth as butter. His performance at Arroyo Seco included a series of swoon-worthy covers and well-known tunes: “Stand By Me” and “When The Saints Go Marching In” being just a few.
Also part of the septuagenarian club, Irma Thomas‘ performance was absolutely electric, showcasing her talent and experience. The fans at her set were among the most engaged at the festival- dancing freely and emphatically. If there’s one set that was bound to be good, but over-delivered in spades, it was this one.
What is there to say about Robert Plant and the Sensational Space Shifters? Rock legend and frontman from Led Zeppelin, Plant needs no introduction or qualification. Though not technically the headliner for Day 2 (that was Kings of Leon), most attendees felt otherwise and crowded to see Plant’s sure to be epic performance. He gave the audience what they were looking for- Zeppelin originals– The Lemon Song, Going to California, What is and What Should Never Be– along with some solo tunes, and even some covers.
Performing more of a stadium-rock style show, Kings of Leon brought the production value to close out Day 2 of Arroyo Seco. Though the band’s songs are undeniably catchy and have a certain epic build to the crescendos, the closing performance fell a little flat. It’s hard to follow a Led Zeppelin frontman, I suppose, so we can’t blame them for having to follow rock royalty. Still, festival-goers with tired feet and sunburned limbs stayed for their closeout set to finish off the weekend.
