Highlighting lesser-known artists on Atlanta rock fest’s bill
By John Flannagan and Matt Rankin
Each iteration of the Shaky Knees Music Festival, traditionally held each spring in Atlanta since its inception in 2013, showcases tons of established rock ‘n’ roll acts and exciting up-and-coming talent culled from across the globe. After taking place in the fall for the first time in its history in October 2021, this year’s version returns to its regular vernal timeslot at Central and Renaissance parks in downtown Atlanta from Friday, April 29 through Sunday, May 1.
While the headliners and second-tier artists always are great and worthy of their respective positionings on the lineup, this festival – more so than most – tends to feature stacked undercards chock full of bands both new and old that deserve extra recognition, and this year’s crop is no exception. We at BLANK like to keep our ears to the ground in order to seek out intriguing sounds, and the following are some of the gems we believe you should check out this weekend.
Acid Dad (Criminal Records, Friday @ 2 p.m.)
The cover art for this New York City band’s sophomore album directly recalls that of Spiritualized’s first record, but the comparisons don’t stop there. While the young trio hasn’t quite reached the blissed-out level of J. Spaceman and company, the songs on “Take It From the Dead” do offer a more melodic, nuanced and developed take on the psychedelic freakouts that dominated Acid Dad’s 2018 self-titled debut. The group’s adept musicianship should shine through their reverb-laden jams during this afternoon set, providing suitable sonic fare for all the daytrippers on site. – Matt Rankin
Mannequin Pussy (Ponce de Leon, Friday @ 2:45 p.m.)
These Philly punk rockers with arguably the best band name going today have seen a steady rise in billings after each of their three releases on the legendary Epitaph label (Rancid, Social Distortion) over the past decade. The band has managed to retain its edgy musical identity while progressively introducing better production values that have smoothed out its previously gritty textures, which has resulted in a more accessible sound.
Despite the early afternoon slot on day one of the festival, expect the group to put on a high-energy, no-nonsense set that will have people talking. They’ll face some fierce competition from rising homegrown songstress Faye Webster, who will be performing songs from her standout 2021 album “I Know I’m Funny Haha” opposite the trio on the secondary Piedmont stage. You’ll be in good hands either way, but one should prove to be way more hype than the other. – John Flannagan
Nilüfer Yanya (Criminal Records, Friday @ 5:15 p.m.)
Recently released “PAINLESS,” the London multi-instrumentalist/singer’s third album to date, garnered a coveted ‘Best New Music’ distinction from the longtime tastemakers at Pitchfork, and deservedly so. The collection of tracks, which gets better with each subsequent listen, is dynamic yet uber-chill, intricate yet melodic and moving yet grounded. All of these contrasts are on full display on the excellent single “midnight sun,” which (Knox) locals may have heard in regular rotation on WUTK 90.3. Yanya’s soulful, singular style of music should translate nicely to the wooded, picturesque Criminal Records stage late Friday afternoon. – MR
Shannon and the Clams (Criminal Records, Friday @ 7:15 p.m.)
The award for the most retro-sounding act at this year’s festival must go to Shannon and the Clams, who Jack White must be kicking himself for not signing to his Third Man Records. A hypnotic blend of R&B, psych and surf rock with a lo-fi construct, their sound is akin to something released by Sun Records in the ‘60s coated with a hallucinogen. The band is easily one of the most unique things going at Shaky in 2022, and its twilight show (following a Roti Roll run) will set you up nicely for Dropkick, GY!BE and/or Green Day later in the evening. – JF
Chastity Belt (Piedmont, Saturday @ 1:30 p.m.)
The last few years have witnessed a wave of female-fronted acts producing formidable guitar-based music that hearkens back to the golden age of indie rock circa the mid-‘90s. While artists like Waxahatchee, Soccer Mommy, Snail Mail and Wet Leg have been at the forefront of this welcome trend, Chastity Belt have been doing it longer – if not better – than many of their contemporaries.
Assembling in Washington in 2010, the band’s four members fuse stylistic components native to the Pacific Northwest with elements of dreampop to form a cohesive sound that is at once familiar and unique. Their laid-back aesthetic perfectly complements that of Kurt Vile, on whose new album they feature and on whose tour they have been providing opening support. Both groups make a stop at Piedmont on Saturday, with the latest forecast calling for sunny skies and warm temperatures – ideal conditions for a couple blocks of mellow tunes. – MR
Reignwolf (Ponce de Leon, Saturday @ 4:30 p.m.)
Spitting threatening imagery and riffing furiously on its lone studio album, I can only surmise about what kind of intense spectacle will be exhibited beneath that tent on Saturday afternoon. I’ve purposely not researched these guys too much in order to preserve a sense of intrigue about their live show, but the band’s track record speaks for itself: sustained opening slots for Black Sabbath, The Who and … Wu-Tang Clan? Yep, this should be interesting – and very, very loud. We recommended earplugs. – MR
Molchat Doma (Criminal Records, Saturday @ 5:30 p.m.)
Unfortunately, Billy Idol had to drop out of the lineup due to ongoing sinusitis issues, which left an ‘80s-era void that’s usually present at Shaky Knees. Or so we thought until we realized the greatness of Belarusian dark-wave trio Molchat Doma, that is. With a name that translates to “Houses Are Silent,” the group masterfully produces eerie post-punk/new wave that is a shockingly faithful homage to the bygone era that informs their decidedly retro output.
Featuring production techniques straight out of the late ‘70s and early ‘80s, Mochat Doma is a thrilling discovery, an extraordinary niche act the kind of which Tim Sweetwood is famous for introducing to crowds at his exquisitely curated festivals. Similarly, the Criminal Records stage has never not delivered, and this is perfect programming opposite the comparatively lily-white Mt. Joy. Expect a fierce performance, too, from a group that has angrily spoken out about its government’s complicity in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. – JF
Amyl and the Sniffers (Criminal Records, Saturday @ 7:30 p.m.)
It wouldn’t be Shaky Knees – or good rock music in general – if there weren’t a few Aussie bands thrown in the mix. Amyl and the Sniffers burst out of the gate in 2019, promptly winning an Australian Recording Industry Association award for best rock album with their self-titled debut. “Comfort Me,” their latest release, features three absolute butt-kickers in “Guided by Angels,” “Hertz” and “Security.” We should expect an up-tempo, high-energy set from frontwoman Amy Taylor and company that’s sure to charge hard and punish those courageous souls who brave the pit. This should be a great segue into King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard. – JF
Destroyer (Piedmont, Sunday @ 1:30 p.m.)
I was genuinely surprised upon first seeing the stage name of venerable Canadian artist Dan Bejar coming in so low in Sunday’s pecking order. Producing a steady, consistently superb stream of music spanning myriad genres since the mid-‘90s, I would have thought that Destroyer would have received better billing on what clearly is the thinnest of the festival’s three days. But then I pretty quickly realized that stream-of-consciousness speak-singing in a vaguely pretentious affectation probably isn’t for everyone.
I’m all about it, however, and I believe Bejar and his traveling ensemble might pleasantly surprise a good number of folks who either are unfamiliar with his work or are apprehensive about their capacity to enjoy it. The instrumentation on his albums has always been stellar, and this year’s “LABYRINTHITIS” features some of his most approachable and danceable compositions. So yes, I’ll be the one rotund, middle-aged dude near the front of the stage shaking his moneymaker for all its worth. I’m just kidding; there probably will be several people who fit that description up there. – MR
The Garden (Ponce de Leon, Sunday @ 3 p.m.)
Another exciting Shaky Knees discovery for me this year is The Garden, a California-based experimental group whose intriguing sound grabbed me from the get-go. I found 2015’s “haha” to feature the most emboldened sound of any group that I’ve heard in several years. Diversity is a strong suit for the band, with tracks such as “This Could Build Us a Home,” “Crystal Clear” and “I’ll Stop by Tomorrow Night” each sounding as if they could have been recorded by entirely different bands. The Garden should make for an exceptional mid-afternoon set. – JF
PUP (Ponce de Leon, Sunday @ 7 p.m.)
Falling somewhere between the gloriously ragged and epic indie of Titus Andronicus and the verbose yet stately punk stylings of The Thermals is this Toronto four-piece whose name is an acronym for Pathetic Use of Potential. Traces of other bands, most notably The Hold Steady and Japandroids (fellow Canuck rockers who sadly dropped out of the lineup not long after it was announced), can be heard in the mix, as well.
Given those touchstones, Stefan Babcock’s lyrics are appropriately emotional and dramatically rendered, though his vocal delivery is fairly unique, and his writing is frequently smart, sharp and acerbically funny. Though Khruangbin is a tough foil, festivalgoers who favor musicians who wear their hearts on their sleeves should relish having PUP as an alternative to the funk outfit from Houston. – MR
