Beastie Boys bigger than Sasquatch

George, WA -- The crowd was swaddled in Easy Street sweatshirts, North Face fleeces and garbage bags on this blustery Sunday Night. Anything to keep warm. Thankfully, the Beastie Boys brought the heat. As soon as the Bboys picked up their instruments and the first licks of "Gratitude" kicked in, everyone was up on their feet. The gorge was rocking. The Beastie Boys may have aged, MCA sports a silvery mop and Mike D looks like Dustin D now more than ever, but tonight they proved they can still rock the mic and the jam.

They peppered this evenings performance with extended instrumental tracks off their new album, The Mix-Up, and kept people on their feet with classics like "Body Movin'". It was amazing to see Mike D man the drums for one song then run out to rock the mic for the next. The energy never waned and the crowd only got wilder as the night went on. Supplementing the on-stage action was Money Mark on the keys who, when not playing, would pop up all over the stage and Alfredo Ortiz on percussion. And just when you forgot about him, Mix Master Mike would change things up with a new sample or a crazy scratch routine.

Halfway through their set, the winds died down and all that was on stage were Adam, Adam and Mike. They tore through a punk song then slowed it down and got funky with some new shit. They played and played and just as my mind was about to wander they crank it back up with the classic bass line from "Root Down". Everybody's on stage now doing what they do best. They seamlessly move into "Pass the Mic" and end with a rowdy version of "What'cha Want". The lights go out and the crowd goes nuts. This shit ain't over. The crowd knows this and begins to chant "Beastie Boys. Beastie Boys. Then we hear the familiar "chk chk chk" of Mike's turntables and a lone spotlight on him.

A few scratches later, we hear the familiar beginnings of "Intergalactic" and it's on. The crowd goes nuts. I look back up the hill and everybody's on their feet. They play three more raucous songs and end the night with "Sabotage". They'd given the crowd two nights of insanity and their work here was done.

Check out The Mix-Up in stores July 26.


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Sarah Silverman

Sarah Silverman didn't impress many at this past weekend's Sasquatch Music Festival. I'm not blaming her, we barely saw her, though her attachment to the festival was odd. She would only appear for 30-45 seconds and I didn't hear many new jokes. I'd never boo a comic, nor did I boo her. I once admired her stand-up and sketch work (and we all loved her on Seinfeld as Kramer's girlfriend). However, the pit was a bit naughty and it takes a thick-skinned comic to handle that kind of crowd. Can they please book David Cross for a set/host gig at the festival next year? Maybe Ms. Silverman wasn't paid enough to break out her top material, maybe she should have tried a bit harder.

She will have the oportunity to make it up to fans around the world on June 3rd when she hosts the MTV Movie Awards. If you wanna talk to Sarah, you can give her a call @ 1-877-SARAH07 . But don't dial 1"800" instead of "877" as thousands of her fans have been doing. Page Six of the NY Post reports that number belongs to Horizon Health Sales & Development company in Lewisville, Texas. The number, which MTV correctly publicized on billboards around the country, is creating a real headache for one receptionist in the Lone Star state...Gander on for an up-close look at Silverman. Gander On!

Polyphonic Pit Photos

The Polyphonic Spree likes to be different. As a result, pro shots from this Gorge show are few and far between.

The spree asked for no photography during the first three tunes, as opposed to the usual, which is only photos during the first three songs. They had to quit at the beginning of the fourth, and the only pit cameraman I saw with pics had four photos total. Send us your pix!

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Black Angels

Just took cover in the media area (this is becoming an annual trend) and had the chance to sit down with the Black Angels of Austin. The Goose should be posting this chat soon. Gander On!

Show Canceled

Mother nature (or the guy behind us)just shut the show down. Where the fuck is Sarah Silverman? More info to come. Gander On!

The Hold Steady

The Hold Steady played to a medium sized crowd and rocked it hard. More later but first the first set of pictures from Kyle Johnson. Gander On for the rest of pics.






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Willie Nelson's 4th of July Picnic

For the first time in it's thirty three year history Willie Nelson's 4th of July picnic will not be held in Texas. This years celebration will be at The Gorge Amphitheatre in Washington. The show will inlcude the likes of Son Volt, The Old 97's, and Drive-By Truckers. Tickets go on sale May 11th through ticketmaster and of course there will be fireworks. Hope to see you all there. Gander On!