Culture
Hiatt Hernon Experiences Saturday at NMF ’17
By: Hiatt Hernon
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Day three is “the big one” (or so I’m told) and the morning crowd serves as a reminder as this, with the Nelsonville Music Festival 2017 site welcoming its biggest early day crowd yet. Maybe a bunch of people read really took my words on coming early to heart? Am I THAT influential? Well, now that I’ve been afforded this power, I’d like to begin sharing my views on politics and religion-
Wait. There’s a parade. I’ll be right back.
Woah. That was bonkers! I think I’m officially a music festival goer now. It started with a simple, steady, non-alarming drum beat until suddenly there was an explosion of people garnished in huge colorful costumes, some fun (birds and other fantastical beings) to somewhat unsettling (GIANT HUMAN FACES).
The experience walked the line between enchanting and horrifying in a way only a music festival parade can. Closest point of comparison: 1977 animated Dr. Seuss piece “Halloween is Grinch Night”, specifically the “Grinch is Gonna Get You” sequence. I’m not sure if that’s a reference from anyone else’s childhood, but I certainly had some shocking flashbacks.
What were we talking about before? How about the music?
The closest thing to a pit thus far was opened up, at noon of all times, by Athens duo Helena. The duo took some advice from Beyblade and let it rip, unleashing some flangy and filthy licks on the unsuspecting crowd. I saw some arms flailing and bodies pinballing but we still haven’t gotten to full on mosh. We’ve got a day and a half to change that. Between the constant shards of audience members shouting their name (Hellnaw is really fun to say) the two played a mix of covers and original songs, most of which have titles I can’t write here.
Mirah had the unfair advantage of me being a fan already, but even trying to be objective this was one of my favorite sets of the (half-over! where did the time go?) weekend. One thing that drew me to the songstress’ work is a keen ear for sound design with a variety of variety of noises: some instrumental and some not, so close and warm and others distant and cold, some fuzzy and scratchy and others clean and clear. This attention to detail isn’t lost in her live performance, with the singer testing different cloths to muffle her booming drum, microphone locations being tampered with, and all members of the performing trio manning different instruments throughout.
Songs range seamlessly from serenading guitar to danceable drum machine ditties with Mirah’s soft and sweet voice sprinkling poetic lyrics over it all. All of this while dodging the practically woolen heat, sometimes literally singing while balled up in the shadow of the bands bassist. Stay hydrated folks!
Other early highlights included good-vibes from The Cactus Blossoms, although I’m sure they can tell you more about themselves than I can in an exclusive interview with WOUB’s Emily Votaw!
Saturday is only halfway over and we’ve got a lot more big things coming. Day three may not be for the weak of heart. Few can handle the tumultuous up-and-downs of an early afternoon with legendary pseudo-mosh pit/semi-spooky parade combo, but my perseverance is why WOUB put me on this job and I’m not going to give up now!