Shaky Knees Day 3 Recap: The Last Day Proved Why Shaky Knees Is One of the Best Fests in the Nation

Shaky Knees 2015 Day 3 was packed full of amazing acts running the gamut of genres starting with Nikki Lane and ending with the incredible Tame Impala closing down one of the best festivals in the nation. Our recap:

Surprise Set: Dr. Dog

By Charles Worthy

– As good as Philadelphia-natives Dr. Dog sound on their studio albums, it is through their live performances that the power of the band is truly unleashed. The six-piece ran through their finely tuned set of indie-rock goodness to perfection during an hour-long performance on the Peachtree Stage on Sunday afternoon, harmonizing their way through an array of sensibly constructed pop songs that truly feel worthy of the Beach Boys and The Beatles comparisons they continue to receive. The finale, an inventive take on Architecture in Helsinki’s avant-garde pop masterpiece Heart It Races, made for the perfect cherry on top of an excellent Shaky Knees appearance.

Best Hair: Old 97’s

By Charles Worthy

– Alt-country ruled the last day of Shaky Knees Music Festival, as scene veterans Old 97’s hit the stage early Sunday afternoon at the Ponce De Leon Stage. The Atlanta skyline provided a perfect backdrop for the band while they playfully ran through selections that spanned their 20+ year career. Lead singer Rhett Miller was in fine form as he led the crowd through pop-country perfection, and the crowd reciprocated his energy by dancing along and singing right back to him. Old 97’s were exactly what we were looking for as we began our festival Sunday.

Best Looking: Best Coast

By Mike Gerry

Bethany Cosentino and guitarist/multi-instrumentalist Bobb Bruno and their band came over from LA to rock the Shaky Knees Festival. Even though at times she seemed hot and bothered by the southern heat and humidity, Bethany was up on stage looking beautiful as always. With sweat pouring down, small tats along her arms, and sun glasses slipping down her face, the crowd just couldn’t help but fall in love.

Being the best looking though can only get you so far (it’s a struggle to deal with really), but it’s the music that really shook the Shaky Knees crowd. Best Coast has some mighty beautifully sunny tunes and were right where they should be with the sun shining down. But they are way more than just sunny, their brand of California surf rock can go on farther down the punk path live with the fuzzed out guitars. This set was one of the biggest surprises (even though we already loved their music) and just added to this stellar day.

Other notables: Panda Bear

By Charles Worthy

– It’s becoming increasingly difficult to call Noah Lennox’s solo persona Panda Bear a side project. Lennox, who rose to prominence with the highly regarded experimental electronic group Animal Collective, saw the extra attention to his solo endeavors pay off in the form of an intensely intimate set under the tent at the Buford Highway Stage, during which he unleashed a dizzying array of noise that would ultimately give way to highly refined sonic masterpieces. The crowd was treated to an ethereal yet hard-hitting hour long set, and it was obvious that many of them came away with a new found appreciation for the musical tour de force that is Mr. Lennox and Panda Bear.

Ryan Adams

By Charles Worthy

– Ryan Adams took the pre-headliner slot on the Peachtree Stage Sunday evening, and proceeded to remind us all why he is one of the most cherished and highly regarded American artists of the last decade. Pulling choice cuts from an impressive solo discography, including full-length classics Heartbreaker and Demolition, as well as some songs from his side project with The Cardinals, Adams delighted the crowd with enthusiastic renditions of fan favorites like the rowdy To Be Young and the heartbreakingly beautiful Sweet Carolina, as well as a special acoustic Mother’s Day version of Danzig’s Mother. The notoriously moody Adams, who once kicked a fan out of a concert for making a Bryan Adams joke, was in high spirits as well, and made sure the crowd got their money’s worth by squeezing in an excellent performance of Come Pick Me Up as time expired on his set. There are few more perfect marriages than Ryan Adams, a stage, and the South.

Old Crow Medicine Show

By Charles Worthy

– Modern bluegrass doesn’t get much better than when the fellas in Old Crow Medicine Show do it, and they did it big as they closed out the Ponce De Leon Stage on Sunday evening. Known best for their ubiquitous reincarnation of the folk standard Wagon Wheel, the group made sure everyone in the crowd knew they had more than just one song up their sleeve, and made it increasingly obvious as to why you continue to see their name pop up on renowned festival lineups across the country.

Heartless Bastards

By Charles Worthy

– Bluesy Ohioans Heartless Bastards let their satisfyingly smooth garage rock roots shine through during an hour long set at the Buford Highway Stage, as lead singer Erika Wennerstrom (the only remaining member still left from the original lineup) allowed her soulful, yet powerful voice to take complete control over a highly receptive crowd. The band, who hasn’t released a new album since 2012, is touring in support of their upcoming record Restless Ones, and seemed destined to continue wowing crowds across the country for the foreseeable future.

Best Set: Tame Impala

– To experience the Australian psych-rock phenomenon that is Tame Impala live is to have your mind expanded in a way that no other current musical act is capable of. That experience was on in full force as they closed out the festival Sunday night under the bright lights of the Peachtree Stage. Kevin Parker, the mind behind the madness of Tame Impala, was absolutely masterful as he guided the audience through a psychedelic journey made up almost entirely of his own device, not only musically, but in the visuals and lighting production as well. Parker is at the top of his game, and very likely at the top of the game. Period.

Other goodness:

Best Beer Drinking Music: Diamond Rugs

This band is incredible and one of the most fun shows live.

Ride

The Sheepdogs

Steve Gunn