Music Plays Big Role at Sundance Film Festival

Music always plays a major role at Sundance and last night was a spectacular night of music. Every year the crew over at the Sundance Institute - under the direction of production extraordinare - Maxwell Morrill - close down a long stretch of Main Street and they construct a giant stage.

Bios and Photos Courtesy of the Sundance Institute

The breakout emerging artists that provided the entertainment for this years event were opening act Gold Streets, with Ha Ha Tonka in supporting role and MERIDIANWEST as the headliner. The show was great, each act delivered a great performace despite the frigid weather -- all the bands endure freezing teperatures to entertain the large crowd that had assembled in the snow to take in the show.

Combining thick, textured guitar with weaving bass and perfectly shaped drums is Gold Streets’ specialty. The method of composition varies, but it all “harkens back to the days when 4AD was running things” (Village Voice). Fast garnering a place in NYC’s musical landscape most certainly unoccupied by others, Gold Streets is fast-paced with occasional moments of dreaminess, familiar and new all at the same time.
Listen: http://goldstreetsnyc.com/soundsRoaring out of the Ozarks with a bottle in one hand and a bible in the other, Ha Ha Tonka mix sanctified four-part harmonies and blistering rock, carving out songs that evoke the dichotomies that define their home. The Springfield, Missouri natives dubbed their new album Buckle in the Bible Belt in homage to their hometown, so named for its position on the dividing line of the Ozark states. Their dark view of the realities of socio-economic hardship, backwoods prejudices and drug abuse is leavened by wry humor and a deep appreciation for regional storytelling traditions. The band’s first single from the album, "St. Nick on the Fourth in a Fervor" combines harmonies and biting guitar riffs with lyrics that delve into issues of nationalism, religious allegiances, and rites of passage. "It’s an attempt to point out the fallacy of wrapping yourself in the flag, religion or worse yet, both at the same time," explained singer/guitarist Brian Roberts. The song also depicts better times, with the refrain "...this glimpse of brilliance is much better than your long look at mediocrity." "Gusto" and "Up Nights" tackle the tragic legacy of methamphetamine in rural areas while "Hangman" and original "Caney Mountain" mine the deep veins of regional folk music.
Listen: http://www.hahatonkamusic.com

In an era of music where it has become the norm to have five members in a band, MERIDIANWEST has managed to create a giant wall of sound as a trio. With Mark Gibson on vocals/guitars, Ryan Magnani on bass guitar, and David Kittredge on the drums, each member's contributions are a powerful representation of their respective instruments and personalities. As talented as they are as individual musicians, it is when they come together on stage and play where they create an overall sound that is staggeringly unique. They have successfully combined the rawness and simplicity of the great rock bands from the 60's and 70's, with large atmospheric landscapes created by the artists of the 80's. Although MERIDIANWEST is constantly striving to create new sounds and types of songs, one element stays the same; they progressively become better musicians and songwriters with each song.
Listen: www.meridianwestband.com

There were also some wonderful performances at the Sundance Music Cafe hosted by ASCAP - highlights for us were the fabulous Jessie Baylin, legend Patti Smith, Sea Wolf, Gavin DeGraw, Missy Higgins, Meiko, Brett Dennen and ROAN.