Northside Festival: Sunday At The UO Stage

Sunday was hot and if you were at the UO stage on the corner of Bedford and N. 5th for American Wrestlers, Eskimeaux, Honduras, Girl Band and Light Asylum – you will know I’m taking about both the music and the weather. These four hours of music made my weekend at Northside Festival and really satisfied my need for crunchy guitars and something a bit heavier.

I caught the very end of the American Wrestlers set and the their most amazing song called “I Can Do No Wrong,” which I’ve loved for some quite time now.

American Wrestlers

Eskimeaux was in the second slot and was light and airy, with some pleasing choruses and hooks. Special credit goes to the unorthodox drummer, who had a unique style.

Eskimeaux

The reason why I chose this lineup was to catch up with my old friends Honduras. When I first started here at Pancakes And Whiskey, Honduras was one of the first bands I shot when they opened for the Kaiser Chiefs. I got some cool photos that they shared and we became buds. I caught their fiery performance a few times after that, but since then they have recorded a new album and their sound shifted a bit to the indie-rock genre, but they still hold the angst-driven punk of the early days, closely to their vests. They played mostly newer stuff, which I really loved instantly and fully.

Honduras

Ireland’s Girl Band has been a hot name in the city for a half a year or so, so it only made sense that I stayed for their set. While this band isn’t breaking new ground so to speak, they do offer a unique sound and vision in todays muddled music scene. Rooted deep in English punk and an affinity for using many different pedal effects, Girl Band is a band to keep your eye on. Watch “Lawman” below to see what I’m talking about.

Girl Band

The final act of the scorching day was the electronic duo known as Light Asylum. Dressed in all black and welding type headwear, they came on stage and had Bedford absolutely packed and bouncing along to the synth driven beats. The music had different timing and the vocals where strange, but in a great way. Never hearing of the band, I stayed most of their set before flying to catch Bully a few blocks away.