Secret Stages 2016 Backdrop. Photo by Baili Grace BighamJared Chesnut - BlazeRadio Operations Managerredc@uab.edu
At some point on the arduous trek back to campus from the grounds of Secret Stages on Day 1, a weariness set upon me. Perhaps due to the lack of sleep, or possibly the detour to the Waffle House at 3am, my body just could not be willed to move any further; its limit had been reached.
However, in a classic example of mind over matter, memories of the energy on display and the broad range of emotions and elation in the hours previous seemed to spark a brief rekindling of my spirit, which saw me off to my destination. If going to a music festival inspires me to write something so cheesy and melodramatic, that's usually a pretty good sign.
Secret Stages 2016 is now in the books. With 80 bands and artists on hand to perform and many other activities of interest going on, it would be a herculean effort to catch everything. That said, we've got the low down on some of the coolest people and things from the weekend.
Secret Sets
The festival's title would only be half true if it didn't include mystery acts. With the reveal of the multiple secret sets over the duration of the evening on such short notice, the element of genuine surprise was something that certainly drew interest. It certainly helped that many of the sets were very strong performances from a vast range of artists, with Asheville based psychadelic rock band Nest Egg putting on one of the shock performances of the night and Birmingham hip hop mainstay Shaun Judah firing up the crowd at the roomy Rogue Tavern:
The Monastery
The opening act for this year's hip hop lineup from Birmingham collective LOBOTOMIX, the duo from Birmingham set the tone for the rest of the evening with a very strong hour long set that brought the crowd at Das Haus to a level of hype that never waned. A microcosm of the festival lineup's broad diversity, the set included some choice freestyles, the introduction of a live backing band midset, and a cameo from fellow Birmingham rapper Eugenius Neutron. Paco and Carlos Charm deserve a boost after last night.
No Suh Foster w/Eugenius Neutron performing at the M-Lounge Friday night. Photo by Baili Grace BighamNo Suh FosterRecently transplanted to New York from Mobile, Mr. Foster made it clear that while the site profile reads "NY", he's from AL for life. Top to bottom a strong performance that did not waver, and featured an intensity and a focus that kept the late night crowd engaged. The fact that No Suh wasn't afraid to get personal about and put it all out only made it that much easier to be an active participant, giving some thoughtfulness to fortify all the bouncing and dancing. "One time for your spine, two times for your MF'n mind" might be the most succinct way to describe the vibe from what was possibly the best set of the first night.
Lando Chill performing @ Rogue Tavern on Friday. Photo by Spencer PortisLando ChillHailing from Tucson, Arizona, Lando Chill's performance had more in common with his home state's climate than his nom de plume. Chill brought an eclectic style Friday evening that included everything from an homage to Lauryn Hill and samples of Fleetwood Mac, Chill's sound is absolutely unique, and shows off his broad range of musical tastes. That he incorporated his own personal struggles into building something positive speaks even more, and truth be told, another round here in Birmingham would be well worth watching.
Wray @ Secret Stages. Photo by Spencer PortisWrayAt some ungodly hour where Friday night merged with Saturday morning, Wray, a homegrown band representing Birmingham label Communicating Vessels, took the stage to close Night 1, albeit an hour past schedule. The combination of the late start, some audio issues, and low energy should've been an insurmountable challenge, but the reality played out far differently for the dream pop trio. Instead of a crowd of bleary eyed zombies, the night owls in attendance were reinvigorated by the band, writhing, contorting, and vibing out while each song got their catchy little hooks in.
Tef Poe performing Saturday on the Main Stage. Photo by Spencer PortisTef PoeSadly I was only able to catch the last half of Tef Poe’s performance on the Main Stage, but without a doubt the quality made up for the quantity here. The rapper out of St. Louis was all go, even at the end of an hour long set, and, combined with the backing band, brought a robust blend of rock and rap that drew out the hype from crowd and artist alike.
Men’s Renewal
Blake Wimberly, drummer for Friday night closers Wray, put on a solo set Saturday as his alter ego, electronic act Men’s Renewal. Far more minimalist and relaxed than Wray’s high-energy offering less than 24 hours prior, the set nonetheless displayed its own sense of craftsmanship, a mix of methodically building ambiental tones and noise that had the crowd in attendance at Das Haus swaying to each instrumental piece as quasi-New Age video clips and mosaics shadowed the painted mountain backdrop of Das Haus’ stage. It was a performance that toed the line between calm and energy, and is a promising look at the progression of Birmingham’s burgeoning electronic scene.
We were able to catch Wimberly and his fellow Wray bandmates, bassist/lead vocalist David Brown and guitarist David Swatzell, after the performance to talk about the Birmingham music scene, the band’s history, and unusual places to have a concert. Catch that here.
An artist at work on the graffiti wall. Photo by Spencer PortisGraffiti WallA routine that quickly became something to look forward to while running around back and forth between venues was briefly stopping between the alleyway between Rogue Tavern and Pale Eddie’s, in part because of the Main Stage nestled among the buildings, but largely because of the graffiti wall put up by LOBOTOMIX that gradually took form as time elapsed, while several artists tagged away over the two evenings. An expanded and upgraded installation from last year’s event, it was a great way to show respect and shine a light on one of hip hop’s four key elements, and I hope that it sticks around as a yearly tradition. Kaleidoscope's Baili Bigham got a chance to speak with one of the artists at the wall, and you can catch that here.
Love Moor & Hoodstock
Few out of the weekend’s lineup looked quite as comfortable at center stage quite as Love Moor, who exuded a relaxed, soulful charm which was only amplified by the faultless work of backing band Hoodstock. A near hour long set that floated between soul and R&B and included a strong duet with R&B/hip hop artist Dee Skillz, top to bottom there wasn’t a moment where the atmosphere grew stale or the energy dropped. There’s something special to Love Moor’s sound, and it’ll be interesting to see what happens when more and more people take notice.
All in all, 2016's edition of Secret Stages should stand as a success, and a clear statement that Birmingham's music scene is an eclectic, talented, powerful force that shouldn't be slept on. If this year was any indication of future offerings, then Secret Stages could very well be one of the can't miss festivals in the country, let alone the south.
