At many of the big summer festivals the "get" of the headliner is an indicator of its clout. Coachella grabbed Sir Paul McCartney, Bonnaroo has Bruce Springsteen, and the Austin City Limits Festival with Pearl Jam and the Dave Matthews Band.
Taking stock of Sasquatch's choice of Jane's Addiction, Kings of Leon and Ben Harper and it seems the Northwest's contribution to the festival scene is that we're second tier.
Kings of Leon, while steadily building cred, still doesn't seem worthy of a headlining spot. And while a Jane's Addiction reunion will be sweet, it's a tough sell that Nine Inch Nails shouldn't be on top. But none of that really matters beacuse the good stuff isn't on top -- it's the creamy filling.
A slew of amazing indie bands shows that the organizers have really got a handle on the festival's bread and butter. From the Decemberists to M. Ward to TV on the Radio and lesser-known talents in the Avett Brothers and John Vanderslice this roster is an indie lover's dream.
The comedy tent this year is even better. With the inclusion of Zack Galifianakis (bearded dude in the Fiona Apple video), it's enough to make me consider actually missing a few beats to brave the horrendous lines that have always scared me off.
So you know where I'll be and if you can't make it I hope you'll follow along online. This year, I'll only be attending the first two days (everybody's got a budget). While I shudder to miss Gogol Bordello and Girl Talk, I can take solace that I'll be able to see Blitzen Trapper at the Red Room in Kennewick in July.
* Jeremy Dutton: 509-582-1525; jdutton@tricityherald.com.