The Shins We know. You’ve loved the Shins ever since Zach Braff put on Natalie Portman’s headphones in Garden State and listened to “Caring is Creepy.” If you’re still not aware of these indie rock titans, it’s not too late; they’re headlining Popped! and will be rocking out tomorrow night. Get ready for them to play fan favorites from their three awesome studio albums (and sing along to “New Slang” of course). Plus, after a roughly five–year hiatus, the band’s definitely slated to cart out some new tracks as well.
Foster The People This likable indie group from L.A. has absolutely blown up over the summer, thanks in no small part to their first big single, “Pumped Up Kicks,” which you’ve probably heard a million times unless you interned in a soundproof bunker this summer. Catch them playing on Saturday — and sure, check out the hit, but the rest of their debut album Torches is chock full of gems. It’ll be a fun, high–energy live set that you shouldn’t miss.
The Pains of Being Pure At Heart They’re already widely known and beloved amongst the plaid–clad, Pitchfork–reading set, but if you’re wondering who they are and why their name is so funny, you best catch their show on Friday. Maybe you won’t find out about the name, but you’ll definitely know who they are: namely, a very talented indie pop group with a fuzzy, lo–fi aesthetic and a knack for crafting infectious tracks. Go, listen and instantly raise your cool cred by a significant amount.
Anamanaguchi Fans of video games and jam bands alike should be sure to stop by this quirky group’s Saturday afternoon set. The members of Anamanaguchi feed drums, guitars and bass through the high–pitched whine of a game system to create blippy, hypnotic jams. With their mix of chiptune melodies and live instruments, the band creates anthemic rock instrumentals with an instantly nostalgic feel. Despite their admittedly niche sound, Anamanaguchi is sure to attract a wide range of music fans at the festival.
Cage The Elephant The best thing to come out of Kentucky since the Colonel’s fried chicken, Cage The Elephant are a bunch of punky blues rockers currently unleashing their own brand of fuzz–driven, rock–havoc on the music world. With high–energy performances that, more often than not, include stage diving and crowd–surfing, the band is sure to incite a few mosh pits within the Popped! crowd.
