The Shins - Indie Music at The Hangout Festival

James Mercer with The Shins

Welcoming a nice change of pace from the jambands and DJs on Friday, May 17 at the Hangout Music Festival was indie band, The Shins.  They played into the sunset from 7:30 until 9:00 on the sunset stage to a more resolute and seemingly sober crowd.  It was fairly easy to tell who the true Shins fans were.  Originally from Albuquerque, New Mexico and now residing in Portland, Oregon, The Shins were right on point with their show.  Although their music is relatively unknown to those that are not into their scene, one could not help but appreciate the caliber of their lyrics and instrumentalism.  They played two of their biggest hits: “Caring is Creepy” and “New Slang,” which are songs that were popularized by the 2004 movie, Garden State.  They closed their show with their also reasonably popular song “One by One All Day.”  

Jim James at 2013 Hangout Music Festival

Jim James

Jim James, best known for being the front man of My Morning Jacket, played to a bright eyed crowd Friday afternoon at The Hangout Music Festival in Gulf Shores, Alabama.  The mid-afternoon sun beamed down on the festival goers as they bobbed and swayed to the charismatic man in the eggplant purple colored suit.  Jim James switched back and forth from his Flying V electric guitar and a saxophone throughout the show.  James’ set was mainly comprised of his solo material, but he did also dabble into a My Morning Jacket tune or two.  You didn’t have to be a My Morning Jacket fan to enjoy Jim James’ performance.

Bassnectar Blasts the Beach

Bassnectar

Lorin Ashton AKA Bassnectar played into the sunset on the other side of the beach from 7:30-8:45 right before Tom Petty closed out Saturday night at The Hangout Festival 2013.  It seemed slightly odd watching Bassnectar at a festival during the daylight, but this was unavoidable at a festival where the music has to end at 11:00 PM.  While the show was very high-energy and enjoyable, the first hour lacked the usual element of his profound visual spectacle because the sun subdued the normally epic light show.  

Dillon Francis at Hangout Music Festival

Dillon Francis

Playing to a moderately packed Boom Boom Tent at the Thursday Night Pre-Party on Thursday, May 16^th was up and coming DJ Dillon Francis.  He played a steady mix of house music, dubstep, and reggaeton dance hall style electronica that kept the crowd moving the whole time.  His hour long set was a good interlude to the headlining acts for the night which included Umphrey’s McGee and Benny Benassi.  Dillon Francis, at only 25 years old, is rising to the top of the dance music scene.  He is a master of remixing other artists tracks and he produces his own music with a unique blend of high-energy styles.  

Ellie Goulding Rocks Hangout Music Festival

Ellie Goulding

Gracing the main stage at Hangout festival 2013 on Sunday, May 13 was British sensation Ellie Goulding.  Despite winning numerous awards and having a number 1 album in her home country of the United Kingdom, her fame in the United States is just starting to blossom.  She played to a jam-packed beach and said on stage how wonderful it was since she had been getting used to playing in front of crowds of 20 people at her other US shows.   Ellie’s soprano voice can only be described as angelic.  Her melodies rang throughout the ears of the audience with a resonating splendor.  

Reggae on the Beach

Toots and the Maytals

Toots and The Maytals, arguably one of the best reggae bands of all time, performed this past Friday, May 17th on The Chevrolet Stage at the Hangout Music Festival in Gulf Shores, Alabama from 2:30-3:45. Being right on the crisp palm tree-covered beach in the afternoon sun, the Jamaican roots reggae band was easily one of the most fitting performances of the weekend. The Maytals have been around since the 1960’s, and even after all these years they are still radiating good vibes on their audience. It is hard to believe that front man Frederick “Toots” Hibbert is 70 years old.

Update:  Future tour dates are currently on hold while Toots (70) is recovering from injury from being hit in the head while performing last month.  He has also file a lawsuit against alleged bottle thrower William Connor Lewis who has been charge with felony assault.