The McDowell Mountain Music Festival has come a long way in its 15 years. What was primarily a roots and jam festival early on has now blossomed into a more youth oriented festival showcasing a variety of genres with modern rock, electronica and EDM and taking top billing. This year M3F brought top headliners to Margaret Hance Park in Phoenix March 2-4. 2018 that included Father John Misty, Nick Murphy (Chet Faker), Griz, Big Gigantic, The Revivalists, O.A.R. and Cut Cop . The lineup has dwindled its offering of roots/jam oriented artists as this year included Dr. Dog, Marcus King, The Motet and White Denim. Although the festival might have changed its musical face, there’s no denying for small urban 3 day fests, McDowell does it right as this year three stages were fit into the cozy confines of the convenient downtown park surrounding by foodie restaurants, swank hotels, breweries, light rail transit and oh yeah, temperature in the high 60’s. Check out the diverse musical highlights of the much look forwarded to three day musical event below..
Friday
As the gates open and people piled in, Treasurefruit returned to the Rattlesnake stage (as they also played the festival last year) and gave the start to the weekend that people were waiting for. The local, female-fronted, rock band played hits like “The Prey” and “Teddy Bear’s Picnic”. Once the day began to progress and the sun began to set, the energy only got better. Here are some highlights from the rest of the first day:
Lemaitre
Making the journey all the way from Oslo, Lemaitre brought their Norwegian electronic music to the desert, only to leave us wanting more. Unlike a usual electronic set, the group brought additional energy to their performance with live guitar and beautiful visuals. With lights flickering in every inch of the synth and the backdrop as Lemaitre sings about what could have been, there was a sign of bliss on every person’s face in the crowd.
Cut Copy
The five piece approached the stage at sunset and looked like something out of an 80’s movie. Playing hits like “Where I’m Going” and “Need You Now”, their synth pop sound echoed through Hance Park and sent chills down the crowd’s spines. Their foreign sound made you reminisce about a time that once was. Whether it was from their stage presence or funky tunes, you wanted to hear it again and again, just to relive a time that you could never get back.
Mura Masa
Mura Masa surprised the crowd with Bonzai, who is featured on two tracks off of their self titled album released in July 2017. Performing “Nuggets” and “What If I Go?”, the crowd transitioned from a mellow edm crowd to suddenly a mass wave of moshing and jumping. With a minimal lighting setup, Mura Masa’s performance was solely all about front man Alex Crossan and his stage presence. Running from one side of the stage to the next, Crossan’s exuberant energy brought life to the stage and everyone watching. Crossan flawlessly translated his electronic music into a full on live performance with no time for air, only dancing.
Nick Murphy (Chet Faker)
Mixing electronic music with dark soul music, Chet Faker delivered a performance unlike no other. Chet Faker was the showman of what was a breath-taking set. His sensual vocals rumbled through the speakers and into everyone’s veins as the lights pulsed with the beat of the music. They covered every single spectrum of their songs, consisting of “Drop The Game” and “Talk Is Cheap” and many many more.
Dr. Dog
While the night was winding down and swarms of people ran from one stage to the next, the crowd dispersed at the end of the night between the sets of Dr.Dog and Big Gigantic. While electronic music lovers ran to the Rattlesnake Stage, others swayed over to Coyote to hear the rock band who woudl play old favorites including songs off their soon to be released new studio LP Critical Equation.
Day 2
As the crowd entered the park for day two of M3F, the day started off light with a local set by The Phoenix Afrobeat Orchestra. People eased into the day by laying underneath the sun, in a hammock, or anywhere shade was available (or beer too). Couples, youth and even children alike found comfort in eating noodles underneath a tree and listening to the music until their next main performance of choice.
Magic City Hippies
Even though the beach is only six hours away, Magic City Hippies sound brought it to Hance Park. Formerly known as Robby Hunter Band, the Miami natives’ soundscape added a breeze and made sitting in the Arizona sun a little more bearable.
Daisy
Like any local set, Daisy’s intimate crowd was just happy to be there, despite the technical difficulties of the band. Adding a lil piece of home to the lineup, Daisy’s indie rock sound was a perfect little taste of rock n roll to start off the morning.
Father John Misty
While walking around the festival grounds, you would constantly hear the name Father John Misty. The name followed as the attendees moved from one stage to the next. Once the time came, it was finally shown why Father John Misty was the most anticipated artist on this lineup. J. Tillman (FJM) Referring to one of his hits as a “festival bangers”, Father John Misty himself delivered one festival banger after the other. From “Dear Mr. Tillman” to some songs off of his most recent album “Pure Comedy”, Tillman pulled off a comedic, one-of-a-kind performance.
Jai Wolf
As an 80’s synth sound filled the room, so did the amount of smiles on people’s faces. Playing some old and some new, Wolf kept the energy up with his beautiful visuals and intense bass. Every word was sung back by the crowd and grew even louder when he closed with his major hit “Indian Summer”.
The Marcus King Band
Filled with a killer horns, rhythm, guitar section and everything in between, The Marcus King Band blew the M3F crowd away. Their soulful sound was the perfect fit for the outdoor atmosphere of the festival. Songs like “Slipback” and other hits off of their album Due North were not only fan favorites, but also an enjoyment for everyone else who wanted to catch the set that was getting everyone’s attention.
DAY 3
As M3F Fest unwinded, the electric funk sounds from Saturday and Friday did as well. Winding down to more mellow funk and rock, the mix of tunes and culture kept the festival’s last day feeling just like the first. The day went from reggae to closing the weekend off with a set by the Revivalists.
Jay All & The Uncommon Good
Starting the beginning of the end, Jay Allen & The Uncommon Good gave M3F the start to a beautiful ending. Performing a cover of “Gimme Shelter”, vocalist Cassidy Hilgers, was the closest to Merry Clayton and Jagger that we’ll ever see in the valley. Bringing us on a whirlwind tour of their original hits, Jay Allen & The Uncommon Good showed some of the valley of the sun’s best musicianship.
Lonesome Wildnerness
Eleven days prior to the show, bassist Andrea Golfen gave birth to her and the frontman Joe’s first child. With the celebration of life in their voice and garage punk style, The Lonesome Wilderness performed hits off their “Hundred Years” album one after the other. Adding tamborine was a fan favorite as well. There wasn’t a single moment where someone stood still.
The Motet
Starting off with “The Truth”, Colorado natives The Motet, set fire to the stage with a scream by frontman Lyle Divinsky that practically pushed everyone back a step. The momentum only kept building up during the set, even when everyone was out of breath. Encouraging fans to keep dancing, Divinsky’s stage presence and intense vocals were the life of the party.
The Revivalists
Tying the bow to the end of M3F, The Revivalist left the crowd in pure awe and wanting more from the weekend. Opening with “Bulletproof”, it was a given the band would give the festival a crowd pleasing closure. Continuing the set with “Stand Up” and “Need You”, the band gave their performance a full throttle effort, leaving everyone in amazement. At the end of their hour and a half slot, The Revivalists left the festival to a close with Tom Petty’s “Refugee”.
