Day two of the Shaky Knees Music Festival in Atlanta Georgia saw more of the same eclectic rock talent that has made it one of the most underrated festivals in the country. With cloudy skies providing respite from the Atlanta sun, fans came out in full force, packing each of the four stages, which showcased 24 bands during the day.
Bringing a droning industrial rock vibe to Shaky Knees was TORRES, led by singer and guitarist Mackenzie Scott. Drawing from all three of the band’s albums, TORRES uniquely blended industrial, rock, and pop. Rumbling basslines and distorted, droning synthesizers were prominent. Scott’s performance was mostly subdued, stoically standing at the mic and singing, but at times she would start jamming and her voice would abruptly break into a scream. “You’re the one I fear the most,” Scott sang on the mid-tempo “New Skin,” a beat-heavy song that was a highlight of the set.
Nashville’s Bully shredded through a fiery set on the Peachtree stage. The neo-grunge throwbacks, led by frontwoman Alicia Bognanno, obliterated the stage with an energetic and passionate performance. With the fury and guitar chops of Mudhoney and the discordance of Sonic Youth, Bully’s morning performance was worthy of a headlining gig. With “Invisible Hands,” Bognanno growled and shreaked while headbanging, with the rest of the band laying down the sick rhythm. Bully made heavy use of dynamic shifts and juxtaposition of Bognanno’s crunching power chords and Clayton Parker’s ringing lead guitar. With the last few songs, including the crowd-pleasingly dynamic “Milkman” and the speed punk of “I Remember,” Bully created the first mosh pit of the festival.
Old-school rock and roll was on display as Greta Van Fleet took the Peachtree stage. Led by the Kiszka brothers — Josh on vocals and Jake on guitar — the band served up powerful retro-rock that had heads banging and fans scream/singing. The band is often compared to Led Zeppelin, with Jake’s guitar chops similar to Jimmy Page and Josh’s vocal chops eerily like Robert Plant, and they lived up to that reputation. Kicking off the set with “Safari Song,” Jake soared across the fretboard as he played the song’s signature slide guitar licks. For the follow-up, the band dove into “Edge of Darkness,” with Josh’s howling screams taking center stage. From Josh’s improbably powerful voice to the heavy riffs and guitar-hero solos laid down by Jake, Greta Van Fleet showed that the reports of the death of guitar rock have been greatly exaggerated.
Atlanta’s own Manchester Orchestra thrilled the crowd with its blend of hard rocking riffs, intricate melodies, and gentle crooning. The band began with some of its heaviest songs, including “Pride” and “Shake It Out,” with frontman Andy Hull belting out the vocals while laying down punishing riffs on guitar. Halfway into the set, the band delved into the softer side of its catalog, such as with the power ballad “Simple Math.” Hull’s intensity was a constant, whether screaming into the mic and slamming power chords or baring his soul in a quiet, spracely instrumented composition. With the dynamic “Cope,” the band abruptly shifted back and forth between light versus and pulverizing choruses. As the long-threatening clouds opened up into a deluge, the set closed with the slow-burning “Silence,” slowly building from a soft ballad into a loud, powerful anthem.
If Franz Ferdinand got the Spirit award for their flashy, fun performance on day one of Shaky Knees, than on day two it goes to Matt and Kim. The exuberant dance-pop duo lived up to its reputation for riotous shows. Matt Johnson jumped and danced around the stage while playing keyboards and Kim Schifino seemed to spend as much time dancing and standing on her seat as sitting and playing the drums. From the set-opening “It’s Alright,” the duo set the atmosphere for the hour-long party. This is the first tour for Matt and Kim since Schifino suffered a knee injury during a concert a year ago and ended up having surgery. “I have to point out that our first festival since then is at a place called Shaky Knees,” Johnson joked. The injury sure didn’t slow her down, as the duo was as energetic as ever.
Queens of the Stone Age closed out the night with a powerhouse performance showcasing the band’s heavy yet quirky style. From the opening notes of “If I Had a Tail,” frontman Josh Homme and company laid down infectious rhythms, heavy riffs, dynamic ranges, and a pristine tone. Introducing “The Way You Used To Do” as “a dance song,” Homme, Troy Van Leeuwen, and Dan Fertida all dueled intertwining funky riffs. Drummer Jon Theodore showed off his chops on “No One Knows,” including killing an extended drum solo. The band’s unique, infectious riffs and odd juxtapositions were out in full force, with the frenetic “Head Like a Haunted House” and the crunching “Burn the Witch.” Queens of the Stone Age closed the set with “A Song for the Dead,” which thrilled with its start-stop rhythms, dynamic tempo shifts, and a closing riff that found the band members gradually increasing in speed on the way to the climax.
