XPoNential Music Festival 2018
Sponsored by Subaru
Friday
It wouldn't be an XPoNential Music Festival without the threat of thunderstorms and the cancelling of a band. This year's victim was Lone Bellow. Before that unfortunate act of of Mother Nature there was plenty of great music to take in. Swift Technique kicked off the festival and got the crowd moving with their funk, hip-hop, and R&B fusion. WXPN's artist to watch for the month of July, The National Reserve, opened up the River Stage with some good old fashioned straight up rock n' roll. My favorite band of the night was one I've been wanting to see for a few years now, but never had the chance until Lukas Nelson and Promise of the Real met my expectations and then some.
Saturday
XPoNential was a hot one this past Saturday, musically and weather-wise. Everyone could find something they could enjoy, as the musical genres of the bands playing spanned everything from Hip-Hop to Indie, Afrobeat to New Country. My personal favorites of the day wound up being Mondo Cozmo and Margo Price. Both of which had some of the biggest and most energetic crowds of the entire festival.
Sunday
Sunday is always a bitter sweet day for festivals as it all winds down. The Sunday lineup at XPoNential couldn't have been any better, in my opinion. I was looking forward to Lo Moon all weekend because WXPN has been hyping me up on them for the last 2 years as we all waited for theirself-titled debut to come out. Lo Moon's live show is a near perfect recreation of the songs on their album. They are a very tight band in the best possible way. Another album I enjoyed the hell out of, over the last year or so was Phoebe Bridger's Stranger in the Alps. It seemed the majority of the crowd enjoyed that album too, because there was a large contingent of people singing along with the majority of her songs. The last band I saw this year has been one of my favorites for quite a few years now. In my opinion Hiss Golden Messenger is quickly becoming one of the best, if not the best Americana bands currently touring. Every time I see them they get better.
And that wraps up this year's festival coverage. WXPN is always churning out the best mix of music on the radio and in festival form. We're lucky to have a local station that provides a constant stream of great music that is there anytime for us to tap into. I'm already looking forward to what they put together for the 2019 version of XPoNential.
And that wraps up this year's festival coverage. WXPN is always churning out the best mix of music on the radio and in festival form. We're lucky to have a local station that provides a constant stream of great music that is there anytime for us to tap into. I'm already looking forward to what they put together for the 2019 version of XPoNential.
XPoNential Music Festival 2016
Sponsored by Subaru
One more XPoNential Festival in the books and it's safe to say that there will not be another year quite like 2016. Which is fitting considering the crazy things that are going on in the world at home and abroad. But it's not my job to get into political and social rantings here on my website. That's apparently something for Father John Misty to get into when "playing" his set. I'll get into that in a moment. It was a weekend of extremes. Extreme heat. An extreme thunderstorm. There was an extremely short and profanity filled Father John Misty set and some extremely amazing music by performers that poured their hearts and souls out on stage to the delight of festival-goers.
Friday
Father John Misty
I've seen FJM a few times now and he will usually take a moment to go on some sort of rant against whatever is happening in the world, but he usually doesn't start his show like that. During his set at XPoNential he did just that and went on quite the tirade against political entertainment and the value of entertainment in general. It was interesting at first but filled with much profanity, which many would argue that the family friendly atmosphere of XPoNential might not be the place to air his social and political grievances. After completing his rant he then played a 10 min long "new" song which was basically a stream of consciousness ramble against our current political climate. Then he covered Leonard Cohen and left the stage a half hour early. Some people thought what he did was art and using his platform to make people aware and break them out of the lethargic uncaring apathy, which is fair, but XPoNential is a weird place to attempt something like that. There are others that found his antics to be pretentious and self-aggrandizing. For better or worse this show will be talked about for quite some time.
After FJM it was on to the ever crowd friendly and entertaining The Suffers. There are 2 things you need to remember about them.... The are called The Suffers and they are from Houston, TX. This is something that their ever talented lead singer, Kam Franklin, always leads with when starting a set. A pleasant surprise for the Philly sports faithful in the festival crowd, was that Eagles defensive end Connor Barwin introduced The Suffers before their set. There is a Houston, TX connection apparently since Mr. Barwin was drafted by the Texans at the beginning of his career. The Suffers always put on a stellar set and after the FJM let down, people were ready to cut loose a little bit and The Suffers provided the music to do such a thing.
After FJM it was on to the ever crowd friendly and entertaining The Suffers. There are 2 things you need to remember about them.... The are called The Suffers and they are from Houston, TX. This is something that their ever talented lead singer, Kam Franklin, always leads with when starting a set. A pleasant surprise for the Philly sports faithful in the festival crowd, was that Eagles defensive end Connor Barwin introduced The Suffers before their set. There is a Houston, TX connection apparently since Mr. Barwin was drafted by the Texans at the beginning of his career. The Suffers always put on a stellar set and after the FJM let down, people were ready to cut loose a little bit and The Suffers provided the music to do such a thing.
The Suffers
Shawn Colvin and Steve Earle
Shawn Colvin and Steve Earle were a pleasant surprise. It was a good mix of their own individual songs and their own originals. And with that my Friday at XPoNential 2016 was in the books.
Saturday
I was really looking forward to pretty much everything taking place on Saturday at the fest. Mother Nature, like she so often does, had other plans. Started out with The Felice Brothers. I've seen these guys before and they are always a really great time. Unfortunately there were some sound problems that cut their sound out all together. They made the most of it by taking their instruments down into the crowd and playing the rest of their set surrounded by festival patrons. It was a unique musical moment, but also a harbinger for what was to come.
The Felice Brothers
The Record Company put on a great set, although I was unable to grab any photos from them. The Marina Stage has always been a challenge to get photos at due to the many people that camp out there all day long. This along with the oppressive heat, made jumping back and forth between stages more than I could handle. I was psyched for Preservation Hall and they put on yet another impressive New Orleans Jazz and Funk extravaganza until a severe thunderstorm rolled through and cut their set short and killed any chances of Josh Ritter or David Wax Museum playing over at Wiggins Park.
Preservation Hall Jazz Band
The photo below was taken after the rain let up, but as you can see, it rained pretty heavily. I was, at one point, taking shelter inside a portopotty because every tent in Wiggins Park was packed with people taking shelter. It was a disappointing end to a day that was full of potential. But there's always Sunday to look forward to.
Sunday
Sunday wound up being my favorite day of the weekend. It seems to happen a lot for me at festivals. Friday is fun, Saturday is draining, and Sunday I rally and make the most out of the last day. The Districts kicked off the music for me. I love these guys. Part of it is that they hail from Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, which is also my home. Another part of it is how much these guys just straight up rock. They're so much fun to shoot, although quite challenging. They always bring the energy and this show was no different. It was definitely one of my favorite sets of the weekend.
The Districts
Every year XPoNential attendees are blessed with shows from various living legends. But this year, we got possibly the biggest name yet in that musical category. It was my first time seeing Mavis Staples and she smiled and belted out her classic tunes better than singers half her age. She's an amazing performer and I feel blessed to have finally seen her so up close and personal.
Mavis Staples
Femi Kuti and The Positive Force was the perfect way to end the Wiggins Park section of the weekend. These guys and gals put on one heck of a party. It's a party with a spot on social message too. Which I think maybe Father John Misty could take a couple cues from. The music makes you want to dance, but the lyrics make you want to fight for change in our political system and for social justice. I'm still in awe of what an awesome message these folks bring to their shows. It's really inspiring and a whole lot of fun as well.
Femi Kuti and The Positive Force
Brandi Carlile
I just want to close this festival summary by saying a word about how performers view themselves and their art. It comes across in the music and how they handle themselves. Brandi Carlile closed out festival and left her heart and soul out on that stage. You could tell how grateful she was to be playing for us. She interacted with the crowd. Got the crowd up when they were a little subdued. And overall put on one of the most impressive shows I've ever seen at my many years at XPoNential. It was fun. It was heartfelt. It was cathartic for her and for the crowd. If you look at how she approached performing compared to how Father John Misty approached the beginning of the festival, I think you notice the artistic spectrum that all performers land somewhere on. FJM was self-indulgent and selfish. You can get a message across without going out of your way to alienate the crowd. You can draw attention to how fed you are with world events and politics and still perform in a way that will cause the crowd to think and enjoy your set. Femi Kuti did it. Brandi Carlile did it and crushed it. Bookends of differing styles of music and performances. I think most people find one to be more effective than the other. It was another great XPoNential Festival. I'm already looking forward to next year.
XPoNential Music Festival 2015
Courtney Barnett @ XPoNential Fest 2015 - Camden, NJ
The Lone Bellow @ XPoNential Fest 2015 - Camden, NJ
Lord Huron @ XPoNential Fest 2015 - Camden, NJ
First Aid Kit @ XPoNential Fest 2015 - Camden, NJ
Calexico @ XPoNential Fest 2015 - Camden, NJ
Field Report @ XPoNential Fest 2015
Fly Golden Eagle @ XPoNential Fest 2015
Indigo Girls @ XPoNential Fest 2015
2014
Trigger Hippy @ XPoNential Festival 2014
Rodrigo y Gabriela @ XPoNential Festival 2014
The Hold Steady @ XPoNential Fest 2014
Lake Street Dive @ XPoNential 2014
Hurray for the Riff Raff @ XPoNential Fest 2014
Strand of Oaks @ XPoNential Festival 2014
J. Roddy Waltson and The Business @ XPoNential Festival 2014
Houndmouth @ XPoNential Fest 2014
Ingrid Michaelson @ XPoNential Festival 2014