Just returned from Pickathon, the 18th annual "indie roots" celebration out in Happy Valley, Oregon. Held on Pendarvis Farm, this year's happening was, once again, fantastic, maintaining the feel of a jovial party in the forest more than the clustered and claustrophobic feel common at most outdoor festivals.
In between hosting music/interview sessions in the Lucky Barn and DJing on the Woods stage, I caught some exceptional music. Highlights: Wilco songwriter Jeff Tweedy cracking Trump jokes (and jokes about his Trump jokes later in the woods), organist Cory Henry blending the B3 soul of Booker T. Jones with the force of prime Parliament/Funkadelic on the Woods stage, Mount Moriah's fiery "Revolution Blues" cover, Sir Richard Bishop's discussion of "non theoretical" guitar playing, My Bubba inviting the legendary Michael Hurley to the stage, the blackened hardcore of VHî–L on the Treeline stage, and fantastic sets by Open Mike Eagle, Ultimate Painting, Kevin Morby, Julia Holter, Protomartyr, Hurray for the Riff Raff, Mac Demarco, and dozens more.
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