Camp Bisco is less than two weeks away and and anticipation is a bitch. My solution is to dwell in the minutiae and dwell on each aspect of the fest. Camp Bisco’s Tenth Anniversary has promised to deliver non-stop partying and music and with the schedule just released, it’s time to sort through the chaos and get to the gold.
With any festival, be safe first and foremost. You’re escaping from the real world for three days and you should be revelling and making merry. Camp Bisco has a list of what to bring and what not to. Use some common sense is all I’m saying. Stay hydrated, apply sunscreen and let loose at Camp Bisco.
My festival experiences have ranged from transcendent to mediocre and stems from how I took of myself and my surroundings. Camp Bisco offers showers, a general store, drinking water, payphones and shuttles if you are off the grounds. Utilize it and you’ll thank yourself later. As I mentioned above, spend that half second to think of your neighbor in camp and during a performance. Give them a little space, a small smile, a head nod anything really. Trust me, it goes a long way and I reaped my rewards from brief human interaction.
Now that the PSA is out of the way, Camp Bisco released their daily schedule and while we won’t know set times until the day of, here are some acts for each day we feel you should try and see. I say it is obvious to catch The Disco Biscuits as they headline each night. Here are some more obvious and not so obvious picks.
Thursday
Cut Copy should already be on your list of “must-see” acts. The Australian trio has released two amazing albums with In Ghost Colours and Zonoscope and their live performance is an engaging dance party. They are not a heavy hitting band but they create some vibrant pop gems that are great to experience with a massive crowd of strangers.
Rusko
Rusko at Electric Zoo
The dubstep ambassador himself, Rusko brings the music and the crowds. Live, Rusko has an intensity that’s utterly infectious. The man is just as energetic and urgent as the music he’s dropping. The crowds swell and lose their collective minds when he’s at the decks.
Skrillex
Boy wonder Skrillex has blazed onto the scene. He’s pushing boundaries that only the brash, young and reckless have the energy to do. That video above just about sums it up.
The New Deal
Sort of like Jazz-Electro, The New Deal is all about improv. Bass, synths, drums and house all share the stage as the band weaves together an on-the-fly musical experience. The band announced that 2011 will be their last year together, so check them out before it is too late.
Savoy
Savoy spinning at Webster Hall on April 15
Savoy are a great local, Brooklyn based act bringing an edge to the club scene. With a live drummer, things hit a little harder and the intensity pushed to the edge, be sure to check out these electro-rock stars.
SBTRKT
photo by Oscar Chang Anderon, mask design: Hidden Place
A bit of a deviation from the norm, SBTRKT is causing quite the racket. Sort of like James Blake, the urgency is dialed back and the minimal nature creates an effortlessly chill vibe to the party. This would a perfect set to catch in the sun as you can groove, bob or bask in the dub-waves that wash over you.
Beats Antique
Beats Antique defies convention with their blend of Eastern electro. Some inspired instrument samples not usually used in electronic music combined with a flair for the theatrical gives this act a bit of a dark cabaret feel to it. Slinky, sexy and seductive.
Friday
This day is awesome. Where to begin?
Shpongle Live
Where to begin with this band? Shpongle is more than just a trance act. Their live performance is a massive visual feast that has been blowing minds in every location.
Ratatat
Ratatat – Drugs
Ratatat is the bee’s knees to me. The band gets rave reviews from their live performances combining their great rock/indie/whatever mentality, amazing beats and some dizzying visuals.
Late Night with MSTRKRFT and Ghostland Observatory
MSTRKRFT and Ghostland Observatory are great any time, but at night, watch out. Ghostland Observatory bring lasers and lots of them. MSTRKRFT bring blasting beats. Bring your dancing shoes and get worked up in the wee hours.
DFA Disco Tent
Featuring James Murphy and Pat Mahoney as Special Disco Version and Holy Ghost! bringing their indie disco to Bisco. Murphy has a long standing relationship with the Camp and it’s not going to stop any time soon. Always smooth and digging deep for jams, ears and feet are in for a treat.
Four Tet
A spacey break if you, Four Tet delivers some jazzy experimentation to the mix. Always on the fringes, Four Tet offers a challenging yet rewarding experience that you can dance to.
Break Science with RJD2
A perfect pairing with Four Tet, Break Science and RJD2 offer enough musical pedigree to make your jaw drop. Live drumming and a ear honed from work with the likes of Wyclef Jean, Lee Scratch Perry and DOOM, promises some complex and richly layered music.
Black Moth Super Rainbow
Things are about to get a little weird. Black Moth Super Rainbow bring a strange blend of glitched out creeping electro and rock. Usually there is a band member in costume interacting with the crowd and adding to the surreal performance.
Saturday
If you thought the last two days were strong, think again. Saturday is jammed with quality music.
Bassnectar
This should be pretty obvious, right? Massive bass, enormous crowds, and ridiculous dancing. Bassnectar can do no wrong and this performance should be one of the highlights of the fest.
Pretty Lights
See above. Another, duh act to catch. Pretty Lights took this up a level at Governors Ball and he is all about pushing his live performance.
Death From Above 1979
This is the act I’m looking forward to see. How will this hard-hitting duo fit into the Bisco scene? The recently reunited Canadians have been getting rave reviews from their riot shortened SXSW set, their much ballyhooed Coachella show and their Sasquatch! Festival appearance.
Yeasayer
This is a great act for a fest like Bisco. Much like Bisco, Yeasayer covers a lot of musical territory at times tribal and rhythmic and at others a joyous electro-pop band.
Neon Indian
Keeping it chill, Neon Indian are a great live act to revel in. Infectious hooks and a laid-back feel make this band a summer hit.
Mad Decent Tropical Tent
Celebrating Moombathon, the Mad Decent Tropical Tent will be one sweat, sexually-charged bass heavy dance party. Picture dancehall beats with some Latin flair and plenty of bass and you are on the right track.
Treasure Fingers
Treasure Fingers – What Am I Supposed To Do
Treasure Fingers’ nu disco is a crowd pleasing act. It’s about having fun, and this man delivers. Dropping his own work as well as remixes, expect to get hooked.
The Japanese Popstars
Hailing from Northern Ireland, The Japanese Popstars are an indie act that’s bursting on the scene. Combining an indie rock DIY approach, 2011 has been an amazing year for them. They have worked with Robert Smith of The Cure, house legend Green Velvet and Jon Spencer.
