Skipping Stones Records

The afternoon show finished about 6pm and we were able to keep the Club open in between the shows. We enjoyed some nice "down time" and a lot of people banded together to go invade some restaurant, while others went to get giant slices of pizza. I had some deliciously evil fries and a sandwich from the bar next door.

We started the show a little earlier so that there would be plenty of time for everyone to play. Hands and Knees from Boston played first, featuring yet another female bass player (and singer), Carina. Next up was The Specific Heats. They played a great set and even brought the Farfisa! There were a few "guest appearances," including Marissa from The Besties and Colin Clary / The Smittens on guitar. There was even a laptop-super-dance-mix!



Colin on guitar with his signature striped sweater:


The Brother Kite came on next and they put on a great performance. Their label, Claire and tonevendor also helped us to promote the Popfest - thanks Dan & Heather (and congrats on the new baby)!
The Brother Kite:


Bunnygrunt from St. Louis, MO were their usual rockin' selves. We've seen them every year at Athens Popfest, so we really appreciated that they made the trip out east! They were in a car for a real long time, but you wouldn't really know it.

Bunnygrunt rocks. End of story.


The Snow Fairies from Philadelphia were on next and everyone in the audience were just thrilled! They had copies of their new album available, Voila!


Clap along to The Snow Fairies:


Math & Physics Club gets the award for furthest distance traveled within the United States, hailing from Seattle, WA. They played their wonderfully beautiful music and it was bliss. I had some great conversations with Charles, but I didn't really get to meet the others.

Here is Charles and Saundrah from Math & Physics Club:


The end is near!

Secret Shine ended the night and Popfest. The performance was just incredible and amazing. They played quieter than I expected, but there were plenty of driving moments. The show ended the whole Popfest with a feeling that something monumental just happened. And it did.





I was so exhausted and had to sit down, but when Secret Shine started to play "Loveblind" I just had to get up and dance.



It was over! But everyone didn't want to leave! Everyone said their long goodbye's, bought and traded merch and were finally kicked out of the club. We had to pack up the backline and drive back home to CT, Secret Shine came with us. I wasn't sure how we packed a mini-van and a '90 volvo wagon with all our stuff, but we did it. I'm bummed that I didn't get a picture when we got home, but I was so tired.

Although there was room in the mini-van for more people, Richie, Dean, Rob and Jamie piled into the Volvo, which I drove home. William was ahead of me and when I got onto the highway, it was dark. I couldn't believe I had most of Secret Shine in my car and I almost panicked! But I reached for the iPod and put on some tunes and drove, very carefully, home. At one point Yo La Tengo came on - "Spec Bebop" - one of those monumental, droning, ten-minute songs. It was a sadistic attempt to fight it out on my part, me vs. yo la tengo - who will win???? The highway was empty, I was following the lights of the mini-van, the highway lines' monotony just making the music even more lulling. I won. I made it to the end of the song. When we pulled into the driveway all me mates woke up and gave me a hearty English thank you, "Cheers, right!"

The next day we had the classic Skipping Stones Records' band breakfast: lots and lots and lots of coffee, bagels and cream cheese. There was a slight problem with getting Secret Shine on a train to Washington, DC. They hadn't made reservations and the price had gone up significantly. They almost didn't make it, but instead they took a bus and got to see the country (albeit much cheaper!).

Secret Shine at SSR HQ, all refreshed!
Dean, Katherine, Richie, Jamie, guest Rob & Scott: