Photo by Tayhlor Stephenson / Lifestyles Editor
Still on a high from day one of the Pilgrimage Music and Cultural Festival — complete with performances from Justin Timberlake, Walk The Moon, Colony House, Nikki Lane, The Shadowboxers and more — guests flooded The Park at Harlinsdale in Franklin, hoping to be just as mesmerized as they were from the day prior’s performances.
Day two of Pilgrimage primarily focused on rock artists, but the lineup still pulled generous audiences.
Langhorne Slim plays intimate set, joins audience
Despite the staggering 90 degree weather, Langhorne Slim completely commanded his audience by maintaining an energetic vibe throughout his 60-miute set on the Infiniti Gold Record Road stage.
Just before singing the song Slim claims to be about his grandparents and “losing his virginity,” he said, “It’s a dance song if anybody wants to get down.” And audience did just that as Slim previewed “Ocean City,” a 2017 track off his upcoming album, “Lost at Last, Vol. 1.”
The alternative rock artist upped the tempo with “Cinderella,” a song off his 2009 “Be Set Free” album. Up next: “Love Crimes.” Midway through the bones track to his 2015 album, “The Spirit Moves,” Slim hopped off stage and traveled the crowd, but this wouldn’t be the last time.
“How do I get back up,” Slim nonchalantly asked before a photographer gave him a lift.
In preparation for his 2010 track “Diamonds and Gold” off his self-titled album, Slim took some time to tune the song’s lone instrument.
“Did Timberlake stop and tune his guitar?” Slim humorously said. “I just miss those NSYNC days.”
Slim wasn’t quite ready to leave his fans yet, though. So instead, he joined them.
His last two songs — “Changes” and “Past Lives” — were performed in-audience.
Fitz and the Tantrums draw massive crowd, form connection with fans
To commence their 75-minute Infiniti Gold Record Road stage set, Fitz and the Tantrums — comprised of Michael Fitzpatrick, Noelle Skaggs, James King, Joseph Karnes, Jeremy Ruzumna and John Wicks — came out full-force with a 2016 opener, “Get Right Back,” found on the indie rock band’s self-titled album.
The audience fed off the band’s lively spunk, which came in handy when Fitzpatrick requested everyone get low as they performed “MoneyGrabber,” off the band’s 2010 album “Pickin’ Up the Pieces.”
Because the fans show such immense love to Fitz and the Tantrums, the band has the opportunity to make new music, and that’s just what they’ve beed doing. They performed their new single, “Fool,” off 2016’s self-titled album.
Fitzpatrick took a second to thank fans “for supporting this band since our very first show at 3rd & Lindsley nine years ago.”
To keep the energy high, Fitzpatrick led his band in a well-approved cover of Eurythmics’ 1983 hit “Sweet Dreams.”
“HandClap,” found on the band’s 2016 self-titled album, and “Out of My League,” off their 2013 album, “More Than Just a Dream,” served as the closing numbers. If anything, they only left the Fitz and the Tantrums fans wanting more.
“Thank you so much, Tennessee, for making all of our dreams come true, guys,” Fitzpatrick said.
Ryan Adams creates major production at small-town festival
Alongside his band, Ryan Adams used his one-hour-and-15-minute time slot to transform the Infiniti Gold Record Road stage into one big production. Smoke filled the air and ventured from the stage to the fans.
Adams kicked his set off with February release “Do You Still Love Me?” and “Gimme Something Good,” a track off Adams’ 2014 self-titled album.
Going into the rock-heavy performance, nobody knew the subject of the night would be a man in a crane, but after he caught Adams’ eye, the singer-songwriter hysterically shared an on-the-spot tune dedicated to the “guy up in the crane.”
Adams’ vibe only grew more serious as he ventured into a 2007 ballad found on his “Easy Tiger” album: “Two.”
Quickly transitioning into some of his latest work, Adams shared “To Be Without You” and “Doomsday,” which are both featured tracks on the February release of “Prisoner.”
As he neared the end of his set, Adams performed “New York, New York,” off his 2001 album, “Gold,” which was complimented by the playing of a harmonica, and “Shakedown On 9th Street,” a song off his 2000 album, “Heartbreaker.”
“Be safe,” Adams said as he closed his set. “We’ll catch ya next time.”
Eddie Vedder takes knee, makes political stance
Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam headlined the second and final night of Pilgrimage. He took the Synchrony Financial Midnight Sun stage at 7:30 p.m., and he played a simple, 70-minute set.
He first played his newest track “Share the Light.” But before continuing his set, he took a knee, referencing the NFL protest against Trump’s statements and racial inequality. After he said — or didn’t say at all — all that he needed to, he resumed with Pearl Jam’s 1993 hit “Elderly Woman Behind the Counter in a Small Town.”
Vedder surprised his audience with drummer Matt Cameron.
“Where’s a damn drum kit when you need one,” Vedder said just before collaborating with Cameron in the performance of Pearl Jam’s 2009 “Backspacer,” found on the “Just Breathe” album.
Although residing on a stool in the center of the stage for the majority of his set, Vedder entertained Peal Jam fans with solo renditions of “Better Man,” a 1994 “Vitalogy” track, and a cover of The Clash’s “Should I Stay or Should I Go.”
Vedder then welcomed his second guest to the stage. The honor belonged to Jack West, a young boy Vedder met earlier that day.
“I didn’t know him until about 4 o’ clock today,” Vedder said.
Together, Vedder and West delivered a duet version of the rocker’s 2007 track “Society,” found on the “Into the Wild (Music For the Motion Picture)” album.
Vedder closed both his set and Pilgrimage 2017 with a performance of “Hard Sun,” another song belonging to Vedder’s 2007 “Into the Wild (Music For the Motion Picture)” album.
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