Update: I write these posts in advance so I had not actually worked at Pitchfork when I wrote this one. When I got there I discovered that the Pitchfork folks pay the various nonprofits for providing the volunteers. So they’re paying nonprofits for amateur help at the festival (I was working security at the gate the beer vendors used) instead of hiring professionals, which would presumably would cost more money. The arrangement is less sleazy than I thought at first, but they’re still taking advantage of the nonprofits.

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Last night I worked at the Pitchfork Festival and I’m going back today for free as my reward for volunteering. I have mixed emotions about this. I work as a volunteer at the Old Town School of Folk Music. It’s a good gig, you help people find their seats at concerts and in return you get to see most of the show for free and you get “volunteer points” that you can use for music classes at the school. OTS is a nonprofit organization that’s run by people truly dedicated to preserving the folk music tradition. I feel good about myself for volunteering there.

Pitchfork on the other hand is a for-profit company to the best of my understanding. Their website sells advertising and as far as I can tell they run their festival to make money. They’ve hit on a brilliant scam to get nonprofits to scare up volunteers to work their festival so they don’t have to dip into their profits and hire people.Volunteering for this event makes me feel like I need a shower.

At the same time I’m such a music slut that I jumped at the chance to get in for free. Besides, attending the Pitchfork Festival is the only way to get into Flatstock, which is almost as exciting to me as the music. Although it bothers me that most folks have to pay $45 to get into the festival just to get into Flatstock.

So to help me sort out my conflicted emotions here’s a musical tribute to this year’s Pitchfork Festival.

Sonic Youth “Within You Without You” (Beatles)
Thurston Moore, well known as Sonic Youth’s guitarist, played Friday. This is the perfect Beatles song for Sonic Youth to cover, and they bring their trademark discordant noise to bear on it to great effect.

Neko Case “Wayfaring Stranger” (Johnny Cash)
Neko Case is an incredibly good looking woman. She’s the kind of person who can walk into any room and stop all conversation. Men and women alike can’t take their eyes off her. As far as I’m concerned, as a singer she’s a very good looking woman. Her singing and songwriting do absolutely nothing for me. I realize that I’m in the minority here but her appeal completely eludes me.

That said, I do like this cover that was recorded for a radio show. Mainly because of Jon Rauhouse’s banjo work.

Superchunk “Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps)” (David Bowie)
This song was one of Bowie’s periodic attempts to rawk. The good folks in Superchunk find the potential inside the song and really do rawk out.

TV On The Radio “Heroes” (David Bowie)
I don’t know if they booked the acts at this year’s Pitchfork Festival based on their propensity to cover David Bowie songs or if this is just a coincidence.

Flaming Lips “Smothered In Hugs” (Guided By Voices)
Last year I went to the Pitchfork Festival and saw the Flaming Lips play. So it only seems appropriate that I post their cover of one of this year’s bands.