Explosion!

The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion

Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome a true legend and explosive live act! This New York trio has been awing crowds with their sheer energy and unmatched versatility for two decades. They’ve worked alongside everyone from Beck to DJ Shadow to the Beastie Boys, while their albums Crypt Style, The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, and Now I Got Worry have gone down in the history of guitar rock. We’re still at a loss for what to call this volatile mixture of noise, punk, blues, garage rock, rockabilly, and just about every other form of guitar music, but we’re proud to announce that the pioneers and unparalleled masters of this uncanny genre, the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, will perform at this year’s festival.

Low

Low is said to be the world’s slowest-playing slowcore band, but the group itself is rather wary of the label. Their ninth and latest album, C’mon (coming out next week on Sub Pop), drives this point home by defying all attempts at pigeonholing. On the one hand, Low have never produced such catchy, almost pop-like melodies, but on the on other, the band continues to captivate listeners with the vocal duets of Alan Sparhawk and Mimi Parker. We’re looking forward to a magical performance by this extraordinary trio.

Neon Indian

Chillwave straight out of Texas. Expectations are high when a band comes out of the gate with the label of “Best New Music” awarded by Pitchfork, but Alan Palomo’s group has had no trouble living up to the expectations. Their album Psychic Chasms made an impression at “Rolling Stone” magazine, which called Neon Indian one of the hottest bands of 2010. You know it’s serious when both of these publications can agree on a review. Neon Indian’s latest record is currently in the works and might be released before the OFF Festival, but in the meantime, the band has come out with an excellent collaboration with the Flaming Lips titled “Is David Bowie Dying?”

Ringo Deathstarr”

A Texas band whose debut album Colour Trip proved that shoegaze is neither as dead or passé as they say it is. They openly admit to being inspired by My Bloody Valentine and Slowdive. A Place to Bury Strangers must be concerned about this growing competitor. All the better for fans of the genre.

Bielizna plays Taniec lekkich goryli

Bielizna, Polish for “underwear,” appeared in the mid 80s and quickly took the lead of the Tri-City Alternative Scene. They came in with a bang: their first single was titled “Terrorystyczne Bojówki” (“Terrorist Militia”) and became immensely popular (despite its suspicious lyrics) thanks to heavy promotion from then-independent radio Rozgłośnia Harcerska. Bielizna followed through with their 1987 debut Taniec lekkich goryli (“Light Gorilla Dance”), whose sound (rare in Poland at the time) and shocking lyrics by Jarosław Janiszewski made quite an impression on listeners. OFF audiences will hear the album in its entirety.