Rock the cradle of love,
I rocked the cradle of love,
Yes the cradle of love,
Dont rock easily its true.
- Billy Idol

Since Erin and I got our tickets in the mail yesterday, I guess it’s finally time for me to talk about this year’s Rock the Garden event at the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis. Last year’s event included up and comer Bon Iver, local “cult” heroes Cloud Cult, everyone’s favorite super group The New Pornographers, and wordsmith with a violin Andrew Bird.

Due mainly to how much Bon Iver has blown up, this year’s lineup seems a bit smaller, but is still solid. It features local up and comers Solid Gold, “Middle Eastern-psych-snap-gospel” group Yeasayer, tex-mex country players Calexico, and epic storytellers The Decemberists.

It would appear that hosts The Current and The Walker Art Center have decided that rotating the stage to face the hill is a good idea, which I would disagree with. Why? Because it’s not just a good idea, it’s a great idea. Last year, the stage was facing east with an open back, forcing everyone involved to stare directly into the setting sun.

Here’s what I can tell you about the acts performing this year:

• Solid Gold – Prior to seeing them show up consistantly on Erin’s XM radio, I would hear Get Over It every other afternoon on my ride home.  Although not the largest band, I think their danceable music and local energy will start the day off well.
• Yeasayer – I’m mixed about Yeasayer mostly because while their album was well-recommended, it stayed on my emusic save for later list (where albums go to die) for a long time before eventually being dropped. They’re a good setup band for Calexico.
• Calexico – This band will play really well to the sitting in the grass on the hill crowd that will have assembled. That’s not to say that you can’t dance or jump up and down to Calexico. Well, maybe jumping up and down would be a little bit too much excitement, but they’re a very professional group who know how to put on a fun show.
• The Decemberist - The main reason I didn’t hesitate to buy tickets to this show. I can’t remember the last time that they were in Minneapolis, so it’s kind of obvious that I’ve never seen them play. As much as I like their newest album, The Hazards of Love, I’d like to see them play more from their older catalog.

I thought I’d play the only Yeasayer song that I own. It was on the excellent compilation from early this year called Dark Was The Night. Check out Tightrope.