My Imaginary Music Festival – Jammin’ At J-Tree

Published by PolisPandit on April 5, 2020April 5, 2020

In the age of Coronavirus, public gatherings are on hold indefinitely. I recently finished week three of working from home with my wife in our Tribeca apartment. In an effort to achieve some semblance of sanity in isolation, I am stealing a Ryen Russillo Podcast idea and organizing an imaginary music festival. Hopefully you will join me.

When trapped in isolation, you have a few options. You can feel sorry for yourself, lose your mind watching the news nonstop, or do something creative. Read, write, learn a new language – take the opportunity for self-reflection. For me, that involves revisiting and celebrating music that means something to me. Enter Jammin’ At J-Tree.

No, it does not refer to the bro-hill dive bar in Manhattan. It is the name of my imaginary music festival (not trying to give false hope like Fyre Festival). I would organize it at Joshua Tree National Park, a mecca of sorts for spiritual seekers and those of us who are psychedelically-inclined (looking at you Vinny Chase!). Do not even try to compare this festival with its nearby neighbor in Indio, California. Sorry, Beyonce. You are not invited.

Jammin’ At J-Tree takes place on a early fall weekend and spans three days, Friday to Sunday. Here are the lineup rules – the artist can be anyone, living or dead, in their prime or past it. Daunting, I know. No pressure. I chose five artists per day. Disclaimer: they are not necessarily my favorite artists or the best musicians ever, but I do think they would combine to create an energetic and eclectic festival. So without further adieu, let’s get Jammin’!

Friday – The Turn Up

RÜFÜS DU SOL

This Australian trio is probably my favorite contemporary artist right now. Unlike some electronic or dance artists, these guys actually play instruments and write meaningful lyrics. Their sound is almost aquatic and never fails to put me at peace. Yet they also have bangers that will inspire and elevate your mood. Check out some of my favorites: You Were Right, Lost In My Mind, No Place, and Treat You Better. There is nobody better to set the tone for Jammin’ At J-Tree. And look! They actually performed live there recently:

Andre Nickatina

I’ve been listening to this guy drop bars since high school (so for a decade plus). No MC rhymes harder in my humble opinion than Andre. Once you have been lifted by Rüfüs Du Sol, allow Nicky to take you to the next level, with his Bay Area inspired underground fire. He’s a certified O.G. who drops verses that are real and hard. Whether it’s about the everyday struggle for survival, dope dealing, the broken justice and welfare systems, or his favorite foods (“Did just that at In-n-Out Burger, no pickles, no onions, no playin'”), Andre has a lot to say. He will open with Cadillac Girl, Dice of Life, and my personal favorite, Jungle. But he cannot leave the stage before dropping his infamous party anthem.

Death Row (Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Tupac Shakur)

Speaking of infamous, is there a more notorious label in hip-hop history than Death Row Records? Say what you want about Suge Knight, but he assembled a dream team of rappers in their primes. Dr. Dre (The Chronic), Snoop Dogg (Doggystyle), and Tupac (All Eyez on Me) all created some of their best music during this period. With all three of them taking the stage after Nicky, the crowd will go wild. This music may be considered “old school” or “dad rap” now, but how can you not get hyped from Nuthin’ But a G Thang, Gin and Juice, and How Do You Want It? And given that Jammin’ takes place in California, this classic is a must.

People Under the Stairs

I have always had an affinity for the Bay Area underground rap scene (if you couldn’t tell from the Nickatina love above). One of the giants from that scene are these guys, People Under the Stairs or #PUTS. After Nicky and Death Row, the crowd will need to calm down a bit, and there’s no better duo to do it than Thes One and Double K. They will maintain the mood and take it more introspective in anticipation of Friday’s closing act. I was devastated to hear that PUTS recently called it quits, but I’m holding out hope to hear these tracks live soon: Acid Raindrops, The L.A. Song, and San Francisco Knights (below).

Radiohead

Fantasy festival land is amazing, isn’t it? It may be easier to resurrect Tupac than convince Thom Yorke and company to travel to Joshua Tree National Park. But we can pretend! Who better to end the first night of a festival than Radiohead? Festival-goers will be left asking – what the hell is up next? I can’t blame them after hearing House of Cards, Optimistic, The Bends, and Karma Police. If that isn’t enough, check out this live recording of their album In Rainbows from a London basement.

Saturday – Time To Get Weird

Sublime

After a long night of Jammin’ and enjoying yourself (probably too much), you will probably be begging for a calm morning. With the more extreme among us opting for hair of the dog, Sublime will strike the balance. Start with Garden Grove and let your Saturday roll (shout out to Lou Dog). Yes, songs like What I Got and Santeria are great, but we will need Sublime to dig deep this Saturday morning for some cuts like 40oz. To Freedom, Badfish, and when we’re ready to rock, Same In The End (Bradley at his best, below).

Slightly Stoopid

I like to think of these guys as Sublime disciples. They were underrated for their era, but their vibes jive with the philosophy of Jammin’. Slightly Stoopid blends rock, reggae, hip-hop, and countless other genres (even blues!) better than most. For those not in the know, you’re welcome. Start here: Closer to the Sun, Wiseman, and Collie Man. Maybe Bob Marley can make a cameo when they play this one for the crowd (it is Jammin’ after all!). Note the hip-hop undertones (almost like Bone Thugs N’ Harmony).

Everclear

I realize I am dating myself with this list, but I don’t care. It’s my festival. When I think of 90s rock, I think of Everclear. The band was formed in Portland, Oregon by Art Alexakis, although their commercial hits have more of a Southern California sound. Their early stuff though (my favorite) captures the Pacific Northwest. While their mainstream singles were decent, tracks like Heartspark Dollarsign, Normal Like You, and Heroin Girl are Everclear at its best. But if we must go mainstream, this is a good one to go with.

Jimi Hendrix

If there is anyone to restart the party and really “take you there”, it’s Jimi. Enough said. From Purple Haze, to Foxey Lady and Hey Joe, Jimi has some deep cuts that will awaken the desert and and bring the festival to life. This lefty’s guitar work sets the bar high, particularly in his interpretation of Bob Dylan’s All Along the Watchtower.

Soundgarden

Closing out Saturday with my rock theme are the grunge legends, Soundgarden. They should be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame by now. Nirvana may be the most famous of the Seattle area grunge bands, Pearl Jam is probably the most commercial, and Mudhoney may be the most “should have been”, but Soundgarden is the most talented. Between Chris Cornell’s distinctive wails and guitarist Kim Thayil’s winding riffs, few groups can rock harder and better. Black Hole Sun gets most of the airtime, but tracks like Outshined, The Day I Tried To Live, and Blow Up The Outside World are just as fantastic. And there is no better desert song than this one to end our Saturday.

Sunday – Take Me There

Channel Tres

I have to give some love to more contemporary artists, and there are few I enjoy more right now than this guy. Channel Tres fuses west coast rap with techno and house beats; the perfect combo for a Sunday morning. He’ll grace us with Topdown, Black Moses, and Jet Black to get the day started. What I love most about Tres is the unique, complex sound he brings to hip-hop in an era of soundcloud rappers. His big debut single Controller showcases his style best.

Jurassic 5

Cut Chemist and Charlie 2na are two of my favorite artists in the hip-hop world. The three albums they pumped out in the early and mid 2000s with the rest of the J5 crew (even though there are actually 6 of them), are hip-hop gold as far as I’m concerned. I like to call it intellectual hip-hop that’s urban and socially conscious, but at the same time energizing and perfect for a party. If you have not heard Quality Control, Power In Numbers, or Feedback, you need to sit down and take care of that now. This track is probably their most commercial, but for good reason.

Kendrick Lamar

Do I even need to say why? Drake is cool, but Kendrick is the current king of hip-hop. I still remember the first time I heard Money Trees in 2012. I bought good kid m.A.A.d city immediately and bumped the album on repeat for months. Although I have never seen him live, I can only imagine the show he puts on with HUMBLE, Alright, and DNA. His Section.80 mixtape is banging too (from 2011). But I always return to Money Trees, ya bish.

The Eagles

Allow me to go “dad mode” for a second. They may be a weird act to follow Kendrick, but this entire imaginary festival concept is weird. So roll with me. The Eagles are arguably the most talented American band EVER. Had Don Henley and Glenn Frey only been able to get along better, they easily could have claimed that crown without question. For me, there’s no better band to light up the desert on the last day of a festival – it’s relaxing rock and roll that makes you feel good: Take It Easy, Already Gone, Hotel California, and of course, Life In The Fast Lane. I’ll take this 1977 version of The Eagles, especially with an off-his-rocker Joe Walsh.

Queens of the Stone Age

I have yet to see these guys live, but word on the street is that they are the best live rock act around right now. If they sound anything like their audio recordings, I can only imagine. Queens of the Stone Age has strong Seattle area connections, continuing in the footsteps of the guitar gods who closed down the previous night (Soundgarden). We’ll end Jammin’ with the current greatest rock show on Earth. Some of my favorites include: Feet Don’t Fail Me, If I Had a Tail, and Long Slow Goodbye. And here’s the finale to take us away. Don’t let the Coronavirus get you down!