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Wednesday, February 8, 2012

Norman Music Festival - Best Of Sunday

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Jacob Abello performs on the Sooner Theatre stage at the Norman Music Festival Sunday, April 25, 2010, in downtown Norman. Joshua Boydston/The Daily

The Daily continues yesterday’s “Best of Saturday” piece with our picks for the best performances on the second day of Norman Music Festival.

Dirty Projectors, Main Stage, 9:30 p.m.

It had big shoes to fill. The Polyphonic Spree and of Montreal were nothing short of musical spectacles. But Dirty Projectors weren’t as showy, and that was OK because, musically, it is the best act NMF has featured. Dirty Projectors tracks from “Bitte Orca” were just as intricate live as in the recordings, and its lovely melodies stole the crowd’s hearts away.

The Non + Cloud Collision Orchestra, Sooner Theatre, 7 p.m.

I can only speak from word of mouth — as I wasn’t brave enough to venture into the sardin-packed venue. But from what I’ve heard from fellow writers and friends, it would be a crime for The Non to not be on the main stage at next year’s festival. The Non’s orchestrated melodies are made for music festivals.

Jacob Abello, Sooner Theatre, 5 p.m.

In a lineup full of reserved performers and outrageous rockers, Abello seemed to be the only one to take the pop star route. His show was special: Singing from the balcony, guest stars out the wazoo and a choreographed dance to boot. You go to a music festival to be entertained, and Abello was the biggest entertainer there.

Brother Bear, Opolis, 3:30 p.m.

Stillwater’s Brother Bear gets bonus points for its unexpectedness. The half-Mayola electro act had the crowd at Opolis zooming with its spacetastic, crunchy hooks and cosmic layering. There was a brief asteroid shower Sunday afternoon and these boys were responsible.

The Pretty Black Chains, Sooner Theatre, 3 p.m.

I’ve never been disappointed at a PBC show, and I don’t expect to be anytime soon. The band balances rowdy behavior with on-point musicianship better than anyone around. Bringing Abello on stage for “Runaway” was good fun, though nothing can steal the spotlight from the band shimmying alone in “1964.”

Mayola, 12:50 p.m.

Since the first NMF, fans of the band clamored to get Mayola on the main stage. The band finally got the chance, and it showed exactly why people wanted them up there in the first place. I would pay to watch bassist Antonio Laster writhe around the stage with his quirky mannerisms without any music. The western-rock tunes are just the cherry on the top.

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