On Saturday, local unsigned quintet Treaty of Paris blazed through a set of catchy, toe-tapping pop rock. On their song “Why Am I Still Broke?” they exclaim, “Never wanted to be rich or famous, only wanted to move out of my parent’s basement.” The second part of that phrase is believable, but the first isn’t. The type of music they play is typical of bands that do get famous and rich these days. Their upbeat rhythms, schoolboy-pitched lyrics and power chord guitars are reminiscent of Fall Out Boy and countless other emo-pop offerings. “Here Goes Nothing” sent the crowd head-bobbing, while similar songs had spectators and band sing variations on “Oh ,oh, oh…” A cover of the Beatles’ classic “With a Little Help from My Friends” was the high point of the set, starting out with a steady guitar melody and winding through several jams throughout. For better or worse, these guys have what it takes to sign with a major label, capture adolescents’ hearts and show off on MTV Cribs.

Smoking Popes have been a big name in the local scene for more than a decade, and their punk/bar band aesthetic begs to be recognized and so it did on Sunday. “Pasted” combined a power-chug with vivid lyrics: “Sky painted on in pastel, I’m pasted on the ground… One day, I’ll fly away and disappear behind the sky.” Fancy guitar work left any questions about musical chops answered, as did progressions through punk, pop, folk and even restrained ambient experimentalism. Vocalist/guitarist Josh Caterer also showed gentlemanly tact onstage, taking requests from the crowd and saying “Thank you” after almost every song. The Popes seemed down-to-earth, unpretentious and genuinely interested in creating solidly melodious tunes. If they stay true to their guns and grow past their love-sick, slightly sappy side, they could be a force to be reckoned with.

As at most neighborhood fests, it was hard to please everyone all the time. So Lumino here has categorized each band with brief first-impression descriptions. If you like what you read, head over to the artist’s MySpace for more.

Saturday:

The South Stage: (featured electronic music ranging from club beats to gauzy atmospherics)

1:30 pm – Autobody

2:30 pm – The Wonderful World of Bald Eagle

3:30 pm – Two Fresh

4:45 pm – Mickey Factz

5:45 pm – Heavyweight Dub Champion

7:00 pm – Future Rock

8:45 pm – The New Deal

North Stage:

2:25 pm – Or So It Goes – post-rock with rumbling guitars

3:30 pm – The Poison Arrows – sprawling ballads with experimental touches

4:35 pm – Vampire Hands – psychedelic sixties Brit-rock

5:40 pm – Bloodiest – mysterious band members play hard-hitting metal

6:45 pm – Retribution Gospel Choir – lush and heartfelt

7:55 pm – The Night Marchers – caffeinated straight-ahead rock

9:00 pm – Grand Duchy – world beat-tinged pop

Center Stage:

1:00 pm – DJ PR3-Frosh

2:00 pm – Scott Miller – country/folk with noodly guitars from Tennessee

3:00 pm – SR-71 – radio-worthy modern rock

3:30 pm – Scott Lucas & The Married Men – delicate rock

4:30 pm – Cavashawn – heart-on-sleeve power pop

5:15 pm – Rocktapussy a.k.a. Moneypenny – DJs with a singing spirit

6:15 pm – The Glamour – dance-happy party-starters

7:00 pm – DJ Matt Roan – blending musical styles

8:00 pm – Treaty of Paris – driving pop-punk

Sunday:

South Stage:

2:10 pm – B.S. Brass Band – New Orleans-style Mardi Gras jazz

3:10 pm – Glossary – Americana country rock

4:10 pm – Backyard Tire Fire – Southern blues-rock

5:15 pm – Van Ghost – folk-rock with an experimental twist

6:25 pm – Company of Thieves – airy sentimental rock

7:30 pm – Big Sam’s Funky Nation – jazz-funk with winding guitars

9:00 pm – Junior Boys – looping synths and breathy vocals

North Stage:

2:25 pm – Empires – confessional gritty rock

3:30 pm – The Modern Skirts – orchestral electro-rock

4:35 pm – Rock Plaza Central – layered and slow-evolving

5:40 pm – U.S. Royalty – stomping rockers

6:45 pm – William Elliot Whitmore – old-style folk balladry

7:55 pm – Margot & The Nuclear So and So’s – haunting chamber pop

9:00 pm – Elvis Perkins in Dearland – textured folk

Center Stage:

1:00 pm – DJ Papa G

2:00 pm – Silverghost – art rock with a new wave twist

3:00 pm – Kid Color – electro fusion

4:00 pm – The Elms – meat ‘n potatoes rock

5:00 pm – The Hood Internet – spinning hits into dance classics

6:00 pm – Ebony Bones! – Relentless dance rock

7:00 pm – DJ Zebo – rhyme-oriented mix master

8:00 pm – Smoking Popes – bar band brings the goods

Click here for links to the bands -
www.myspace.com/wickerparkfest

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