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PINS

Dec 03, 2013 By Laura Studarus Photography by Laura Studarus PINS

Saturday proved to be one of the most fruitful days of Le Guess Who? festival, boasting both a full slate of afternoon of Le Mini Who activities and an evening’s worth of entertainment. Among the standouts: Douglas Dare, PINS, Scout Niblett, DM Stith, and Emily Wells. It’s called musical whiplash—and I’m totally okay with it.

Douglas Dare was the first musician to take the stage at Bushalte Janskerkhof, a historic church located in the center of town (and mere feet from my hotel). The carefully curated slate of musicians to play the venue (Dare, Lonnie Holley, and Olafur Arnalds) were chosen based on their ability to mesh with the cavernous environment. Covered in blue and purple lights, the sanctuary gave an extra measure of gravity to the songs of Dare’s melancholy debut EP, Seven Hours. “I sound huge in here!” he joked after playing the EP’s emotionally wrought title track.

Over at Tivoli, Britain’s PINS started the party with a riotous intensity. The female quartet attacked their set with a punk brutality. But for all their guitar-produced noise rock and Karen O-like intensity, the highlight of the set was still the title track from their abrasive debut album, Girls Like Us.

After PINS’ onslaught, Scout Niblett‘s set almost seemed quiet by comparison. The English born, Portland, Oregon-based singer/songwriter proved to be an apt guitar player, shredding through the tracks of It’s Up to Emma, accompanied only by a single drummer to assist her.

Over at Gallerie Jaap Sleper DM Stith and Emily Wells provided some of the most emotional material of the evening. Stith (an underrated singer/songwriter if ever there was one) performed from a hunched seated position. His set was a hushed, emotional affair, featuring layers of guitars (which he did in real time) and his strong vocals, which were strongly reminiscent of Luke Temple. When his phone slid out of his pocket between songs, he went with it—tossing everything including a pen and his passport on the floor with a playful shrug. He also took a photo of the audience to prove a point to his mother—Dutch people are better looking. “I’m crossing my legs for more than one reason,” he joked.

After Stith, Wells took the stage, bringing with her an elaborate percussion set, violin, and small keyboard. “Thank you all for coming,” she said. “I played for so few people last night I started questioning my profession.” Miles away from her start as a more folk-based singer/songwriter, Wells performed a set of layered R&B, which included songs inspired by “whisky and Jesus” and love songs dedicated to friends. But hey, change can be good. While Wells might have not been able to get her beloved bourbon in Holland, she certainly made a few new fans along the way.

Check out a gallery of day three photos here.

(www.leguesswho.nl)

(www.facebook.com/douglasdaremusic)

(www.facebook.com/wearepins)

(www.facebook.com/pages/scout-niblett/138784299470924)

(www.dmstith.com)

(www.facebook.com/emilywellsmusic)