As Atlanta’s inaugural Shaky Knees Festival entered its second and final day for 2013, the sky was blue and the mud was beginning to dry. Although the sun didn’t last all day, the sunny dispositions did and there were several must-see acts that delivered memorable performances. Read up on a few of Paste’s favorite moments and check out the images by photographer Jake Salyers below.
T. Hardy Morris
“Thank God it isn’t raining,” said T. Hardy Morris as he stepped up to the mic to open his Shaky Knees set. No kidding. After a soggy Day 1, we kicked off the second day of the festival with an excellent set by the Dead Confederate frontman under clear skies. Morris performed songs from his upcoming solo album, Audition Tapes, out July 30. “Beauty Rest” in particular featured some compelling lyrics: “Partying is out, partying is dead / Don’t even start, just leave it unsaid / When we were young / When we first met / We went to sleep, but never to bed / You need your beauty rest.” —Bonnie Stiernberg
Shovels & Rope
By the time Shovels & Rope kicked things off on Sunday at the O4W Park Stage, the sun was shining, and fans who had spent the previous day drenched and freezing reveled in the opportunity to peel off a few layers and soak it up—even if it was only temporary. South Carolina duo Shovels & Rope’s lovely harmonies provided the perfect soundtrack for dancing and catching a few rays. —Bonnie Stiernberg
Delta Spirit
A Delta Spirit show is always a fun time. With singer Matt Vasquez’ hurricane-force energy, it’s not a question of if their set will be a good one, but how good. On Sunday afternoon they delivered a strong mix of newer material from their most recent self-titled album (“California,” “Tear It Up”) and Ode to Sunshine favorites “Strange Vine,” “People C’mon” and “Trashcan” that didn’t disappoint. —Bonnie Stiernberg
Kurt Vile & The Violators
According to Vile, Shaky Knees served as the first official stop on his new tour promoting the fantastic Wakin On A Pretty Daze. With his face often obscured behind a mane of long, curly hair, Vile proved not to be the most engaging of performers, occasionally mumbling a “you’re beautiful” to the audience in-between songs; rather, he let the music speak for him, which was perfectly fine by everyone. With songs that often push past the seven-minute mark, Vile and his band The Violators made the most of their one-hour set, whether it involved translating “Jesus Fever” into an extended jam or Vile going at it solo with a lovely acoustic version of “Pure Pain.” While the weather was on Vile’s side for the most part, only during the final few minutes of the set did the clouds overtake the afternoon sun and the predicted rain begin to fall. Luckily, the image of Vile and The Violators thrashing along to the closing number against the downpour only served to give the set an epic, grandiose conclusion. —Mark Rozeman
Dr. Dog
Like Delta Spirit, Dr. Dog always bring a nearly unparalleled live energy to their shows, and their evening set on the O4W Park Stage was no exception. Singer Toby Leaman in particular absolutely tore into whatever song he was tackling at the moment, whether it was an older favorite like Fate’s “Hang On” or “The Beach” or something off of the band’s most recent album, Be The Void, like “Lonesome”—during which Leaman closed the set by taking a stroll through the crowd. —Bonnie Stiernberg
Drive-By Truckers
By now, Drive-By Truckers might as well be dubbed the patron saints of the southern rock scene. Never one to put on a less-than-stellar show, the Truckers’ gift lies in their ability to approach every performance like it’s their last. Shaky Knees was no different, with the band pulling out fan-favorite staples like “Sink Hole,” “The Living Buddha,” “Marry Me” “Zip City” and “Hell No I Ain’t Happy.” Certainly, in spite of the heavy rain that plagued the latter half of the show, the crowd relished every moment of the hour-and-a-half set, pumping their fists in the air and screaming along to every word. Closing out with the sweeping Southern Rock Opera track “Angels and Fuselage,” the Truckers once again affirmed their status as one of contemporary rock’s finest live acts. —Mark Rozeman
The Lumineers
The clouds had opened up again before The Lumineers’ headlining slot, and the band greeted fans who had been waiting out in the elements for them with a fitting cover of Creedence Clearwater Revival’s “Have You Ever Seen the Rain?” They played all of the favorites off of their self-titled debut, including megahit “Ho Hey,” which they trotted out surprisingly early in the set. The band had a few other unexpected moves up its sleeve as well—a fun cover of Bob Dylan’s “Subterranean Homesick Blues” and a new duet between singers Wesley Schultz and Neyla Pekarek that sounds primed for iPod commercials and movie soundtracks. —Bonnie Stiernberg
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Delta Spirit
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Kurt Vile & the Violators
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Kurt Vile & the Violators
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Kurt Vile & the Violators
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Kurt Vile & the Violators
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Kurt Vile & the Violators
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Kurt Vile & the Violators
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Dr. Dog
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Dr. Dog