Bonnaroo Club Stage Band of the Day: Speedy Ortiz

Bonnaroo Artist | Speedy Ortiz
Bonnaroo History | Newbie
Stage & Time | TBA

Just like last year and the year before, we’re making it our mission to help you get acquainted with as many bands as we can from Bonnaroo‘s impressive 2014 lineup. In addition to main stage acts, we also want to be sure to give the Club Stage bands some love, so, for the next month or so, we’re adding a second daily spotlight. They might be the smallest artists on Bonnaroo’s bill, but the Club Stage bands are some of the best and most exciting up and coming acts around. As with our main stage previews, we’ll start from the bottom and work our way up. Keep reading for your Bonnaroo Club Stage Band of the Day…

LEARN

Speedy Ortiz have been on our radar for a while, and regular readers will remember our review of their show at The Stone Fox earlier this year. So, of course, we are amped for their return to middle Tennessee this summer for a slot at Bonnaroo. Buzz bands are commonly the talk of these Club Stage announcements, but Speedy Ortiz would have fit right in with the regular announcement in February. They’ve already received praise from NPR and Pitchfork this year to ping their buzz meter around the release of their late 2013 debut full length, Major Arcana.

Speedy Ortiz came through Nashville earlier this year for a headlining gig, then embarked on a tour with Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks. They are home for a minute before they head out for some Europe dates, including Barcelona’s Prima Vera festival in the weeks leading up to the Roo. Their sound is drenched in fuzzy grunge guitars ala Hole or Sleater-Kinney while the songwriting takes on more of Liz Phair vibe. Tracks such as “American Horror” drown the listener in sound, while the first single from Major Arcana, “Tiger Tank” highlights the songwriting chops. If you want to see a possible main stage act in a couple of years in a more intimate setting, then Speedy Ortiz should be high on your “to see” list this summer.

LISTEN | “American Horror”