4. Redd Kross
The dream of the '90s manifested itself at MFNW in the shape of reformed glam punks,
Redd Kross. Drawing heavily on selections like "Jimmy's Fantasy", "Lady in the Front Row," and "Monolith" from their high water mark, 1993's
Phaseshifter, and newer cuts from their 2012 record,
Researching The Blues, the quartet wielded volume and harmonies with maximum aplomb, highlighting what was already an excellent series of free daytime sets sponsored by Seattle's premiere non-profit radio station, the mighty
KEXP.
5. Girl Talk
Greg Gillis, known better by his nom de plume,
Girl Talk, long ago crossed over into the mainstream with his manic, mashups-on-steroids aesthetic. Even so, the sight of him leading several thousand revelers in a massive dance party fixed around the heart of Pioneer Square, Portland's so-called living room, made for an awesome, candy-colored spectacle. Gillis is continually knocked as a knob tweaker more than a musician, but he has an undeniable talent for presentation (and those toilet paper guns that now accompany his sets are pure genius).
