Pemberton Day 2: Hometown Heroes Black Mountain Tempt Fates

It was Black Mountain's singular fate to have the least distance to travel and the most to prove at Pemberton. This may be why the heralded Vancouver band waited to start their side stage set until they were certain their mainstage neighbors (fellow Maple Leafers the Tragically Hip) were finished. As having the most to prove goes, playing up against Canada's most-loved band is about as undesirable as it gets. Still, a sizeable crowd of hipsters gathered (many of whom have probably served Stephen McBean coffee back in the city) to hear Black Mountain's In the Future served up loud and in its near entirety, with "Stormy High" and "Angels" at the forefront of a very speedy set. For all McBean's strategizing, he neglected one thing: starting late means ending late, and he was forced to thrash his way through the last few songs as the hip kids wandered off to see the Flaming Lips.

For complete coverage of the Pemberton Festival, check out rocknrolldiary.com.

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Song Stories

“Youth Knows No Pain”

Lykke Li | 2011

“Like on 'Youth Knows No Pain' — we are the ones that should demonstrate, because we can take it,” Likke Li said. “We can pierce ourselves, take Ecstasy, dance all night and still go to work at our McDonald's jobs.” Despite the hedonistic sentiment in the song, the Swedish singer also admitted in hindsight her youth had repercussions. “I remember when I was 18-19 and feeling that I know it all,” Li said. “I always feel that I know it all. But that song is about realizing you don’t, and reflecting, ‘Boy, if I only knew what would follow.’”

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