- Daphne Nabors
- Eric Friedl and Guitar Wolf
This year’s Gonerfest, the seventh installment of local garage/punk label Goner Records’ annual musical festival, was perhaps the biggest and most eclectic to date, drawing bands and fans from all corners of the world to Memphis for five days of rock ‘n’ roll insanity.
I’m also ashamed to admit that, despite my status as a nearly life-long Memphian, this year was my first Gonerfest experience. I must say that the festival did not disappoint. Aside from the array of really good bands (my favorites from the festival being Destruction Unit, So Cow, and the Oblivians), one thing that really struck me was the fully engaged and enthusiastic crowds, which were unlike anything I’ve seen at a Memphis club-show before.
Goner’s Eric “Oblivian” Friedl spoke to the Memphis Flyer on Monday about Goner attendees, his favorite bands from the weekend, and the future of Gonerfest itself.
Memphis Flyer: How did you do this year, numbers-wise?
Eric Friedl: I don’t have final stats, but Friday and Saturday were the biggest crowds I’ve seen at Gonerfest, and the biggest crowds I’ve been in at the Hi Tone. That was insane.
What bands did you enjoying seeing live the most? Did anybody surprise you with how good they were?
It’s weird, because I know some bands are going to be great. Most of the most enjoyable moments are delivered by the bands you aren’t as familiar with. So . . . Guinea Worms, Dave Cloud, James Arthur’s Manhunt, Red Mass, U.V. Race, and Outdoorsmen were my favorites of the bands I didn’t know so well. I just started making a list of other favorites and it was basically the rest of the bands. Guitar Wolf at Gonerfest was the best for personal impact.
