Kings of Leon's Matthew Followill / Photo by Shawna Adams

Ladies of the World Unite!
Playing in her native New Jersey, Nicole Atkins emerged from the shadows as a new kind of American sweetheart, blending elements of warm country women of the past with '50s Supremes shoo-bops and pop melodies for a contemporary indie crowd.

Atkins was a warm and Southern-tinged brand of stateside sass in comparison to Emily Haines, the lame jumper-clad Canadian sparkplug of Metric. Admirers and revelers of all genders and sexual orientations fixated on the riveting Haines, who electrified the more than laid-back afternoon.

Aussie solo act Sia -- she of the billowing anthem "Breathe Me," currently ringing in HD across television screens nationwide in NBC's Olympic promos -- took a bit of a political stance, dressing her band members in T-shirts reading "VOTE." We could only assume they were talking about our election. Her take on contemporary soul was at times quite fun, at others low-key and ambient.

Read more on page 2.
Read Friday's coverage of All Points West here.
Check out pictures from All Points West.