At some point mid-afternoon on Friday, I received an instant message saying simply: “Power out at Echo.” I checked the webcast on iClips; it was down as well. So much for eco-friendly festivals — it appeared at that moment as if the inaugural Echo Project would be a total goatfuck of a disaster.

Then something strange happened. Intrepid reports from the festival grounds started rolling in to our headquarters, and the paying customers could not have been more ebullient, a cult-like enthusiasm emanating from Fairburn, Georgia.

The noise beaming from the Echo Project may have angered local residents, but the attendees have returned to their homes and showers with nothing but positive reviews. The clever lineup blending jambands, indie rock, electronica, reggae and hip hop, the grounds, the lacked of a packed-in crowd, the open-air narcotics trafficking…you name it, someone’s gushing about it. The music, well, apparently some melted faces remain in Georgia.

Our man on the scene is back as well, and we’re proud to host Dave Vann’s incredible photo gallery from the festival. Dave not only photographed the live action on stage, but he set up a portrait booth backstage to capture the artists in various states of coolness. Photos from Saturday and Sunday will follow over the next day or two, but read on after the jump for a gallery of Friday’s events, complete with shots of The Duo, the Flaming Lips, the Disco Biscuits’ late-night set, The Polyphonic Spree, Stephen Marley, GZA and Slick Rick and many more…

Guitarist Benjamin Curtis of the ridiculously fluffed trio The Secret Machines is calling it quits. According to his brother Brandon on the band’s message board, “After 7 and 1/2 years of playing music together Benjamin has decided to no longer be a part of the band. It is a sad day but also an exciting one as he prepares to focus full time on his new creative venture, School of Seven Bells.”

On the bright side for fans out there, TSM is beginning to work on a third album.

For all the Secret Machines fanboys out there, it’s time to go through the five stages of grief (even though the band will live on). And maybe it’s also time to throw out some patently ridiculous analogies like this one from the board: 

“I’m bummed. No lie. This sucks. Hopefully the music will still be amazing. Pink Floyd lost Roger Waters so anything is possible. here’s to the future of our favorite band.”

Anything is possible. I mean, it’s entirely possible that TSM will one day randomly end up in the same sentence with Pink Floyd like that again.

I don’t feel the loss that much. Only, never again will I get the chance to be completely underwhelmed by the original band that people built up way too much. Never again will I be able to walk out of a supposedly awesome show and say “Ehh. Wanna just get some pizza?” Never again will I be able to stand at a show wondering which eighth grader out there could fill in for the drummer.

• Click here to listen to The Secret Machines on MySpace
• Click here to listen to School of Seven Bells on MySpace