Three Imaginary Girls - Bumbershoot 2008

Bumbershoot 2008: Day 3

imaginary dana — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 18:48:36 +0000

1 Sep 2008

Bumbershoot on Labor Day was full of great performances, both from local bands and national acts. Check out some great words and photos from the big day!

Kate Tucker and the Sons of Sweden

You can usually gauge the quality of afternoon shows at Bumbershoot by following the crowds. If the crowd grows as the show progresses, there is something compelling about the show that is bringing in people; if people are leaving, they were probably there to just kill time until until the next item on their itinerary. Ballard's Kate Tucker and the Sons of Sweden's crowd kept growing exponentially every time I turned around. Playing just past noon on Monday afternoon, Tucker came on stage and was shocked by the attendance ("I only expected there to be about 3 people here"). She and her band entertained the growing crowd with her sincere and accessible Americana sound and her lovely, sincere voice and vulnerable lyrics. (ChrisB)

Kate Tucker and the Sons of Sweden. Photos by Andew Curtis.

Choklate
She introduced herself as "your very own home-grown, soul singer chick". Choklate, the local soul/R&B star was backed by an 11-piece funk band, was one of the highlights of my Bumbershoot. She has a big, booming voice and a ton of charisma. Her set, though, was as much about the other musicians behind her as it was about Choklate herself. She seemed sincere and genuine and that was evident when she promoted her band at nearly every opportunity and told us about their other projects. One more reason: when she played "Dedicated to Music" she said she wanted to write a love song at the time she wrote that song but wasn't in love then. (ChrisB)

Blitzen Trapper

Blitzen Trapper. Photos by Kyle Johnson.

John Vanderslice (see full review)

Shane Tutmarc and the Traveling Mercies

I've been meaning to chat Shane and co. (the co refers to his brother and cousin in this case) for ages now, and good thing I did -- this was the band's second to last show. Drawing a moderate-sized crowd into the EMP Sky Church from the sunshine of the day, the band charmed us with their gospel-twinged roots pop. Frontman Shane Tutmarc moved from guitar to keys and back again, taking on topics of lust and God both, and keeping it all way twangier than his previous project, indie-pop band Dolour. (imaginary dana)

Shane Tutmarc. Photos by Andrew Curtis.

Two Gallants

Two Gallants. Photos by Andrew Curtis.

Feral Children

97s

Battles

(See the full review.)

Minus the Bear

Minus the Bear. Photo by Chona Kasinger.

Bumbershoot on Labor Day was full of great performances, both from local bands and national acts. Check out some great words and photos from the big day!

Kate Tucker and the Sons of Sweden

Kate Tucker and the Sons of Sweden. Photos by Andew Curtis.

Bumbershoot 2008: Day 2

three imaginary girls — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 05:33:55 +0000

31 Aug 2008

bumbershoot_lonelyh2.jpg

Sometimes a picture says a 1,000 words. If that's the case, then we've got a whole lot to say about the rock and roll goodness that was Day 2 of Bumbershoot 2008, as captured by photographers Chona Kasinger, Andrew Waits, Nathan Feder, and Kyle Johnson.

Our coverage includes reviews of Tapes N' Tapes, the Saturday Knights, Speaker Speaker, Sons and Daughters, Brother Ali, and loads more.

Have a look, won't you...?

The Lonely H, EMP Sky Church

The Lonely H. Photo by Andrew Waits.

Shim, EMP Sky Church

Shim. Photos by Chona Kasinger.

The Shackletons, Rockstar Stage

The Shackletons. Photos by Andrew Waits.

Sons and Daughters, KEXP Lounge

Sons and Daughters. Photos by Andrew Waits.

These Arms Are Snakes, Exhibition Hall

Using the fact they haven't shown their faces as a band for a few months as an excuse in case they forgot how to perform, These Arms Are Snakes took the stage. But soon, Steve Snere was commending the crowd for making the show funner than the band had expected, and he laid the asshole stage swagger on thick. He crawled under the stage for half a song, threw his belt into the crowd but then asked for it back minutes later, sat on guardrail huggers, flipped off the crowd, and nearly had the microphone cord wrap dangerously around him during one of many crowd surfing adventures. "Does the End even play your music?" someone cried out, referring to stage sponsor 107.7 FM. "Does the End ever play music you listen to?" Steve retorted. They pulled out several of their new songs from their impending release, of which confirmed the local boys are still going strong. Despite many real assholes in the audience, who were very obviously not real TAAS fans, and technical difficulties involving pedal cords, which provoked lame jokes to be told, and considering the general shittiness of the Exhibition Hall, the band brought out an entertaining set. (imaginary elle)

These Arms Are Snakes. Photos by Andrew Waits.

Speaker Speaker, EMP Sky Church

Speaker Speaker. Photos by Andrew Waits.

The Saturday Knights, Fisher Green

Sons and Daughters, Rockstar Stage

Sons and Daughters. Photos by Andrew Waits.

The Hands, EMP Sky Church

The Hands. Photos by Andrew Waits.

Brother Ali, Exhibition Hall

Brother Ali. Photos by Kyle Johnson.

Tapes N Tapes, Rockstar Stage

Tapes N Tapes. Photos by Kyle Johnson.

Our coverage includes reviews of Tapes N' Tapes, the Saturday Knights, Speaker Speaker, Sons and Daughters, Brother Ali, and loads more.

Have a look, won't you...?

Overheard at Bumbershoot: What's in a name?

elle — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 15:41:38 +0000

"Fe-ral Child-ren. Sounds like a good name, should be pretty fierce."

Bumbershoot 2008: Day 1

three imaginary girls — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 20:36:21 +0000

30 Aug 2008

bumbershootday1.jpg

Bumbershoot is a musical extravaganza, spanning the three-day Labor Day weekend with more bands, arts, and elephant ears than anyone can possibly capture. We had a posse of imaginary writers (ChrisB, Chris Estey, imaginary elle, imaginary dana, and Cory), and photographers (Chona, Kyle, Nathan, and Andrew) all over Seattle Center, trying to capture the frenzy and mayhem of Bumbershoot 2008. Below you can see and read about our adventures during the first day, which kicked off with local electronic duo Beehive and ended with superstar Beck, and covered over 20 other bands in-between.

Enjoy!

Beehive, Wells Fargo Stage

Beehive must be one of the most hard-luck bands in Seattle. The local electronic duo had gotten a difficult timeslot - Saturday at noon but tried to make the most of it. They played an energetic rock set that lasted about 35 minutes, simulating a rock band with electronic instruments. To get the crowd on their side early started off with two covers known by everyone in the fairly large crowd - "We Will Rock You" and "Helter Skelter." Overcoming a scratchy microphone, they got a lot of the crowd to stand and even a few danced. They found their groove early and singer/programmer Alethea, or "Butterfly Beats," delighted the crowd with her soulful voice. (ChrisB)

Beehive photos by Andrew Waits.

New Faces, EMP Sky Church

I've seen this band a bajillion times -- I practically stalk them -- and this was a very good show. They had a great dynamic with a pretty big turnout. They owned that huge stage. (Chona Kasinger)

New Faces. Photos by Chona Kasinger.

Throw Me the Statue, Rockstar Stage

An important aspect to booking festivals is kicking things off with a band to set the right mood. Throw Me The Statue was just such a band, with their undemanding pop tinged with elements such as a backing horn section. Their crowd was comfortable enough to stand or sit, a few head bobbers sprinkled here and there. (imaginary elle)

Throw Me the Statue. Photo by Chona Kasinger.

Throw Me the Statue. Photo by Kyle Johnson.

Neko Case, Samsung Mobile Mainstage

It makes sense to put former Washingtonian Neko Case on the mainstage at Bumbershoot because it was the first time I've seen her in a venue big enough to contain her voice. She played for about 75 minutes and was funny and likeable throughout, making note of playing depressing country songs in the middle of the day. "Deep Red Bells" and "That Teenage Feeling," played back to back sounded enormous and expansive - especially with three different guitar parts (Jon Rahouse on petal steel, Paul Rigby on electric guitar and Case herself playing acoustic guitar). She and longtime collaborator Kelly Hogan joked midway through the set that it was too early in the day for them to get wasted. Their humor was hilarious and provided a necessary balance for the emotional content of her set. {see the setlist} (ChrisB)

Neko Case and Kelly Hogan. Photo by Nathan Feder.

Neko crowd. Photo by Kyle Johnson.

Das Vibenbass, Wells Fargo Stage

The aptly titled quartet Das Vibenbass bring the jazz vibe and bass to the 21st Century music listener, bringing the genre to a more accessible level. Hell, as their set progressed, I started to realize I wished we were listening to the local band--an upright bass, saxophone, drums, and vibraphone--in an exclusive, smokey hidden jazz club with a gin, rather than out in the sunshine on fold able chairs. Wait a minute… are they playing a jazz rendition of "Black Hole Sun" not in a cheesy Kenny G covers Top 40 sort of way, but a very slick, enjoyable way? Never mind, they do know how to bring jazz to the modern ear. Their entire set was brilliant, definitely fetching all the praise they have received, such as being nominated in the Seattle Weekly for Best Jazz act. Doesn't hurt that their saxophone player was a good looking, well-dressed fellow as well. (imaginary elle)

Das Vibenbass photos by Kyle Johnson.

Thao and the Get Down Stay Down, KEXP Lounge

Thao and the Get Down Stay Down photos by Andrew Waits.

The Girls, EMP Sky Church

In the dark crowded Sky Church at the Bumbershoot Festival yesterday afternoon there was briefly the flavor of a late 70s small club show, with the one "wavo" band in town that "got it." The transgressive energy of sleazy humor ("Fixing The Chairs"), light-hearted Futurism, clipped robot rhythms, weird stop-starts ("TV Glow"), and shuffle beats from Shannon Brown (vocals), Elie Goral (drums), Derek Mason (keyboards), Vas Kumar (guitar), and (bassist) Griff happily entranced the hometown Seattle mob. The crowd wasn't frenzied but it was very cheerful. Just like the shared similar aesthetic Figurines and Futureheads, The Girls is even better live than their recordings, wishing they would add more of that spontaneity and rawness next time out to their songwriting. It would be great if this city had its next Screamers, and this band maybe could be a contender for that role. (Chris Estey)

The Girls. Photos by Chona Kasinger

Grynch, Fisher Green Stage

Grynch photos by Kyle Johnson.

Mono in VCF, KEXP Lounge

Nada Surf, KEXP Lounge

The KEXP Lounge is such an amazing refuge from the hurried, elephant-eared pace of Bumbershoot. There a few hundred lucky fans can see bands in a intimate dark (air-conditioned) setting. Catching Nada Surf acoustic style was definitely a highlight of my Bumbershoot experience; Matthew and Ira's spot-on harmonies positively sent chills down my spine. Also of note: the bassist for Osma did an admirable job filling in for an injured Daniel Lorca. Watch a video of the band performing "Weightless." (imaginary dana)

Nada Surf photos by Chona Kasinger.

Fall of Troy, Exhibition Hall

Fall of Troy photos by Kyle Johnson.

PWRFL Power, EMP Sky Church

The Walkmen, Rockstar Stage

The Walkmen. Photos by Chona Kasinger.

Estelle, Fisher Green Stage

Estelle, the British R&B/soul star, delivered what will be one of my favorite sets of the weekend. Playing before a huge crowd on the Fisher Green stage, she more than lived up to the buzz surrounding her new <em>Shine</em> album. On stage she reminded me of a cross between Sharon Jones and Lily Allen - two of my absolute favorite performers. Her band was tight and funky - although I wish they would have been funkier; their obvious influences are Parliament/Funkadelic, The Famous Flames and The Dap Kings and only on a few songs ("Pretty Please" and "American Boy") did they seem to break out. "American Boy", the #1 UK single that also features a cameo from Kanye West, closed the set and the enormous crowd sang along and danced - it was one of those great moments where a huge and diverse crowd shares a fantastic performance of a song that is the soundtrack to a whole lot of summers. (ChrisB)

Estelle. Photos by Nathan Feder.

Saul Williams, Fisher Green Stage

Saul Williams. Photos by Kyle Johnson.

Man Man, Rockstar Stage

Man Man. Photos by Chona Kasinger.

Man Man. Photos by Andrew Waits.

Nada Surf, Starbucks Stage

Nada Surf. Photos by Chona Kasinger.

West Indian Girl, EMP Sky Church

West Indian Girl. Photo by Andrew Waits.

West Indian Girl. Photo by Chona Kasinger.

West Indian Girl. Photo by Kyle Johnson.

Kinski, EMP Sky Church

Kinski. Photos by Kyle Johnson.

!!!, KEXP Lounge

I really enjoy !!!, the Sacramento-based, punk/funk/jam band but writing about them gives me fits with MS Word's grammar check; using Google isn't any easier. Still, their 30+ minute set in KEXP's music lounge was great fun. Playing mostly newer songs (singer Nic Offer even said that they would give us "a hit and a half"), they still delivered the same dance punk they are known for. Offer might have forgotten a few times that this performance was being broadcast on the radio because he dropped the f-word a few times. The funniest time was when he said that he thought the room was full because we were all "the fucks who are going to see Beck tonight" (!!! and Beck is the most unfortunate scheduling conflict of the weekend) and threatened to give a crappy performance for the last song. They didn't; in spite of their threats, they still rocked. (ChrisB)

M Ward, Rockstar Stage

M. Ward. Photo by Andrew Waits.

Beck, Samsung Mobile Mainstage

Did you think Beck was watching a legend in action, as Imaginary Kiku did? Or did you think he was, in a word, bullshit, as ChrisB did? Our imaginary coverage has a little something for everyone.

Beck. Photo by Kyle Johnson.

Enjoy!

Bumbershoot 2008: Beck

Imaginary Kiku — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 20:05:50 +0000

31 Aug 2008

bumbershoot_beck.jpg

When I ask myself why I had such an incredible time at the Beck show, there is only one answer that truly explains it: because it’s Beck. To many people this line of reasoning is not justifiable at all, but to many others (plenty of whom were at the show as well) it makes perfect sense.

To me (and a great number of my friends), Beck has become a legend: less of a man and more of a mythical being. We have agreed that we want to know nothing of his life, his childhood, romantic affairs, nothing that would take away the splendor of his stage persona. So we thoroughly enjoyed his performance at the Main Stage on Saturday, although to be honest had it been any other band I would have been underwhelmed. But it was Beck.

The first thing about a Beck show that makes it distinct from most other concerts is the audience. Because Beck is, as Futurama put it, “a musician-poet who transcends genres even as he re-invents them”, the crowd he draws is extremely diverse. There were gangsters, indie kids and pot heads, there were tweens and baby boomers, and there was at least one man from England. These people weren’t just relaxing in the back either; they were packed into the claustrophobic first 50 feet from the stage.

There was a long wait after Band of Horses left the stage and the massive crowd cheered for basically any slender blonds who made their way on stage, of which there were two who were not Beck. When the man of the hour finally did arrive, he did so exactly how I would want Beck to do it, and if it weren’t for the Bumbershoot announcer’s annoyingly necessary introduction, it would have been perfectly discreet. Dressed in a too big black coat and a matching fedora, Beck walked on and just launched right into “Loser”.

As the performance went on the massive board of bulbs behind Beck illuminated to form increasingly complex shapes, from simple geometric polygons at first, to dead trees, flames, and even Beck himself. The set was full of hits and most likely satisfied all walks of life that came to his show. There was the sweet and catchy “Think I’m in Love” and the complex rapping of “Where It’s At.” Halfway through the show he abandoned the problematic mic he had been using and donned a headset, “like ‘N SYNC” he informed us. Then he and his very attractive band abandoned their instruments and took up some clunky electronic remote controls. With these they lay down some digital beats and performed the 8-bit masterpiece “Hell Yes."

Being in the audience and surrounded with people all singing along, I realized how remarkably catchy all of Beck’s choruses are. Although most of the verses are unintelligible, his choruses are short, simple and addictive, and if anyone wasn’t singing along then I respect their willpower but frown on their repression.

I thought the set was very well arranged. It consisted of mostly hits (of which Beck has many), a few songs I was less familiar with, and about three quarters of the way in there was a period of slower songs which were just what I needed after dancing the whole time. He couldn’t have chosen a better song to close with (a standard encore with the five minutes suspense; “Is he coming back!” “He must be, they’re tightening the drum heads!”). The final song was “E Pro,” with a chorus that is simply na nas, but had everyone jumping and singing along raucously. There was even a mini mosh pit where I was standing.

It’s true that he did not address the audience very frequently during the show, and it may be a valid point that this stop in his tour was probably the same as any other stop, but I think that’s just a part of Beck’s appeal. He doesn’t try to make you like him with witty banter or funny stories. He simply presents to you his music and lets you take what you want from it. He’s the kid in school who doesn’t talk much but everyone knows is the coolest person in their grade. Some bands you want to get to know and therefore you want them to chat up the audience, but with Beck, I think its best he remains a mystery.

Beck left us as suddenly as he came. Like some legendary antihero, he rolled out of town leaving grateful villagers and broken hearts in his wake. It seems like everything Beck does is instinctive, like he can just naturally shift from pop to rap to folksy blues. I think his show had that same natural feel, like you weren’t necessarily watching a performance, but you were watching Beck do what Beck does. And that’s the best (and really the only) thing I could expect from him.

I think his show had that same natural feel, like you weren’t necessarily watching a performance, but you were watching Beck do what Beck does. And that’s the best (and really the only) thing I could expect from him.

Video: Nada Surf "Weightless" from the KEXP Studios at Bumbershoot

imaginary dana — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 20:00:43 +0000

While a few review is coming soon, I couldn't resist sharing this video, shot during the glorious Nada Surf set in the KEXP Studios. Enjoy!

Bumbershoot kicks off with a dose of Portland and Seattle comedy

Chris Estey — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 22:13:10 +0000

They didn't let an early afternoon festival performance dampen their fire, especially after each warmed up.

Neko Case setlist

imaginary dana — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 21:38:23 +0000

More deets coming soon, but here's my first crack at the setlist.

Team TIG: Getting caffeinated and ready to Bumbershoot!

imaginary dana — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 18:29:07 +0000

Hope to see you all there!

Off to the 'shoot! Open thread.

imaginary dana — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 17:36:20 +0000

I'm packing up the imaginary family and heading out to Bumbershoot shortly. I am so excited that within a few hours, I will be listening to the extraordinary vocals of Neko Case!!

What are you excited about today?

Bumbershoot Preview: Sons and Daughters

ChrisB — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 20:16:25 +0000

With its first-rate single "Gilt Complex", the Glasgow-based band's most recent album This Gift is almost certainly going to be near the top of my end of year top 10 list.

It's time to dish on Bumbershoot. Who're you going to see?

imaginary dana — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 20:03:47 +0000

So convince us: Who are some must-see bands for Bumbershoot 2008, and why?

Oh yeah. Bumbershoot lineup revealed too

ChrisB — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 20:21:57 +0000

In all the hoopla surrounding SP20 this weekend, it might have gotten missed that Bumbershoot unveiled their schedule Saturday morning.

Bumbershoot '08 goes green, adds bands

imaginary stella — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 18:42:55 +0000

Not to lose any momentum from last Saturday's fantastic Old 97's show, the band has just been added to the 2008 Bumbershoot roster. Can I get a woot, y'all?

Also joining the 97's at the fest are Nada Surf, Flobots, and, yes it's true, the Offspring.

Bumbershoot is also going green, and no, I don't mean they're serving up weed (that's Folklife, people). The festival is taking strides to save the planet, encouraging patrons to bring their own non-disposable water bottles, reducing the number of printed programs and brochures, reusing signage from previous festivals, and powering the festival with net-zero energy (via Seattle City Light) and biodiesel generators, and more. You can even purchase carbon credits to offset your travels to the festival at bumbershoot.org.

Current lineup is as follows, and the Bumbershoot peeps claim even more will be announced in about a month:

Nada Surf tour West Coast and Europe, including Bumbershoot

imaginary dana — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 20:10:50 +0000

Great news for all you Nada Surf fans out there (and I proudly include myself among you): Nada Surf just announced a slew of West Coast and European tour dates, including a Seattle stop at Bumbershoot!

Here are all the dates, straight from the Barsuk press release:

20-Jun Germany, Southside Festival
22-Jun Germany, Hurricane Festival
27-Jun Germany, Darmstadt, Central Station (part of Sommerperlen)
28-Jun Germany, Jena
2-Jul France, Orleans, Campo Santo Festival
5-Jul France, St. Dewis de Gastines
13-Jul Belgium, Liege Festival Les Ardentes
17-Jul Spain, Benicassim Festival
18-Jul France, Angouleme, Garden Party
20-Jul UK, Latitude festival
7-Aug Salt Lake City, UT, Gallivan Center
15-Aug Spain, Aranda de duero-Burgos, Sonorama Festival
22-Aug Spain, Galicia, Villagarcia de Arousa
23-Aug France, La Ferme du Rock
28-Aug Costa Mesa, CA, PAC-Samueli Theatre
30-Aug Seattle, WA, Bumbershoot
2-Sep San Francisco, CA, Great American Music Hall
3-Sep San Francisco, CA, Great American Music Hall
4-Sep Portland, OR, MusicFest NW
5-Sep Los Angeles, CA, Troubadour
6-Sep Los Angeles, CA, Troubadour

Bumbershoot announces even more lineup additions, including some NW bands

imaginary dana — Thu, 29 May 2008 17:31:07 +0000

Just as you catch your breath from Sasquatch, Bumbershoot goes and announces the next round of bands playing this Labor Day. This round includes some of the Northwest acts, bolded in the list below...

The latest additions:

T.I. / Keyshia Cole / Adele / Minus the Bear / Battles / Aiden / Unearth / Sondre Lerche / The Whigs / Thao with The Get Down Stay Down / Langhorne Slim & The War Eagles / These Arms Are Snakes / The Blakes / Mark Pickerel & His Praying Hands / Barcelona / Kinski / Throw Me The Statue / J-Boogie's Dubtronic Science / Tyrone Wells / Howlin Rain / Monotonix / The Shackeltons / Star Anna / West Indian Girl / Ravens & Chimes / Hadley Caliman Quintet featuring Thomas Marriott / Grynch / The Hands / Joshua Morrison / Matt Jorgensen +451 / Chester French / PWRFL Power / The Girls /

Bands on the lineup who were previously announced:

Bumbershoot offers ticket presale info

Cory Banks — Thu, 22 May 2008 23:25:57 +0000

Luckily, the organizers of Bumbershoot understand our need to be thrifty. To help, they're launching an Insider's Deal presale with tickets to Seattle's late August festival of music, comedy and art at discounted prices.

Bumbershoot 2008: Paramore, Sons and Daughters, Band of Horses, IN. Ludacris, OUT.

imaginary dana — Thu, 15 May 2008 18:45:27 +0000

Bumbershoot just sent out some additional booking information, and as you can see in the headline, they've got a few more bands on the bill plus one cancellation.

More Bumbershoot Additions? (rumor-mongering)

imaginary stella — Mon, 12 May 2008 19:24:37 +0000

According to the World Wide Web, rumors are flying of both Rage Against the Machine and Prince (!!) appearances at this year's Bumbershoot. If this is true, my brain might just explode in anticipation!

What Northwest bands are playing Bumbershoot 2008? Let the rumors begin...

imaginary dana — Thu, 01 May 2008 20:13:31 +0000

But I know they usually wait till closer to the date to annouce the lucky local acts. So -- to that end, I propose a good ole fashioned imaginary rumor machine. Friends... Who have you heard is playing? Or who do you hope is playing?