Bumbershoot 2012: The Streak Continues (Fishbone, Ty Segall, Passion Pit)

Michael Angelakos of Passion Pit

So we're at 26 now.

Yes, after all my blustering about missing this year's Bumbershoot and ending my streak at the solid number of 25 straight, I ended up going the final day of the music festival a few weeks back. One good friend passed on a participant ticket for that day and I got back from my trip out of town to attend. Couple that with a donated VIP pass and I was in business again.

Decked out in my 22 year old Fishbone t-shirt (that STILL glows in the dark), I brought my camera just in case and was accompanied for the first few hours by my music festival loving 5-year old, who "helped" me take some photos of Reign Wolf's early set. "Help" involved pressing the button on the camera while I held him and the camera steady. Just a couple minutes of this and my shoulder felt like it was going to fall off, but we did capture a couple good ones (scroll down to see).

After ditching my child (he got cab fare, don't worry!) I banked on my familiar face to get me into the pit, which worked for Foxy Shazam. Slight of build lead singer Eric Sean Nally was a blur on the stage, turning the classic idea of a rock star on its ear, as he is wont to do. Ty Segall and his face melting set was next, and for this, fellow rocktographer Marianne slipped me an extra photo pass and there was no more need for blatant deceit. After that, I saw some of the M83 set and the kids trying to start a mini-riot -- the youth in the bleachers didn't take kindly to the floor being kept at just half-full.

After some Pains of Being Pure at Heart, the act I was most excited to see was up -- Fishbone. Call it nostalgia, call it curiosity (have you seen Everyday Sunshine yet?), whatever the impulse, the 'bone were the band I wanted to see all weekend. My Fishbone T-shirt might not have lost some of its glow (we'd lost some daylight charge for it by that point) but what transpired on stage was illuminating enough. They reached deep into their catalog for a crowd-pleasing set list. Their raucous performance of "Party at Ground Zero" was easily the highlight of the day.

The rest of the night, we managed to see Hey Marseilles, The Vaselines and Passion Pit, and that all just felt like the cherry on top of the night. Next year (#27!) we'll get that damn application in time and they'll be less drama... promise. (Photos below and full set on flickr.)

Angelo Moore of Fishbone

Reign Wolf

Ty Segall

Eric Sean Nally of Foxy Shazam

Matt Bishop of Hey Marseilles

M83 plays while the youth revolt.

Full set of photos on Flickr

Bumbershoot streak comes to an end...

So here comes another Bumbershoot, and I'm sad to report that I'm not going.

Why would I bother going to the effort to blog that I'm not going? Well, you see, I have the somewhat unique distinction of having gone to at least one day of Bumbershoot for 25 straight until now. That's right, since 1987, I've either bought a ticket, volunteered, been a VIP sponsor or acted as press every year for 25 straight years. Until this year.

Long story short, I missed the press deadline by a day. Between the new job (which is ironically now ending in time to have made way for plenty of Bumbershoot photo editing) and dealing with kids on Summer break, I just lost track of things. It's too bad, as this year I really was excited for the lineup (not that I'm not usually fairly pumped for at least a day's line-up).

So now I'm resigned to the fact that the streak will end at 25. It's a good round number and I can start a new one. (Or not? I confess I'm kind of at a crossroads now when it comes to the blog and concert photography... not that you couldn't tell, fair reader, what with the lack of posting this summer.)

First band I saw at Bumbershoot in 1987?
Crazy 8s. Saw them again in '89 and '92.

Favorite early Bumbershoot memory:

Soundgarden/Bumbershoot, 1988 (photo by Mattisnotfrench)

Soundgarden playing a small, sweaty venue in 1988. Chris Cornell introducing a song: "Folks are saying, now that there's Soundgarden, you can throw away your Led Zeppelin albums. Well, now there's Kingdom Come, so you can throw away your Soundgarden records. This next song is called 'Kingdom of Come.'" Towards a long interlude near the end of the song, Cornell was screaming something repeatedly... after a minute or so of it, we figured out it was "SUCK MY COCK!"

Other highlights from that year: Robyn Hitchcock & the Egyptians, Camper Van Beethoven, and my first experience with the Young Fresh Fellows (sooooo many to follow).

Mudhoney in '93 (and '95, and '96), George Clinton & Parliament/Funkadelic in '95, and 1997 might have been my all-time favorite festival of acts I got to see (Beck, Wilco, Elliott Smith, Sonic Youth, Cornershop, David Byrne, Robyn Hitchcock, Sleater-Kinney, Built to Spill, Pond, Quasi, Kristen Hersh, Mary Lou Lord... it boggles the mind).

Another favorite memory involved Cat Power's Chan Marshall having a complete meltdown in her opening slot for Robyn Hitchcock in 1999. Throw in Imperial Teen, Built to Spill and The Roots, and it was a pretty good day to remember. In 2000 I got to see Jonathan Richman, Big Star and George Clinton (w/ Parliament Funkadelic again).

A lot of memories kind of blur together after that... until I became armed with kids and a camera. Here's some random photos from the past seven years.

Zane at age 3, dwarfed by the graffiti exhibit (2010).

Eli at age 5, backstage at Justin Townes Earl

RA Scion of Common Market (2009)

2008

"Lips" of Anvil (2010)

Minus the Bear (2011)

Zane's first Bumbershoot (2007)

Eli, with mommy, at his first Bumbershoot (2005)

Bumbershoot 2011, Day 3 - Charles Bradley, Phantogram, Fly Moon Royalty, Urge Overkill...

Charles Bradley brings love to the Fisher Garden stage, Bumbershoot Day 3

One week later, the third day for Bumbershoot is finally in the books (words & photos up for perusal at Bumpershine this morning), and what a great day it was. I got to spend the early part of the day with my 4-year old photographer's assistant, found bliss with Charles Bradley, trip out with Phantogram, and enjoy some nostalgia with Urge Overkill and Grant Lee Buffalo.

Previously: Day 1 (Part 1 / Part 2), Day 2

Photo set on Flickr: Day 1 (rest to come)

Bumbershoot 2011 - Day 2: Minus the Bear, Kaylee Cole

The hits keep coming... recap and photos from Day 2 of Bumbershoot is now up and ready for your perusal over at Bumpershine. Go ahead, and click... you can always come back.

Previously: Day 1 - Part 1 / Part 2

Bumbershoot 2011 - Day 1 (Part 2): Shabazz Palaces, Pickwick

Minus the Bear playing Fisher Green stage @ Bumbershoot, Sept. 3, 2011

The second part of Bumbershoot's Day 1 is up and ready for your perusal over at Bumpershine.

Shabbaz Palaces, Pickwick, Little Dragon, Trombone Shorty, Vetiver and more. Go.

Bumbershoot 2011 - Day 1 (Part 1)

It took me a bit of time to get through the 3000+ photos I took at this year's Bumbershoot, and even longer to put some words to it. The first day (last Saturday -- I KNOW!) was soooo long thanks to catching 17 acts, we decided to break it up into two parts, stretching this bitch out even further. Photos and words are up now over at Bumpershine.

Bumbershooting: Day 3 Recap and Photos

Steve "Lips" Kudlow of Anvil

Brian King of Japandroids

John Baizley of Baroness

It's a week later, but the photos are all done and recap written for the final day of Bumbershoot -- up at Bumpershine.

Previously, Day 1 photos and recap are here.

Favorite Photos of 2009

This was my first full year with an SLR at my disposal, so when you combine that with a couple passes into 'the pit' and it was a decent year for this amateur. Oddly enough, most of the shots below were taken when I was denied access and had to 'earn it.' Got a few bruises to show for it, but it was worth it.

I'm still learning, so 2010 should be an even better year. (Cue vanity parade:)

"Air Whelan" - The Wrens @ Sasquatch, Day 2 on May 24, 2009.
Fitting that the band that has my album of the decade leads off my photos of the year post. From one of my favorite sets of the year, the Wrens' Kevin Whelan jumps off of his bass cabinet to the lower riser. No wires... all air (kind how i felt trying to capture him, moving from sun to shade and back to sun so quickly). (More photos as recap from event)

"Storm Troopin'" - Audience at Animal Collective, Day 1 on May 23, 2009.
Trapped in a sea of head-bobbing fans... desperately trying to find something to photograph. (More photos and recap from event)

"Show Off" - Cole Alexander of Black Lips @ Capitol Hill Block Party, July 24, 2009.
The Lips put on quite a show, as evidenced by Alexander's acrobatic antics. (More photos and recap from event)

"No Encore" - Andy Falkous of Future of the Left @ Capitol Hill Block Party, Day 2 on July 25, 2009.
Darkest set I've ever attempted to photograph. Was just too damn hot in Neumo's for stage lights.(More photos and recap from event)

"Lean Back" - Brian King & David Prowse of Japandroids @ Capitol Hill Block Party, Day 2 on July 25, 2009.
Taken before I started getting crushed against the barricade. (video) (More photos and recap from event)


"Z, my Hat, Friday Mile" - Friday Mile @ Doe Bay Fest, Day 2 on August 15, 2009.
You knew I'd figure out a way to get one of my kids on this list.
(More photos and recap from event)

"Having a Ball" - Matt of Matt & Kim @ Bumbershoot, Day 1 on September 5, 2009.
Their set was like unicorns and cotton candy coming out of their amps... the kids lapped it up. (More photos and recap from event)

"Grapes of Wrath" - RA Scion of Common Market, Day 2, September 6, 2009.
Workers unite! Common Market performs a theme of worker oppression, and what do you know -- it works. (More photos and recap from event)

"Keep it Dark" - Mark Lanegan with Soulsavers @ Bumbershoot Day 3 on September 7, 2009.
Lanegan ask them to cut the lights on him, making it difficult to capture him. Got this one right before the last bit of light on him was shut down. Dude likes it dark. (More photos and recap from event)

Sasquatch coverage
Capitol Hill Block Party
Doe Bay Festival coverage
Bumbershoot coverage

Bumbershoot Day 3: LOST in the Mire

After mostly holding back during Bumbershoot, the rain pretty much ruled the final day of the music and arts festival. With the ground already saturated from the late night-to-early-morning buckets from the prior two days, the last day was pretty dreary. There were still plenty of acts to be excited about, but my expectations were once again dampened going in, as far as live music was concerned. However... I did have one indoor activity planned for the middle of my day that I was excited about, and that was the Writers From Lost panel, featuring Executive Producer Carlton Cuse and hosted by EW's Doc Jensen. [I'll leave details from that in a separate post.]

Once again, here's a small sampling of pictures from througout the day.
The Minus 5 at the Mural Ampitheatre

Scott McCaughey doesn't play enough for his old city these days, so it's always a party when he graces us with his presence. And he's always bringing his (semi)famous friends along for the ride. There's always R.E.M.'s Peter Buck, and this time out, The Minus 5 players include Steve Wynn (Dream Syndicate) on guitar and Linda Pitmon (Zuzu's Petals, Golden Smog) on drums. While Minus 5 gets the marquee, it should be stated that this was also a The Baseball Project and The Steve Wynn IV show, as each got their turn. Besides the "contractually obligated by The Late Show with David Letterman" song "Past Time," they performed "Harvey Haddix," about the Pirates pitcher who took a perfect game into the 13th inning only to end up losing the game. Since they list all the pitchers who've thrown perfect games in the song, it was fitting that a 'Mark Buehrle' got thrown in for one of the choruses (sung like "Five Golden Rings"). Peter Buck even pulled out a 12-string for The Dream Syndicate's jangly hit "Tell Me When It's Over."

I was going to duck out a song early to check out Say Hi, but McCaughey & gang spoiled those plans with a blazing cover of the Sonics' "Strychnine." It was early and raining, so the crowd was a little thin, which is unfortunate as it just might have been my favorite set of the whole festival.

Janelle Monae at Fisher Green Stage

Monae's schtick is from another planet, quite literally. She's a true blue sci-fi diva, with robotic moves, crazy eyes, and with an amazingly tiny frame. She went on late (as was the case with many a Fisher Green Stage performer), so I only made it through one song before having to run off to the next set.

Akron/Family at Broad Street Lawn Stage

The freak folkers played during some of the wettest parts of a very wet day, but did not disappoint. Like Holy Fuck the night before, they had the crowd in trance, moving to the grooves they were providing. The rain ended up feeling more like a special effect than an act of God.

The Cave Singers at the Mural Ampitheatre

Seattle's latest buzz-y beard rockers, The Cave Singers can no longer be considered a collective, as even in the rain, the crowd gathered to see them seemed bigger than any of their respective acts (Pretty Girls Make Graves, Cobra High, Hint Hint) ever got at the festival.

Vieux Farka Toure at Fisher Green Stage

Being the son of Mali's greatest export means Vieux has big shoes to fill. Ali Farka Touré played Bumbershoot some 16 years ago when Vieux was just 12 years old, so it was fun seeing his son getting a similar ecstatic response from the crowd. While Vieux is a fine guitarist, his backing band was the attraction for me. The bass player, percussionist and even the drummer with dancing shoes made of shells all made the rain feel a lot less wet.

Soulsavers featuring Mark Lanegan at the Broad Street Lawn Stage

While it was great hearing Soulsavers revisit their 2007 album It's Not How Far You Fall, It's the Way You Land with Mark Lanegan on vocals, after a few songs, everything started to sound the same. And since nobody was moving on stage, it pretty much looked the same. Lanegan's voice always makes me want to drink, and so a beer garden was in order, with Lanegan's baritone singing of a "Kingdome of Rain" still following us in the distance.

Previously: Bumbershoot - Day 2

Bumbershoot Day 2: Hole in the middle

Day 2 of Bumbershoot was like the first in that the weather looked grim initially, but held up fine once things got going. Other than that, though, it was quite a bit different. There was a black hole in the middle of the day schedule-wise, but that allowed me to both visit Flatstock, and to scope out the Lost panel (hosted by EW's Doc Jensen) for Monday. By 5:45, though, things got ca-razy, starting with Common Market's vivid set. From there I ping-ponged around the grounds seeing six bands over the next two hours, before deciding to jump into David Cross' set, so I could finally sit down for a bit. Pics to follow (brief recaps to be added piecemeal as time before too long).

Mt. St. Helens Vietnam Band @ Broad Street Lawn stage

MSHVB is a band that is easy to root for, and I always go in hoping for the best, but I find myself wishing they could just rev it up a notch. Visually, they're pretty stoic for the music, with seemingly only Traci Eggleston exhibiting any life, looking like an indie rock Kristen Bell.

Parenthetical Girls @ EMPSFM's Sky Church stage

The indie rock cabaret isn't my cup of tea, but I can see it's appeal to the disaffected youth. It's as if Kurt from Glee fronted an indie rock band of Liza Minelli fanatics. It was a bittersweet set for the band, though, as singer Zac Pennington announced it was their last with keyboardist Matt Carlson.

Common Market @ Fisher Green Stage

The hip-hop band, like The Whore Moans the day prior, saw the Depression as a source of inspiration for their set, but while the Whore Moans lads played out the haves, Common Market took the part of the have nots. Where Satan is the corporate master and all the workers are slaves. Full of rich theatrics, it was one of the highlights of the festival. Covering Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah" was pretty, but wholly unneeded -- let's have a moratorium on that cover, k?

Vivian Girls at Broad Street Lawn Stage

I heard some complaints about their KEXP set, but on the big stage their reverb-drenched punk-pop-shoegaze mashup sounded delicious. Sure, the guitar playing is a bit sloppy, but it's rock and roll y'all.

No Age at the Exhibition Hall Stage (Rock Star Energy Stage)

This might be my biggest disappointment of the whole weekend. I've repeatedly missed their earlier swings through Seattle due to scheduling conflicts and was looking forward to their set. Maybe it was the cruddy sound of the Exhibition Hall, but the crowd and the band both seemed pretty tired.

Roy Ayers @ Fisher Green Stage

Holy Fuck @ Broad Street Lawn Stage

The naughtily-named quartet from Canada took their Can-inspired spacey jams and made a crowd of thousands move their feet. I so wanted to see them play at the Neumo's after-party, but just didn't have the energy to get there (on foot/bus all weekend). Next time.

David Cross & Friends (pictured Wyatt Cenac, Cross & H. Jon Benjamin as BUMBERCLAP!) at Bagley Wright Theatre

After a long day on my feet I just felt the need to sit down and laugh. Cross always pleases, and while most were expecting either Eugene Mirman or possibly Sarah Silverman to show, seeing Wyatt Cenac and Doug Benson was just as good. And BUMBERCLAP!

Previously: Bumbershoot Day 1: Made of Win

Bumbershoot Day 1: Made of Win

Bumbershoot's first day is in the books, and it couldn't have gone smoother. Weather threatened to dampen the day, with downpours through the morning, but as the gates opened, the clouds stayed at bay until well after De La Soul played their final note. Here's a few photos and brief review of each performance I managed to take in.

Akimbo @ EMPSFM's Sky Church stage

My day started late, but I made sure to get in for Seattle's hardcore superstars, and to bring my ear plugs. The riffs were loud and the EMP-SFM Sky Church was packed wall-to-wall with their dedicated fans. As usual, ear-drums were bleeding by the end of their set, but no one was complaining.

Matt & Kim @ Broad Street Lawn Stage

Matt & Kim were all smiles and energy, and I swear I saw kittens and rainbows coming from the speakers when they played. After sending makeshift M&K beach balls into the crowd (Toyota branded inflatables re-branded with Matt & Kim-markered stickers) the married Brooklyn duo played through their happy, happy set while beaming big, big smiles. It was like a box of fluffy puppies for the tween audience, and they were lapping it up, beach balls and all.

The Whore Moans presents: The Black Atom! @ EMPSFM's Sky Church stage

The Whore Moans have started a Bumbershoot tradition for themselves, with a one-time only theme for the festival. After last year's Celebration of the end of the Bush Era' theme, this year's is a theatrical soul revue called "The Black Atom!" Besides the Soul Punk song execution, the audience was treated to the band in depression era zoot suits, gospel like intros to songs, added keys & sax along with backup singers (Prisilla Ray and Duffy from the Cute Lepers) decked out in 20's style flappers. Whore Moans For. The. Win.

Os Mutantes @ Fisher Green Stage

My most anticipated act of the festival didn't disappoint... well, perhaps a little. Since it's down to just Serge Diaz from the original lineup (and drummer Dinho Leme, who joined during the post-Rita Lee prog years) the set list was tailored to fit Diaz's guitar playing, which kind of took the air out of the set at times. The fun, early material often gave way to long guitar solos and more selections from their prog-rock years. New material from their album coming out next week sounded great, including "Querida Querida" and "2000 e Agarrum," and it was great hearing "Baby" sung in Portuguese (and having Obama as "El Justicero"). Unfortunately, much of the fun of "Bat Macumba" and "A Minha Menina" was lost through extended guitar solos. Yes, Serge is still impressive on the axe, but not every song needs a demonstration of that.

World Party at Mural Ampitheatre Stage

I knew I was only going to catch one or two songs, as I had to get back for De La Soul, so it was nice that Karl Wallinger decided to treat us with "Put the Message in the Box" as the first song. I'm sure "Ship of Fools" came some time later, but I had already moved on to that other fave from the late 80's...

De La Soul @ Fisher Green Stage

This was my other big anticipated set for the night, thanks to it being part of the much celebrated "20 Years and Rising" tour, celebrating the 20th anniversary of 3 Feet High and Rising. De La Soul has never gotten high marks for their live shows in the past, but this tour has been a revelation for the band. By incorporating a live band into the act (Rhythm Roots All Stars), their Daisy Age sound is much more realized than with just Maseo's turntable mastery. Posdnuos roamed the stage like he was 20 years younger, while he and Trugoy 'passed the mic.' By the end of the set, the moon was out and the Space Needle loomed over us all, pointing homeward, where we all headed just in time to beat the next downpour of rain. Thank you, oh Gods of weather, for your kind deflection of precipitation (and more of that today, please!)

Previously: Bumbershoot Preview