Sasquatch 2012 - Day 4: Tenacious D, Beck, Feist

Jack Black emotes with Tenacious D at the main stage, Sasquatch 2012.

Ok, this has been up for a couple of days, but I've been busy working a new gig, so DEAL! Tenacious D, Beck, Feist, The Joy Formidable, Shabazz Palaces, Damien Jurado... it was an eventful day and night.

As usual, word & photos over at the Bumpershine. Do it.

Previously: Sasquatch 2012 Day 3 / Day 2 / Day 1

Sasquatch 2012 - Day 3: Wild Flag, Reignwolf, Hospitaltiy

Carrie Brownstein of Wild Flag, on the Bigfoot Stage -- Sasquatch 2012, May 27.

Hey, look-y here kids... Sasquatch photos and recap from the 3rd day (Sunday) are here and up for your perusal over at Bumpershine.

Reignwolf was all the talk, while Wild Flag rocked against the wind. But don't take my word for it here, go there and take my word for it.

Previously: Sasquatch 2012, Day 2 (Saturday)

Sasquatch 2012 - Day 2: Jack White, St. Vincent, tUnEyArds

St Vincent, aka Annie Clark, at the Sasquatch 2012 Bigfoot stage -- Saturday, May 26.

The second (or first, we're skipping Friday for practical reasons) day of Sasquatch photos and recap are up over at Bumpershine.

Jack White, St. Vincent (above), Alabama Shakes, tUnE-yArds and Pickwick all provided highlights. This year, Brite Lines singer/guitarist and KEXP video operator Zach Gore tagged along for good measure. Don't linger here, though... go forth and view!

Sasquatch 2012 - Day 1: Explosions in the Sky, Long line of cars

Only took three hours to make it in from three miles out.

Friday was a carbon-monoxide sucking, watch the sun set from your car kind of day.

I did see the end of Explosions in the Sky's set, so I just pretended the three hours of torture was the misguided Landry murder plot to season 2 of Friday Night Lights. Season 3-5 (ie, Saturday through Monday) make it all better.
Saturday will suffice as our real first day (coming up immediately).

Previously: Sasquatch 2011, Sasquatch 2010, Sasquatch 2009, Sasquatch 2008, Sasquatch 2006, Sasquatch 2005

2011 - The Year in Photos

Fan's dragon fly at Flaming Lips show, Sasquatch Music Festival in Memorial Day weekend.

It's no secret that I take a lot of pictures. What's becoming less of a secret, though, is that I'm becoming less bad at it.

Having spent so long as a photo editor, I'm naturally a bit more critical of photographs -- and especially my own. But thanks to lens upgrades (purchasing a 50mm prime, renting a 70-200mm) and software (Lightroom, Picknik), I'm getting awfully close to taking photos that I can hang a hat on (and I have a lot of hats, so...).

Anyway, here's some of my favorites from a great year of live music (note: In the Summer Bonfire series collage, half taken on Samsung Focus mobile phone.)

Taylor Hawkins of Foo Fighters, Sasquatch Music Festival -- Memorial Day weekend.

TP flies over the Gorge in celebration of Black Joe Lewis at Sasquatch Music Festival -- Memorial Day weekend.

Robyn @ Sasquatch -- Memorial Day weekend.

Thurston Moore @ Capitol Hill Block Party -- July.

Les Savy Fav - AKA Tim Harrington's Wild Ride at Capitol Hill Block Party, July.

The Posies' Jon & Ken catching air at Capitol Hill Block Party -- July.

Mastodon opens for Soundgarden @ the Gorge, July.

Champagne Champagne at Doe Bay Fest -- August.

Pickwick gets some spiritual back up during "Hacienda Hotel" at Doe Bay Fest, August.

Tyler Williams (The Head & the Heart) lends a shovel to Kelli Schafer @ Doe Bay Fest, August.

Artist Home's Summer Bonfire Series -- All summer.

Mavis Staples summons a higher power at Bumbershoot, September.

Minus the Bear guitarist Dave Knudson at Bumbershoot, September.

Kaylee Cole in the spotlight at Bumbershoot, September.

Phantogram's Sarah Barthel illuminated at Bumbershoot, September.

Charles Bradley spreads the love around at Bumbershoot, September.

Previously: Favorite photos of 2009, if you don't mind looking through photos of my kids, you can find most my shots over at my Flickr site.

Archers of Loaf reunion keeps on going with tour, reissues

Eric Bachman of Archers of Loaf at Sasquatch -- photo by me

One of the best bit of news coming out of the Sasquatch! 2011 wake was that the reunited Archers of Loaf were continuing their tour (already got my tix for their Seattle date in September), and that their catalogue would get the reissue treatment on Merge Records.

I guess that explains guitarist Eric Johnson's fashion choice at Sasquatch!.

Eric Johnson of Archers of Loaf at Sasquatch -- photo by me

Sasquatch 2011, Day 3: Photos, recap

The final recap and batch of photos from Sasquatch! Music Festival 2011 is now up over at Bumpershine. Plenty of shots from the Archers of Loaf reunion extravaganza, Flaming Lips, Yeasayer, Beach House, Sam Roberts, Black Joe Lewis, Fitz & the Depressions, Moondoggies, Wheedle's Groove and more.

I don't know about you, but my back's aching from just recounting it all.

Sasquatch! Day 2 photos/recap
Sasquatch! Day (Night) 1 photos/recap

Sasquatch 2011, Day 2: Photos, recap

Wolf Parade play to a packed main stage, mid-afternoon. 

Day 2 photos and recap is finally up over at Bumpershine. I know it's late, but I've been BUSY. Job interviews, crisis at my kid's school, Doe Bay Festival lineup announcement party to attend -- I've got to be one of the busiest cats on unemployment right now.

Sasquatch 2011, Day 1: Photos, recap

Taylor Hawkins of Foo Fighters at Sasquatch!, May 27, 2011

The 10th Sasquatch! Music Festival happened this past weekend, and I was there with a long and expensive (rented) lens on a starter SLR camera... like monster truck wheels on a Honda Civic. The first day was really just the night, with the reunited Death From Above 1979 and headliners the Foo Fighters (pictured above).

Anyway, you can read and peruse the first batch of photos over at Bumpershine.

Sasquatch 2010 Lineup Revealed!

Tonight at the Crocodile, Sasquatch celebrated a launch party with Surfer Blood, Atlas Sound and Fresh Espresso, but the real attraction was Sasquatch's 2010 lineup.

We has assumed that a reunited Pavement was one of the headliners, but that turned out to be a red herring, and the three Sasquatch ended up with were on hardly anyone's radar. Massive Attack, My Morning Jacket and Ween. Playing armchair festival runner for a second, besides Pavement, Vampire Weekend, MGMT, or even Public Enemy might have been better choices instead of Massive Attack or Ween, but I never usually worry who's on the main stage at the end of the night... the second stage is where I always end up.

Here's the deets, UPDATED! with day-by-day tentative scheduling:

Saturday, May 29th
My Morning Jacket / Vampire Weekend / The National / Deadmau5 / Broken Social Scene / OK Go / Wale / Public Enemy / The Hold Steady / Miike Snow / Z-Trip / Brother Ali / Minus The Bear / WHY? / The Very Best / Portugal. The Man / Mumford & Sons / The Lonely Forest / Nurses / The Middle East / Patrick Watson / Laura Marling / Morning Teleportation / Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros / Fool's Gold / Garfunkel & Oates / Dam-Funk

Sunday, May 30th
Massive Attack / Pavement / LCD Soundsystem / Tegan and Sara / Kid Cudi / Nada Surf / Dirty Projectors / The xx / The Long Winters / Simian Mobile Disco / Midlake / Girls / Vetiver / The Tallest Man On Earth / YACHT / Booka Shade / Caribou / Avi Buffalo / City and Colour / Cymbals Eat Guitars / A-Trak / Fruit Bats / tUnE-yArDs / Local Natives / Freelance Whales / Jets Overhead / Rob Riggle / Luke Burbank

Monday, May 31st
Ween / MGMT / Band of Horses / She & Him / Passion Pit / The New Pornographers / Drive-By Truckers / Boys Noize / Camera Obscura / The Temper Trap / Dr. Dog / Neon Indian / No Age / The Mountain Goats / Phantogram / Quasi / Japandroids / Mayer Hawthorne & The County / The Low Anthem / Fresh Espresso / Hudson Mohawke / Telekinesis / Past Lives / Yes Giantess / Craig Robinson

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

Sasquatch Day 2 review and more photos

Recap of events from the second day of Sasquatch now up at Bumpershine. The Wrens (pictured above, Wrens axes Greg Whelan and Charles Bissell,) once again, were the highlight of the festival for me, but there were some interesting performances from TV on the Radio, Of Montreal and St. Vincent as well.

Sasquatch Day 1 review and more photos

A few words, finally, on each set I saw from day one, along with more photos are now up over at Bumpershine. Day 2 tomorrow, and then I'll have all the photos up on flickr later.

The 5 Craziest Moments from Sasquatch 2009

It was quite the eventful Sasquatch! Festival this year. Oh sure, anytime you throw that many people in a confined space with entertainment and their own plentiful supply of drugs and alcohol, crazy things are bound to happen. But this year, there were some exceptional moments.

Top 5 Crazy moments from Sasquatch

1. Couple have very public sex during the Decemberists set, but experience The Hazards of Love when security comes and busts them:


2. The entire Monotonix set on Monday.
The Israeli band are usually guaranteed to have the craziest moment at any festival they perform at, and it took a live sex act to knock them off the top. Here's a short video of some of the highlights... you must make it to the end.
Insanity.

3. Murder City Devils' Spencer Moody goes on a crazy drunken rant against "the jocks" in the audience; makes out with audience; and rubs a photographer's face in his crotch (not cool).
Crazy, but in the end, kind of annoying.

4. Entire King Khan & the Shrines set, but especially when Saxaphonist Ben Ra pulled down his pants and tucked his package under for the great song "I Wanna Be a Girl." Ra's little dance recalls the creepy scene of Buffalo Bill dancing in Silence of the Lambs ("Would you f*ck me? I'd f*ck me. I'd f*ck me hard.")

5. Kevin Whelan from The Wrens was on fire the whole show, throwing his bass into the stratosphere and then into the audience, topping it off with a leap so high off the top of his bass cabinet, that folks swear my photo of it is doctored somehow when I show them.

Climax to my favorite set from the festival.

Honorable mention goes to Of Montreal's theatrics on Sunday night, and Tim & Eric's always zany antics in the comedy tent on Saturday night.

Anybody else got some craziness to add?

Sasquatch Day Two

Like yesterday, some photos are up over here. I've gone through both days photos, and they'll trickle in first over at Bumpershine and then here (and my flickr acct.).

Sasquatch Day One

Some photos are up over here. There's a ton to go through from both days, and they'll trickle in first over at Bumpershine and then here (and my flickr acct.).

Hunting Sasquatch - A Saturday/Sunday Primer

The Sasquatch Music festival has always been my favorite, and it's primarily due to it's location, the majestic gorge in South Central Washington. The lineup of artists ain't too shabby either. I've always found myself avoiding the mainstage in the evenings, and this year, with headliners like Kings of Leon and Nine Inch Nails, that tradition remains intact. The Wookie Stage draws smaller crowds and quite often, better acts. I've got my schedule mostly set, and it's embedded below.

Who am I excited to see this year? Well, readers of this blog won't be surprised by most. On Saturday, there's Passion Pit and King Kahn and the Shrines in the early part of the day, and then Animal Collective and Bon Iver in the evening. Sunday features St. Vincent, The Wrens, TV on the Radio and Of Montreal, who are all need-to-see when in town. The early part of Monday is what I'll be sad to miss -- Grizzly Bear, Deerhoof, Black Moth Super Rainbow, Santigold, The Duchess and the Duke, Monotix, Fleet Foxes all play in a span of about four hours.

It's been four years now since I was last here, a period of time marked by having kids and schedule conflicts (bar mitzvah, wedding, etc.). The weather has also been freakish in the years since I've been, so it's nice to see that we're expecting 85 degrees and dry for both days.

Here are the expected points where my camera will be getting a workout:

April's showers bring Summer music festivals

It's April, so it must be raining outside. Let me rephrase that... it's Seattle and it's not summer, so it must be raining outside. What a better way to spend a drizzly day than to dream about all the great music festivals hitting the Northwest this summer.

Playlist: Sasquatch Music Festival (May 24-26)
The kickoff to the season is the Sasquatch Music Festival, which year after year, gets the most best tasting/less filling lineup in the country. Doesn't get the press that Coachella gets, but the lineup is top notch, and it's hard to beat watching your favorite band with Grand Canyon Jr. (the Gorge) as a backdrop. Bands like R.E.M., Modest Mouse, The Cure and Death Cab For Cutie are great decoys for the real entertainment on a second stage. That's where you can see acts like Destroyer, Stephen Malkmus, Battles, Okkervil River in a slightly more intimate setting.
Must See: Fleet Foxes

Playlist: Sub Pop 20th Anniversary Festival (July 12-13)
The initial lineup was just announced this week, but rumors of a Green River reunion have been circulating since the fall. Not only do we get a GR reunion, but also reuniting for the event are Red Red Meat, Fluid, Seaweed and Beachwood Sparks. (What, no Tad?) The rest of the lineup is filled with current roster acts like Wolf Parade, Iron & Wine, Fleet Foxes and Flight of the Conchords, but no sight of the crossover successes - The Shins and Band of Horses. Portland's Sub Pop contingent is missing as well -- perhaps Hazel, Pond and The Spinanes can get their act together in time for the event?
Must see: Green River (duh?)
Website: SP20 Details

Playlist: Pemberton Music Festival (July 25-27)
This is a first for the Whistler area and I for one was surprised to see the local residents approve the festival. With a camping set-up and acts like Black Mountain, Jay-Z, Tom Petty, My Morning Jacket (see full lineup) it's a good thing Canada is much looser with their Marijuana laws. They even have a family section for camping, which presumably won't have the same cannibas fog surrounding it.
Must see: Sam Roberts Band (when in Canada...)
Website: Pemberton Festival

Playlist: Capitol Hill Block Party (July 25-26)
Occurring at the same time as Pemberton, CHBP has grown leaps and bounds throughout the years, but finally seems to have settled on a size, as this year resembles the last couple in size and strength (manageable and 'like bull', respectively). Vampire Weekends' got a busy, uh... weekend playing both CHBP and Pemberton fests. Other highlights for this neighborhood party include The Hold Steady, Kimya Dawson and Jay Reatard.
Must see: Jay Reatard!
Website: The Stranger's CHBP site

Playlist: Bumbershoot (August 30–September 1)
The annual labor day weekend arts extravaganza is always the bohemoth lying in wait... the giant straw that breaks your festival going back. I believe I've attended now every year since 1987, which makes my attendance this year of drinking age (21 years!) The beer gardens better watch out! A preview lineup has been announced featuring Beck, Neko Case, M. Ward, Dan Deacon and Wreckless Eric (!) among many others. It's too early to say how it's going to look, though, as there's a lot of time for plenty of surprise announcements to come. We'll of course be monitoring the situation.
Must see: Man Man (just added)
Website: Bumbershoot.org

So, who wants to fly to the Seattle area for the summer now?