One of several Sub Pop acts who played Bumbershoot, Blitzen Trapper, performed on the outdoor Sub Pop Stage. Also at this year’s festival were Joe Raiola, editor of MAD Magazine, and Seattle’s Barcelona. Barcelona recorded a cool cover of Robyn’s “Call Your Girlfriend” last summer – check it out here.
Blitzen Trapper – photos by Kirk Stauffer
Joe Raiola – photos by Nicky Andrews
Blitzen Trapper – photos by Kirk Stauffer
Barcelona – photos by Simon Krane
I love Future of the Left. I have a problem where I cannot stop listening to them. I go on Future of the Left benders frequently. I just had to share that with you. The brilliant band returns to Seattle’s Neumo’s on November 11th. Ah, for now though, enjoy the video for “I Am the Least of Your Problems,” where you can find out, with them, that misery is glorious.
Future of the Left
Seattle’s Tess Henley has been working on an album with The Roots’ Dice Raw – oh you know, no big deal. The album should be out this fall. Have a look at and a listen to Henley’s video for “Daydreaming.” What a great voice.
Tess Henley
Tara Palmer-Tomkinson, English media type thing and socialite, has written a song! It’s called “5 Seconds” and it’s actually very, very good. Do you like pop music? Do you like dramatic pop music? I do. I want this album. Badly.
Tara Palmer-Tomkinson
On September 15th Buckethead, complete with KFC bucket, headlined Seattle’s Neptune Theatre. If you do not know Buckethead, he’s an absolute wizard guitarist – and he performs with said KFC bucket on his head. He also wears a white mask. You can, naturally, see this from the photos Dan Rogers took during Buckethead’s show. Also, Buckethead has released an impressive number of solo albums – 40!!
Buckethead – photos by Dan Rogers
This collection of Bumbershoot photos is an all local, that is Seattle and Spokane, installment. Photographers Simon Krane and Kirk Stauffer captured photos of space/hip hop duo THEESatisfaction, charming rock band Unnatural Helpers, funk ensemble Eldridge Gravy and the Court Supreme, Spokane’s
NUDE POP and the self-described “loud and fast” The Spittin’ Cobras. FYI: The Spittin’ Cobras next play El Corazon on October 27th.
THEESatisfaction – photos by Simon Krane
Unnatural Helpers – photos by Simon Krane
Eldridge Gravy – photos by Kirk Stauffer
NUDE POP – photos by Simon Krane
The Spittin’ Cobras – photo by Simon Krane
THEESatisfaction – photos by Simon Krane
Unnatural Helpers – photos by Simon Krane
Eldridge Gravy – photos by Kirk Stauffer
Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes @ Marymoor Park, 9/15
Show Review & Photos by Holly Cartwright
I approached Marymoor Park just as Clap Your Hands Say Yeah was wrapping up their set. Dusk was closing in on the park, and heavy red and orange lights illuminated the stage. From the gates, I remember thinking that the whole setup was like a wicked sunset on the Southern horizon.
Despite having a strong following here in the Northwest, Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros hadn’t performed in front of the Seattle crowd for some time.
However, it’s safe to say that they more than made up for lost time with their performance on Saturday evening in Redmond.
I was delighted to see how many fans had turned out. While there were a substantial number of people sprawled out on the grass several yards behind the stage, there was a very impressive stack of eager fans squashed against it. It’s always a good sign when people are gathered around attentively, just for soundcheck between sets.
Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes
Alex Ebert, founder and front man of the group, was nothing but engaging and exuberant for the entire duration of his time on stage. He was swaying and dancing dreamily, interacting with each member of his band. Alex seemed to have found this very tangible chemistry with every individual. Nothing about his banter and his act seemed the least bit contrived. Contrarily, I was impressed by how invariably natural and comfortable he was.
Jade Castrinos was no different. Everything about her was captivating, from her powerful voice to her genuine, playful nature.
Watching the two of them interact was nothing short of magical. As the band started playing their hit song “Home,” they looked at one another and began to reminisce about when they had written it. Halfway through the song, the band played through and they started to chat about the meaning of the word home.
JADE: Home is something. . . I think it’s a feeling. . .I think that the people who are the most important in your life are the ones that feel at home with. Like, you can be yourself and you can do lots of stuff in front of them. And they’ll love you anyway, right?
What do you think?
ALEX: I think what you think, I like that one. I like being taught what it is. Everyday, you teach me what it is, ya know?
What was more, Alex and Jade both seemed to have made a conscious effort to generate a sense of intimacy between themselves and the crowd before them. It’s generally agreed that this can be a difficult feat for a performer that’s working a crowd at an amphitheater. However, several times, Alex and Jade could be found kneeling down just on the edge, their arms stretched out to their fans, and their eyes lit up as they scanned the crowds.
This explains all of the folks packed up like sardines during soundcheck. The band clearly has no reservations when it comes to slaying the all-too-prevalent detachment between an artist and a fan. I spoke with an ecstatic young girl that was just against the stage about why it meant so much to her that she made it up front.
“Have you been to one of their shows? They get really close to the people. You’re not so much watching a performance as you are sharing an experience with somebody.”
Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes