By Nate Watters

Unfortunately, work kept me from attending the Block Party on Friday and also didn’t allow me to arrive Saturday and Sunday until late in the afternoon. Despite my late arrival, I still managed to see a lot of great performers and a few of the bands on my must-see list. Shooting from the crowd proved to be a bit difficult, especially for the main stage shows, but I wasn’t about to let that bring me down.
I cruised the streets, ate a corn dog at Unicorn, and hung out upstairs at Cafe Vita’s VIP lounge. I watched local band Dutchess and the Duke, who I’ve been wanting to see for a very long time. I (kind of) saw Jack White and the Dead Weather, but the crowd tired me and I decided to watch Hey Champ instead, which was easily the best show of the weekend. There were mayyybe fifty people inside Neumos for Hey Champ when I walked in. Word must have spread quickly to the Dead Weather crowd, because by the end of Hey Champ’s set, Neumos was pretty crowded. Their energetic dancey synth pop was the perfect way to end the weekend.  Here are some highlights:

Aveo played to a good sized crowd in the KEXP/Cafe Vita Bean Room – A nice, intimate setting perfect for the duo’s acoustic performance.

KEXP’s Marco Collins rocked tunes in the VIP lounge upstairs at Cafe Vita while the crowd enjoyed the hot weather and cold beers in the street below.

Grand Hallway on the Vera Stage, Saturday

Atmosphere played to a huge crowd.  I’d say the balcony crew had the best seats in the house.

The Sunday balcony crew, armed with squirt guns.

Grand Archives

Dutchess and the Duke

The Dead Weather

Hey Champ