Back Beat Seattle | Review & Photos: Capitol Hill Block Party, Day 2, Sat. w/ Brent Amaker and the Rodeo, Pickwick, Purity Ring & More

Capitol Hill Block Party, Day 2 – Sat. w/ Brent Amaker and the Rodeo, Pickwick, Purity Ring & More
Photos by Abby Williamson & Simon Krane
Review by Abby Williamson

Brent Amaker and the Rodeo – photo by Simon Krane

It’s almost unbelievable how different Block Party felt on day 2 compared to day 1. With bands like Rose Windows and Pickwick bringing the soul and Country Lips and Brent Amaker and the Rodeo with their old school country, the day felt much more relaxed – and definitely way more up my alley.

A few of my other favorites from that day included Seattle’s own Land of Pines and The Flavr Blue. Land of Pines brought a considerable crowd out to the Vera Stage in the 5 o’clock heat, and they reminded that crowd several times throughout their set – “stay hydrated, guys!” The Flavr Blue filled Neumo’s with their upbeat and dance floor-ready hip-hop. But the biggest out-of-towners of the day, Purity Ring – killed it on the mainstage. Their eerie brand of “nightmare pop” as I like to call it translated across the three blocks of Capitol Hill, which is pretty crazy considering it’s just two people up on that stage with a bunch of weird hanging light fixtures.

To close out the night, local darlings Pickwick brought it home, so to speak. I’ve seen Pickwick in all kinds of venues, from an outdoor at the Seattle Center Mural Stage to the Crocodile, a Presbyterian church in Tacoma to the opening day of the Mariners. Their journey to being “Seattle Hipster Band” has certainly been an exciting one, and it was kind of amazing to see what kind of response they got on the main stage. It felt so great that I stayed in the middle of the crowd for the whole show, heavy camera gear and all.

(Editor’s note: See more of Williamson’s photos here.)