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I did end up skipping Bumbershoot on Sunday, but I was determined to spend the afternoon and evening there on Monday. I had somewhat mixed results.
Although I again stayed up too late the night before and stayed in bed later than I should have, I was able to make it just in time to catch The Decemberists, playing in the Memorial Stadium. I'd never really realized that there was a stadium at Seattle Center, and they were calling it the "Mainstage" for Bumbershoot, so I was surprised when I got there and realized it was a stadium show. The Decemberists' music is heavily influenced by traditional English and European folk tunes, with a wire of indie rock giving it a stronger backbone. They had no trouble making themselves heard across the stadium, and played a lively set that included at least two songs I recognized from KEXP - "The Sporting Life", and their closer "The Mariner's Revenge Song". The stadium was about half-full, both in the stands (why are they the stands? that's where the seats are) and on the field, and it was clear many fervent fans were there. As for myself, I did enjoy the set, though I didn't think they were the most amazing thing ever, as![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
mrcl does.
The Decemberists ended at 1:45, and the next show I definitely planned to catch was Kinski at 6:30, so I had time to wander around and check out the festival - though not as much as I thought, it turned out. By the time I got around to getting some lunch, it was 4. I had decided to check out Earlimart at 4:30 - I recognized the band's name and the book described them as akin to Sonic Youth and the Pixies. However, when I got over to that venue a little after 4:30, I discovered a huge line of people still forming and slowly moving in - not so much for Earlimart as for the next act, Ted Leo and the Pharmacists, due to start at 6:15. So instead I decided to head over to EMP, where Kinski would be playing.
That turned out to be a good thing, as there was also a long line of people waiting there to get in to see the currently playing band, Idiot Pilot. I ended up in line for 45 minutes, even though staff members came outside to tell people the show was full and no one already in line would be able to get in to see Idiot Pilot; as it was, I did actually make it inside just in time for their last two songs. They sucked. I can't really say much about the music - described in the guide as "merges the electronic backbone of Aphex Twin with the atmospheric beauty of Radiohead" - because all I could hear was the two guys literally screaming into their microphones (apparently that's "the vocal sensation of Blood Brothers," according to the guide description). However, they were also obviously popular with the kids, as the show was packed. Fortunately, almost everyone cleared out once the set was over, allowing me to get a front-row position for Kinski.
This is becoming quite a long post, so I've decided, rather than use the lj-cut tag, I'll just break this up into two posts.
Read about Saturday night at Bumbershoot.
Read about Monday evening at Bumbershoot.
Although I again stayed up too late the night before and stayed in bed later than I should have, I was able to make it just in time to catch The Decemberists, playing in the Memorial Stadium. I'd never really realized that there was a stadium at Seattle Center, and they were calling it the "Mainstage" for Bumbershoot, so I was surprised when I got there and realized it was a stadium show. The Decemberists' music is heavily influenced by traditional English and European folk tunes, with a wire of indie rock giving it a stronger backbone. They had no trouble making themselves heard across the stadium, and played a lively set that included at least two songs I recognized from KEXP - "The Sporting Life", and their closer "The Mariner's Revenge Song". The stadium was about half-full, both in the stands (why are they the stands? that's where the seats are) and on the field, and it was clear many fervent fans were there. As for myself, I did enjoy the set, though I didn't think they were the most amazing thing ever, as
mrcl does.The Decemberists ended at 1:45, and the next show I definitely planned to catch was Kinski at 6:30, so I had time to wander around and check out the festival - though not as much as I thought, it turned out. By the time I got around to getting some lunch, it was 4. I had decided to check out Earlimart at 4:30 - I recognized the band's name and the book described them as akin to Sonic Youth and the Pixies. However, when I got over to that venue a little after 4:30, I discovered a huge line of people still forming and slowly moving in - not so much for Earlimart as for the next act, Ted Leo and the Pharmacists, due to start at 6:15. So instead I decided to head over to EMP, where Kinski would be playing.
That turned out to be a good thing, as there was also a long line of people waiting there to get in to see the currently playing band, Idiot Pilot. I ended up in line for 45 minutes, even though staff members came outside to tell people the show was full and no one already in line would be able to get in to see Idiot Pilot; as it was, I did actually make it inside just in time for their last two songs. They sucked. I can't really say much about the music - described in the guide as "merges the electronic backbone of Aphex Twin with the atmospheric beauty of Radiohead" - because all I could hear was the two guys literally screaming into their microphones (apparently that's "the vocal sensation of Blood Brothers," according to the guide description). However, they were also obviously popular with the kids, as the show was packed. Fortunately, almost everyone cleared out once the set was over, allowing me to get a front-row position for Kinski.
This is becoming quite a long post, so I've decided, rather than use the lj-cut tag, I'll just break this up into two posts.
Read about Saturday night at Bumbershoot.
Read about Monday evening at Bumbershoot.
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