Bumbershoot Review
Monday, September 7, 2009 

My time at this year's Bumbershoot was a bit limited, but I did manage to take in a couple of performances.

Following the Carrot with Jason Webley 

It had probably been 10 years since I saw Jason Webley perform. At that time, he was just a solo act, playing an accordian and singing "old-timey" style songs. So there was no way for me to anticipate the high concept performance art piece I was about to witness.  

Monday, September 7, 2009

Every year Seattle either trades their 4^th of July weather for their Memorial Day Weekend weather or vice versa. Since we had a great 4^th, it seemed only fair for the weather to be crappy for Bumbershoot.

On the flipside, crappy weather means less people and less people means I got to see more in the span of 10 hours than I ever had at this festival: The Cave Singers, The Knux, The Minus 5, Say Hi, The Lonely Forest, The New Mastersounds, Mirah, Oren Lavie and three art installments. The only thing I couldn't get into was the comedy. Apparently people like to laugh.

Arriving via shame train - the number 5 bus - the weather kicked into absolute downpour as soon as I got off. Being from Seattle I have the ability to walk between raindrops, which is why I (like other locals) do not own an umbrella, so the weather didn't really phase me.

Bumbershoot Preview
Monday, September 7

Franti and Spearhead

Seattle residents: you live here and you aren't intimately familiar with Michael Franti?

His vibe resonates soundly with our little left coast city. Sometimes political (liberal of course), quasi spiritual, his message is love and peace and healthcare for all... ok not yet on the last one, but maybe...we’ll see on Sunday. Five bucks says he mentions it.

Much like this city we love, Franti’s music is hard to pigeonhole. It’s a little reggae, a little rock, a little hip hop and a whole lot of funky soul. Many folks are lamenting the fact that he is on the main stage instead of an off the path lawn venue as he

Bumbershoot 2009 Preview
Monday, September 7

Monday is my birthday, so I'm hoping it's easy for me to see all of the bands on my 2009 Bumbershoot schedule. You can help out by avoiding these particular shows, OK?

I mean, why would you want to spend your Labor Day at the Seattle Center anyway? Bumbershoot has become a corporate cheesefest. This year tickets are $50 per day and sponsors include "Samsung Mobile," "Starbucks," and "Rockstar Energy Drink."

So even if you examine the 30 plus acts performing on Monday, you won't be able to find  some genuinely enticing groups worth checking out. Right? Right. Here are some to specifically avoid.

Say Hi
Seattle-based "solo" artist Eric Elbogen (Say Hi) released his debut for Barsuk earlier this year. Like many of his label mates, he can be categorized as having a lo-fi indie-pop sound, often featuring "quirky" lyrics regarding pop culture.

Rockstar Energy Drink Vert Ramp
If you need to chill out and take a break from heavy rocking, the fountain lawn is the spot to be. Last year I found myself stopping in on several occasions to watch the skaters tear a new ass out of the less than perfect Rockstar Energy Drink Vert Ramp.

Here's How to Stalk Tyson Lynn this Weekend

Saturday, September 5 

Natalie Portman's Shaved Head

NataLie Portman’s Shaved Head is easily the worst band name at Bumbershoot this year. However they will be bringing one the best, energetic sets to the weekend festival. Odd how these things work out.

Formed by Luke Smith and Shaun Libman back in the day at The Center Shool, NPSH is built around winking acknowledgement of their influences (Devo, electroclash), skill limitations (they started on keyboards and drum machines ‘cause that’s what they knew), and the understandable, ubiquitous motivation of every band member ever: to attract sexy people. Despite their incorrigible flirting with low-minded art prank, NPSH opened big and kept trending upwards.

After a first gig at the 826 Seattle writing center and Greenwood Space Travel Company, they’ve gone on to play internationally with CSS, Matt & Kim, The Go Team; continentally with Lily Allen; and indefatigably for thousands, save the one you might expect. She’s always on the guest list, though, in the off chance she drops by. One of the perks of being in the band name.

Glistening Pleasure, NPSH’s debut full-length, dropped a little over a year ago, and work on the follow-up continues. While we wait to see how that shakes out, you can get shook up at the Broad Street Stage Saturday at 2:30, when unstoppable dance-pop meets immovable punk in a beautiful quake of people.