Bumbershoot 2010 Day 2

We started the day by fortifying ourselves at The Hurricane Restaurant, a haunt well known by most the cartoonists in Seattle. We went into Bumbershoot at 11am, even though the bands don’t start playing until noon, to get in line for some canvas tote bags Toyota was silk screening on-site. Then it was off to the hidden KEQP stage where we would be seeing most of the bands on our list.

Fences – Krista introduced me to them; I’m going to add into my playlist rotation. I had a chance after the show to get all the band members to sign the sketch I drew while they were playing.
David Bazan – I stopped sketching while listening to these guys because the images they conjured in my head kept changing too quickly.
Aterciopelados – We listen to their albums a lot. Maybe if I understood Spanish I would have been more prepared for their colorful performance. The crowd was full of faithful fans.
Redwood Plan – The soccer gear the lead singer wore was a very valid indicator to the amount of energy she put into her performance. The rest of the band kept up too.
Bouncing Souls – Sometimes you can’t listen to a full set if you want to catch another band. We reluctantly had to leave them to see…
Surfer Blood - This is another band that Krista introduced me to. And again I need to listen to more of them. And again I was lucky enough to have the whole band sign the sketch I drew. They liked it so much that each member pulled the others out of the green room to come out and sign it.
Motion City Soundtrack – I think we enjoyed them even more Bouncing Souls. Both were at a new outdoor venue next to the EMP. Still, no rest for us as we marched across the center to see…
Delorean – We’re not fans of the new arrangement at the Broad Street Stage but we are fans of this group and stayed until folks shouted for an encore.
Weezer - We really enjoy their albums, and while we heard rumors of their live performance we did not expect the spidermanistic interaction that was both hilarious, spontaneous and wonderfully entertaining. Rivers Cuomo singing Beverly Hills from atop the port-o-potties had us in stitches. We left with the throngs all excited about the performances we will see on Monday.

Bumbershoot 2010 Day 1

You might be wondering, “Mark, where are all the cartoons?” Well, last week I had a business trip to Boston that kept me busy, and this Labor Day weekend the wife and I are attending Bumbershoot. For those of you who do not live in Seattle, or the music scene, Bumbershoot is music festival that takes over the entire Seattle Center (where the 1962 World’s Fair was held.) I’d planned on showing you the drawings I do at the performances, but I forgot a critical cable and so you will have to wait. But I can keep you updated on the wonderful groups we got a chance to listen to.

Plants & Animals – A mellow sound for Indie music. I could listen to them all day. I drew one of the band members as a Cactus, which he found funny when he signed the sketch.
Justin Townes Earle – Very bluesy and he’s very good with the crowd. I drew his shoes. The man had an odd way of standing.
Budas Band – Lots of funky brass and all sorts of drums and rattles made these guys a lot of fun to listen to. I drew a hip cat wearing a suit having a drink under a banana palm.
Visqueen – A local Seattle band who we loved listening to. Stringy and fluffy at the same time with a bit of barb wire.
The Raveonettes – Dark and mood music that I just loved. I’m going to have to add them to my dark and moody line up. Weird and crazy stuff with the guitars. I drew a great raven. Wait until you see it.
See Me River – We are definitely going to pick up this band’s CD before we leave. Hard to describe this music. A grungy version of Ted Leo, but more rocky.
Niko Case – Tacoma gal who has come a very long way
Edward Sharp – We tried to get over to the stage to see him but the brick mass of people already arrived before the show kept us from even getting close. They should have put him on the mainstage. Whine!
Bob Dylan – Bob Dillon’s voice was Bob Dillon’s voice squared.