What do you get when you combine good weather, nice people and great music? A decidedly Seattle experience! A week after my first Ice Cream Man outing at the Pitchfork Music Festival in Chicago it was time for the Capitol Hill Block Party. This time I was on my own, no cream to sling but plenty of good times to be had. I’m a photographer, not a writer, so I’m gonna give it to you like I remember it.
Day 1
Common Market – Hip-hop you don’t stop! Rad NW hip-hop with some meaning.
Abe Vigoda – Part of the Chicago underwater house party experience and great to see again. Even ran into the crew at a thrift store down the street. And No Age was there watching the festivities.
U.S.E. – Dance-Tastical but not exactly my thing, plenty of other people’s thing though.
Mika Miko – L.A. girls in the vain of the Japanther boys (the singing into a telephone thing will automatically put you into that camp). Energy for miles and I was into it.
Menomena – Don’t remember it all that much but they played the main stage so I’m sure they’re pretty good.
Girl Talk – F-ing killed it!!! Whole stage full of dancing youngins who stayed the whole set. People getting pulled out of the crowd because they couldn’t take it. New stuff, Old stuff, Good stuff. CRAZY!!! And even crazier was that afterwards when I asked him for a quick portrait with the Ice Cream Man stickers he went into how his friends own the house where the party was in Chicago and how they knew it was a good party when the Ice Cream Crew showed up and there were a bunch of Craigslist missed connections posts like, “I fell in love with you when we were escaping the electricity in the flooded basement and you grabbed my hand, etc…” Awesome. Girl Talk loves Ice Cream Man and we love Girl Talk.
Les Savy Fav, – Even better than at Pitchfork. A pleasure to see at a much smaller event and they play their hearts out. More crowd participation than stage participation and just fun. Climbing street signs, speakers, and pretend flying while perched on a stage monitor. Not to mention the multiple costume changes, with the Wizard being my personal favorite.
Jay Reatard – I’m pretty bummed that I missed them in Chi-town because if they were even half as good as in Seattle I would have been in for a treat. Garage Rock to melt your soul and bang your head to. Mmmmmmmmmmm.
Vampire Weekend – All in all good but I think they make better videos than play headlining sets at festivals. I just think they’re more of an artsy, sunshine and 3 foot stage band than a lights camera action type of experience. If they played my backyard I’d be stoked!
Sleep break
Day 2
Kay Kay and His Weathered Underground – I was really into it, can’t describe it but it was a pleasure.
Little Party and the Bad Business – Energy, emotion, and fun. I’d have to say that the Vera stage was darn tootin’ plobably the best stage at the fest. Original music from lesser known acts. Refreshing.
The Cave Singers – As someone else said, kinda like Fleet Foxes but not so polished. Check them out.
Darker My Love – Amazing psychedelia from LA. I’ll totally be going to their shows when I get back.
The Physics – More NW hip-hop. Couldn’t stay long but enjoyable.
Kimya Dawson – You know her from the Juno soundtrack and she’s cool as can be. Good stage banter and humble.
Short break for Angelina and Dan’s going away BBQ where I took the cornhole title away from a native Mid-westerner. Snaps
Fleet Foxes – I was busy taking photos, I’m sure you already have your own opinions so lets just go with those.
Chromeo – Cheesy (for me) but a perfect moment. Sunshine and everyone singing, dancing and having a blast.
Throw me the Statue – Didn’t catch much but I’ll be hitting up their M-Space to get a better feel for it.
The Hold Steady – Consistent and bigger than life. Drink ’em up y’all.
Grand Ole Party – I’m enamored with it. Drummer / lead singer lady at the front of the stage belting it out. Good lighting and they’re playing the Detour Festival in Downtown Los Angeles so you know I’ll be there.
Last but not least…
DeVotchka!!! – It’s been 3 long years since I last saw them and I’m at 9 years of being a fan so it was like the good old days. Pretty and heartbreaking music to sway to. Every other photographer left the pit about halfway through but I stayed forever not wanting to miss a moment. A fitting end to a great weekend.
So that’s it, my little recap. I’m glad I was privy to the mayhem. Big thanks to David Meinert at Fuzed Music for the access, the Stranger and KEXP (best radio station ever) for a great event. Deschutes and Miller for the free beers, Via Tribunali for awesome pizza and to Ariana and Jason for keeping me company. I think I’m going to make this an every summer event from now on!
