Seattle Subsonic

Bands I Saw At The Block Party – Part 1

July 27th, 2008

Here are a few snapshots of my weekend, along with some brief reactions. Overall, the sound on the main stage sucked and somebody sold too many tickets, but, as always, the positives (sneaking my flask in, doling out amateur fashion criticism) outweighed the negatives (motorheads, achy knees). Oh, and the music was top-notch. As always.

 

Past Lives

 

One of the bands I was most eager to see, our first show of the day didn’t disappoint. Intelligent guitar work and rapid-fire drumming accompanied by Jordan Blilie’s screaming and crooning. Look for this newish band to only improve with time.

 

PWRFL Power

 

PWRFL Power finally won me over. I’d been reluctant to enjoy his offbeat, cheeky, sometimes-heartfelt songwriter stories—dubbing them hackneyed and boring—but the newest Brooklynite took full advantage of his Vera Stage homecoming. Guy can really pluck his guitar, too (the same one Kurt Cobain had, we were informed).

 

Girl Talk

 

Girl Talk: meh.

 

Champagne Champagne

 

Got another notch in my musical bedpost while watching MC Pearl Dragon charm the crowd inside King Cobra. DJ Gajamagic’s beats were smoov at times, bombastic at others. You’ll notice P shed his shirt at one point. You’ll notice the other MC’s (Thomas Gray, I believe) hilarious nod to MTV days of yore. You’ll notice the freakin’ party bumpin’ on stage.

 

Les Savy Fav

 

Easily the best (or my favorite—you decide) show of the entire weekend. Les Savy Fav’s sublime art-punk is the perfect backdrop for the Number 1 Showman In Rock Music, Tim Harrington, who had (at least) three wardrobe changes, two separate audience adventures, and kindly lent a hand in preparing some street meat. All while keeping tabs on his bare belly and his next potential “jungle gym”; and the singing, of course. I asked him earlier in the night (seriously) to play one of my favorites off their latest record, and the band cordially complied.

 

The Heavy Hearts

 

I’ve made no attempt at masking my admiration for one of Seattle’s hardest-rocking, double-bass playing, grunge-punk bands (that’s a category, right?), and ending my drunken night with them in the King Cobra was fitting. Their songs grow tighter as their fan base grows taller.