Capitol Hill Block Party Day 1 – Friday July 22
June 28th, 2011
It might seem early to some, but with less than a month until the Capital Hill Block Party (CHBP), I figure I’ll throw my two and a half cents in and plan something of that weekend. I’ve secured a pass thus, and the Friday off work. Now, I just need to decide what to do, where to go, who to see.
It’s a tough call. Some of the bands I’ve heard and seen before. Some I’ve just heard of. Others are a mystery. Case in point, Unknown Mortal Orchestra. I like to see bands I know next to nothing about other than perhaps one tune. I will admittedly listen to one song to make sure I’m in the ballpark for something decent, to make sure of the possibility that I may be inspired to write something about them later. So I listened to the first song on UMO’s Facebook page, “Ffunny Ffriends”. It isn’t the sonically best recording, but my guess is that’s intentional, and it suits them. It has enough umph and melody to make me think that live it will have a force they couldn’t capture in the studio. As I’ve said before, live is the thing. I hope so anyway as I’ve decided on them as my opening thing for this whole Block Party weekend. 4:15 – 4:45 – Neumos Stage – Unknown Mortal Orchestra.
I’ll wander after that. I’ve never been to the CHBP so the need to explore will be ever present. I’ll end up at some venue or other though. Perhaps, I’ll overhear some people talking, “Hey, you got to check this band out.” Perhaps, I’ll look for drink specials. Perhaps, I’ll spy me a beauty and go where she goes. That will all last until 7:45 though when, again, another band I know little of will take the stage. Elephant Rider. I listened to one song, and it rocks well. I know they will rock live. There’s a looseness to their energy that I like. 7:45 – 8:15 – Cha Cha Stage – Elephant Rider
I’ll be in the mood for some grub after that, and then I’ll do the obvious. The Head and The Heart. How could I not? Sure it figures to be crowded, and even though I tend to avoid crowds in general, it will be worth it. I’ve seen them once so I know the tunes, I have the CD, but I took notes that whole time at the Moore Theater. I scribbled and scribbled all the while missing nuances, and they have their nuances. This time, I’ll set my notebook aside and take it all in and see what remains in memory days after when I finally get to the writing of it. 9:15 – 10:15 – Main Stage – The Head and the Heart
Before seeing The Head and The Heart the first time, I listened to one song … and it got me.
True, there are bands on later than 10:15, but it’ll be a tough call. When 10:15 rolls around, I could feel perfect, settled, or I could be in the mood for a kick in the ass to end the night. That one, we’ll play by ear, and head and heart of course.
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