MATT DRISCOLL: TECHNOLOGY SUCKS >>>

Technology is not my strong suit. It never has been, and as every day passes that I'm confounded by some gadget with a USB cord or bewildered by an ISP it becomes more and more obvious that it never will be.

That, my friends, is a long winded explanation of why none of the pictures I've taken so far today have made their way to the Spew. I do apologize. After spending a number of hours wrestling with the problem in the Bumbershoot press room, I've given up on it for now. I'll post the pictures as soon as I figure them out, which for those who care will probably be later tonight.

But pictures have never been my purpose. Words are my purpose, and I do have a few of those to offer.

If Neko Case was the highlight of the early part of my day at Bumbershoot, Mono in VCF's set at the EMP Sky Church has been the highlight of the evening. The venue fit the atmospheric rockers perfectly. An entrancing spectrum of light show color provided the backdrop, and Mono in VCF's opuses of mood and tone filled in the voids. Singer Kim Miller â€" who I'd never had the pleasure of seeing man the ship for Mono in VCF since she's relatively new to the band â€" delivered a jaw-dropping performance. It's now obvious to me why the guys in Mono recruited her. Miller's voice is amazing and her look makes the Mono package whole.

Despite some equipment humming and a few feedback snaps, Mono trudged through a set heavy with new material â€" a set the crowd seemed to lap up with delight. Jordan Luckman was steady as always on bass, and guitarist Hunter Lea seemed at home on the brightly lit EMP stage. Highlights of the band's set included two covers. The band nailed a Terry Jacks tune â€" who I do believe Mono in VCF has a serious rock and roll crush on â€" and the band then invited Mark Pickerel (of Screaming Trees fame, and also Mark Picerkel and his praying hands) on stage for a cover Lee Hazelwood's "Some Velvet Morning" With Pickerel manning the main vocal duties and Miller playing the part of Nancy Sinatra, it was a sight to be seen and especially heard.

UPDATE: Here are a few of those pictures I promised