WINNERS AND MEHS >>
Bumbershoot, day one: down. I even saw-or at least listened to - most of the bands on my preview list.
Becki Sue & Her Big Rockin' Daddies? They sure can play. Wail, even, on their respective instruments, from guitar to harmonica to a stand-up bass with flames painted on. But instrumental skill and inspiring music are two different things, and run-of-the-mill blues was a rather bland start to the day.
The Submarines fared better. Still not terribly exciting, but by the design of their cheery, mellow bounce-pop. Neither fancy nor crappy.
Winner of the day is Caspar Babypants. Somehow not surprisingly, Chris Ballew's songs seem to be coming from the same part of his soul as all his work with the Presidents of the United States of America. Simple, occasionally non-sensical sing-along choruses, quirky stories following the adventures of small bugs, madcap joyful energy. And the kids go nuts for it.
The Constellations were relegated to lunchtime background music, highlighted by a cover of David Bowie's "Let's Dance" that sounded vaguely as though it were being sung by folk legend Richie Havens.
Plants and Animals? A resounding "meh." 'Nuff said.
Highlight #2 was the Bumbershoot episode of The Round. Piano songstress Shenandoah Davis cut loose with some Regina Spektor-esque wailing, Tomo Nakayama sang two excellent originals and a Magnetic Fields cover, and Tacoma's Goldfinch played a lovely rendition of my favorite of theirs, "Go Easy On Me". All players were improved by a pedal steel and a cellist.
The Decemberists were as Decemberists as ever. It wasn't the best show I've seen, or the worst, but Colin Meloy wielded hitherto unseen harmonica skills on a number of new tunes that have me looking anxiously forward to their next record.
Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros? Meh, take two.
Solomon Burke, the King of Rock & Soul, rocked as much soul as ever in the song and a half we got a chance to see.
Bob Dylan, unfortunately, was largely meh number three. He has managed to get only less intelligible with time. I've said before that I respect his tendency to change how he does songs, but respect doesn't necessarily translate directly to enjoyment.
Overall impression of my first day as an Official Journalist? Press passes at Bumbershoot are good for three things: free admission, direct line to the front of the mainstage crowd, and the press lounge with private access to the McCaw Hall restrooms.
So what's on the slate for day two? Assuming I do the things I say?
11:45 a.m., Starbucks Stage: The Tripwires
Riding the same wave as Becki Sue from yesterday. Being first band of the day gets a guaranteed slot on the list. Unfortunately it also makes you the first cut when I don't get my pass until post-noon.
12:30 p.m., Fisher Green Stage: Eldridge Grave & The Court Supreme
That the phrase "funk juggernaut" is used in their description is more than enough for me. I got myself thoroughly funked by Roy Ayers last year, and can always do with some more Bumbershoot funkification.
1:15 p.m., Center Square Stage: Sweet Water
Mostly because I know the last time I saw them, they played Superstar right at the beginning of their set, so I won't have to stay too long.
2 p.m., Center House Theatre: The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
I am a theater writer too, after all. Audience participation and theoretical hilarity are the order of the day for this musical.
4 p.m., Fisher Green Stage: Georgia Anne Muldrow & Declaime
I want to get at least a little hip hop in, and I've no intention of visiting Monday's mainstage lineup, so here it be.
4:45 p.m., Center Square: The Bouncing Souls
So many punk "purists" still try to insist that punk shouldn't be pop, and pop can't be punk. I respectfully submit that they are dumb. Well, not TOO respectfully.
5:45 p.m., Broad Street Stage: Ra Ra Riot
I like it when bands have cellos. That's enough reason right there.
6:30 p.m., NW Court Stage: Coryell, Auger, Sample Trio
Likewise to the above hip-hop entry. I want to see something jazz, and thus something jazz I shall endeavor to see.
8:30 p.m., Starbucks Stage: Billy Bragg
Billy Bragg is 100% legend in the folk and protest scene of the last few decades, and is simply not someone you miss if you hold any interest in the genre at all.
9:15 p.m., Broad Street Stage/Mainstage: The Dandy Warhols/Weezer
Occupying two different stages, how much of one I catch will depend on which one we hit first, and how much we like it. Unlike just about everyone else of my age group, I have no strong emotional attachment to Weezer, so we shall see.
Back tomorrow with another recap of the totally different list of bands I actually saw.