Black Eyes and Neckties at Bumbershoot 2008 ::: photo by Abbey

Just as I love everything about this photo, I love everything about Black Eyes and Neckties. They were the big discovery of 2008 for me, and though their album Apparition! didn’t come out in 2008, it was doubtlessly one of my most listened to albums of the year.

See more of BENT’s inspired and insane Bumbershoot performances on our Flickr.

Thao Nguyen Backstage at Bumbershoot ::: Photo by Abbey

At some point, every photographer becomes obsessed with shooting reflections in people’s sunglasses. I am no different, and this photo of Thao (of Thao and The Get Down, Stay Down) mere moments before she took the stage to wow an adoring Bumbershoot crowd is my great success thus far.  

It doesn’t hurt that Thao is not only adorable, but she’s wearing a Flavor-Flav style clock that has her name on it and she’s lookin’ like the coolest kid in school. Thao packs a punch vocally and lyrically that belies her small stature. Think Cat Power, coming out of a 5′2 frame, sporting an acoustic guitar 3/4’s her size.

Brave the falling snow and support KEXP by checking out Thao tonight at Neumo’s.

See more photos of Thao from Bumbershoot here

Tapes n’ Tapes ::: Photo by Josh

It seemed like everyone I talked to who was headed to Bumbershoot was excited about Tapes n’ Tapes. Of course I had a major 2006 flashback. “Tapes ‘n Tapes! Really?!” I would ask. Their first record The Loon was (and is) a great record, one that bursts with personality and energy, but I had forgotten that they had released their second record this year. Apparently it’s pretty good, and everyone has been taking notice. Except me. Hmmm…

And then for a set that was up against that night’s main stage headlining appearance of Stone Temple Pilots (does anyone care?), a healthy crowd filled the lawn at the Broad Street stage. New (to me) songs mixed with old songs, and I found myself unconsciously tapping my foot a number of times, unable to resist the rhythmic tug of lead singer and guitarist Josh Grier’s cherry red Fender or decide why I hadn’t gone out and got this record already.

These guys always look and sound like they are having so much fun performing, and I’ll admit I envy the hell out of ‘em for it. Not so much for the rock star status (although that might be cool), but for the enjoyment they’re able to spread to other people day in and day out and the enjoyment they’re able to get from just doing their job. They’re “living the dream,and being able to do that really is something special.

Flickr: Tapes n’ Tapes at Bumbershoot 2008

Star Anna is Bad-Ass. She could likely kick your ass in an alley if need be, just as easily as she could seduce you with her whiskey-soaked voice. If she sang me some of her sweet country tunes after, it might just be worth getting punched in the face.

 
Star Anna ::: photo by Abbey

Wheelchair Headbang ::: Photo by Abbey

As we’ve mentioned before, Bradley Horror, the lead singer of Black Eyes & Neckties, played Bumbershoot wheelchair bound after a stage jumping accident in Montana. And while we imagine it stinks to be Bradley Horror on stage right now — we loved what the wheelchair added to his performance and the larger horror aesthetic of BENT.

In fact, I think BENT should keep the wheelchair as part of the stage show. Find an antique wheelchair, wheel Bradley out on stage for the first song, where he thrashes around and head bangs. Then, at some climactic moment of the song, Bradley could stand up with his cool old gnarly cane and continue with his intense theatrics. For the rest of the set the wheelchair could be a great prop for the rest of the band. It certainly added to the Brenda and Bradley back and forth during BENT’s KEXP set, and Josh Homicide really needs some other unstable thing to stand on during a show. C’mon BENT — think of the possibilities!

Black Eyes & Neckties brought a huge set to end Bumbershoot. For me, it was the perfect way to end a nearly perfect Bumbershoot — being screamed at by some of the PNW’s finest.

Photo by Josh

Bradley Horror ::: Photo by Abbey

Black Eyes & Neckties  ::: Photo by Abbey

Check out the rest of our BENT Bumbershoot Photos at Flickr

The Maldives made this photographer and fan very happy when the first three songs they played — the three photographers are allowed to be up close and photograph — were my absolute favorites.  To a packed house the band opened with “Goodbye,” “The Time is Right Now,” and “Cold November Rain.” I was so blissed out and too busy singing along, that I didn’t snap any good Maldives photos — luckily Josh did.

See more photos in our Flickr Set, The Maldives at Bumbershoot 2008

Seeing The Lonely H after a six month span, most of which the band has been on the road, living the life of a traveling touring band – was like witnessing an almost entirely new band. The licks were tighter than ever, the voices more trained, and the stage presence bigger and better than before. The H also played a number of new songs they’ve written on the road, most of which had a serious Thin Lizzy vibe. As always, we’re looking forward to hear and see what comes nexts from these fellas.

Eric ::: photo by Abbey

Ben and the H ::: photo by Josh

Mark ::: photo by Abbey

I have to say, I was surprisingly impressed by Battles. I caught part of their set at Sasquatch and thanks to deafening muddled sound, swore there was nothing to them and I’d never seen them again. Battles inspired performance on Monday of Bumbershoot had me happily eating crow. With an engaged, dancing audience and really good sound, you couldn’t help but get caught up in the joy and complexities of Battles.

Battles ::: photo by Abbey

Battles at Bumbershoot ::: photo by Josh

Battle Dance ::: photo by Abbey

Though you really shouldn’t need anything else to tempt you to attend tonight’s Common Market concert extraordinaire…I figure a few photos of Thee Emergency’s amazing performance at Bumbershoot couldn’t hurt.

Sonic Smith ::: photo by Abbey

Thee Emergency ::: photo by Abbey

Dita Vox ::: photo by Josh

Thee Emergency ::: photo by Josh

Thao Backstage ::: photo by Abbey

Thao & The Get Down, Stay Down  was one of my favorite discoveries of Bumbershoot this year. Despite her petite stature Thao is commanding on stage, with songs so catch you can’t help but sway–especially on a beautiful Seattle summer day. Thao has the voice of Chan Marshall/Cat Power without the instabilities that makes all Cat Power shows an utter crap-shoot. It is not the voice or the songs that you expect to come out of Thao and her band at all, but they own them–just as they did the Bumbershoot stage. The surprise of it all is also a huge part of the delight of Thao. The audience literally begged for more after Thao & the Get Down, Stay Down left the stage, clammering for just a few more cheery bars with a clever whiskey-throated woman.

Thao & The Get Down Stay Down ::: photo by Abbey

Thao & Her Adoring Audience ::: photo by Josh