Sonic Youth ::: Photo by Josh Lovseth

This is a photo of Thurston Moore of Sonic Youth at this year’s Capitol Hill Block Party, which I originally for Stereogum. This guy naturally conducts himself on stage in such a way that almost every picture has potential to be good. If you get lucky. I got lucky, and captured his face in a rare moment of stillness. His body never stops moving.

Japandroids at Capitol Hill Block Party 2009 ::: photo by Josh Lovseth

Editors Note: It’s hard to believe, it’s already time for us to start recapping 2009…but here we go. Every day of December we’ll share with you one of our favorite photos we’ve taken in the past year. Hope you enjoy!

Japandroids are headlining the Chop Suey tonight, and we couldn’t be more excited to take the opportunity to channel our inner teenager. They put on one of the more engaging sets of this year’s Block Party, for me just behind the indefatigable performance by the Beth Ditto-led Gossip, pushing curfew to play their effusive hit “Young Heart Sparks Fire” followed by a ten minute jam. Had they been slated for midday instead of the last set of the weekend on the small stage, I think we’d have had another Starfucker situation on our hands. I fully expect one to break out tonight. We’ll be there, trying not to be a square

Gossip ::: Photo by Abbey Simmons

As I evaluated the day ahead of us, a hot day with the possibility of thunderstorms, the schedule had a nice mix of old and new favorites, as well as a few bands that we’ve never had the pleasure of seeing live. On that last count, the end of the evening was where the weight was centered, while the beginning of the day was an opportunity to catch up with most of our favorite local bands of the moment.

Wild Orchid Children kicked off our day a little after 2pm on the Vera Stage. Now complete with a barrier, the stage and speaker stacks seemed safer than before from the likes the previous evening’s rowdy teenage horde. The band was still operating under the shadow of the recent death of audio engineer, mentor, and beloved friend of the band Tom Pfaeffle. After a 15 minute long hard hitting, psychedelic instrumental jam, lead singer Kirk Huffman came in with a pained primal howl. “I know this is a stage and not a soap box, but someone who sleeps with 2 glocks under his pillow at night, something just isn’t right.” This angry heartfelt declaration in honor of their fallen friend found me welling up with tears. The rest of the set found the band exploring deeply psychedelic territory, with the hard and heavy rifts and relentless percussion that first turned us on to Wild Orchid Children.

We jetted off to the mainstage and Hey Marseilles, where we were told something special would be happening at around 2:28 and that it would involve a Seattle all-star drum corps. The change to a light hearted mood was welcome; it’s just hard not to smile when it’s plain that everyone in front of you is having a good time. Indeed for the final two song’s of their set they enlisted the help of some fellow Seattle musicians to provide extra percussion, among them Thomas and Pearl from Champagne Champagne and Kyle Bradford (sans ghost).

The Moondoggies were up next on the mainstage and despite lead singer Kevin being a bit sick, the set was worthy of the mainstage, drawing a healthy crowd to sing-along for “Changin’.” For keys player Caleb, it was his sixth anniversary with his wife, and after giving her a shout out, the band played a (Townes?) cover they’d just started working on the night before. Could there be a better band drink a tallboy to on a hot afternoon in the sun? We think no.

Ready for a break from the sun, we went on our way through the beer garden to the Caffe Vita Bean Room where KEXP was once again putting on live sessions in conjunction with Matson on Music. The Maldives were to be our target session, and whadoyaknow, the whole band was in on this session and we happened upon the room just as they were getting ready to go. To a packed room they played cuts from their new record, as well as a new song that doesn’t appear on the record that we hadn’t heard at all before called “Sally Mae.” When considering the lines out each door at Neumos during their official set time, we were more than glad to have had a chance to catch the Bean Room session. Realizing Moondoggies front man Kevin would be playing a short acoustic session next, we hung around. While his band is notable for their ripping anthems, when Kevin decides to role solo, a whole ‘nother side of folk finger-picking and gentle singing is revealed.

The Thermals were our can’t miss Portland act of the day. In the many times we’ve seen them, this trio has never disappointed, and their recent penchant for covering popular 90’s songs gave us something new to look forward to. Now touring on a new album with a new drummer, they don’t seem to have lost any of their previous momentum or palpable sense of fun.

A hot dog break as the Thermals were winding down finds us at the dunk tank. For a mere $5 you could get three chances at dunking various music scene celebrities from around town to support the all-ages venue and oh so much more, the Vera Project. We randomly catch Murder City Devil’s front man Spencer Moody sheepishly spending a half-hour in the unsteady chair. He taunted, smiled and somehow resisted being dunked by force of will despite multiple strong hits to the target. For those hits, manual intervention to finish the job was acceptable and encouraged. His wife even got in on the action.

Starting off our night of band’s we’ve never witnessed were Beth Ditto and her band Gossip at the mainstage, playing their first set in the U.S. in some time [ed. note: 2007 with Modest Mouse I believe]. Beth Ditto sure can talk and this day she talked about how really wants to meet Sonic Youth. In fact they agreed to play this show just so they could see Sonic Youth for free. I’m glad they did because seeing really is believing when it comes to the Gossip: these guys have some major dance jams and Beth Ditto is an incomparable personality and voice. Never have we seen so many young eager female crowd surfers. No stranger to major covers, Ditto shined on Aaliyah’s “Are You That Somebody” while reinterpreting the Talking Head’s “Psycho Killer” with an equal amount of off-kilter gusto as the original. After wrapping up with their latest single “Holy Cross,” the crowd chanted for more. Saying she wanted to “reclaim this song” (ostensibly for the gays) she placated them by leading a round of Queen’s “We Are the Champions.”

The appearance of headliners Sonic Youth in support of their new album The Eternal was on everyone’s lips, and for the event the main stage audience was without question at it’s most crowded all the weekend. This also happened to be Thurston Moore’s birthday, so after a encountering some guitar issues after the first song that required a moment to change things, Kim Gordon led the crowd in a rousing “Happy Birthday.” They played largely new songs, and still demonstrated what all the hoopla surrounding them is about. Even if they weren’t backed by the trappings of a headlining stage show, they’ve got charisma, and a natural rock and roll swagger. Not to mention Thurston Moore is an impressive axe-slinger. One can only hope they exude that ‘cool’ when they reach 50.

Stepping away from Sonic Youth, one of us finally got a chance to see at least a little bit of Fatal Lucciano and the Sport’n Life Crew for their set at Neumos. We’ve been getting hints, but seeing him with our own eyes cemented that the buzz we’d heard as truth. He had an incredible delivery, an intense, charismatic presence, and he worked the stage like a pro. Fatal is a larger than life presence, despite his small stature.

Only a modest crowd appeared for Japandroids’ last set of the fest. Considering they went are on a half hour late and were scheduled in the middle of the Sonic Youth set, they still happily remarked, “this is our 3rd time to Seattle. But our first time with people.” After powering through three songs they hit curfew and say they’re gonna play until the plug get’s pulled. They manage to make it for another half an hour finishing with a long jam after their hit “Young Hearts Spark Fire.” If all the kids didn’t have a curfew or weren’t over at Sonic Youth, I’m thinking this set would have been just as wild and fun as Starfucker’s set.

Finally with our feet begging for mercy we headed home and thanked the rain gods for delivering only a few raindrops. Strangely the decisions to step away from the mainstage led to many of the highlights of Josh’s week, Japandroids and Starfucker’s chaotic dance party both at the Vera Stage during big headliners, and stumbling upon Spencer Moody in the Vera Project dunk tank, being the moments at the top of his list. And after a weekend of Hey Marseilles performances, Abbey is now obsessed all over again. Looking back, it’s hard to say we could have wanted more in a line-up from our hometown block party.

Wild Orchid Children ::: Photo by Abbey Simmons

Wild Orchid Children ::: Photo by Abbey Simmons

Hey Marseilles and Friends ::: Photo by Abbey Simmons

Hey Marseilles and Friends ::: Photo by Abbey Simmons

Hey Marseilles ::: Photo by Abbey Simmons

Above It All ::: Photo by Abbey Simmons

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So far, all the pictures you’ve seen on Sound on the Sound from the Block Party this year have been by Abbey. I was there and taking pictures, but I was shooting for another nationally focused music blog you might’ve heard of: Stereogum.

The resulting pictures just went up. You should check them out.

You’ll be able to see more of  my (Josh’s) pictures here on Sound on the Sound next week!

The Return of Jesus Lizard ::: Photo by Abbey Simmons

Day One of Capitol Hill Block Party was a massive whirlwind of activity for us. Between taking pictures of the first three songs at the main stage, properly meeting a few of our local music writing and music photography brethren, and attending everything we wanted to see while staying hydrated and not getting burnt out on the crowds, it’s a wonder we managed to stay on schedule at all. But we did! Sweet, sweet audial victory!

Capitol Hill’s own Dutchess and the Duke started the festival off on the main stage by introducing a new bassist and announcing they’ll have a new album out titled Sunset/Sunrise in October via Hardly Art. After taking in their set, bulging with enjoyable new songs; we stumbled upon Caffe Vita’s Bean Room, where KEXP and the Seattle Times’ Andrew Matson were hosting intimate acoustic sessions. Surrounded by bags of coffee beans stacked to the ceiling, Hey Marseilles brought the whole band in and impressed with a short four song set fit for a gloriously sunny Seattle afternoon.

Deerhunter’s set was a highlight of the day, despite a few early sound issues. I’m steadily being seduced by their music the more I listen to it. Throughout the set the band was slowly (and not-so-slowly) draining a bottle of Maker’s Mark. Black Lips guitarist Cole Alexander picked up the slack though for the one song he jumped stage for, taking moments to tilt steeply and chug between bouts of drunkened dancing in a green trench-coat and singing a lyric or two, leaving the bottle on stage with half the amount it had just minutes prior.

Built to Spill returned to Seattle on the CHBP main stage with a veritable “Best Of” set as voted on by the fans. With fans being involved, the set had a lot of conversation value, fans consulting one another as to their choice while declaring their own choice as the best Built to Spill song ever. “Car,” “Big Dipper,” “You Were Right” all happily made appearances. Given the festival setting though the band stuck to the script and played as many songs as possible with the time they had. Thus, rambling guitar solos were at a minimum and “Cortez the Killer” was not to be, no matter how much both Branford Cox from Deerhunter and I wanted it.

Jesus Lizard’s David Yow wasted no time in showing Seattle he hasn’t changed a bit in the 13 years since Jesus Lizard had been banned from the city. Within the first song, after a running start he had flown over the pit into crowd and spent the last half of the song floating on top of the crush. The songs he wasn’t in the crowd for, new crowd surfers sprouted with abandon. Yow himself menaced the stage, his body language doing as much growling as his lyrics. If I saw this dude looking like this on the corner I was about the cross over to on, I would probably decide cross the street on the other side.

After surviving the harrowing pit and crowd of Jesus Lizard we retreated to the back smaller stage to see if Starfucker had started the oh-so-difficult Seattle dance party. Not unexpectedly, the Portland foursome had riled up the kids, though with the crowd of this magnitude, it was fast becoming an uncontrolled bouncing and pushing frenzy that threatened to knock over the speaker stacks. By the last few songs, security had become a bit rough with the young crowd and brusquely pushed them back a safe distance so the stage would not in their words “tip over.” But by that point the party was already on and the kids were stopping for no one, no how.

As we hoofed it home after midnight we reflected on how nice it is to have the festival in our own neighborhood, what a mad man David Yow is, and how glad we were that Starfucker started a dance party that threatened to take down the stage. This weekend at least, it seemed Seattle was prepared to allow itself have fun with abandon.

The Dutchess and The Duke (now four members!) ::: Photo by Abbey Simmons

The Dutchess and The Duke’s new bassist ::: Photo by Abbey Simmons

The Best View on the Block? ::: Photo by Abbey Simmons

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Spencer Moody at the Vera Project Dunk Tank ::: all photos by Abbey Simmons

The best thing I accidentally stumbled on all weekend was Murder City Devils front man, Spencer Moody volunteering his time at the VERA Project Dunk Tank. For a mere 5$ people had three chances to dunk the Murder City frontman, 20$ to just walk up and dunk him.

Spencer did the entire thing donning his signature glasses, cap, argyle socks and shoes. It was awesome to see one of rock’s fiercest front men allow for some comedy at his exepense and to benefit a great cause. And he did so with obvious enjoyment, dare I say, glee. You’ve never seen Spencer Moody smile so much! Though, he did bring a bit of his trademark heckling to the event, when there was a dunk dry streak, the front man stood up on the plank and did a dance to taunt his would be dunkers.

See more of Spencer Moody at the VERA dunk tank, below the jump!

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Here’s just a  quick photo tease of some of today’s (okay yesterday, it’s 2:30 am) Capitol Hill Block party festivities.

Hey Marseilles play a secret KEXP/Cafe Vita Set ::: all photos by Abbey Simmons

Deerhunter joined by Black Lips

Built to Spill

Jesus Lizard Return to Seattle

There are a few more up on our Flickr, so check ‘em out. There’ll be lots more soon. 

Unless this happens to be the only music blog you read, I’m sure you’ve heard that The Thermals took time out of their Pitchfork Festival set last weekend to cover four 90’s rock songs. Truthfully, because I am a huge dork and a total child of 90’s ‘alternative rock’, this excited me more than any other report out of what sounded like an amazing Pitchfork festival. If someone’s going to cover 90’s alt rock, The Thermals seem just the band to do it. It’s the kind of on-stage Merry Prankster move that has me convinced that no band is having more fun than The Thermals right now. Because it certainly takes some sort of perverse levity to play Green Day’s “Basket Case” in front of a Pitchfork crowd.

Seeing that these lovable PDX pop-punks are playing the Main Stage of the Capitol Hill Block Party (Saturday 7:30pm) I’m hoping  that we get treated to our own set of 90’s covers….perhaps even Seattle themed? They’ve already got one cover down, the band also played Nirvana’s “Sappy” at the Pitchfork Fest.

Since we’re already choosing Built to Spill’s set list, one can dream of doing the same with The Thermals. So, what 90’s covers, especially Seattle 90’s covers, would you like to hear The Thermals play at this weekend’s Capitol Hill Block Party? I’d love to hear them take on Murder City Devil’s “Dance Hall Music”, play anything off Bleach, and for hilarities sake, Candlebox’s “You.”

The Black Lips ::: photo by Josh Lovseth

Nothing like writing out your schedule for a festival to get you excited. I’m certainly wishing I could fast forward through the rest of the work week and get right to Friday afternoon and the Capitol Hill Block Party.  There’s so much to look forward to:  from an audience chosen Built to Spill set to Jesus Lizard’s long anticipated return to the city that banned them to seeing a number of my favorite local bands take the big stages they so richly deserve.

Here’s what my Capitol Hill Block Party weekend is looking like. Hope to see you there!

4:30 - The Dutchess and The Duke (Main Stage)
6:30 - The Black Lips (Main Stage)
7:45 -Deerhunter (Main Stage)
equally tempting: Sleepy Eyes of Death (Neumo’s)
9:00 - Starfucker (VERA stage)  - catching 15 minutes before running off to…
9:15 - Built to Spill (Main Stage)
10:30 - They Live (Neumo’s) — TIME CHANGED BACK
10:45 - Jesus Lizard (Main Stage)

The Wild Orchid Children::: photo by Abbey Simmons

Saturday July 25th

2:00 - Wild Orchid Children (Vera Stage)
equally tempting - Hey Marseilles (Main Stage)
2:30 - Pica Beats (Vera Stage)
3:15 - The Moondoggies (Main Stage)
4:45 - The New Faces (Vera Stage)
6:30 - The Maldives (Neumos)
7:15 - The Lonely Forest (Vera Stage)
7:30 - The Thermals (Main Stage)
10:30 - Sonic Youth
equally tempting: Sportin’ Life Showcase featuring Fatal Luciano, D. Black, & Spaceman (Neumo’s)
11: 00  The Japandroids (Vera Stage) - TIME CHANGE

You have to keep your Saturday Night going with one of two highly recommended after-parties:

Curious Mystery at The Comet
Mad Rad, Macklemore at Chop Suey

Mad Rad ::: photo by Abbey Simmons

Considering the epic weekend of music that awaits us Seattle, I wouldn’t blame you if you took off Monday and Tuesday to prepare your ear drums, liver, feet, and wallet  for Capitol Hill Block Party. In fact, that’s exactly what I’ll be doing. But, there’s no rest for the wicked. Because before CHBP rolls around there are two other unmissable shows during the week.  In fact, starting Wednesday, I think you’d be remiss to not go to a show for the next five nights straight.

Who - Widower, Pearly Gate Music,  The Final Spins
Where - The Sunset Tavern
How (Much) - 8$
Why - To be introduced to the next wave of your new favorite Seattle song-writers. To celebrate The Final Spins CD release and because you really miss Siberian. (I certainly do.) To see what the other talented Tillman brother is up to.  To hear  few of Sound on the Sound’s favorite new songs courtesy of Pearly Gates Music and Widower.

Equally Awesome Alternative:
Ottmar Liebert & Luna Negra play two shows (7:00. 9:30) at the Triple Door

Who -  H is for Hellgate, Bone Cave Ballet, and The Oregon Donor
Where - The Comet Tavern
How (Much) - 6$
Why - Because this is your last chance for Hooray’s with H is for Hellgate.

Equally Awesome Alternatives:
Ottmar Liebert & Luna Negra play two shows (7:00. 9:30) at the Triple Door

Who -  Built to Spill, Jesus Lizard, Starfucker, The Dutchess and The Duke, They Live, Hey Marseilles, Black Lips & More
Where - 10th & Pike on Capitol Hill
How (Much) - 22$ advance (& likely to sell out)
Why - To see if your Built to Spill song choice made the final set. Because Jesus Lizard hasn’t played Seattle since 1996 and David Yow is still  capable of giving a big F you from the stage.  To see if The Black Lips successfully becomes the next band to be banned from Seattle. To see a bunch of local acts you’ve been meaning to catch, in between a solid mix of national acts.

Equally Awesome Alternative:
The Girls, Oswald Effect - The Comet (CHBP After Party @ 11pm)

Who - Sonic Youth, Japandroids, The Moondoggies, The Thermals, The Maldives,  Wild Orchid Children, The Gossip &  more.
Where - 10th & Pike on Capitol Hill
How (Much) - 22$ advance (& likely to sell out)
Why - To witness the wonderful spectacle that is Beth Ditto, and her outfits. To get your first peek at The Moondoggies play the Main Stage, which is where the band will be playing from now on. To hear the new Maldives tracks live. To discover gonzo soul and take a trip with the Wild Orchid Children.  To finally be able to drink beer openly on Pike Street without fear of arrest.

Equally Awesome Alternative:
Mad Rad, Macklemore at Chop Suey - $5adv/$6dos ($3 w/Block Party Bracelet @ the door only)
The Curious Mystery, Hallways - The Comet (CHBP After Party @ 11pm)
Watch It Sparkle, The Camellias  - The Josephine

Who - Fresh Espresso
Where - Chop Suey
How (Much) - 8$
Why - Because you really don’t want the party or the weekend to end. To see for yourself why few local bands are gathering the buzz or love that Fresh Espresso is.