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June 27, 2011

North of Northwest: Handsome Furs

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North of Northwest
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The future will need dance music too.

Daft Punk has the corner on the Disney version, with their shiny round helmets and their Tron appearance. But in the darker, dystopian, Blade Runner edition of the future, Handsome Furs will rule the dance floor.

The husband-wife duo, comprised of Dan Boeckner and Alexei Perry, will release their third album, Sound Kapital, June 28. Inspired by travels in East and Southeast Asia, continues exploring the themes of 2009′s Face Control: alienation, oppression, and the lingering remnants of totalitarianism in a post-Soviet world.

Here comes the future, it’s violent and bright.

The screeches and beeps of “Serve the People” repeat like an alarm, setting all your systems to alert. “Kids are making noise when the generator’s on / And the cops said move along.” A keyboard screeches an alarm. “You kick ‘em in the head and you kick ‘em when they’re down.” Among Perry and Boeckner’s travels was a trip to famously oppressive Myanmar. This is the music of fear and flight.

Boeckner brought a characteristic anxiety to Wolf Parade, but without Spencer Krug’s moderating influence, the feeling is stronger here. The imagery is everywhere: reference to “an army of bees” in “What About Us,” in the above-quoted lyric from “Memories of the Future.” But it’s even more prevalent in the music itself. The beats are fast-paced and move forward at a rush, often just a tiny step ahead of the vocals and ready at any moment to run off altogether. Boeckner’s voice tends to tighten at the bridges, seeming about to crack under the strain of pressure and fear.

A similar feeling of discomfort is brought by the duo’s homage to the Chinese experience of “rennao” – essentially, cacophony. Perry and Boeckner strive to recreate the experience of walking through a crowded night market, strangers brushing past on all sides, neon flashing, bubbles blowing, and megaphones blasting music and advertisements in interfering patterns. Closing track “No Feelings” erupts suddenly halfway through into an irregular hum of static and fuzz, just after Boeckner proclaims “All my life I’ve always found / It returns, returns to sound.”

But Sound Kapital is not merely a work of fear and resignation. “Cheap Music” is in fact an ode to the future of underground music, to the “thousand lonely kids making noise in a basement.”

Because it sounds right, now that the money’s gone Because we need it just to get along It’s the heartbeat, little heartbeat.

If the future is dark and oppressive, these kids in basements in China and Vietnam, in Moscow and Myanmar will be the rock’n'roll superheroes that save us from it all. And maybe we’ll have Handsome Furs to thank for it.

One final note: my original plan for this column was to discuss my struggle to enjoy Handsome Furs in the wake of the breakup of Wolf Parade, a band I loved very much. As it turns out, there is no struggle. Sound Kapital is an excellent work, and I would have enjoyed it had I never heard of Wolf Parade. And besides, as Boeckner himself sings, “Nostalgia never meant much to me.”

____ Sound Kapital is streaming in its entirety on Spin.com. It will be released by Sub Pop on June 28. Handsome Furs play the Capitol Hill Block Party on July 23. _____

June 1, 2011

Capitol Hill Block Party Line-Up: Cave Singers, TV on the Radio, My Goodness and Lots More!

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Capitol Hill Block Party Dance Party ::: photo by Josh Lovseth

With the sun finally out two days in a row, summertime and festivals don’t seem so impossibly far away. With the initial line-up announcement of Capitol Hill Block Party this morning, we can almost feel the sweat and taste the cheap beer. Here’s who’ll be invading Pike Street this July 22, 23 & 24th.

Since this a local music blog, local bands have been bolded for your ocular ease:

TV on the Radio, Explosions in the Sky, Ghostland Observatory, Thurston Moore, the Cave Singers, Battles, Ra Ra Riot, Les Savy Fav, Handsome Furs, the Posies, Kurt Vile and the Violators, Yuck, Fucked Up, Telekinesis, Cults, Cold Cave, Woods, Fences, Pink Mountaintops, My Goodness, Papercuts, Austra, the Fresh and Onlys, Mad Rad, Fresh Espresso, Champagne Champagne, Federation X, Thee Satisfaction, Ravenna Woods, Young Evils, Black Breath, Grynch, Absolute Monarchs, Akimbo, Eleanor Friedberger, Gravebabies, Beat Connection, Grand Hallway, Campfire OK, Loch Lomond, Skarp, Lisa Dank, Sol, Painted Palms, Mash Hall, Metal Chocolates, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Sports, Craft Spells, Boat, Lake, Virgin Islands, Spurm, Elephant Rider, the Pharmacy, Lovesick Empire, Constant Lovers, Slow Dance, Don’t Talk to the Cops, Nazca Lines, Reporter, Thomas Wright Trio, Lovers, Yarn Owl, the First Times, Teen Daze, Lumerians, Seapony, Wheelies, the Lumineers, Witch Garden, He Whose Ox Is Gored, Slow Dance, Land of Pines, Buster Blue, the First Times, “The Rolling Stones,” Hausu, Yuni in Taxco, Spaceneedles, Comeback! Featuring: Ohnonos, Hollyhood!, and DJ sets by Fourcolor Zack, Tigerbeat, Sean Cee, and DJ N8… AND MORE TO BE ANNOUNCED SOON!

Additional Bands Announced (added June 1st): The Head and The Heart, Best Coast, Shad, Kung Foo Grip, BFA, Baths, Dunes, Cold Showers, Grand Hallway

Full Day-by-Day Schedule, in poster form:

Friday July 22 Saturday July 23 Sunday July 24

You can get early 3-Day Passes courtesy of Block Party sponsors The Stranger now.

Who are you most excited to see at Block Party?

I’m most excited to dance with Beat Connection, clap along to Cave Singers and rock the fuck out with My Goodness on the Main Stage.

If you want to start planning your CHBP days already, we’ve got the Cha Cha’s line-up with set times listed after the jump. (more…)

December 10, 2010

Our Year in Photos 2010: Seattle Summer

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racheldunk

Rachel Ratner in the Dunk Tank ::: photo by Abbey Simmons

We missed out on sharing a favorite photo yesterday, so we’re going to double up on favorites today.

With nine months of grey stretching ahead of us and one round of Seattle snowmageddon behind us, and lets be honest, mostly a jacket summer this year … we’re day-dreaming about the shy Seattle sun and days like those pictured above and below.

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Boots’n'Beer – River Time with The Maldives ::: iPhone Photo by Josh Lovseth

August 4, 2010

Day Two at the Block Party: Plenty of Shade

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Grand Hallway ::: Photo by Abbey Simmons

By now it’d be easy to be over music festivals. The crush of inconsiderate people. Less than optimal sightlines. Overpriced beer. But when the festival is within walking distance, with some of our favorite businesses on the grounds, it’s pretty hard to resist, or hate too much. Also, ignore Capitol Hill Block Party at your own risk. They consistently book an extremely current and significant lineup each year to descend upon 10th and Pike. It’s appropriate then that this year’s long day at the festival kicked off with our band of the moment, The Head and the Heart. That band is as fresh as they come.

My three strongest sets of the festival in Beach Fossils, !!! , and THEESatisfaction were the main interest of day two, all band’s I’m now regretting my lack of due diligence on earlier. In a not-yet-oppressively hot but full Neumos THEESatisfaction held it down for NW hip hop, a group who was representing harder at this year’s Block Party than I can ever remember before. In contrast to the local strains of rap that seem to maneuver nimbly in zero-gravity, Saturday’s veteran headliner Atmosphere came off heavy and predictable. I like the dude, and will readily admit that there was a time in my life when Slug felt prophetic. But ten years gone, much like Abbey, Atmosphere just hasn’t aged with me.

Given those great sets smattered between good sets like Avi Buffalo, The Redwood Plan, Absolute Monarchs, The Night Marchers, and Grand Hallway, day two surprisingly kept me interested the entire time. Quality music, a bit of pulled pork, a strategic beer here and there, and plenty of shady curb space to rest the aging dog’s (while people watching) was the standing order for the day. I only had one relatively minor gripe: what happened to the mist tent?!


The Head and the Heart ::: Photo by Abbey Simmons

The Head and the Heart ::: Photo by Abbey Simmons

The Redwood Plan ::: Photo by Josh Lovseth

Beach Fossils ::: Photo by Josh Lovseth

Avi Buffalo ::: Photo by Josh Lovseth

Avi Buffalo ::: Photo by Josh Lovseth

THEESatisfaction ::: Photo by Josh Lovseth

Happy Birthday ::: Photo by Josh Lovseth

!!! ::: Photo by Josh Lovseth

!!! ::: Photo by Josh Lovseth

Into !!! ::: Photo by Josh Lovseth

The Night Marchers ::: Photo by Abbey Simmons

Grand Hallway ::: Photo by Abbey Simmons

Atmosphere ::: Photo by Josh Lovseth

Atmosphere ::: Photo by Josh Lovseth

Flickr: Capitol Hill Block Party 2010 Day Two, Saturday July 24th

August 3, 2010

Block Party Standouts: Macklemore

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Macklemore ::: Photo by Josh Lovseth

I will always remember the first time I saw Macklemore. It was 2007 and curiously, he was opening for Omaha screamers Cursive in a lunchroom at the UW. Clearly the crowd wasn’t there for a hip hop smart ass, but within a matter of a song or two, Macklemore, his quick rhymes and his even quicker wit, had the crowd wrapped around his little finger. Going far beyond the call of duty as an opener, Macklemore kept the crowd entertained for well over an hour, leaving the stage and returning when it became clear that Cursive was running over an hour behind schedule. And when it was Macklemore who returned to the stage, donning a mask of then-President Bush, the crowd didn’t boo, they cheered. That night, Macklemore made a lasting impression and a life-long fan.

In the three years that have followed, Macklemore has grown from the skinny self-deprecating hip hop punk to one of Seattle’s sincerest and cleverest rappers. His humor and his rhymes have matured and his raps now look life and its trials unblinkingly in the eye. Still, there’s that mischievous glimmer in Macklemore’s eyes and plenty of the self-deprecating cheekiness that made him such an engaging performer when I first saw him. And as he proved with a large crowd at Capitol Hill Block Party, he can still handle his business as an opener. A crowd of a few thousand, who had bested the will call lines rested on every word that came from Macklemore’s mouth, heads bobbing and hands raised to the stage.

His sunny afternoon set gave me what I hoped I would receive from Atmosphere’s headlining set the following night. While Atmosphere’s often introspective rhymes were lost in the drunken drone of bros trying to start fights, not to mention his most recent album, Macklemore’s shone exposed in light of day, all his flaws on his sleeve. A decade ago I counted on Slug for heart-tugging hip hop and I was hoping he could still deliver. He didn’t. While you’d think that the fading of a hip hop hero would disappoint, thanks to Macklemore, it didn’t. It’s clear that torch has been passed and as the Block Party’s opener, Macklemore made it equally clear that he has what it takes to handle it.

Macklemore ::: Photo by Abbey Simmons

Macklemore ::: Photo by Josh Lovseth

August 3, 2010

Block Party Standouts: Black Breath

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Black Breath ::: Photo Courtesy of David Lichterman

“This band is soooo loud…” – Anonymous Block Party Patron who could be seen retreating from the Vera Stage, he left with fellow khaki cargo short clad fraternity brother entourage.

Here at the Sound on the Sound, we’re not against those who participate in the “Greek Life” per se. However, we’re totally against those who step into the lion’s den only to run for their lives shortly thereafter. Brah, you knew what you were getting into when you walked down side street and into thrashy oblivion. There’s no reason to call your mom and ask her to take you to the GAP now.  For those who came to Block Party to see Black Breath melt the foundation of the Vera Stage, we wholeheartedly salute you.

As one could expect, Black Breath created the most mayhem out of all the acts that performed during the course of Capitol Hill Block Party. Black Breath’s lead singer, Nate McAdams was constantly throwing himself off the stage and into the waiting arms of his metal minions. There was quite a bit of crowd-surfing amongst audience members as well. I couldn’t see any classic hardcore dances occurring from where I was standing, but I did see some mosh-pit action that brought me back to 1995. At one point, that mosh-pit almost became a circle-pit, which would’ve brought me back to the good old days of Gorilla Biscuits’ “Start Today.” There’s nothing wrong with that, I used to eat breakfast to that record as a youth.

A couple highlights from Black Breath’s set:

Nate McAdams is a master of song introduction. Let me give you two examples:

1) “This song goes out to all you twisted whore fucks out there…” The band then launches into an unforgiving version of “Heavy Breathing.”

2) “This song is about my favorite snack, it’s called ‘Eat the Witch.’”

Obviously, McAdams knows how to make a girl blush by saying the right things at the right time.

Enough energy was emitted during “I am Beyond” and “Unholy Virgin” that I’m sincerely surprised a humongous rogue wave wasn’t created in Lake Washington, thus ruining quite a few afternoon endeavors on the lake. Granted those two songs are my favorite Black Breath songs, I have to pay homage where homage is due. Simply awesome.

Even though it’s kind of hard to do sometimes, I forget the lasting impact of Cliff Burton’s bass playing on the musical world.This is coming from someone who doesn’t even like Metallica (though I do like some older Metallica), but literally Cliff Burton was the first thing I thought of when I saw Black Breath’s Elijah Nelson hammering out his bass lines. Consider this is a compliment of the highest order.

If you haven’t seen Black Breath, you’re missing out on one of Seattle’s premiere acts. Don’t get left behind.

Black Breath ::: Photo Courtesy of David Lichterman

August 2, 2010

Block Party Standouts: Grand Hallway

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Grand Hallway ::: Photo by Abbey Simmons

I’m the first to admit that I was a bit of a scrooge when I was first exposed to Grand Hallway. I’m going to blame my initial oddball feelings towards them on the fact that I read an interview with them before I actually heard the band. Kim Ruehl conducted the exceptional interview for Seattle’s CityArts magazine back in January of this year. Ruehl asked the band members what they wanted to accomplish in the next calendar year and naturally each individual had a different response. I don’t remember many of the more intimate details from the interview but I do remember the most audacious quote that I’ve read (as it pertains to music) in recent memory.  When Tomo Nakayama was asked what he wanted to accomplish in the year 2010, part of his response was “writing the perfect song.”

I almost spilled my beer when I read that. “Who is this guy?” I thought to myself as I my eyes scanned over the rest of the article. “Why haven’t I heard this about him before? Apparently, nobody who lives around these amber waves of grain has a bigger pair of cojones than this guy.”

And I held onto that quote, tightly enough to remember it the first time I had the opportunity to witness a Grand Hallway live performance a few months ago. While Grand Hallway performed and an understanding grin crept upon my face; if you’re having trouble imagining my expression, imagine how Dr. Seuss’ Grinch smiles as he’s stealing Christmas. I began to understand that Nakayama actually had a legitimate shot at his Beatles-esque goal.

Grand Hallway was absolutely spellbinding when they performed on the Vera Stage at Capitol Hill Block Party. I would use a more extreme adjective to describe my experience but my brain is currently failing me. Do you want to know what is one of the best things about this whole, “Hey, I’m a random guy that is lucky enough to write about music sometimes,” gig? It’s being with you at shows and sharing the joy that music brings all of us. While Fruit Bats brought out the jitterbug in festival-goers, Grand Hallway gave us a tender moment that lasted approximately 40 minutes. Looking at the all the people in the audience holding onto one another, looking for someone to hold and holding themselves if they had no one else, it was truly unforgettable. I could say so many good things about this set and other sets I’ve seen from this pocket-sized orchestra. I enjoy so much of it, everything from the obvious craftsmanship and care that has gone into these songs to the ceaseless smiles of violinists Jaclyn Shumate and Alina To. Might I also point out that I never realized the furtive brutality of the lyrics to “The Passenger (Minuet for Americans)” until Block Party. For some reason the macabre yet beautifully told story didn’t resonate in my mind until I was lost in that outdoor air.

And as Grand Hallway ended their set by playing “Sirens” and I was making my way through the crowd. I couldn’t help but notice the tears in the eyes of total strangers, some with bittersweet and distant gazes. Somewhere in the back of their minds, Grand Hallway’s perfect song was already playing.

Grand Hallway ::: Photo by Abbey Simmons

Grand Hallway ::: Photo by Abbey Simmons

August 2, 2010

Block Party Standouts: THEESatisfaction, Win Tickets to this Weekend’s Black Power Arrangers Show

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THEESatisfaction ::: Photo by Josh Lovseth

THEESatisfaction is in the process of redefining cool right before our eyes. It’s not really a word that’s en vogue these days given its omnipresence in previous decades in the mouths of even your grandmother. But resting on their shoulders cool might just be getting its mojo back, albeit with a slightly updated thinking behind its use of course.

In their short raps, the unflappable duo of Cat and Stas verbally spar with one another and with life itself, deftly building on themes of rising above the injustice of history while at the same time celebrating their own “Black Weirdo” personalities. Going with the flow and fulfilling other expectations is the old cool. Speaking up and living your own life is the new cool. As an African American lesbian couple, a minority among minorities, they’ve a particularly unique voice with plenty to speak up about.

Seriousness aside, fundamentally THEESatisfaction are entertainers, and a homemade deep-space orchestra backing provides that reason to move and get close to the person next to you. Not just rappers but singers, the duo infuse live soul singing into nearly every production, building a subconscious contrast of intrinsic romance with an overt expression of struggle. That the struggle is a part of their personal narrative is obvious, but that the struggle doesn’t define them is what sets them apart. Letting the rules of hip-hop define you is the old cool. Re-defining hip-hop and music as you would have it is the new cool.

“Do you like good music?!?!?!” Cat yelled rhetorically mid-way through their Capitol Hill Block Party set. “Do you like black lesbians?!?!?!” She needed only to look around the densely populated Neumos to see it was obvious the answer was an unmitigated yes, even if many of us may not have known it right until that moment. To some extent I was one of those people, having never seen THEESatisfaction live for more than one song in guest appearances. But in finally getting a full vision of them, I can’t help but say they easily delivered my favorite set of the festival. Emphatic and fun, at the end of the 45 minutes it was apparent cool had gained it’s meaning, and edge, back.

THEESatisfaction, OC Notes and Chocolate Chuck are the Black Power Arrangers this Saturday August 7th at the Columbia City Theater. Courtesy of the Columbia City Theater we’ve got two pairs of tickets to this rare show for interested readers who drop their name and email in the comments by 12pm Thursday PST. At that time we’ll randomly choose two winners from the comments to each bring a plus one to this local hip hop special event that we happen to think any true head will regret missing. If aren’t lucky enough to win, or just smartly want to secure your spot ahead of time, you can snag them online for a mere $10.


THEESatisfaction and OC Notes and Chocolate Chuck are The Black Power Arrangers ::: Photo by Josh Lovseth

July 30, 2010

Day One at the Block Party: Welcome to Plebeian Paradise

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Holy Fuck ::: Photo by Josh Lovseth

“Who the hell is Willie Nelson?” – Anonymous Block Party Music Aficionado

Literally, those were the first discernible words I heard as I entered the gates to Capitol Hill Block Party 2010. I was scared for my life. Think of all the people that were attending Block Party and the unlimited matrix of possible verbalized thoughts, intentions and actions that could’ve been expressed at that exact moment. Was it any wonder that fear was a sudden friend of mine? Would everyone attending Block Party exhibit the same amount of brain cells as the amount of tic-tacs that come in one of those small, plastic containers? Is it criminal for the Red-Headed Stranger to live up to his nickname in the hearts and minds of the “OMGeneration”? (Yes, I’m coining that phrase. I’m a colloquial gangster.) These somewhat cynical questions would be answered over the course of the next 72 hours. For the time being, I came to get down and get down I did.

Shabazz Palaces performed on the Main Stage and was the first act I saw on Friday because I arrived later than planned. I listened to the entirety of Nirvana’s “Bleach” while I was stuck in gridlock on Montlake. It took me a few songs to rid myself of the leg rust that is associated with being stuck in traffic jams and get myself into the groove of Shabazz Palaces. Once I found that place where the human body seems to move on its own, all was right in my world. “Gunbeat Falls” and “Capital 5…” brought even greater joy to my body and the two songs elicited cheers from those in the audience who are familiar with the work of Shabazz Palaces. One of the more peculiar highlights of the Shabazz Palaces set was the fashion on display. I don’t know who it was, but on-stage was someone with a crazy purple (jump?) suit on that I couldn’t take my eyes off of. I eventually came up with the affectionate nickname of “The Codeine Suit.” It was like if you took “Dat Drank” and poured into a suit-shaped plaster. Wait for the mixture to harden and voila, you have the best-dressed gentleman at Block Party! I’m a t-shirt and jeans guy myself but even I can appreciate exquisite taste.

I could’ve gone to see some other acts immediately after Shabazz Palaces but I chose to get a tattoo instead. No, I didn’t get one to commemorate my 2010 Block Party experience; it was planned a good 24 hours in advance. The only reason I even mention this is because of the insane amount of beautiful creatures, with amazing tattoos that would not leave my line of sight all weekend. It was a blessed problem to have. I’m sure many of you would agree. “The Great Ink Pageant on Partry Mountain” will be the official name of Block Party next year. I returned to the otherworldly sounds of Yeasayer on the Main Stage. Though I’ve never been too huge on them, probably because it reminds me of mopping floors at my old job, they sounded great. They have a very eclectic approach to songwriting, which is something I appreciate immensely. I hate when musical acts essentially end up playing the same song, over and over again. Yawn. Yeasayer had one song that reminded me of Adam Ant’s “Goody Two Shoes.” You might laugh but that 1983 Billboard #12 single is extremely catchy and doesn’t have longevity issues.

I walked back and forth between Cal Anderson Park and various watering holes waiting for Holy Fuck to take the Main Stage. My memory is somewhat hazy but while waiting for “The Greatest Band To Ever Play Outdoor Musical Festivals Since Ancient Greek Times” (Yeah, I’m calling Holy Fuck that) I caught Hairvest at Cha Cha. Their name not withstanding, they gave me what was one of many unforgettable gems of Block Party 2010. Gentle reader, can you throw your lighter up for a Hairvest cover of Kelis’ “Milkshake”? If anyone has video footage of this, please let me know. It was amazing and totally unexpected. Holy Fuck then lived up to their name once again. You’ll be able to read more about that shortly. If it weren’t for every Canadian playing in the NHL and my everlasting desire to marry Nelly Furtado, these guys would be the most important Canadians in my life, by far.

You know what else was spectacular? Helms Alee at the Cha Cha. Make no mistake about it, I am a complete “fan boy” of this band. I listen to them all the time. Every time I see one of the band members randomly around the town, my heart skips a beat. “Grandfather Claws” was vicious as always and a “newish” song that sounded really good. Gentle reader, if you know the name of this song, please let me know. After the rock-fest that was Helms Alee, I walked around Block Party for a bit, seeing a bunch of stuff that I failed to take notes on. I walked through the circus that was MGMT and watched a few songs while loitering. I still haven’t heard this supposedly wretched sophomore album yet. What I saw from the band wasn’t particularly impressive but it’s hard to be good on the Main Stage as the final act of the evening. So many factors are working for/against the artists at that point, it can often go either way. I’d much rather see MGMT at Neumos or Chop Suey.

I left the Main Stage to see the Fruit Bats at the Vera Stage and didn’t regret my decision in the least. I saw people feeding one another ice cream, fist pumping with the use of a crutch, warm smiles, loving embrace and plenty of what I would call “down on the farm” dancing. In other words, the kind of dancing where you just kind of let your body do it’s own thing; think the Shenandoah Mountain version of getting “hyphy.” In eliciting such great joy, the Fruit Bats made for the ideal way to close day one of Block Party.


Shabazz Palaces ::: Photo by Josh Lovseth

Mainstage Crowd ::: Photo by Josh Lovseth

MGMT ::: Photo by Josh Lovseth

Flickr: See More Photos from Day One of Capitol Hill Block Party

July 29, 2010

Block Party Standouts: Holy Fuck

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Holy Fuck::: Photo by Josh Lovseth

Ladies and gentleman, they’ve done it again.

Holy Fuck came to a Seattle music festival, rolled up their sleeves, straightened out their ties and got down to the business of blowing your minds. No monster truck rally sideshow, without the use of six-dozen backup dancers with perfect abs and 99.9% of the time they don’t use vocals. Yet they still dominate large audiences at big festivals on the most primal of levels. It’s amazing and not many bands of their ilk can even begin to lay claim to having the ability to do the same thing. If this were a video blog, Carly Simon’s “Nobody Does It Better” would be cued up in the background right now.

Holy Fuck’s set was a mixed bag of songs off the new album Latin and old favorites. They played a song, a newer one I assume, that featured guitar and vocals. I was in a state of shock. This unexpected moment kind of reminded me of when Bob Dylan went from acoustic to electric guitar and people wanted to kill him. None of the Block Party patrons yelled “Sellout!” or anything, so that was good. “Frenchy’s” made me lose my mind. It was a nice extended version that got faster midway thru the song. If Holy Fuck were a jam band, you might say, “They totally jammed that song out dude!”  Indeed they did. There were people climbing up telephone poles during “Choppers”. The Canadian group started off “Lovely Alien” with the familiar sports stadium war cry song Charge! I’m hoping to see this song, that even Radiohead has given kudos to, as one of the tracks on the next ESPN Jock Jams compilation because of the genius preface that took place at Block Party.

My only complaint about Holy Fuck was that they were performing on the Main Stage. There were times where I wanted to run thru the audience with a scythe, mowing down fools like they were stalks of corn, just so I could get closer to the stage. I’m not going to be shy about being selfish; I want Holy Fuck all to myself. I want Holy Fuck to play my living room the next time they are on tour and have to schedule a date in Seattle. Maybe I’ll invite some of you to the inaugural “Philfest: From Phil’s Living Room” but I wouldn’t put all my eggs in one basket if I were you. Space for this festival is extremely limited and tickets are going to cost you a vital organ. Holy Fuck’s set was the only time I was jealous of the people who somehow ended up on that fire escape with a perfect view of the Main Stage. Those lucky bastards, who do I have to fuck to get up there?

Holy Fuck ::: Photo by Josh Lovseth