Iron & Wine ::: Photo by Brandrew Dice Clay

[ Editors Note: A local musician offered to write up his trip the No Depression festival on Saturday, and we accepted his offer. For now he and his photographer are using nom de plumes. -josh ]

By Sebastian Rootwell

It was a sunny and sticky Saturday afternoon at Marymoor Park for the brand-spanking debut of the No Depression Festival. Named after a current blog online music community and recently defunct magazine, the festival seems like a genius plan to spark some life into the now fourteen year old enterprise, what with the blossoming alt-country scene in Seattle. The crowd tends to be thirty-something and composed, a plastic cup of micro-brew affixed firmly in hand. We step over babies, blankets, and beers on our way to a spot front and center of the stage, where we would spend a majority of the next seven hours.

I arrive at 2PM with my partner in crime Brandrew Dice Clay. We missed out on Zee Avi’s set but arrive just in time for the No Depression All Star Revue, which is like a fantasy country rock team, put together by coach Don Slack. Mr. Slack is music director at KEXP, host of Swingin’ Doors, and an ubiquitous feature on the local music scene; a man whose tastes are bedded in a exhaustively deep knowledge of anything country and honky-tonk. Each song featured a different vocalist, ranging from the wounded, stark warble of Zoe Muth to the high-octane jug-thumping twang of the Maldives. The star of the set had to be Star Anna, pride of Ellensburg, Washington, and her rendition of “Joy” by Lucinda Williams. Note to whoever took the joy away from Star Anna: please, please give it back. She is quite incensed over the whole matter, and I fear for your life, and in fact, everyone’s life.

Jessica Lea Mayfield from Kent, Ohio was next to take the stage. I had heard her described as a hybrid between the alt-country and hipster scenes, and judging from their look and sound, I wouldn‘t disagree. She starts strong with the single “Kiss Me Again,” a song with lovely and detached ‘ahh ahh ahh ahhs’ in the chorus and outstanding guitar work by Jessica’s brother David, who gets both bass and guitars sounds as well as a formidable, mood-setting wash of reverb and feedback. But overall, her relentless apathy and clichéd lyrics suck the life from the stage. This is especially apparent when she plays a couple of songs alone, exposing some uncomplicated little ditties delivered with no particular charisma. We retreat to the shade.

Coming to the rescue was Nashville’s Justin Townes Earle, who’s got the kind of pedigree you can hardly shake a stick at. A no.2 pencil wrapped in a stone gray suit, a greaser’s hair and sunglasses, JTE’s swagger and style was pervasive from the moment he sauntered to the middle of the stage. Smiles abound as he absolutely rips through the set of honky-tonk tunes, keeping the energy piqued with his finger-picking, sing-along choruses and sly banter. Here is a born performer, an entertainer, a seducer, a story-teller. He is joined on stage by Cory Younts, mouth-harper extraordinaire, and their chemistry is unforced and fun, a beautiful thing to watch. A high point comes near the end of the set, when JTE remarks that his thumbnail is being held on by super glue. He recalls a phone-call with festival staff, where they asked whether he needed anything for the show. “Guitar strings, and, uh….super glue,” he says, grinning. And to us, winking, “That’s a good one, eh?”

Read the rest of this entry »

Star Anna at Slackfest ::: Photo by Josh Lovseth

The new festival on the block this year the No Depression Festival, that as one might guess is curated by the locally based and now online-only music publication No Depression, which for years has focused on the American roots, alt-country and folk scene around the nation. Having forgone the paper magazine side to their business last year, this festival is a fierce statement that unlike other music publications falling by the wayside, they intend to remain a force on a scene they’ve documented for so long.

Happening Saturday July 11th at Redmond’s Marymoor Park stage, and starting at 1pm, the No Depression Festival is a day full of acts, local and otherwise, worth showing early for. Headlining is Sub Pop powerhouse Iron & Wine, who seems to like keeping his shows intimate, thus always a hot ticket. Local alt-country veterans Jesse Sykes and the Sweet Hereafter is the big local name on the bill, joining fellow evening acts Gillian Welch, Drive By Trucker Patterson Hood and his new band, and son of Steve, Justin Townes Earle.

We want to drop a special nod of attention for the artists in the small print, who are playing earlier at the festival as a part of what the festival is calling an “All Star Revue” at 2pm. Backed by a house band, local rising stars like Mark Pickerel, Star Anna, Sera Cahoone, members of the Maldives and more will in the festival’s words ” play songs oft-associated with the genres that No Depression has covered over the past 14 years.” The possibilities that this moment provides is definitely a reason to show up early, and this group of is sure to do the material proud.

Courtesy of STG Presents we have a pair of tickets to offer to the first person to comment on this post who want’s them. That simple. I’ll make sure you’re comment get’s moderated quickly if you’re a first time commenter. I’ll note a winner when there is one.

For those who need to get tickets still themselves, they are $45.00 each at Ticketmaster (not counting fees).