hereis the info file from Dime
KEXP vs. Bumbershoot (Day 3 of 3)
2013 Bumbershoot Festival
Monday, September 2, 2013
Bumbershoot Music Lounge
Seattle, Washington, USA
Lineage: FM –> Line Out/In –> LS-10 (SDHC) –> Onboard Card-Reader –> CDWave –> FLAC Frontend
[731] Redd Kross – 2013-09-02 – Seattle (12:00pm)
Setlist:
01 – [Intro]
02 – Lady In The Front Row
03 – Stay Away From Downtown
04 – Switchblade Sister
05 – Uglier
06 – Jimmy’s Fantasy
07 – [Fountain Lawn]
08 – Pretty Please Me
09 – Annie’s Gone
10 – Linda Blair
11 – Crazy World
12 – [Outro]
Running Time: 38:13
Today, we welcome punk legends Redd Kross to the Music Lounge. Jeff and Steve McDonald have been around the block and back, both as Redd Kross and as the Tourists, staying alive through three decades of changes to the scene and still bringing a visceral show to the stage. Last year, they dropped their first record in fifteen years, Researching The Blues, through Merge Records, and they’ve most recently toured alongside Dinosaur Jr.
After growing and performing alongside other punk heroes like Black Flag and Circle Jerks through the 80s and surviving through most of the 90s, Redd Kross took a hiatus towards the end of the decade. In 1999, the death of guitarist Eddie Kurdziel put the future of the band further into limbo. But in 2006, the band slowly returned to the stage, building steam through a string of California dates and then moving out across the country once again. With a batch of new songs fresh out the door, it’s the perfect time to see the McDonalds once again and remember the raw power that this band can pack.
As Redd Kross set up for the show, complete with a beat up red guitar, their songs booming and bright, it was clear the KEXP music lounge was ready to fill with sound. Heck, we’d be lucky if the doors stayed on their hinges. ”I’m super pleased to kick things off with a bang,” said the stylish KEXP DJ Kevin Cole, donning a sharp black vest. “Please welcome Redd Kross!”
“Alllright!” shouted bassist Steven McDonald, in black t-shirt, hand through long brown hair. “Are you ready to do this!” The crowd cheered and just like that the set began.
Redd Kross’ punk sensibilities are evident from the get-go, but their clarity was a welcomed surprise. Often, shredding can come off muddled, but not with this four-piece. Not at all. Is it blasphemy to say there was even a bit of pop sensibility to their opening few tunes? Their third song had singer Jeff McDonald saying, “Let’s hit ‘em with this Glam classic, ‘Switchblade Sister’!” And they did!
The track “Uglier” followed “Switchblade Sister” – “It’s getting uglier every day,” droned the chorus. The band has a mastery of bringing the tempo down and then immediately ratcheting it up to a grand climax. The up-tempo accentuated by guitar leads and cymbal crashes.
After “Uglier” it was time to dry their faces with towels, get a sip of water, tune a little bit (“Air conditioning makes your guitar go sharp,” said Jeff. “We got to get hotter!”) and continue on. They began to loosen up more, offering more screams, and even hopping around the stage to their own rhythms. From my perch I could see DJ Kevin Cole smiling and nodding his head as he broadcast live from the cool KEXP music lounge.
The final third of the set had Jeff, who wore salmon-colored shorts and white-and-black checkered shoes, putting down the guitar and banging a tambourine, gesticulating like David Bowie. The penultimate song of the performance is the first song off their first album, released 32 years ago, called “Linda Blair”. It was the most driving song of the performance and had both McDonald’s singing together in harmonious unison and Jeff soloing with his weathered red ax.
The show ended with a chorus. “It’s a crazy world we live in,” they sang. “It’s a crazy, crazy world we live in.” And then, like that, it was over. Redd Kross, currently on a west coast tour (sponsored by Burger Records), will play again today at Bumbershoot’s Fountain Lawn Stage at 3:30PM.
[732] Superchunk – 2013-09-02 – Seattle (1:15pm)
Setlist:
01 – [Intro]
02 – Trees Of Barcelona
03 – Learned To Surf
04 – Me And You And Jackie Mittoo
05 – Skip Steps 1 And 3
06 – Out Of The Sun
07 – Detroit Has A Skyline
08 – [Superchunk Music Lounge]
09 – This Summer
10 – [Outro]
Running Time: 25:55
By now most have heard about Superchunk titling their new album I Hate Music, that it is the “dark twin” of their 2010 release, Majesty Shredding. But the only reason to care about an album name is if you like the band that’s naming it. And who doesn’t like Superchunk?? The lively rock group that rose to fame in the 90’s, helping to put the Chapel Hill, NC, music scene on the map with quirky, punk-influenced songs, doesn’t make you think of drama first – not like, say, The Phantom of the Opera might – but drama was palpable in the wait for the band’s anticipated new project. And (important information alert!) the band has also shot at least one music video affixing a camera onto a kitty cat.
Superchunk entered the lounge looking color-coordinated, each of the four members wearing dark shirts, a fine juxtaposition to their music’s luminous energy. “Let’s welcome one of the greatest bands to see live, Superchunk!” said DJ Cheryl Waters from her stage-side seat.
“We have a new album out, I Hate Music, and obviously all you do too,” said Superchunk lead singer Mac McCaughan. Then the band began a song so rich of sound that it seemed, of course, impossible that they hate anything, music especially. They followed with another tune, prefaced by Mac saying, “This one’s probably older than most of you!” And the KEXP audience was met with even more raucous energy.
“I’ve always said we do our best rocking before 2PM,” noted Mac, somewhat sarcastically. To wit, the band sang together on their next tune, “Get me out of the sun! Get me out of the sun!” While we’ve seen this band get better with time, their afternoon (in door!) set was tremendous. Mac, while singing his ringing vocals and sidestepping on stage almost like Chuck Berry, was flanked by bass and guitar (both red, perhaps a theme of today’s music lounge performances) and backed up by big drum fills.
“Is there clapping allowed in the music lounge?” Mac asked before the final song. The audience immediately applauded. “No,” he laughed, “like, rhythmic clapping.” The music lounge audience got the idea and as soon as the song, “This Summer”, began, the band was accompanied by its hundreds of new members, if for just one tune. Superchunk plays Bumbershoot again tonight at 7Pm.
[733] Ivan And Alyosha – 2013-09-02 – Seattle (2:30pm)
Setlist:
01 – [Outro]
02 – Fathers Be Kind
03 – Who Are You?
04 – I Was Born To Love Her
05 – The Fold
06 – On My Way
07 – Running For Cover
08 – Be Your Man
09 – [Outro]
Running Time: 30:22
Seattle band Ivan & Alyosha, in the lineage of local powerhouses the Head and the Heart and the Fleet Foxes, are masters of the bright, jangly guitars, tight, soaring harmonies and steady kick-drum rhythms. But there is something distinct about them, too – the band has more joy to it than maybe anything else. They wear smirks and grins with their button downs and combed hair. They exude a sort of lightness. Having just come off an extensive tour – and, after Bumbershoot, they’re headed off for yet another – the folk-pop group, comprised of Tim Wilson, Pete Wilson, Ryan Carbary and Tim Kim, set up shop at the KEXP music lounge stage, the third set of the third day, with some of the members even sporting new haircuts!
The five-piece couldn’t help but smile as the first song began. Drums, a couple electric guitars, an acoustic and a Paul McCartney-style violin bass accompanied the sweet tones of lead singer Tim Wilson’s voice, a fine change from the power-pop bands earlier in the afternoon. “Thank you KEXP for having us, and Bumbershoot,” said Wilson. “We love you both!”
The middle of their set featured the beautiful song, “The Fold”. A dramatic electric guitar lead accompanied Wilson’s heartfelt lyrics. “Don’t you fold, don’t you fold,” he reminded. It finished with a solo acoustic guitar and Wilson singing, “Which direction does the wind blow in the valley there below? … There’s a dream on the horizon, it’s calling out your name. You better go and find your reason, you better find your claim to fame.”
Ivan & Alyosha, who play again tonight at 7:30PM, finished with their hit, “Be Your Man.” Joked Wilson right before the tune, “We’re Ivan & Alyosha and we’re a boy band from Seattle!” Spontaneous audience claps accompanied the band’s shakers on stage, and a giant electric guitar blast capped off the band’s beautiful set.
[734] Trampled By Turtles – 2013-09-02 – Seattle (3:45pm)
Setlist:
01 – [Intro]
02 – Keys To Paradise
03 – Victory
04 – Walt Whitman
05 – Widower’s Heart
06 – Sorry
07 – Midnight On The Interstate
08 – Alone
09 – [Outro]
Running Time: 31:13
As the mythology goes, Trampled By Turtles formed as a side project by the band members in order to get a chance to play acoustic songs together. Now look at them! Featured in mainstream movies and on tour nationally! “The first year of existence of this band was also the last year of existence for our other bands,” the group notes on their site. Their songs are folk, yes, but somehow still untraditional – they have a real rawness and passion, translating into a sort of unplacable joy. The whole package is reminiscent of Bob Dylan’s Rainy Day Women #12 & 35 where the players (allegedly) weren’t allowed to use the instruments they were most comfortable with.
TBT set up at the KEXP stage, the five-piece standing side-by-side, holding violin, banjo, acoustic guitar, acoustic bass and mandolin. Believe it or not, some of the band members even had big beards!
The set started with a loud cheer from the “great audience,” as DJ Kevin Cole observed. Most apparent, instruments aside, were the band’s heavenly harmonies. It would be easy to believe that each and every audience member felt individually sung to today, held warmly by the tunes, each losing oneself in the band’s singing voices. Visually, the musicians were distinctly proficient and charming in their performances, impossible to focus on just one.
Ghostly violin riffs were cheered on by loud whistles from the crowd. The fast, rail-car feel of TBT’s songs livened up the music lounge in a way not yet seen today. And, yet, before each song you could hear a pin drop, the audience was so attentive for each pluck or strum of the strings. “Come wash me and keep me and take me away,” sang frontman Dave Simonett, working his acoustic guitar.
Trampled By Turtles, who play tonight again at 9:45PM, capped off their set with a thoughtful, tender tune. “You come into the world alone,” sang Simonett. “And you go out of the world alone. But in between there’s you and me.” Here, in between, at the KEXP music lounge with Trampled By Turtles, we were all somehow together. Thankfully.
[735] The Joy Formidable – 2013-09-02 – Seattle (5:30pm)
Setlist:
01 – [Intro]
02 – This Ladder Is Ours
03 – Little Blimp
04 – Maw Maw Song
05 – Cradle
06 – Whirring
07 – [Outro]
Running Time: 31:06
As Americans we are no longer surprised by European artists who bring their amazing music to our humble shores. The Joy Formidable is another among the ever-growing list of impressive British talent that has taken the US by storm. In 2007, childhood best friends Rhiannon “Ritzy” Bryan and Rhydian Dafydd left their previous band Sidecar Kisses, added drummer Matthew James Thomas to the mix, and The Joy Formidable was born. Their music really reached a broad audience when the dazzling track “Endtapes” was featured on the ever-popular The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn soundtrack. Since then they’ve released the critically acclaimed album, Wolf’s Law, which took full advantage of Bryan’s dreamy voice and the band’s knack for dynamic, sweeping rhythms. Today at Bumbershoot audiences get to experience the magic firsthand.
The Joy Formidable warmed up at the music lounge as the audience sauntered in taking their seats. “Gong” a soundman said from high up and a huge gong was sound-checked before the packed house! “You may say we have a longstanding – longterm – relationship with our next band,” said DJ Kevin Cole of The Joy Formidable. Both the band and KEXP have partnered on a number of performances over the years, quite happily. And today was no different. The trio launched on stage, filling the music lounge with distorted guitars and a GIANT drum sound. The blond-bobbed lead singer Ritzy’s voice was playful over the otherwise heavy instrumentation, the rhythm of which matched by house lights.
Notes:
~ Festival website: http://bumbershoot.org/.
~ Broadcast live from the Bumbershoot Music Lounge inside the Festival, this torrent is thus not in violation of the ban against KEXP in-studio broadcasts.