Should you stopped going to Bumbershoot as a result of it received too crowded, too costly, and too filled with the Black Eyed Peas, it’s time to reevaluate your determination.
Gone are the times when attendance topped 150,000, and music followers needed to wait in line for hours to ~possibly~ rating a wristband to see mainstream radio superstars headline Memorial Stadium. When New Rising Solar introduced the once-beloved fest again from the useless final yr, they hoped to curate an arts celebration that felt prefer it did within the previous(er) days when tickets have been (comparatively) inexpensive, crowds have been manageable, and various programming showcased all types of experimental and extraordinary artwork, from music to dancing to style to meals.
After spending all day there Saturday and Sunday, we’re glad to report that the brand new Bumbershoot is totally different! Bumbershoot is enjoyable once more! Organizers say 26,000 of us turned out over the two-day occasion, and the longest line was for the Cat Circus.
Here is every part we beloved at Bumbershoot 2024:
Flesh Produce
Megan Seling: I’ve to present huge props to Flesh Produce, who performed the Style District stage at 1 pm below the blazing solar. It’s by no means simple to be the primary band at a pageant, however drummer Karl Fagerström and vocalist Myla Profitt managed to get the still-sleepy onlookers shifting and cheering. Their sound pulls in just a little little bit of every part, from punk and hardcore to hiphop, all fortified with stay drumming. The spotlight was Profitt encouraging the rising viewers to sing together with their nearer, “You Can’t Make Me Fuck.” They have been reluctant at first, however these free samples of Yerba Mate kicked in finally.
Chastity Belt
Audrey Vann: I’ve seen Chastity band dozens of instances during the last decade and their stay reveals simply maintain getting higher—which is spectacular as a result of they’ve all the time been superb. Lead guitarist Lydia Lund is a massively underrated musician. I used to be completely captivated by her hypnotic glowing riffs.
The Divorce
MS: There have been SO MANY CHILDREN on the Divorce’s present. It was cute! All of them had cute headphones! I hadn’t seen the band since… 2007? Perhaps 2006? Singer/guitarist Shane Berry famous that this was the primary time a number of the band members’ youngsters have gotten to see them play.
Hannah Murphy Winter: I hadn’t seen these guys since 2005, after they’d simply launched their second EP, and I used to be younger sufficient to be excited that they have been taking part in at an all-ages venue. They did reduce into their set by virtually 10 minutes with their sound examine (“I’m the lead vocalist, so in case you may make me just a little louder within the combine, ya know, for my ego.”) However sixteen years after their breakup, they nonetheless slap.
MS: I had forgotten how completely sing-alongable a few of their songs are, too. I used to stroll round Ballard within the mid-Aughts, listening to The Gifted Program on loop whereas crushing on a boy who didn’t like me again, and wow, did it really feel good to sing/yell out, “I’d relatively be alone tonight!” time and again after they performed “Name the Police.” (ACAB, tho.)
Oh, Rose
AV: I remorse not sporting earplugs throughout this present. Nevertheless, frontwoman Olivia Rose has the guttural vocal chops of Sandy Denny and Catherine Ribeiro—she has the appropriate to sing LOUD!
Buttshark
MS: Did everybody see Buttshark!? Buttshark was the spotlight of Flatstock. Certain, there was quite a lot of actually improbable poster artwork—I significantly beloved the Adventures in Babysitting-inspired Kurt Vile poster at Starman Press’ sales space—however I cackled so loudly once I regarded down at Crosshair’s desk and noticed the poster his child, Soren, designed. I can’t cease fascinated about Buttshark. I attempted to purchase Buttshark on the finish of the pageant, after Me First and the Gimme Gimmes’ set, however Flatstock was closing down. Fortunately, it’s out there on-line.
HMW: I can’t imagine I missed Buttshark.
Ted Leo and the Pharmacists
Billie Winter: The final time I noticed Ted Leo stay was at Siren Music Fest in Coney Island in 2010. Apparently, I can solely see Ted Leo when seagulls are concerned. They performed Shake the Sheets from high to backside (it’s the album’s twentieth anniversary), which implies we received to listen to tracks from the B-side that they’ve by no means performed stay till this yr. Although he made quite a lot of jokes about being an previous punk, it was superior to see a brand new wave of little punks get into this traditional.
MS: Ted Leo used to tour by Seattle a number of instances a yr. I’ve missed seeing him stay—a pal described it as attending to see an previous pal. It was so comforting to listen to these songs once more. One thing occurs in my coronary heart when he repeats “It’s alright” dozens of instances in “Little Daybreak.” I begin to imagine him. I begin to really feel prefer it actually is alright. (Ted, lemme know your Venmo, you’re doin’ extra for me than my therapist ever may.)
Aly & AJ
AV: I got here for “Potential Breakup Tune.” I stayed for harmony-driven folk-rock tunes. I left with the sudden urge to start out a band with my sisters.
St. Paul and the Damaged Bones
HMW: MAN they know learn how to placed on a present. I like watching a crowd hear Paul Janeway’s voice for the primary time—jaws all the time hit the ground (or, on this case, the Mural stage grass.)
Pavement
AV: Perhaps it was the weed tincture speaking, however this efficiency solidified Stephen Malkmus because the sexiest member of Pavement (I beforehand swooned over bassist Mark Ibold).
Lemon Boy
MS: Two phrases: Kazoo duet. I’ve one way or the other missed each single Lemon Boy present in Seattle for the previous two years however all my goals got here true at Bumbershoot. Not solely did they’ve a depraved Kazoo duet, however additionally they performed their anti-Guitar Middle rant—full with a montage of overplayed riffs—and closed their set on the Vera Mission with a punk model of “Poisonous.” Yaz Ahsani growling “Don’t you recognize that you simply’re poisonous?” just like the burliest Norwegian black steel vocalist will stay in my head and my coronary heart for years to return.
Angélica Garcia
HMW: I’ve by no means seen somebody come again from a mic malfunction so spectacularly. I’d heard rumblings about her earlier than the present, however this was my first correct introduction to her, and I’m hooked. By the tip of the set, she had the entire crowd singing “Hey, Paloma.”
Glass Twinkies
MS: I HAVE NEVER WANTED SO BADLY TO EAT GLASS.
HMW: MEGAN DON’T EAT THE GLASS.
MS: BUT LOOK AT IT! Once I first noticed Eriko Kobayashi’s s’mores within the Modern visible artwork exhibit, I assumed they have been the true deal and it was possibly some form of commentary on the shelf-life of snacks crammed with synthetic elements and preservatives (yawn). However all of the snacks are glass! The Twinkies and Pop-Tarts have been particularly fascinating. That little sliver of Pop-Tart damaged off from the remainder of the pastry? What a cool little element.
Io Palmer’s Plush Collection
MS: After drooling over the glass snacks, I additionally noticed Io Palmer’s collection, Plush. The wall hangings are fabricated from clay, glaze, wire, steel brace, wooden, and paint and so they’re like these little worlds that I need to crawl into. I need Rick Moranis to shrink me right down to the scale of a ladybug so I can climb and crawl into all of the shiny, colourful nooks.
The Joketellers Union
MS: I beloved beloved LOVED having comedy at Bumbershoot! However how the fuck did organizers put collectively a whole-ass comedy present for disabled comics—the Disabled Record—after which construct the tent AT THE TOP OF STAIRS?!? Fortunately, after the Comedy Dome hosts introduced this to the pageant’s consideration, staffers introduced over a ramp however, like, c’mon. That mentioned, the Joketellers Union set I caught was hilarious. Bernice Larson secured her spot as my favourite comedian in Seattle proper now, and I’m nonetheless laughing about Cheri Hardman’s bit about titty tacos.
Kim Gordon
HMW: Should you’re on the lookout for traditional Sonic Youth, you gained’t discover it right here. Kim Gordon’s latest album continues her trek into the spooky spoken-word/noise/soundcloud hiphop realm, however I’ll comply with her anyplace.
The Polyphonic Spree
MS: Earlier within the day, when speaking to a pal about who they have been excited to see, they mentioned, “I do know it’s nerdy, however I’m wanting ahead to seeing the Polyphonic Spree.” Someway, the Polyphonic Spree turned this band that individuals really feel just a little embarrassed about liking. Folks misplaced their minds over them years in the past, me included! However possibly as a result of they’re unabashedly earnest and optimistic, that makes folks really feel too susceptible when admitting to liking them? However HOLY SHIT, THEY WERE SO FUCKING GOOD. Stranger contributor Sam Machkovech interviewed the band’s chief/vocalist Tim DeLaughter a number of weeks in the past, and DeLaughter mentioned, “We look ahead to changing folks into our world.” I assumed he was being cheeky, but it surely was actual. I used to be transformed. Once more. Hell, they even performed their symphonic cowl of “Lithium,” and other people within the viewers misplaced their shit! Have you learnt how exhausting it’s to sincerely cowl Nirvana on this metropolis and never solely not get booed however get folks singing and dancing alongside???
Sophy Wong
HMW: No matter planet Sophy Wong is from, I need to stay there.
MS: I’ve no purpose to put on that completely tailor-made blue/lavender shimmery costume that regarded like a extra stylish model of one thing from the Star Wars galaxy, however I might very very like to put on it. In all places. Whereas doing chores, whereas working errands, no matter—I’d really feel like Area God.
Me First and the Gimme Gimmes
MS: I like these ding dongs a lot. Previous punk rockers posing as a marriage band and protecting well-liked songs from nearly each style. The band, fronted by Swingin’ Utters frontman Spike Slawson, has had a rotating forged through the years. Bumbershoot’s iteration featured Jake Kiley (Strung Out), John Reis (Rocket from the Crypt, Drive Like Jehu, Scorching Snakes), CJ Ramone (duh), Andrew Pinching (the Damned). They opened with “Jolene” and in addition paid tribute to Paula Abdul, Olivia Rodrigo, Boyz II Males, and Evita.
MS: Everybody dances at a Me First present, and everybody sings alongside. There isn’t a disgrace, there isn’t any guilt in pleasure, solely pleasure. People went nuts when Seattle’s personal the Black Tones joined them for Stevie Marvel’s “Don’t You Fear ‘Bout a Factor.” I particularly beloved the second after they performed the intro to “Love Will Tear Us Aside,” and everybody received pumped to listen to Pleasure Divison, after which, simply because the vocals kicked in, the band pulled the ol’ switcheroo and went into Captain & Tennille’s “Love Will Hold Us Collectively.” LOL.
IYKYK Photograph Present
BW: The large standout for me was Luciano Ratto’s work… holy hell. His work showcases the DIY punk home reveals round Seattle (places redacted). Should you missed it, you possibly can nonetheless try his guide, Style the Ground.
MS: Ratto’s work makes me need to purchase a digicam and begin doing present images once more. I need to seize that vitality, bottle it up, drink it, stay in it. However on the identical time, his work makes me throw my fingers up within the air and scream, “What’s the purpose?” as a result of it’s so good and, like, why ought to I hassle taking an image of something ever once more when Ratto’s clearly received this shit on lock?
Grit Metropolis Wrestling
MS: The wrestling was one among my favourite issues to see at Bumbershoot 2023, and whereas I didn’t get to spend as a lot time over there within the Recess District this yr, I did catch Derek Drexl and Matt Brannigan STAPLE THINGS TO EACH OTHER!
MS: After that, they FLED THE RING to proceed their match within the close by jungle gymnasium?!?!?! They climbed the ropes and went down the slide, all whereas youngsters have been working round and taking part in. It was pleasant chaos.
Pole Pavilion
BW: It was like seeing close-up magic.
HMW: Nothing has ever been so scorching and so healthful on the identical time. We caught the final present of the night time, and the dancers have been so clearly one another’s largest followers. Should you’re in Tacoma, try Lilith studio.
Courtney Barnett
HMW: When did she begin sounding a lot like Joan Jett?? By the second tune, we began listening to mutters within the crowd a couple of “shock visitor,” which was, unsurprisingly, Kurt Vile (of the aptly named band, “Kurt Vile and Courtney Barnett”). Such nice chemistry, a lot wonderful hair on one stage.
Honorable Point out: The Bumbershoot Classic T-shirt hunt
Cameron and Iris
HMW: This couple melted my coronary heart onto the 115-degree pavement. They’re each of their 80s, sporting the identical classic Bumbershoot T-shirt from 1998. Once I requested them in the event that they remembered their first Bumbershoot, they each replied, “In all probability the primary one? It was once free!”
Mary Pat
HMW: She was sporting a 1987 Bumbershoot T-shirt. She says she went to the primary Bumbershoot, but it surely wasn’t superb, so she didn’t come again for 10 years.
Teri and Leo
HMW: Teri and Leo have been going to Bumbershoot collectively since 1990. Once I requested them after they every went for the primary time, they each shrugged, blushed just a little, after which mentioned once more, “We’ve been going collectively since 1990.”
