As I ease into my role as the Seattle blogosphere’s resident old fart, and conversely have been seeing much less live music as I had when I was younger, I still find myself immensely loyal to Bumbershoot because their lineup, unlike most of the other festivals around here, consistently has a bunch of stuff I can enjoy with seating.
Here are a few things I plan on enjoying throughout Labor Day weekend:
Stand Up for Yourself with Amy Miller (Saturday, SIFF Film Center, 7:45-8:45pm)
While watching every episode of “Last Comic Standing” last summer, I remember exactly one performance. I recognized Miller’s name as one of the few comedians on the show from the Pacific Northwest. “German? Irish?” She said to audience as she led it to guessing her ethnicity. “Close, I’m white trash.” It’s something that is far more risque than you might expect on midweek, prime time network television. Her set continued to be even more fearless and explosive (including a great dead parent joke). I’ve since become a fan and anxious for the chance to catch an extended set of hers, unsure of what boundaries she’ll defy for the sake of a good laugh.
Ron Funches (Saturday, Bagley Wright Theater, 7:00-8:00pm; Sunday, Bagley Wright Theater, 5:00-6:00pm)
I saw Ron Funches open a show at the Re-Bar for Rob Delaney several years back and remember finding him funny then (though I can’t remember why) and now he’s an almost ubiquitous presence on my television, watching him on the underrated “Undateable” to “Cake Wars” and “Not Safe with Nikki Glaser.” I don’t think there’s anyone I can think of who is as easy to like and whose cameos on TV can improve my mood the way he can. His chill and carefree demeanor make you feel at ease before he makes you laugh (which he will do). He’s like a human anti-depressant.
Cashier went off on the destructive effect of capitalism when I explained how a BOGO deal lured me in, A++ best customer service in Seattle.
— Natalie Holt (@fistfulofhollas) August 28, 2016
Natalie Holt (Friday, Vera Project, 5:30-6:30pm; Saturday, SIFF Film Center, 9:15-10:00pm; Sunday, Vera Project, 2:30-3:30pm; Sunday, SIFF Film Center, 9:15-10:00pm)
Natalie Holt is a producer for the acclaimed Comedy Nest night at the Rendezvous, but my familiarity with her comedy comes primarily from the very funny podcast she co-hosts. Called “Sexual Awake’n’Baking,” and co-hosted with Maddie Downes, it is as good as its title promises. The recent episode with Elicia Sanchez is particularly hilarious. It is responsible for enough awkward laughs while I should be working that seeking out one of Ms. Holt’s four Bumbershoot appearances is a priority.
The Seattle Files (Sunday, Vera Project, 4:00-5:00pm)
The Seattle Files is such a great idea: bring in local funny people to talk about Northwest history. I didn’t know I needed a podcast where you might see a local stand-up discuss Henry Yesler, the Seattle Pilots, the weird history of Ballard, or the 1962 World’s Fair with Chris Allen. The Bumbershoot edition features Allen talking with Kate Jaeger of Jet City Improv, author David B. Williams, and Northwest treasure John Keister.
Writers of “Transparent” (Saturday, Center Theater, 7:30-8:30pm)
One of my favorite recurring events at Bumbershoot are the panels with the writing staffs of select TV shows, and not just because many of the writers from “Parks and Recreation” came over to my apartment to watch “Breaking Bad” a few Bumbershoots ago. They provide a unique insight into the creation of a television program and why it resonates with viewers. This panel features the writers from the groundbreaking Amazon show “Transparent.”
Jena Friedman
Goddamn Comedy Jam (Saturday, Vera Project, 8:45-10:15pm; Sunday, Vera Project, 8:45-10:15pm)
Goddamn Comedy Jam is a monthly comedy night in LA that also just debuted as a series on Comedy Central last week. It’s based on the idea that stand-up comedians really wanted to be rock stars, so it has funny people act out their on-stage fantasy. They tell some jokes or repeat a memory about a particular song and then perform said song with a live band. With so many great comedians on site for Bumbershoot, the possibilities of who might show up are endless.
Seattle Review of Books (Sunday, Center Theater, 7:30-8:30pm)
The popular, and essential website devoted to Seattle’s status as a great literary city programmed an excellent evening with three poets at different stages in their respective careers: EJ Koh, Robert Lashley, and the mighty Sherman Alexie. I’ve seen Alexie read in a handful of different occasions and he’s always powerful and funny. With a natural gift for storytelling and when to inject humor, he’s the closest thing we have to a literary rock star these days.
Yogashoot (Saturday with Yoga Girl (aka Rachel Brathen), Starbucks Stage, 2:00-3:00pm; Sunday with Liz Arch, Starbucks Stage, 2:00-3:00pm)
Adding a yoga program on the Seattle Center lawn is a particularly savvy move, and not just because I’m a recent convert to yoga (though I am). The most stressful part of any festival tends to be the crowds, and what better way to help one deal with the crowds than achieving zen through flowing through Sun A and Sun B before braving the masses? I look at it as like herd immunity for vaccines. Not only could I appreciate the zen-enhancing properties of yoga for myself, Bumbershoot is better for everyone with more people zenned out.
Namaste.
