Tag Archives: Diamond Rings

Bumbershoot 2013 Music Rundown, Day 1

Diamond Rings.
Thao and the Get Down Stay Down.
Gary Numan.
Beat Connection.
ZZ Ward.
The Physics.
!!!
Gary Numan.
Washed Out.
Sallie Ford.
Crystal Castles' blinky lights.
Kris Orlowski and Torry Anderson.
Maceo Parker.
!!!

Down North, throwing it down. (Photo: Tony Kay)

Charles Bradley heats up the KEXP Lounge. (Photo: Tony Kay)

Boy-Band dreamy, with new wave on the brain: Diamond Rings. (Photo: Tony Kay)

Thao of the Get Down Stay Down gets down. (Photo: Tony Kay)

Gary Numan, Rock God, at the KEXP Lounge. (Photo: Tony Kay)

Beat Connection, connecting the beats. (Photo: Tony Kay)

ZZ Ward, rocking some smart red slacks. (Photo: Tony Kay)

Thig of The Physics politely exhorts Bumbershoot spectators to move. (Photo: Tony Kay)

Best Frontman in Crusty Rolling Stones boxers, EVER: Nic Offer of !!!. (Photo: Tony Kay)

A little Klaus Kinski, a lot of Rock God: Gary Numan on the Tunein Stage. (Photo: Tony Kay)

Washed Out get dreamy. (Photo: Tony Kay)

Sallie Ford does the slow rockabilly burn. (Photo: Tony Kay)

Crystal Castles make loud ticky-tick and booming bass noises. (Photo: Tony Kay)

Kris Orlowski and keyboardist Torry Anderson in action. (Photo: Tony Kay)

Maceo Parker on the Starbucks Stage. (Photo: Tony Kay)

(Photo: Tony Kay)

I swore I’d gorge on something besides music at Bumbershoot 2013. Really, I did. But the lineup for all three days had me chucking those notions most of the time. Aside from a brief trip to Flatstock (customarily wonderful) and a stroll through some of the very cool art installations at the Fisher Pavilion, I mainly imbibed the music.

Day 1 Music Highlights:

The Best: Local funketeers Down North, who got my Bumbershoot ’13 off to a throw-down start with a ferocious instrumental attack and frontman Anthony Briscoe’s killer pipes; Gary Numan, bashing out old synth hits and newer industrial grind in glowering Rock God Mode; Thao Nguyen’s bent but pretty voice and ambling, beat-friendly indie folk with Thao and the Get Down Stay Down; !!!’s gawky, aggressive, and hard-partying disco-fied punk; The Physics‘ perfect blend of Thig’s and Monk’s wordplay, Justo’s potent beats, and a snapping live band; Kris Orlowski’s terrific set of new material, which cast that warm and raspy voice in an urgent, imaginative backdrop.

The Really Good: Charles Bradley, whose sandpaper soul voice sounded more ragged than usual (even on an off-day, though, The Screaming Eagle of Soul still broke hearts); Beat Connection, whose distinctive blend of electric and acoustic music had asses shaking without forcing audiences to disengage their brains in the process; Portland quartet Sallie Ford and the Sound Outside, all twangy swagger backing Ford’s wondrous alien-rockabilly yelp; Legendary saxophonist Maceo Parker’s classy, easy-grooving set of soul chestnuts.

The Rest: Canadian electro-pop whiz kid Diamond Rings‘ Pin-Up Boy charisma and engaging retro new wave tunes were undercut by a thin, indistinct singing voice; ZZ Ward sang the hell out of her Alicia Keys-meets-Melissa Etheridge pop songs, but damned if I could cozy up to any of ’em; Washed Out’s blend of earnest indie crooning and percussive electronics didn’t quite take off live for me; and electro-punk act Crystal Castles sorta felt like a lotta sound and fury (and flashing lights), signifying nothing.

Crap! I Missed It: Heart‘s reportedly transcendental Key Arena Mainstage performance; Sets by local hip hop figures Grynch and Nacho Picasso; The Total Experience Gospel Choir.

Stay Tuned for Music Rundowns of Bumbershoot 2013, Days 2 and 3, real soon-like…