Memorial Day Weekend officially opened the summer, and for those in the Pacific Northwest it also brought Sasquatch Music Festival (pictures from all three days are coming soon). Now the lineup for its Labor Day cousin, Bumbershoot 2010, has been announced. That fest, happening at Seattle, WA's Seattle Center September 4th-6th, will include headliners Bob Dylan, Mary J. Blige, Weezer, Hole, Rise Against, Neko Case, The Decemberists, J. Cole and "one more very special guest to be announced soon."

Tickets (including non-Mainstage 'economy' passes) are on sale now. The rest of the lineup (by day) for the seven-stage festival is posted below...

Continue reading "Bumbershoot 2010 lineup (Bob Dylan... Hole... Mary J Blige)"

words by BBG, photos by Brian Reilly

It was a little surreal seeing the enormous LED billboard outside the Nokia with the crowned skull and crossed switchblade logo [for Murder City Devils] and all kinds of video of the band. But it was the punkest thing Times Square probably ever had on display, so as surreal as it was it was pretty fucking boss too.... The second the band started all hell broke loose. It was easily my favorite show of the three... My voice will be gone for the next couple days and I'm a little sore to be honest but man the Devils made my weekend... They're probably the only band around in the past couple decades that did the rock and roll they way it should be done. -[Frankenstein Sound System]

One of the things that I worried about the most going into the Nokia show was the fact that the last time Murder City Devils played NYC was at the infinitely smaller CBGB's. Call me a doubter, but walking into the venue on 2/13, I expected it to be half full and although it wasn't comparatively as full as Carcass (my last experinece at the venue), I was pleasantly surprised at the turnout! MCD rules.

Unfortunately I missed all of Feral Children, but got there in time to catch MCD take the stage around 10:45. Playing a nitro-fueled set of garage-y punk which included stage dives, writhing on the floor, and full-on spazz attacks, the band played a 45 minute set before retiring to the back to reemerge later. The crowd seemed as energized as the band, even the audience sitting in the rear of the space; I noticed multiple people up and dancing during the set.

The band also taped an episode of Dinner With the Band while they were in town so stay tuned for that to surface on the IFC channel some time this year. More pics from the killer Nokia Theatre show are below...

Continue reading "Murder City Devils played Nokia Theatre in NYC - pics "

photos by Chris Graham

Bumbershoot has evolved over the years, and no one knows that better than Norm Langill, president and CEO of One Reel, the not-for-profit company that produces the event. He's been involved with Bumbershoot since its beginning in the 1970s and is the one who ultimately takes the bouquets and brickbats, the praise and complaints.

As the 2008 festival drew to a close last Monday night, he looked out a picture window in the press room at the still-bustling crowd below and said, "I see people really engaged out there. A mixed crowd."

He turned to me, smiling.

"It was smooth. It was really smooth this year. I feel comfortable enough to not even ask about attendance." [The Seattle Times]

Bumbershoot 2008 coverage comes to an end with the rest of the pictures and reports from day three below..

Continue reading "Bumbershoot 2008 - more pix, less Monotonix & republicans"