Unknown Mortal Orchestra and Bass Drum of Death played Seaport Music Festival (pics)
photos by Amanda Hatfield; words by Bill Pearis
UMO @ Seaport Music Festival, 6/28/2013
The 2013 Seaport Music Festival came to a close on Friday (6/28) with its biggest show (and crowd) of the season: Unknown Mortal Orchestra and Bass Drum of Death, who were making the penultimate stop on their tour together. UMO brought their damp Portland hometown weather with them, as it spat rain all evening. It was never enough to really warrant an umbrella (despite a few in the crowd using them), though, and I thought it felt good as muggy as it was on Friday (very).
The show started earlier than usual, as Mississipi’s Bass Drum of Death were already into their set when I arrived a little before 7 PM. These guys pretty much stick to rippers live — a similar style to Ty Segall’s poppier side — and I thought they sounded terrific. I’m more familiar with their debut than this year’s self-titled release, so songs like “GB City” and “Heart Attack Kid” from the former stuck with me a little more.
Unknown Mortal Orchestra have been touring for most of this year and are a pretty tight unit. They know their way around a hook, playing the bulk of their catchiest material, like “The Opposite of Afternoon” and “Swim and Sleep” both of which sounded much fuller than their album versions. They also had the pasta pot on full boil, extending the songs with more noodling than is to my personal taste. But that skill came in handy when they came back for an encore performing a killer version of Can’s “Vitamin C.”
It was a big weekend for the Seaport, as Village Voice’s 4Knots Festival was the next day and pictures from that are coming soon. More pics from UMO and BDoD are below.
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Bass Drum Of Death
Unknown Mortal Orchestra