Hilarity ensued last week as the celebrities converged upon Seattle for the All-Star festivities. Yes, Eddie Vedder joined Mudhoney onstage at the Showbox on July 9, but the real spectacle took place outside the club: "We're a light people," remarked a Chinese bystander while an obliging Peter Buck held two Asian fans aloft as he posed for pictures. When the R.E.M. guitarist exited the club, he was approached by the starstruck fans who screamed "PEE-tah!" and requested a photograph. The friendly Buck obliged, and the prized proof is now pasted in a photo album half a world away.
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The next night, a famously cantankerous member of a local band and some of her friends decided to go out in search of celebrities at the Four Seasons. What they found was a bunch of arrogant big shots entertaining themselves by making fun of non-famous yokels: She mistakenly asked "Anthony Michael Hall" for his autograph, only to be snottily informed that the celebrity wasn't Hall at all. (This is the same woman who walked right up to Matchbox 20's Rob Thomas at an EMP shindig and intoned, "How's it goin', Third Eye Blind?" A master of poking at overinflated egos, that girl is.) This faux pas spawned the gaggle of celebs, which included Scream's Matthew Lillard and Dawson's Creek's James Van Der Beek, to begin shouting out things like, "I used to be on Saved by the Bell!" and other witty, guffaw-garnering phrases.
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I've been to a lot of block parties in my time, and last weekend's Capitol Hill Block Party was the neighborhood's best ever. Organizer Dave Meinert should be heartily congratulated for pulling off an amazing event. Each band put on great sets, playing their hearts out on the outdoor mainstage or tucked inside the full-to-bursting Bad JuJu Lounge.
The Gossip kicked the day off with an energetic performance, followed by Carissa's Wierd, whose members played one of the best shows of their careers (despite the fact that it all happened outside in broad daylight--a very uncharacteristic setting for the band). Maktub had everyone dancing in the streets, and Pedro the Lion dropped jaws with an intense set that reminded those who might have forgotten that this is a live band whose shows should never, ever be missed. Botch nearly broke out neighborhood windows with the loudest, most abrasive set of the day; Quasi let it be known that Janet Weiss is one of the best drummers in the country. And Mudhoney? Let's just say that the group's set was astounding, full of gems, and the perfect end to it all.
The stage inside the Bad JuJu was just as spectacular, but the day belonged to Visqueen, which not only brought in the most star-studded audience, but delivered what might go down in history as the best first show ever. Frontwoman (and Stranger sales superstar) Rachel Flotard and Fastbacks bassist Kim Warnick traded kick-ass harmonies and played power pop so propulsive and hook-laden, it's no wonder they've been asked to play the Cheap Trick after-party. All the bands that played the sweaty, packed room were at the top of their game, but Visqueen... as one local band member in the audience said, "Those guys are going to be huge."
And speaking of becoming "huge," label reps were at the Block Party in droves, handing out business cards like it was 1992....
Best sightings? Murder City Devil Spencer Moody waiting to use the Honey Bucket in the VIP area, only to make a big production of accusing Mudhoney's Steve Turner of stinking up the can. Also: Dan Peters' li'l one, looking cute as a button with her Calvin Johnson-style ear protectors on.
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In other news, R.E.M. is in Los Angeles this week appearing in a Simpsons episode. And Matt Chamberlain is a very busy man: Not only is he working with Pete Droge on Stone Gossard's forthcoming solo release, Bay Leaf, but his website reveals he's contributed to recent new releases by Dave Navarro, the Devlins, Tori Amos, and Macy Gray. Whew!
