Iâve gone to Bumbershoot four out the six years Iâve lived in Seattle, so I like to think I have a fair amount of life lessons when it comes to braving the festival: Iâve been the loud drunk person, Iâve been the sad dehydrated person, Iâve been the âmissed my favorite-bands-because-I-was wandering-around-lost-on-ediblesâ person (itâs not just a rookie mistake, Chase!). But this time, Iâm older, wiser. This time, it would be different. I would play the game of Bumbershoot. And I would win.
CATALDO AT THE KEXP STAGE
Maybe it was the quieter, oasis-like vibes of the KEXP space, away from the madding crowd, or maybe it was Cataldoâs charming back and forth with the sound guy as they warmed up for their set. Maybe it was the air-conditioning (!) and free water. Whatever it was, it was the perfect way to ease into Bumbershoot â off to nice start with the clean, comforting sounds of âYour Love Has Got Me Running Home (To You)â from their new album. Eric Anderson, mastermind behind and lead singer of Cataldo, was feeling chatty, telling stories about his adventures on tour and making jokes about his nerdy love of logistics between songs. But that nerdy love paid off with the beauty of some well-executed percussion (there were drums and bongos), an upbeat saxophone, some keys, and his relaxed, off-the-cuff stage presence.
Ah, that was nice. Ok, back out into the heat. But luckily there was this guy:
"Cool off before you throw down!"
TACOCAT AT THE FISHER GREEN STAGE
I didnât even need to look at the map - I was led by Emily Nokeâs unmistakable voice singing âBridge To Hawaiiâ to the Fisher Green stage. I wanted to continue the Seattle love, so Tacocat was just what I needed â neon tutus, glitter-guilded drums, and that tambourine! Pure punk rock fun on summerâs afternoon.
âThis song is about the Internet!â Nokes says before launching into their next song.
âFUCK the Internet!â the guy behind me shouts.
âAw, you like the Internet!â says his friend.
âOk, yeah. I guess I do like the Internet,â he concedes, after a moment of thinking about it. Even he couldnât hate on the Internet when thereâs cute people dressed as cats releasing balloons into the audience, future feminist little kids with rainbow-dyed hair bouncing to the music and bubbles! Bubbles forever.
WEEZER AT THE MAIN STAGE
Ok, fine, guilty. I went to see Weezer at the Main Stage because I wanted to catch the sweater song and âIslands in Sunâ. So I trudged up the stairs all the way to the top of the amphitheater, where all the cool kids were smoking their drugs and making out. I suffered through Rivers Cuomo wearing a cringe-inducing sombrero during âBeverly Hills,â I stuck around for their awkward white-boy cover of Outkastâs âHey Yaâ, and I even didnât leave when they played their new single, the incredibly lackluster âFeels Like Summer". But then I got my wish: the sweater song and âIslands In The Sunâ, practically back to back. I was already on my way out, though, and felt nothing inside.
SOFI TUCKKER AT THE MURAL STAGE
Now hereâs a good place to be - the creative explosion of jungle pop and electro dance fun that is Sofi Tuckker. People were actually dancing! Sofi Tuckker asked, nay, demanded a high level of energy from the audience, who were more than happy to oblige. Hereâs a rule of thumb: at any festival where thereâs dancing, find the real freaks on the outskirts of the crowd. There, I found fun folks doing limbo, dancing around like maniacs to âBatshit Crazy,â and even these people:
THE ROOTS AT THE FISHER GREEN STAGE
âYouâre going the wrong fucking way! GO SEE THE ROOTS!â screeched some drunk guy to hordes of people heading to the Main Stage to see Lorde. âIâve never seen such dumb-ass Americans in my whole fucking life!â Really, dude? Anyway, I know I made the right choice and I knew I would, because my god, did The Roots deliver. Fluid rhymes, beats both dynamic and tight â which makes sense, considering theyâve been playing nightly on Late Night With Jimmy Falon for the past decade or so. The performance was being livecast to childrenâs hostpitals around the country â including Houston â and throughout the set, Black Thought repeatedly gave shout outs to them. Hearts were melted, hips were moving, and hands were in the air.