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Sub Pop Highlights

By Brittney ⋅ July 14, 2008 ⋅  Email This Post ⋅  Print This Post ⋅ Post a comment

DAY ONE

The Obits: They found themselves in a doubly unenviable position: they were the first band of the day, and they had been previously unannounced, their slot marked only as “TBA.” However, their timeless, driving rock and roll gradually drew a small crowd to the stage, and the band finished their set to applause and a chorus of “Woo!”s.

The Constantines: It may seem strange to refer to one of the most intense bands in rock and roll as “relaxed,” but the Constantines’ between-set banter and constant smiles gave them the appearance of a band playing for nothing but kicks. They played a setlist composed of both songs from their new album, Kensington Heights, and older tracks, then brought out special guests for their two closing songs. Fellow Canadian Julie Doiron, of Eric’s Trip, sang vocals on “Why I Didn’t Like August ‘93, an Elevator to Hell song; Red Red Meat’s Tim Rutili accompanied for (most of) the final song, the Rolling Stones’ “Street Fighting Man.”

The Helio Sequence: Their delightfully hypnotic tunes were perfect for a summer afternoon in the grass. They also have the world’s most enthusiastic drummer.

The Fluid: Their singer wore a fluorescent pink shirt and purple-and-turquoise tie, and rocked it hard enough to make me consider, for a moment, running out and buying the exact same thing.

Mudhoney: Before Mudhoney took the stage, someone came out and placed cans of beer in strategic locations; I’m not sure, though, that the band ever paused to drink them. I’m not sure they ever paused. Singer Mark Arm and co. played forty solid minutes of loud, theatrical, driving grunge-punk, including a couple of songs from their most recent album, The Lucky Ones, plus quite a few old classics. Mudhoney’s set drew some of the most enthusiastic fans I saw all weekend; the fervor and energy built up and built up, and when the band launched into “In ‘N’ Out Of Grace,” the crowd exploded. They screamed, they moshed, and then someone started crowdsurfing, and it really WAS 1993 all over again.

Incidentally, it was at this point that I experienced one of my favorite moments of the festival. Standing next to me was a boy of maybe thirteen, fourteen at the most. As the pit suddenly developed around him, and crowdsurfers began to pass overhead, I noticed his eyes light up with discovery and absolute joy. I hope he has many many more rock and roll revelations to come.

Iron & Wine: I had never seen Iron & Wine live before, and Samuel Beam’s charming and amiable stage manner came as a delightful surprise. Joking and laughing with the crowd, he managed to give the sold-out festival the intimate feeling of a show at a much smaller venue. His crowd-pleasing cover of The Postal Service’s “Such Great Heights” made the setlist, and even though he kept forgetting the words, it was sweet and sincere enough to very nearly make me cry in public

DAY TWO

Grand Archives: “I just scored 97% on Rock Band,” said one of the members of Grand Archives as they took the stage, “so I have a feeling this is going to be a good show.” Goodness was it. Though they look like a seventies rock group, Grand Archives plays perfect pretty pop, complete with sing-along “la de da” choruses. Their album has been on heavy rotation at home for a couple of months, and this show propelled me into the kind of eyes-closed, happy-smile, dancy bliss that makes people think you’re drunk.* When they played my favorite, “Torn Blue Foam couch,” I’m pretty sure I had an out-of-body experience, which hasn’t happened to me since I saw Dave Matthews Band in Greensboro, North Carolina in 1998.**

Kinski: They scored major points for creative instrumentation, incorporating a gong, bowed electric bass, and an electric flute. Their hard-rocking, beer-drinking, hot chick bass player is also my new idol.

The Foals: They’re young, mad, and English. This begs for several obvious comparisons, but I’ll skip them all and just say that I had a really good time.

New Age: My favorite Californian distortion whores may not be everybody’s cup of tea, but I got a kick out of them and the way they made their live show look and feel like they were just messing around in their garage, experimenting. I wish they had played the smaller stage, though, because it was louder up front, and this is a band that benefits from volume.

Green River: I was too young and too living-across-the-country to be a fan of Green River when they were actually a band, but who could resist their first-time-in-fifteen-years reunion? In the twenty-one years since Green River broke up, the band members have gone on to lead such vicariously successful careers that they’re now grunge’s historical supergroup. The show was raucous good fun, and finished with the drummer crowdsurfing away from the stage and back, then picking the sticks back up for the final riff. Afterwards, the band threw three or four boxes’ worth of t-shirts out into the audience, nearly causing a riot; I wouldn’t be surprised to see some of them on eBay in the next day or two.

Oh, and that kid I mentioned from the Mudhoney show? I’m pretty sure I saw him crowdsurfing.

SHORT TAKES

Best Celebrity Encounter: Sub Pop co-founder Bruce Pavitt, who almost sat on me.

Celebrity Encounter I Was Too Shy To Initiate: Grand Archives’ Jeff Montano, who was seen wandering all over the festival grounds after the band’s set.

Most Lamentable Food Choice: The “cajun” red beans and rice.

Favorite Band Who Failed To Bring Merch: The Constantines

Favorite Set: Grand Archives

Number Of Times I Appear In the Seattle P.I.’s Photo Gallery: 2

* I wasn’t drunk.
** I wasn’t high, either. Either time.

Tags: festival, review, sub pop