I (Blanked) This

What: No Depression Festival
When: July 11, 2009
Where: Marymoor Park, Redmond, WA
Why: When the lineup was announced, I was dying to go. Then the summer wore on and I didn’t care quite as much, especially if the likelihood of finding someone to go with was nil. So I didn’t buy tickets, but instead took a flyer and entered to win them from The Stranger a few days before. I got lucky, and suddenly I had two free tickets. My plan was to take a friend for most of the day, but that didn’t quite work out (oh, plans…), so instead I just saw the final three acts: Patterson Hood (solid but not really my thing), Iron & Wine (who I saw 364 days ago on this very stage, and then two more times since) and the remarkable beauty of Gillian Welch and her buddy David Rawlings. Fantastic sets by both of those acts made me glad I went, free or not. 

What: King Sunny Ade & His African Beats
When: June 29, 2009
Where: The Triple Door, Seattle, WA
Why: My friend Kiah, who I hadn’t seen in 5 months, is tour managing King Sunny on this North American trek, so when the band slid through Seattle, me and a bunch of our mutual friends had to attend. It was a good time, with enjoyable music I otherwise likely wouldn’t be exposed to. Mostly though, it was a great chance to catch up and hang out with friends, which is all you can really ask of any event. My friend Christopher Nelson was also there, taking amazing photos like this one. The show was a special 25th Anniversary party for KEXP’s Best Ambience, and you can listen to the show in its entirety thanks to NPR.

What: 3 Rounds and a Sound by Blind Pilot
When: June 23, 2009
Where: Easy Street West Seattle
Why: After seeing Blind Pilot at Sasquatch and enjoying nearly half of this album for a few months, I finally had to pick up the full album from this Portland band. 

What: The Boy With the Arab Strap by Belle & Sebastian
When: June 23, 2009
Where: Easy Street West Seattle
Why: Proof that prejudices are pointless, I went against my old ignorant ways and finally accepted that maybe “too precious” isn’t necessarily a bad thing. 

What: Big Whiskey and the Groo Grux King by Dave Matthews Band
When: June 23, 2009
Where: Easy Street West Seattle
Why: I didn’t think I would buy this, and even a week ago I walked into the store, thought about it, and moved on. But something keeps drawing me in to what was, for a time, my favorite band. So I bought it. I don’t know how much I’ll actually listen to the thing, but for some reason it was important for me to have it.

What: Reckoning Deluxe by R.E.M.
When: June 23, 2009
Where: Easy Street West Seattle
Why: My favorite band puts something out, and even if it’s only half-new, I’m going to buy it. Oddly enough, this was the last R.E.M. album in the back catalog I ever purchased, but 14 or so years later it’s one of my top choices. 

What: White Rabbits
When: June 22, 2009
Where: The Crocodile, Seattle, WA
Why: White Rabbits’ second record, It’s Frightening is good, but not as good as their live show. I last saw them at Sasquatch ‘08 and am quite pleased to say they’ve gotten even better in the interim. 

This sextet brings it. Despite a lack of immediacy in their stage setup (lead singer/frontman Stephen Patterson is seated at his keyboard, front and center), White Rabbits bring a huge amount of energy to their show. Percussive to a fault, they utilize two drummers for most songs, though at some point I think every band member grabbed the sticks and joined the beat.

“Percussion Gun,” might be the most drum-heavy song in their catalog, and it was a standout, along with old favorites like “The Plot” and “We Go Dancing”—my personal highlight of the night. While the bouncy, infectious tunes couldn’t quite get the typically staid Seattle crowd moving too much, it thankfully didn’t weaken the band’s performance. The best part about this show? Being able to better appreciate all the new songs, which admittedly sounded a little lackluster on first listen of the record.