First Day of Bumbershoot a Success

The first day of Bumbershoot 2008 was packed full of great music and interesting people—some of which we inadvertently stumbled upon.

One of the great, but frustrating, things about festivals like Bumbershoot is that they’re just too big to see everything. I had a schedule for myself, which I plugged into my iPod so I could attempt to stay on track. This idea was brilliant in theory, but proved to be unrealistic. While Page and I wandered the grounds, there were just too many things that grabbed our attention. After chowing down on some fish and chips in the Center House we noticed a huge crowd gathering to watch two drummers. They were great talents but it was their stamina that impressed me more. We walked by that same spot about two hours later and they were still there—only now their crowd had grown so large that no one could walk on the path.

Bumbershoot is the most diverse music festival I’ve been to thus far. While Sasquatch is mostly filled with teens and young adults and the Capitol Hill Block party draws mostly 20-somethings, this gathering draws everyone—young, old and in between. During Beck’s headlining performance Saturday night there was even a young couple trying to get through the pit with a tandem stroller.

Between beer-breaks and aimless wandering, we checked out Barcelona, Band of Horses, Saul Williams, Nada Surf and Beck. While I’d only every heard one Barcelona tune prior to the show, they sounded pretty solid and drew a substantial crowd over at the Rockstar stage. Band of Horses opened with “Is There a Ghost?” and chose more of their slower ballads than upbeat tunes which I always tend to think is a bad move when playing a festival. The crowd wants to get pumped up—especially when Beck is following close behind.

The onslaught of people was clearly noticeable at around nine for Beck’s show. Although this performance didn’t measure up to his puppet-accompanied Sasquatch show a few years back, he definitely delivered. His stage presence screams rock-star and he delivers a show that audiences want. His set began with the 90s hit “Loser” and continued with a mix of tunes from multiple albums. “Guero” sparked impromptu dancing and head bobbing from the audience, and his live “Modern Guilt” sounded even better than the studio version.

Today’s vibe should be pretty different. I predict a crowd of late 20s and up for tonight’s Stone Temple Pilots show. It will definitely be interesting to see if they can draw the huge crowd Beck did last night. The band’s been MIA for quite some time but us older folks certainly remember them well.

Nada Surf Plays Intimate KEXP Bumbershoot Show

Nada Surf showed their staying power today at an intimate show at the Bumbershoot Music Lounge near Fisher Pavilion. The show was hosted by KEXP and other bands scheduled to appear over the next couple days include Old 97’s, Black Eyes and Neckties and The Whigs.

The venue seats about 200 and was an ideal place to hear the acoustic sounds of the popular indie band. Surf’s set began with “Ice on the Wing” from their most recent album, “Lucky.”

Lead-singer Matthew Caws sounded incredible in this small venue. While the band’s albums showcase his smooth and refined vocals, the live harmonies with Ira Elliot provided an essential rawness that their recordings lack. Surf bassist Daniel Lorca was out with a knee injury but former Ozma member Jose Galvez proved to be a decent replacement.

The band gets its drum sounds from a cajon (which looks like nothing more than a flat piece of wood) played by Ira Elliot. The instrument provides a beat that’s perfect for the small stage.

Nada Surf continued their hour-long set with the popular “Whose Authority” and “Weightless” during which Caws asked for some crowd participation during the remaining seconds of harmony. Something that was not surprising was the set’s lack of their late 90s hit, “Popular.”

They’ve clearly veered far away from their potential one-hit-wonder status and created a new sound for themselves. Nada Surf seems comfortable in the spot they’re in. They’re faces are not plastered on MTV, but Rolling Stone told readers to “Buy this album” with Surf’s 2003 release “Let Go.”

On my way to check out Saturday’s headliner, Beck, I stopped by the Starbucks stage to see if Nada Surf could match their earlier performance. While their larger stage set veered far away from the refinement of their acoustic performance, they managed to draw a substantial crowd.

This New York band is worth checking out. For a good intro, pick up the 2005 release, “The Weight is a Gift.” You’ll be hooked.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama Visits Seattle

The Dalai Lama was in Seattle this week participating in the Seeds of Compassion conference which aimed to:“…engage the hearts and minds of our community by highlighting the vision, science, and programs of early social, emotional, and cognitive learning.” The conference commences in the wake of Olympic protests due to the mistreatment of the Tibetan people in China.
The conference opened on Friday at the University of Washington with an emotional greeting of the Dalai Lama by panel-members. Co-founder of the Seeds of Compassion, Dan Kranzler addressed the audience: “…[We will] begin the dialogue using our brain, talking about the brain; but I ask all of you to listen with your heart.” In a brief mention of the political turmoil of the Tibetan people, Kranzler alluded to recent circulating allegations against the Dalai Lama that he was behind the Olympic protests in China: “the world knows the truth…the world knows,” which was followed by an embrace of gratitude by His Holiness.
The Dalai Lama said Thursday that he has always supported Beijing’s hosting of the upcoming summer’s Olympics but does not advocate violent protests by the Chinese. The Chinese government has accused the Nobel Peace prizewinner of using the Olympics as fuel for protests against five decades of Chinese rule in Tibet. The Dalai Lama told reporters at a Tokyo airport on Thursday: “I really feel very sad the government demonizes me. I am just a human; I am not a demon,"
The Dalai Lama focused his attention on the importance of compassion for children at Friday’s “Scientific Basis for Compassion” discussion. Admitting his limited medical knowledge, His Holiness remained inquisitive of the esteemed panel of scientists that concluded that children are products of their environment; they should be surrounded by peace and comfort as opposed to growing up in a pressured environment if they are to develop into compassionate citizens. “A willingness to learn [and a] happy mood is much healthier and much stronger,” responded the Dalai Lama.
In Saturday’s “Compassion in Action” event, about 50,000 were gathered in Qwest Field to witness about 1,000 representatives from varying cultures and 200 drummers join together for a demonstration and discussion of unity with the Dalai Lama. Among others present at the event were Governor Christine Gregoire and the venerable Tenzin Dhonden who serves as the emissary of peace for His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
The Seeds of Compassion conference attracted over 150,000 people at various workshops, panel discussions with the Dalai Lama, and the Concert for Compassion featuring Tim Reynolds and Seattle local, Dave Matthews.
At least one anti-violence protest was scheduled in congruence with the conference: The Concert for anti-violence began in “red square” on the UW campus and protested the violence in China and the turmoil surrounding the Olympics. When asked on Saturday how leaders of nations can promote ideas through speech rather than violence, the Dalai Lama regretfully responded with a chuckle: “I don’t know.”
Seeds of Compassion is a collaboration of the Kirlin Foundation and the venerable Tenzin Dhonden. The organization encourages communities to have thoughtful and engaged citizens and stresses the need for active cross-cultural problem-solvers.
The Dalai Lama’s visit to Seattle attracted ten times as many participants as his last visit in 1993 and spread his message of peace over the five day period: “Whenever we face a difficult problem, the realistic method is nonviolent dialogue,” said the Dalai Lama on Saturday.

The Candidates are Fumbling

In a rally in Wyoming today, Obama stated, "Senator Clinton is not willing to acknowledge that she voted for the war." The candidates are getting sloppy. In a debate just a couple weeks ago, Clinton was asked if there was anything she regretted during her time as senator. She admitted voting in support of the invasion of Iraq and if she had the chance, would reverse her decision. Obama's campaign is obviously hoping to reach voters who haven't been paying attention-I guess he was in Wyoming...

The candidates have run out of substantive information and are resorting to attacking each other. Come on. We all know that in a few months one candidate will be endorsing the other and everyone will be one big dysfunctional family.

After months of daily campaigning, these candidates are loosing their edge and in serious need of sleep. I vote for a vacation.

What Was Power Thinking?

Barack Obama's former campaign advisor, Sarah Power, told the BBC this week, "[Obama] will of course not rely upon some plan that he's crafted as a presidential candidate or U.S. senator" to remove U.S. troops from Iraq. Is that statement supposed to aid his campaign by telling the world he's lying to obtain our vote?

Power was also quoted in a Scottish newspaper calling Hillary Clinton a "monster." It seems to me that any person wanting to speak on behalf of a presidential candidate should be, I don't know, GOOD at public speaking.

Clinton immediately jumped all over this stating, "This is the latest example of promising America one thing on the campaign trail and telling people in other countries another."

This is the most recent addition to Obama's troubles after a circulating report accused his economic advisor, Austan Goolsbee, of making remarks to members of the Canadian consulate that Obama's NAFTA criticisms were nothing more than campaign rhetoric.

Seriously. Is it over yet?

Politics for Dummies

There's no better way to evoke participation in an election than to create drama. Hats off to Michigan and Florida for not only breaking the rules, but also being the two states that could now determine the Democratic nominee. Without their delegates, neither candidate will be able to reach the 2,024 requirement. But that's not all. No one wants to pay for the new primaries. Shocking!

Florida has major issues. Wasn't this the state that was also involved in the Bush v. Gore fiasco? Something has to be done. Maybe all the crazy tropical storms are messing with those Floridians heads. Seriously folks, it's not that difficult.

Stop the Madness

I'm starting to wonder if we'll ever have a Democratic nominee. Perhaps Obama and Clinton should both get the nomination; then those Dems would really take the votes away from McCain.

Now the Democrats want the votes from Florida and Michigan. It all seems a little fishy. Republican Governor Charlie Christ of Florida said on Thursday, "It is reprehensible that anyone would seek to silence the voices," yet Christ signed the law to move the primary up, thus discounting the votes.

Democratic Governor Jennifer M. Granholm of Michigan is a self-pronounced Clinton supporter. The inclusion of these votes would clearly help Clinton but what she really needs is delegates. She trails Obama's 1,520 delegates with 1,424. Plus, the Democrats are not willing to front the $25 million needed to hold new primaries. "We hope they [Michigan and Florida] can comply with the rules but they're going to have to pay for it," said Howard Dean, chairman of the Democratic National Committee.

Sure the votes should count, but this battle for democracy just makes the Democrats look bad. The more they campaign, the less they have to say. They're resorting to attack ads while McCain is sitting pretty on his G.O.P. nomination.

Oh, Hillary

I would have been more convinced of Hillary's strength had she dumped her cheating husband ten years ago after he "did not have sexual relations with that woman." Sure Bill received two Grammys and was the first white person to ever be inducted into the Arkansas Black Hall of Fame, but seriously, what is Hillary telling women everywhere with her actions? Stick with him as long as he's president and wins lots of awards? If America's next president is going to be a woman, she had better be stronger than that.