forYoungModerns

FYM PREVIEW: BUMBERSHOOT 2011- MUSIC & ARTS FESTIVAL, SEATTLE WASHINGTON USA

The Emerald City’s tour de force- music and arts festival, Bumbershoot, happens this labor day weekend (September 3rd, 4th, 5th 2011) located in the friendly confines of Seattle Center. This massive 74-acre entertainment hub, reaches it’s full potential with Bumbershoot around this time every year. The festival means a lot to us (FYM HQ is located in Queen Anne) and Bumbershoot was our first taste of the city when FYM moved to Seattle.



Bumbershoot 2011 boasts an impressive three-day lineup of sonic talent (local, regional, national, and international). Check a new band we are diggin’ out of Seattle, Pickwick- below:



DAY ONE : Highlights include FYM’s second chance to see rhythm and blues/soul legend Mavis Staples and her peerless vocal prowess. We are stoked to check out 90’s Seattle rock icons Presidents of the United States of America for the first time. Personal favorites like Pickwick, STRFKR, Little Dragon and Craft Spells will also be on our day one must see list. Comedian Doug Benson will also be hosting his formidable podcast called Doug Loves Movies at Bumbershoot this year- expect great conversation with an entertaining group of pros.



DAY TWO: Word on the streets is Macklemore is currently gearing up for an epic performance at Bumbershoot this year -via a series of practice sessions at The Crocodile in Belltown. We’ve heard Macklemore is pulling out all the stops with a live band and dancing companions. FYM is also looking forward to seeing The Kills for the first time, and expects another inspiring performance from Broken Social Scene. Our Legend to see of day two is of course Leon Russell, and we are crossing our fingers- one of our all-time favorite contemporary graphic designers (who also makes great music) Scott Hansen of TYCHO will have time to meet with us.



DAY THREE: Hopefully rapper Big Boi will actually perform at a festival we attend this summer (as he refused to go on at Outside Lands in SF a few weeks ago- due to DJ technical difficulties). Hall & Oates -80’s camp makes our Legends to see list of day three. Other highlights include DFA records YACHT, local blues outfit My Goodness, and comedian Amy Schumer (video above).



For a comprehensive list of this years Bumbershoot entertainment visit the official site HERE. Click each performers name above to learn more about their craft. We are happy to hear the Key Arena will be hosting the main stage acts this year as opposed to the old memorial stadium of the past. FYM will be celebrating Seattle Center’s finest event of the year all this week -check back for more of our must see list performing this weekend.



Editors Note: Public transit, walking, bicycling, and monorailing are your best options when commuting to Bumbershoot. The Monorail will be running extended festival operating hours from 9 AM to 11:30 PM Saturday – Monday. Cheers FYM.

FYM ON THE LIST: BUMBERSHOOT DAY TWO

Last Sunday -forYoungModerns had the pleasure of enjoying a solid mix of live music at Bumbershoot 2011. Below we have documented our favorite performances of the day! For more information on each artist, simply click on the appropriate links below. Cheers, FYM.


For FYM, The Jim Jones Revue owned Sunday afternoon with their rapid-fire rock around the clock, loose n’ rippin’ sonic thunder. The English powerhouse won us over with their nostalgic rambling -heavy on the keys, classic sound.


The Jim Jones Revue encompass the finest aspects of the early days of rock n’ roll -fast, passionate, bumbling vibes with a rebel without a cause mentality. They currently are touring North America through mid-September -before heading to France for a leg of shows in October (ultimately ending in London). Check them out in the States while you can, for tunes and more band information click HERE.


The Denver Colorado husband and wife duo -Tennis (Fat Possum Records) shimmered live on day two of Bumbershoot 2011. It’s (butterfly’s in your  stomach) -meet me after school music -crowned by Alaina Moore’s (pictured above) soft and stunning vocals. Learn more about their music HERE.


Pickwick has definitely turned into our FYM Band of Summer 2011. We first discovered these champions of Seattle Soul in August -at the KEXP/Seattle Center Free Concerts at The Mural Series. Ever since then we cannot stop listening it their stylized vision of sharp indie rhythm and blues.


FYM had the pleasure of attending two of Pickwick’s performances over Bumbershoot weekend. The very intimate KEXP Lounge show was particularly exciting. The band went above and beyond that session, showcasing just how good they are -while streaming live. Frontman Galen Disston (pictured above) owns a commanding voice that booms with passion -saturated with natural talent. Listen to their warm n’ fuzzy -I got soul, but I’m not a soldier indie pop below:




Jessica Lea Mayfield (pictured above) was also a notable mention for day two standout performances at Bumbershoot. The Kent Ohio singer/songwriter chopped us down to size -with her dark, roots driven dream pop. It’s sad beautiful music, perfect for the closing credits of any HBO series, or rainy fall afternoons in Seattle. For more info about Mayfield click HERE.


FYM’s favorite performance of the day was most definitely seeing piano legend Leon Russell (who rolled up next to The Mural Amphitheatre at Seattle Center in a black Escalade). The man has worked with everyone (Dylan, The Stones, Harrison, Willie, Sinatra, Clapton, Cocker…) and released an incredible record (The Union) last year with Sir Elton John.


Leon Russell live is a peerless, true piano man (a real deal music icon), backed by an excellent group of musicians -who let loose Sunday night with tremendous heart-pumping renditions of classic rock n’ roll + rhythm and blues (Great Balls of Fire and Jumpin’ Jack Flash left us floored).


Toro Y Moi closed our day two at Bumbershoot -the South Carolina chillwave guru hammered out a smooth set of jams perfect for nighttiming under the stars. Listen to Toro Y Moi HERE. Want more Bumbershoot bands? Head over to FYM’s facebook page HERE for more photos and live video of Bumbershoot 2011. (Editors Note: Click to expand the photos below for greater detail)

Bumbershoot Day Two Bonus Photos:

FYM ON THE LIST: BUMBERSHOOT DAY THREE

The final day of Bumbershoot 2011 turned out to be our favorite of the weekend. It was a day full of local favorites, classic artists, and standout show stopping surprises. Covered below are the artists (for one reason or another) that made day three so special forYoungModerns.


My Goodness continues to be one of the most impressive up and coming bands Seattle has to offer. Monday FYM had the chance to see this fiery Capitol Hill duo rock-out Seattle Center’s Exhibition Hall Stage.


Although the comparisons to The White Stripes are undeniable, who cares… Jack White has retired that moniker -My Goodness fills the void, satisfying our craving for white boy blues with a punk edge. Learn more about their music HERE.


Speaking of musicians from Detroit -Let’s get funky Motown guitar Legend DENNIS COFFEY owned Monday afternoon with a lengthy set of his signature sound. Get a feel of where COFFEY is coming from below:



DFA Records -YACHT wowed FYM on day three. For us, it was the best performance we saw allll weekend! Frontwoman Claire L. Evans carries an insatiable presence on stage -paired with her male sonic cohort Jona Bechtolt (pictured below) Yatch is an unstoppable music entity live.


What separated YACHT from the rest of the 25 plus bands we saw over the three days of Bumbershoot 2011 -was their intense joy that beamed throughout the entire set.


This band plays like they mean it, and looked incredibly happy to be there on that day, which ultimately carried over into an amazing performance.



As seen above, and a testament to exactly how coool this band is -YACHT seemed unafraid to live in the moment and embrace spontaneity. In between songs the band fielded questions from the audience, and one dude asked if he could come up on stage.

YACHT appeased his request and moments later the flood gates opened with 15-20 people following suit joining the band on stage for an all out dance party version of their jam Tripped and Fell in Love. Everything worked out all the fans were very respectful of the musicians, and a beautiful moment was created! Much thanks goes out to YACHT for making our weekend!


Doug Benson brought his podcast Doug Loves Movies to all three days of Bumbershoot 2011. We were lucky enough to snag tickets early on Monday -as all three performances ended up selling out. Pictured above, Benson hands a lucky audience member a gigantic stolen jar of salsa as a prize..


The format consisted of Doug inviting his comedian friends on stage to make fun of shitty movies currently in theaters and play trivia games with his guests (it felt like a funnier version of NPR’s Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me).



We thought our last show of the night would be Hall & Oates, but literally two songs into their set we realized 80’s yacht rock was not in our appetite for the evening. So instead FYM went with an old standby we knew would be good. Pictured above The Reverend Horton Heat dominated as usual under the shadow of the Space Needle closing out our Monday evening. A special thanks goes out to One Reel and Seattle Center for hosting such a great weekend of art, music and comedy. (Editors Note: The photos below once clicked on will expand for greater detail.)