Capitol Hill Block Party
On the Hill, Seattle, WA
07.25 – 27.14
Sounds of every kind flooded Pike Street this weekend, as the annual Capitol Hill Block Party took over once again in grand fashion between Broadway and 12th Avenue. Six different stages were plotted throughout six city blocks, and arranged with a generally ergonomic schedule. With quick feet and some ambition, one could hop from set to set and, theoretically, boast the right to say they saw it all.
Ahh, but surely one of those three beer gardens is calling you. Or maybe it’s time for some grub, and a mandatory stop inside the gates of the food truck fiesta is your golden ticket. As you stuff your face at the outdoor picnic table, you can hear the echo of sound checks from that one band you wanted to see, and you realize you have three minutes to get there. Nevertheless, you make it handily with a minute to spare, because as soon as you turn the corner you are swallowed into the collective audience, becoming a part of a much larger moving body…
Boasting over 100 bands, CHBP wasted no time or expense in packing Friday, Saturday, and Sunday full of refreshing performances and showcasing up-and-coming talent. Headliners for each evening included Matt & Kim, Chromeo, and A$AP Rocky. As the largest independent festival, CHBP prides itself on being a platform for artists, local or otherwise, to garner a name and hopefully break out. Plenty of homegrown faces took the stage this weekend, and, while there are too many to name, I can say with surety that my playlist grew exponentially along with my t-shirt collection.
In addition to already being super rad, CHBP is grounded in community outreach, running a not-for-profit called Sound Culture, which donates annually to Seattle’s music and arts programs. With looming cuts on the horizon, the reasons for keeping such programs alive could be found on pieces of paper tied to the block fences, as well as on every stage, and of course in the eyes of that one unicorn-masked gentleman playing buckets on the corner. Hey, gotta’ start somewhere.
It was a sun-soaked blurry romp through musical bliss. There is, frankly, no excuse for missing out. Scroll through these great pics for some blurbs and highlights to the stage happenings!
Review by T. Monte
Photos by Sunny Martini
Day 1
Spoon – Main Stage
Rockin’ and rollin’ right on in from Austin, Spoon ended Friday night with a relaxed tone and a chill light show. The crowd swayed along, tuckered and happy, as we all wondered if Capitol Hill Block Party was just a dream…
Matt & Kim – Main Stage
Brooklyn Indie dance duo Matt & Kim packed the exclamation point in their luggage, capping off Friday’s schedule on the Main Stage with a bang! Their set was nothing short of amazing, as they jumped off drums, twerked, and walked off onto the crowd. They performed covers and remixes, including their version of Better Off Alone, which was (wow) on point. Confetti rained down and all was right on The Hill.
HOLYCHILD – Vera Stage
Los Angeles based HOLYCHILD takes the great aspects of electronic, indie, and fun, before melding it all into a package that you want to eat up like, say, a sprinkle donut. The energy and attitude was infectious, throwing Vera Stage into a tizzy. Best get your dance shoes on.
ODESZA – Main Stage
Dancy and fun, electronic duo ODESZA had no problem riling up the crowd. With a new album release directly on their heels, their upcoming tour dates for the fall are already beginning to sell out. Be sure to check out Harrison Mills and Clayton Knight as they represent our town. Holla.
Small Black – Main Stage
Visiting from Brooklyn, the four members of Small Black aren’t newcomers to the festival scene. As they get ready for their tour in August, they will be taking their latest work, the Real People EP, back to the streets. For a shiny moment, as seen here, we were graced with their presence…
Childbirth – Vera Stage
Members Stacy, Bree, and Julia make up the trio that is Childbirth, a uterine-pumped group that proudly carries on the chick band legacy that will forever be roped around the neck of these here woods. They have a great sense of humor, passing out legitimate Childbirth attire during their set, and hocking cassette tapes at the merch booth (score!). They are a supergroup, duh.
The James Apollo Five – Barboza Stage
James Apollo is a talent that, for now, Seattle can claim. His music is gritty, and fleeting like ashes and dust, so enjoy his presence before he transforms into something no man can hold back. His stage company is ever-changing.
Shy Girls – Main Stage
Pop/R&B musician Shy Girls travels from Portland to love us down right with his sexy, sultry voice.
