Debaser@: Bumbershoot 2007

Yesterday signalled the start of September (reminder: this will be the best month for all-ages music in Seattle all year), the quasi-end of what has been a pretty solid summer, and the beginning of Seattle's three-day people watching, sunburning, chain smoking, dehydrating, and cheap-food-eating Bumbershoot festival. Oh yeah, and there were "music and arts" too.

All joking aside, there were some great bands and artists to be seen. We caught the second half of Alt-country talents Magnolia Electric Company's set (more on this, from Kyle, later) as well as a well-executed set from Portland heavies Menomena.

Their set stuck mostly to the remarkably-good songs from their latest, Friend and Foe, including an awesome performance of "The Pelican" as set-opener. The boys were accompanied by a large assembly of robe-wearing back-up singers. "This is our second time playing with the choir," Justin Harris joked to the crowd. The choir was particularly effective during an unspeakably cool rendition of F&F's best track, "Boyscout'n".

The suprise performance of the day, however, belonged to the Avett Brothers, who rocked harder than anyone I saw yesterday despite using only an acoustic guitar, a banjo, and an upright base. The Post calls the Avett Brothers "post civil-war modern rock", whatever that means, but their application of rock dynamics to countrified songs was unlike anything I'd heard. Scott Avett rocked so hard during the set that he busted the strings on two(!) banjos, and while one was being restrung, brother Seth led the crowd in harmonizing back-up vocals and clapping. Their onstage chemistry, flawless harmonies, and ability to generally rock the fuck out made for a quality show.

We also caught Grand Archives at EMP's Sky Church, and thoughts about their performance are forthcoming from Kyle. Also: photos.

Somewhere in there I also found time to scope out an abbreviated version of cartoonist Ellen Forney's one-woman stage adaptation of her hilarious I Love Led Zeppelin book. I had actually reviewed this book back when I worked for IGN.com, so it was great to see Forney, Cornish teacher and woman behind The Stranger's beguiling Lustlab ads, in person.