Portland's Moon Duo made maybe one of their most surprising moves yet: showing up and playing a set as a trio. Alright, that's not totally true. They did play with a third member on the KEXP Stage at the Bumbershoot Music & Arts Festival, but the band is constantly taking surprising new avenues for their tenacious psych rock. While festivals are often associated with big, fist-pumping anthems and "good times," Moon Duo stoically took the stage and delivered on a heavy set of low, foreboding synthesizers and wild, unpredictable guitar distortion. The band didn't need any frills; the music itself became an immersive experience for whoever would let themselves in. They did one of the things hardest to do when you're playing a festival for people who are coming and going -- they created a mood. Leaving Moon Duo's set truly felt like stepping back out into a whole different world and took some time adjusting back to the fervor and liveliness happening just outside the room. All with just three people locked into their instruments, pushing sound to its limits.
With so many indie rock legends on one stage, you wouldn't be faulted for being a little overwhelmed during Filthy Friends' set at the Mural Stage during Day One of the Bumbershoot Music & Arts Festival. The band boasts -- deep breath -- Sleater-Kinney’s Corin Tucker, R.E.M.’s Peter Buck, The F…
Punk trio Dude York has made a name for themselves in Seattle for being a guarantee for at least a half hour of overflowing joy. As "America's Band," they cannot tell a lie and totally followed through on the promise on Day One of the Bumbershoot Music & Arts Festival. Even when they had techni…
