After wrapping up Saturday brunch Capitol Hill was again swarmed for the Capitol Hill Block Party. Luckily, the line-up was jam packed with great music. Taking full advantage of the easy-going mid-afternoon crowds that make early time slots so enjoyable for fans, we were able to get right in front for La Luz, whose crooning surfer ballads-of the-bad-girls couldn't have been more perfect. Not only have they been touring for a month or so, but they've relaxed into their onstage presence like a living room jam session. Drummer Marian stopped the crowd at one point, parting us all like a Red Sea of fans, and making way for a long dancing line from the front of stage to the back of the crowd. They closed up with "Sure As Spring", leaving a happy audience finally starting to sweat in the sun while seeking out other tunes.
Over at the Vera Stage, electronic duo YourYoungBody were starting their fiery set. Operatic vocals trembled through the audience while singer Emily Cripe danced. And let's be real - Cripe's awesomely long hairdo is as unafraid and adventurous as her music.
Some people came to Block Party for indie rock, or EDM, or any one of the amazing nighttime headliners - but then there were all the people who came for someone who isn't really any of those - Big Freedia brought the New Orleans bounce to mainstage for a set that was so good even Rose Windows was dancing. "Excuse" brought us Freedia's ladies teaching the Seattle audience how the bounce genre was born - with the audience gladly jumping in with the chorus. "Excuse, I don't mean to be rude," but Freedia's fun afternoon set was probably one of the best afternoon sets at block party.
As the sky began to turn purple into night, Portland's Onuinu took over the Vera stage with his sunset-perfect set of chilled out electronic. "Always Awkward" might be how Dorian Duvall feels, but his introverted but pop-based set was not at all awkward.
Sunday at festivals is always entertaining - there are those festival goers who haven't slept the whole time, there are those who just came for the "chill day," and there are those who are so exhausted they no longer care about anything ("Who are the Flaming Lips?" I overheard). And of course, ther…
Day 2 of Capitol Hill Block Party 2013 was flurry from beginning to end. Pike street was flooded like never before with ridiculous numbers pushing this way and that to every stage. Capitol Hill Block Party gives great exposure to small bands that deserve a bigger setup, and today’s action was no ex…
