Bumbershoot - Day Two -Trey Anastacio/Junkie XL
Well, one of the great things about living in Downtown Seattle is that you're within walking distance of the Seattle Center, in my case, it's about two blocks to the Space Needle. I chose to live where I'm currently at for events such as Bumbershoot. I wasn't able to attend Friday's shows but I attended Saturday's shows. I was able to see parts of some shows but not enough to be able to write a review.
Anyways, one of the main reasons I wanted to go to Bumbershoot this year is to see Former Phish frontman Trey Anastacio. Now bands like Phish, moe., and other 'Jam Bands' is that they get their bad rap from the legions of unwashed, sage burning wanna be hippies that follow these bands around the nation when they go on tour. Me personally, since I'm a musician, I think of bands like these as Jazz Bands in the Rock Vein which technically they are.
Trey Anastacio is one of the most gifted musicians in Rock Music Today. In Addition to touring with Phish, and his own solo band, he played with fellow Virginian Dave Matthews on his solo tour. His solo show at Bumbershoot was a long desired act that the organizers at Bumbershoot have been wanting to book for quite some time.
The first few songs of the show were mostly derived from his first solo CD. As I've said before, he is a great musician but one of the greatest weaknesses or drawbacks on his solo tour is that he, for the most part, plays songs from his first CD.
Phish was infamous for not only not repeating the same setlist on every tour stop but they've also have been known to have some fun in their concerts by playing non-Phish songs.
They have been known to play covers of 'Sabotage' by the Boys, 'Gettin Jiggy wid it' by Will Smith, and they have also been known to play covers of entire CD's of other bands like every single track from the Beatles 'White Album' on a New Year's Eve Show in years past. I've even heard a recording of Phish performing Pink Floyd's 'Dark Side of the Moon' from start to finish.
These are the expectations for concerts that Trey and Phish have brought to fans over they years.
Needless to say the Show at Bumbershoot, as musically amazing it was, fell SEVERELY short in the variety of song selection department. I got bored after an hour into the show and left to find some other band that was playing at the time.
I then Opened up my trusty Bumbershoot Guide and made my way to a Techno/House/Dance DJ from Amsterdam called Junkie XL.
The blurb in the Bumbershoot guide (and the deciding factor to go check Junkie XL out) was:
"Amsterdam-based workaholic ("studio Jumkie" DJ eXpands the Limits of perception and reality with three albums, seven singles, and #1 Status in 22 countries under his belt."
From the European DJ's I've see, heard, and/or danced to this is was REALLY bold statement to make. Well, Junkie XL not only lived up to this billing but he overwhelmingly surpassed any expectations I had about what he could bring to the table. He was setup in the EMP 'Sky Church', a place where I've seen many bands (Public Enemy, moe., and Chuck Berry to name a few) and had two electronic mixing consoles setup. Clad in what seemed to be a white cap, white shirt and white slacks, he was ripping out some amazing mixes and some great beats. The best way to describe how he brought the crowd into a frenzy again and again is that he's the electronic version of a shaman. I know that seems goofy but I can't think of another way to describe the amazing display of electronic music I heard. The only time I've heard DJ's that are even in the same ballpark as Junkie XL were:
- In Europe at Clubs in Amsterdam, London, and Austria.
- On the Moby's Area:One Tour (Paul Okenfold and The Orb)
- At Club Pure in Las Vegas (review coming in my next transmission)
The beats and song selections were seamlessy sewn together like one two hour long track of music. I haven't danced my ass off to a DJ or in a Concert like this in a Long, long time. Anyways, as I was listening to Junkie XL, I was thinking that if I ever came into some money or was in charge of putting together an awesome party, Junkie XL would be at the top of my list of Artists that I'd bring to spin some infectious grooves.
Well, gotta go and see if I can get into see Bo Diddley, Isreal Vibrations, and eventually Elvis....Costello.
Trey Anastacio on my -5000 Megapixel Camera
Junkie XL
Anyways, one of the main reasons I wanted to go to Bumbershoot this year is to see Former Phish frontman Trey Anastacio. Now bands like Phish, moe., and other 'Jam Bands' is that they get their bad rap from the legions of unwashed, sage burning wanna be hippies that follow these bands around the nation when they go on tour. Me personally, since I'm a musician, I think of bands like these as Jazz Bands in the Rock Vein which technically they are.
Trey Anastacio is one of the most gifted musicians in Rock Music Today. In Addition to touring with Phish, and his own solo band, he played with fellow Virginian Dave Matthews on his solo tour. His solo show at Bumbershoot was a long desired act that the organizers at Bumbershoot have been wanting to book for quite some time.
The first few songs of the show were mostly derived from his first solo CD. As I've said before, he is a great musician but one of the greatest weaknesses or drawbacks on his solo tour is that he, for the most part, plays songs from his first CD.
Phish was infamous for not only not repeating the same setlist on every tour stop but they've also have been known to have some fun in their concerts by playing non-Phish songs.
They have been known to play covers of 'Sabotage' by the Boys, 'Gettin Jiggy wid it' by Will Smith, and they have also been known to play covers of entire CD's of other bands like every single track from the Beatles 'White Album' on a New Year's Eve Show in years past. I've even heard a recording of Phish performing Pink Floyd's 'Dark Side of the Moon' from start to finish.
These are the expectations for concerts that Trey and Phish have brought to fans over they years.
Needless to say the Show at Bumbershoot, as musically amazing it was, fell SEVERELY short in the variety of song selection department. I got bored after an hour into the show and left to find some other band that was playing at the time.
I then Opened up my trusty Bumbershoot Guide and made my way to a Techno/House/Dance DJ from Amsterdam called Junkie XL.
The blurb in the Bumbershoot guide (and the deciding factor to go check Junkie XL out) was:
"Amsterdam-based workaholic ("studio Jumkie" DJ eXpands the Limits of perception and reality with three albums, seven singles, and #1 Status in 22 countries under his belt."
From the European DJ's I've see, heard, and/or danced to this is was REALLY bold statement to make. Well, Junkie XL not only lived up to this billing but he overwhelmingly surpassed any expectations I had about what he could bring to the table. He was setup in the EMP 'Sky Church', a place where I've seen many bands (Public Enemy, moe., and Chuck Berry to name a few) and had two electronic mixing consoles setup. Clad in what seemed to be a white cap, white shirt and white slacks, he was ripping out some amazing mixes and some great beats. The best way to describe how he brought the crowd into a frenzy again and again is that he's the electronic version of a shaman. I know that seems goofy but I can't think of another way to describe the amazing display of electronic music I heard. The only time I've heard DJ's that are even in the same ballpark as Junkie XL were:
- In Europe at Clubs in Amsterdam, London, and Austria.
- On the Moby's Area:One Tour (Paul Okenfold and The Orb)
- At Club Pure in Las Vegas (review coming in my next transmission)
The beats and song selections were seamlessy sewn together like one two hour long track of music. I haven't danced my ass off to a DJ or in a Concert like this in a Long, long time. Anyways, as I was listening to Junkie XL, I was thinking that if I ever came into some money or was in charge of putting together an awesome party, Junkie XL would be at the top of my list of Artists that I'd bring to spin some infectious grooves.
Well, gotta go and see if I can get into see Bo Diddley, Isreal Vibrations, and eventually Elvis....Costello.
Trey Anastacio on my -5000 Megapixel Camera
Junkie XL
posted by Dolemite da Wizard at 2:32 PM
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