What qualifications do I have to write reccomendations for Sasquatch? Other than loving concerts and music and having strong ties to Seattle, not many. So rather than write full assessments of every band playing, I’m going to let you know what I’m going to see and why I’m so psyched. Then you can tell me what you’re going to see and why. Then everyone can make an educated decision.

As soon as I get there on Saturday I’m heading over to GABRIEL TEODROS (1:05-1:50, Yeti Stage). I have never been much of a hip-hop afficionado, but I do love a catchy song and good lyrics. When I first heard his song, ‘East Africa’ on KEXP, I was taken not only with the fact that it stuck in my head like ‘Hey-ya” but also by the amazing message that his words gave. I’m a sucker for a sappy song, but Gabriel keeps his messages serious but his lyrics light and fun. Everything I have heard from him has made me regret not listening to more hip-hop. A Seattle local, his songs tend to bring me back to my high school days at Garfield.

I’m going to take a quick break from music here because from 2-2:30 I will need to satisfy a raging curiosity as to what ‘Incredibly Strange Wrestling’ might entail.

From there I will hit up OZOMATLI (2:30-3:20, Mainstage). My love for Ozomatli stems from an Endfest out at the old site in Bremerton. After having heard and seen their amazing performance, a few friends of mine and I went to meet them at the signing tent. We were about 12 and very shy, but the men of Ozomatli sat and chatted with us, told us road stories and entertained us. They tried to get us to buy CDs, since we said we had loved the performance, but of course, we had no money. They then encouraged us to steal their CD. This was a) hilarious b) endearing and c) adrenaline pumping. I don’t think any of the 4 of us will ever forget them or their music, and I personally am psyched to see them again, some 10 plus years later!

A quick cross venue sprint is going to bring me to VIVA VOCE. Last fall my BF and I broke up for about two weeks. In this 2 weeks, he some how got to keep our VV tickets. When we got back together, having heard ‘It was the best live show in YEARS” a few too many times, he was forbidden from ever speaking of them. However, despite this ban, I have telepathically come to understand that I absolutely must go see this Portland husband and wife duo rock the hell out.

I am going to try to squeeze in a bit of the Neko Case show, for obvious reasons (see: any other blog about Sasquatch or any review ever written about her), but then I will be sure not to miss GHOSTLAND OBSERVATORY. These guys are amazing live, you’ve heard it before, I’ll tell you again. First of all, frontman Aaron Behrens has hair that make me want to cry. His braids are about as think and as long as my forearms. And each time he bounces around on stage, they go flying around all willy-nilly. His eyes were creatively hidden behind a pair of mirrored aviators, and his muscle shirt pulled together his look. All in all, this dude, strong and imposing, makes himself seem quite accesible by bouncing around to every beat of his music. We were so tired after GO we couldn’t even stay for the final band. Prepare to jump. Alot. And to love it.

Due to the cancellation of M.I.A., I will now be heading to the mainstage for THE LONG WINTERS. A local band picked up from the remnants of another of my favorite local eclectic pop bands, Harvey Danger, these guys are everything that local music should be. Its always exciting, different and just predictible enough that you know you’ll have a good time at the show.

If you have ever lived in the Spanish speaking world, you know that MANU CHAO is not to be missed. He rules that section of the world, so why not expand your horizons and check him out? This guy speaks like a thousand languages and his songs are inspired by his nomadic travels in mesoamerica and the Zapatista movement. That doesn’t sound too boring to me.

I knew that ARCADE FIRE had made it big when I told my mother (who musically swears by her Bobs–Dylan and Marley) that I was going to Sasquatch and she said, yes I know who is playing there, and named AF. So for her…and because everyone else is done by then, I will be there

And last but not least, Bjork. I mean, the woman performed in a swan costume dress. And she might be certifiably crazy. This will not be to be missed.

The Showbox [site] would like you to see Citizen Cope on Monday, May 28th. I mean, they really, really want you to see Citizen Cope on Monday, May 28th. How much do they want you? So much that they are giving out a pair of free tickets for the show to anyone (21+, obviously) who shows up for Happy Hour at the Green Room tomorrow, Friday, May 25th. The Green Room’s a good place–upstairs you can sit around the bar and glance out the window at the never-ending parade of passerbys, downstairs you and your group can huddle around your table in a cozy, relaxed atmosphere. Of course, like virtually all Seattle clubs they play their overhead music way, way too loud for actual conversation, but the drinks are good and the service rarely disappoints. And, hey, while supplies last, you’ll be getting free tickets to what should prove to be a good show, too.

image, via wikipedia

Uh oh, it’s bears-in-the-streets time again: two bears were spotted at two different elementary schools yesterday, causing all games of tag to halt and turn to inside rounds of heads-up 7up [P-I]. This is the time of year that mama bears kick their freeloading adolescents out to forage on their own, except that most of the places they would like to be are already taken up by people. Maybe these bears just wanted a turn on the swings before it was time to go looking for lunch.

This time last year there was a bear in the University District that was accidentally killed with a combination of too many tranquilizers and too many Tazers [mb]. This year’s bears, apparently, just dawdled back off into the woods.

Black bears are probably not going to want to eat you, not unless you look especially like some berries or perhaps a fawn. However, if they do want to eat you (which is rare, with 56 documented attacks in 100 years), playing dead will probably not work, because black bear attacks are usually predatory [wiki]. What I’m saying is, if it’s in your yard going through your trash or stealing honey from your beehives, don’t go out and pet it. The Department of Fish and Wildlife has a few guidelines for what to do about bears–put trash in wildlife-resistant containers, wash barbecues, and so on.

Heading out to the Gorge for Sasquatch Festival this weekend? Here at metblogs we thought we’d help you out with a little guide for how to make it there and back and even enjoy the show with out risking your safety or anyone elses. Here we have the list of ‘guidelines’ from the Gorge and Sasquatch websites, and also the best alternative.

THEY SAY: We recommend hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen for daytime, and a warm jacket for the evening. Please bring all necessary items with you, for there is NO RE-ENTRY,
WE SAY: Yes, but also make sure that your coat has lots of pockets so you don’t have to drag a giant bag around with you. You might start to resemble the Michelin man by the time you head to the tents, but it will be worth it when you are trying to push your way to the front to see up Bjork’s swan shaped skirt and don’t have to worry about whacking that large guy with tattoos with your Timbuktu!

THEY SAY: No Alcoholic beverages, cans and bottles
WE SAY: I have no advice here. If you see me being frisked at security, that will not be a flask duct taped up near my nether regions. I repeat, no advice.

THEY SAY: No factory sealed soda bottles
WE SAY: Really, if you add a little of the rum you didn’t sneak in into your $5 soda, it suddenly seems like a better deal.

THEY SAY: No Recording devices, Professional cameras, Video equipment
WE SAY: Wouldn’t it take the fun out of it if you didn’t get to show your friends the grainy images you took on your phone in which the Beastie Boys look like little jumping beans? Since all they really care about is really fancy detachable lens type things, you don’t really want to bring that in anyways–Unless you have someone lined up to buy those photos, it will not be worth it to lose your camera at the gate.

THEY SAY: Factory sealed water bottles of “normal” size will be allowed in. (no 5 gallon. type containers)
WE SAY: Bring alot of these. It gets hot and you will go broke trying to buy water all day. Also, empty containers are allowed and there are places to get clean water.

THEY SAY: Outside food is allowed, but must be in clear plastic bag
WE SAY: That’s okay, have a look at the beauty of a chicken salad sandwich I made this morning!

THEY SAY: Small Backpacks Are Allowed!
WE SAY: They don’t define this very well, I reccomend the pockets (see above) for easy manuverability. Though stuffing pockets is less reccomended for trying to pick up the guy with the long hair and dope chronic at the campsite next to you.

THEY SAY: Doors at 11am, Will Call at 9
WE SAY: Get there at least an hour before you plan to see a show–It takes a while to get your tent set up, walk down, go through security and run in to the kid you played doctor with when you were little.

AND A FEW MORE THINGS FROM METBLOGS:

–It gets cold at night, and there is no better way to enjoy the beautiful sunset than snuggling up in a big old blanket. It’s worth bringing one. Sit on it during the day, wrap up at night.

–Be careful in the camping area. Someone decided it was a brilliant idea to intermingle cars and tents. If you don’t like noisy drunks and pot smoke, we reccomend camping elsewhere. Bring a flashlight or prepare to trip over the passed out kid on your way to the loo.

– The Will Call ticket line can be nightmarishly long: pay to print
or have them mailed.

– There’s a super greasy greasy spoon restaurant in Ellensburg that’s
THE place to go to nurse any hangovers before driving back to Seattle.

– Don’t forget your tickets. really. make a note, check it twice. if
you do forget (this seems to happen with some regularity in a group
of even modest size), those ticketmaster fees pay off because they
can somehow re-issue them with a few phone calls. But then you are spending the day getting tickets and will miss Gabriel Teodoros who is great and plays at 1:05! So just don’t forget them.

Hope this helps you find your way and keep it safe! Feel free to leave other tips below.

photo by stormyafternoon [flickr] via our open-to-the-public, always hungry for pretty pictures, group pool [#]. join us!

• Gridskipper surveys our farmers’ markets [gridskipper]
• Another Eric Lashes (Howk) benefit — featuring Raz Rez, the Catch, Shane Tutmarc and the Traveling Mercies at Rebar tomorrow. [soundonthesound]
• TR Knight wants to know if George is coming back to Seattle Grace so that he can start playing with his hair. [popsugar]
• Look out water taxi: Ballard to Downtown by boat? [seatrans]
• Flexcar induces a blur into a family’s definition of carlessness. [dailyscore]
• Colman Pool, preparing for weekend opening [wsb]
• Jones Soda scores the soft drink rights at Qwest Field [citizenrain]
• Will the weird charity events never cease? Now, buy Neko Case‘s corset to raise money for Greyhounds [reverb]
• Having overloaded Seattlest’s sports quota, Seth takes his sports talk on the road [enjoytheenjoyment]

Wil Wheaton, portrayer of Star Trek: the Next Generation‘s favorite teen ensign, was in town to help prepare for Gene Roddenberry’s induction into the Science Fiction Museum Hall of Fame. He wrote up the experience of visiting Paul Allen’s little shop of SF artifacts for Suicide Girls:

The whole place feels magical, without any of the commercialism we’ve come to expect from installations like Star Trek: The Experience in Las Vegas (in fact, their gift shop could have a lot more books and DVDs and collectibles in it, but if it did, it would actually be unseemly, I think) and though I was there for just a few hours before I had to get on a plane and come back home, I made sure I took some time to walk around the place (which was closed, and opened up just for our shoot) blurting out “OH MY GOD THAT’S SO COOL!” and “DUDE!” every few feet. [sg]

In the end, he leaves the experience appreciating both the museum and the power of TNG as a gateway drug for “normals” into the world of science fiction. (Personally, I left the museum wanting to check out Battlestar Galactica because they were advertising it so heavily on the day a few years ago that a friend and I decided to go inside after missing the Pop Music Conference.)

On a related subject, the video accompanying this post shows the last ten seconds of every episode of the first season of Star Trek: the Next Generation. Engaging, no?

(via digg, the internet, etc.)

Do you love film? Do you love SIFF? Does the prospect of over 300 unique movies have you salivating? Do you look at the SIFF schedule [#] and panic because there are so many movies you want to see? Well, friends, we can help.

Directly from Metroblogging Seattle… it’s the super-duper, extra-shiny, colorful, informative, and importable SIFF SCHEDULE!

Instructions follow after the jump.
(more…)

With the Seattle International Film Festival opening tomorrow with Son of Rambow, and a long weekend stretching out in front of you, there’s plenty of time to dive into the festival. Below, a collection of recommendations, ill-informed speculation, and other suggestions from your pals at Metroblogging Seattle (Josh, Zee, and Patricia) on ways to kick off your SIFF .

Aachi & Ssipak [siff] – Another midnight showing and another film I think is best seen after a drinky drink. All natural resources have been depleated except for… wait for it… human shit. In this animated Korean film, good, err, producers, are rewarded with the addictive Juicybars. For more informaton [imdb & aanss]. Saturday May 26th, Midnight at the Neptune or Sunday, June 17th at 9:30 pm at the Neptune. –PJ



The Aerial (La Antena) [siff] – The last sentence in the description did it for me: A stunning amalgam of comic books and ’20s-era science fiction. For trailer and official site, see: laantena (QuickTime required). Friday, May 25th, 7 pm at the Northwest Film Forum; Monday, May 28th, 9:30 pm at the Northwest Film Forum. –PJ

Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soapbox [siff] – If you’ve ever seen a bottle of Dr. Bronner’s soap, you’ve spent a few minutes reading the text that blankets every available bit of label and you’ve wondered about the person who wrote it. See this doc about the Doc and wonder no more. Saturday, May 26, 4:00 PM SIFF Cinema, Monday, May 28, 7:00 PM SIFF Cinema –ZG

Fly Films [siff] – Every year, SIFF challenges local filmmakers and writers are given ten days to make a ten minute film. With a compressed schedule of five days of shooting and five for editing, plus a few obstacles thrown in for good measure, it’s a tough, adrenaline-charged, frenzy and a great way for Seattle talent to show off for a big crowd. Monday, May 28, 7:00 PM; Wednesday, June 13, 4:30 PM– J



Girls Rock [siff] – A slew of dedicated rock’n'rollers (including Carrie Brownstein of Sleater-Kinney) give girls aged 8 – 18 a chance to discover and nurture their inner rocker. Friday, May 25, 7:00 PM Harvard Exit; Sunday, May 27, 1:00 PM SIFF Cinema (Director Arne Johnson and Producer Shane King are in town; graduates from the camp perform in the early afternoon at Chop Suey on 26 March.) — ZG

Once [siff] – This sweet music-infused love story starring the lead singer of the Frames has gotten some exceptional reviews, including one from Stephanie Zacharek [salon]. However, it will be opening locally in a matter of days; so if you’re feeling conflicted and not determined to be among the first to see it you might hold off until later. Sunday 27 May, SIFF Cinema 6:30 PM –J

Manufactured Landscapes [siff] – Could this be the An Inconvenient Truth of massive construction projects? A filmed slideshow presentation about the geologic-scale influence of humans on the environment looks like the sort of thing best enjoyed on a big screen. Sunday, May 27, 7:00 PM Harvard Exit; Tuesday, May 29, 4:30 PM, Pacific Place– J

Paprika [siff] – An animated sci-fi film from Japan about a doctor who uses a new invention to enter the dreams of her patients. Beautiful, vivid artwork adds an additional layer of depth to a lavish story. Friday, May 25, 9:30 PM Neptune Theatre, Monday, May 28,:1:15 PM Neptune Theatre –ZG

Paris je t’aime – A Collective Feature Film [siff] With a dazzling cast and mindblowing collection of directors — when is the next time you can expect to see a Wes Craven film in the same two hours as one by Gus Van Sant? — it’s no surprise that tickets for this series of “love letters to Paris” disappeared quickly. If you don’t feel lucky enough to brave the rush line, add it to your Scarecrow Video queue [#]. It is entirely possibly that my eager anticipation for this film is directly related to an impending departure for the city on the receiving end of these mash notes. (Elias McConnell in attendance) Saturday, May 26, 6:30 PM, Harvard Exit; Monday, May 28, 11:00 AM, Harvard Exit — J

Secret Festival – Well, we can tell you when it is, but we can’t tell you anything else about it. I probably shouldn’t even tell you how many secret festivals I’ve been to – or even if I’ve been to one before. But, if you don’t have a problem signing an NDA and want to get up early for the next 4 Sundays, I highly recommend it. SIFF members only! Sundays at the Egyptian – 11 am. –PJ

Them (Ils) [siff] – I’m a sucker for a thriller, particularly when it’s delivered at midnight, at the Egyptian. Not only is it late, on a Friday night (or early on a Saturday morning depending on your watch), but immediately after, there are Frites. (more on that in a later post). Trailers available [imdb]. If you can’t make the Midnight showing on Friday, May 25th at the Egyptian, you can also see it Sunday, May 27th, 9:30pm, at the Neptune. –PJ

Via livemusicblog [#], an announcement from Beastie Boys about their pre-Sasquatch show on Friday:

Dear patrons of the arts. To usher in the summer concerto season, we will be staging an exclusive Gala event this Friday, May 25 in the glorious city of Seattle, Washington, at a cozy little venue called the Crocodile Cafe. Please join us to “Lick Shots” and ring in this most wonderful time of year. “Touch yourself.”

Beastie Boys – A Gala Event – Exclusive Instrumental Show

Friday, May 25th / Seattle, WA – Crocodile Cafe

Tickets on sale Wednesday, May 23rd at 4pm. [ticketmaster]

Anyone lining up for tickets & fees?

photo via Wikipedia

Finally, the monstrosity and headache that was the $42 million, two-year construction project on the Fremont bridge is nearing completion–four lanes now are open for traffic and the famous, “Waiting for the Interurban” statue is going back into place next week.

I’ve been avoiding that bridge like the black plague, which makes it sort of difficult to get to Fremont when you live in Queen Anne. I’m guessing this is why the two neighborhoods’ chambers of commerce are teaming up for a celebration next week. Leave it to Fremont to celebrate in light of their official motto “Delibertus Quirkus.” (The freedom to be peculiar). An afternoon party will be held on June 2nd, complete with “a parade of people in troll costumes, an inflatable slide and an inflatable obstacle course, a Chinese dancing dragon and a performance by the Fremont Philharmonic orchestra.” [pi]

Do you think the parade of troll people will include painted costumed bodies, riding around on bicycles? I hope so. Cause once a year isn’t enough for me! The Interurban also will be open for decoration once again at its familiar location. Interested in decorating the statue yourself? The Fremont chamber has official guidelines.

While traffic is flowing, a few details still are in the works, which will cause minor hiccups in accessibility. Expect the bridge to be closed overnight this Thursday and the bridge section of the Burke-Gilman Trail to not open until July. Buses will be back running across the bridge on June 2nd, and renovations to the bridge’s mechanical and electrical systems will continue for another year, but the worst is over!