CHBP 2010: Who to See at the Block Party This Weekend

Since the 2010 edition of the Capitol Hill Block Party is a mere day away I suppose I should lend a few recommendations and preview the weekend long music festival that I will be attending for the umpteenth year and am pretty stoked on. With a third day added, the common denominator this year is more music overall, and an even more hectic schedule if you plan of catching more than the main stage headlining acts that include MGMT, Atmosphere, and the Dead Weather. I have seen the block party evolve and grow from its humble beginnings as a free event to the now massive traffic and people jam it was last year, and will certainly be again this year. It is now a full blown Seattle summer institution-- celebrating droves of people coming together in the name of live music and of course boozing on the street. Don’t you lie and say you aren’t stoked about having the opportunity to enjoy frosty cold beverages while standing on the corner of 10th and Pike and jamming to live music. It’s enough to put a huge smile on my face anyways.

This year’s lineup has quite a few bright spots and once again its eclectic leanings offer much in the way of music discovery. It also features just enough variety for metal heads, indie rock fans, and hip-hoppers alike to all get their fill. CHBP 2010 is heavy on beats and rhymes, and the big draws will certainly be Atmosphere’s headlining set on Saturday and the massively hyped Shabazz Palaces main stage turn on Friday. For indie rockers, MGMT in the headlining spot Friday should be a bit hit and massive dance party, with the additions of Yeasayer, !!!, and Blonde Redhead top notch bookings as well. This year’s line-up also has much in the way of kick ass metal, punk rock, and garage rock too. If this is what you seek, look no further than the Cha Cha Lounge. You will not want to miss sets by Helms Alee, Hairvest, and The Absolute Monarchs on Friday, My Goodness, Blood Red Dancers, and Feral Children on Saturday, and Constant Lovers on Sunday. This will my home base, you will find me here a lot. I suggest you check it out, and beers are cheap.

Heavy music and punk rock fans have plenty to be stoked about above ground as well. Black Breath will surely incite mayhem on the Vera Stage on Saturday, and the one two knockout punch of tech death masters Cynic and local slayers Book of Black Earth are set to destroy Neumos on Sunday evening. On the punk side of things, tongue-in-check goofballs Police Teeth rock Friday, Cold Lake should bleed eardrums on Saturday, and Steel Tigers of Death will set phasers on fun Sunday afternoon. There is so much to see, but more importantly so much not to miss in the metal and punk rock departments. I also strongly suggest checking out the Unnatural Helpers in Neumos on Friday, as well as psychedelic surf pop act, Real Estate on the main stage Sunday. Last but not least the Obits also will be tearing it up in Neumos on Saturday as well; can’t miss opportunity. There are many more excellent choices, but you get the point. KEXP will also be on hand and will be broadcasting from the Café Vita Bean Room for those interested. Hannah Levin will be broadcasting live in her usual time slot on Saturday for Audioasis with Feral Children and Aveo scheduled for live on-air performances. Bottom line is I strongly recommend making an honest attempt to see as many bands as possible-- whatever floats your boat. It’s going to be a great weekend.

Here’s is my full personal schedule. Just try to keep up with me, I dare you, but hope to see you on the hill this weekend anyway. Rock!

FRIDAY
MAIN STAGE

10:45PM - MGMT
7:15PM - Yeasayer

NEUMOS

6:15PM - Unnatural Helpers
5:00PM - Fences
4:00PM - Police teeth

VERA STAGE

10:45PM - Fruit Bats
9:30PM - Jaguar Love

CHA CHA STAGE

9:45 - Helms Alee
8:45 - Hairvest
7:45 - The Absolute Monarchs
6:45 - Modern Athletics
5:45 - The Young Evils

........................................

SATURDAY
MAIN

10:30pm - Atmosphere
9:00pm - Blonde Redhead
7:30PM - !!!
6:00pm - Blitzen Trapper
3:30pm - Obits
2:15pm - The Redwood Plan

NEUMOS

10:15pm - Night Marchers
9:00PM - Past Lives
7:45PM - TBA

VERA STAGE

10:45PM - Zola Jesus
6:30PM - Black Breath
3:00PM - Cold Lake

CHA CHA STAGE

9:45 - Feral Children
7:45 - Virgin
6:45 - Born Anchors
5:45 - Blood Red Dancers
4:45 - Spurm
3:45 - My Goodness

........................................

SUNDAY
MAIN

7:45PM - The Dead Weather
5:00PM - Real Estate

NEUMOS

6:45PM - Cynic
5:30PM - Book Of Black Earth
2:15PM - Steel Tigers of Death

VERA STAGE

7:30PM - Dutchess and the Duke
6:15PM - Grand Archives
5:15PM - S
4:15PM - Ravenna Woods

CHA CHA STAGE

2:45 - Wet Paint DMM
3:45 - MK speed dial
4:45 - A Million Years Ago
5:45 - Constant Lovers
6:45 - Nazca Lines
7:45 - Aveo

**Funhouse -- Intronaut, Dysrhythmia, Book of Black Dudes