BUMBERSHOOT 2010: Baroness Kicks Ass Even Without Crowd Participation

The final day of Bumbershoot boasted one of the finest full days of music that I can remember the event ever booking. This just so happened to include the only two metal bands of the weekend, one of which was Savannah, Georgia’s Baroness.

Yes, a descent crew of metal heads were in attendance including a pack of high school kids all sporting different and equally awesome Iron Maiden shirts-- but the fact remains Bumbershoot festival strongly enforces it’s no moshing rules with a vast group of yellow vested goons-- and unfortunately this can take the wind out of the sails of even the most anticipated metal performance. In my years of concert going more times than not, magic happened when a group of likeminded individuals left as much on the floor as the band did on stage. Unfortunately Bumbershoot’s sprawl of forcibly stagnant sometimes uninitiated music fans painted the whole experience with a coat of lackluster.

Baroness didn’t seem to mind though and they tore mightily through a set that book ended material from their debut “Red Album” with the crushing material off their 2009 masterpiece the “Blue Record”. Watching John Baizley and Peter Adams perform is quite a riveting experience-- this. is. how. you. fucking. play. a. show. period. While trading nimble solos and massive riffs they gave an extremely energetic performance, and one of the many things I love about Baroness is they are a band who looks at home no matter if they are playing in front of thousands of screaming fans or hundreds of mere onlookers. They are a band who comes to play no matter who they are playing for, and play hard they did. No question they were a highlight of the entire weekend despite the conditions.

Baroness are also are one of the most amazing bands I have had a chance to photograph thus far-- so active and more wicked metal poses than you can shake a stick at. Enjoy the slideshow and videos. SRG Bumbershoot videographer Palmer Sather actually whizzed out and videoed the entire set and you can watch it in its entire ass kicking glory here.