Bumbershoot 2007, a late write-up

Roky Erickson

It took me a while (e.g., nearly six weeks) to finish writing about this, but Bumbershoot--the Seattle end of summer music and art festival had a decent line-up this year. Better than some years past, but still under-serving the 40 and over crowd among which I number myself. At some point you're though being cool and just want to hear what you came up with. The hottest attractions this year were probably Wu Tang Clan, The Frames, Kulture Shock, The (local) Shins, and Crowded House.

We only attended on Monday, mainly to See Roky Erickson and Steve Earle. But we were also able to see the amazing rockers, Kulture Shock and the hugely popular, but disappointingly emo The Frames.

Kulture Shock were a blast! They are a sextet of "Balkan punk rock gypsy metal wedding-meets-riot music." The band includes players from Bosnia, Bulgaria, Japan and Seattle. I'd categorize their music as extremely energetic art-punk outfit around. The enormously entertaining lead singer--Gino Yevdjevich--conceived of the band while he was sitting in a Croatian refugee camp. They are similar to another band that played this year: Gogol Bordello.


Roky Erickson - You may have heard of this legendary Austin musician. I have wanted to see him for many years. In the 60's he led the seminal and influential 13th floor elevators. They released a tune in '66, "You're Gonna Miss Me," that has been on every compilation of psychedelic music, and was also on the soundtrack of High Fidelity. Other tunes have been covered and seveeral tribute albums have appeared. Some of his covers were by bands like REM, the Jesus and Mary Chain, and the Butthole Surfers. Peter Buck was a big supporter, and I think has been something of a lifeline for Roky in the last few years.

Roky's subsequent life is a tragedy. If you want to know more, see Kevin McAlester's documentary "You're Gonna Miss Me." In 1967, the Elevators looked like they might be the next Byrds or Doors. But that didn't happen. By 1968 Roky was hearing voices. His mother says in the film that she found him in the back yard one day in 1968, babbling and covered with sores. Cycling between periods of clarity and musical activity, over the years, Roky's voices shifted between aliens, devils, and monsters. In 1969, he was arrested for possession of a couple of joints. His lawyer pled insanity and Roky was sent to a maximum-security unit for the criminally insane where he underwent electroshock and was even possibly tortured and tormented by guards. He would never be the same again. Under the care of his family, he declined over the years. He was eventually rescued by a brother, was finally put on medication, and has come to live approaching like a normal life. I was ten feet away from him at his show, and let me tell you, his face is a testimony to all that he endured. Brian Wilson or Daniel Johnston look like the picture of health and sanity compared to Roky.

He put on a good show of psychedelic-tinged rock-blues. It was good to see him. . .not intact, but more or less back.


The Frames

The Frames - A band with a small but steady fan base. . .although they have reportedly had five double platinum albums (which means they sold at least 600,000 copies each (assuming they were certified in Ireland). Unfortunately, they were too emo for me. They were clearly accomplished players, but the songs didn't do much for me.



Steve Earle with his wife Allison Moorer

Steve Earle - Was Steve Earle, funny, gruff, and very Steve Earle, telling some good stories and spinning some yarns. I didn't enjoy his love songs nearly as much as I do his more topical songs. I think falling in love has been good for his life; maybe for his music, not so much.
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