My weekend road-warriors Brooklyn, Bryce and David and I all got up early Saturday morning at my SoDo loft to pack up the Subaru for what was anticipated to be the best Sasquatch! yet. Champagne Champagne was scheduled to go on first at the Yeti Stage later that day, so we needed to be at the Gorge Amphitheatre, parked and in the venue by noon. The car ride was gorgeous without a drop of traffic. We listened to my favorite desert driving music–Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers–and took a moment to visit the Wild Horses monument about 20 minutes West of the amphitheater. I sent picture texts to friends and practiced breathing slowly, because I knew this was going to be very long, hot weekend shooting for Sound.

After arriving at the campground’s adjacent to the Gorge, I had to literally run to the Yeti stage where I could already hear Pearl Dragon’s voice in the air. I laughed at myself the whole way because I never run. Champagne Champagne was in perfect form; the best I’ve ever seen them. I watched them perform, working my camera and the crowd while sweat started to drip. The sweating and the great music continued throughout the weekend. Here are some Blush highlights from the weekend:

Blush @ the Wild Horses Monument

M. Ward rocked a vintage Gibson- and has a striking resemblance to Seattle’s Mark Pickerel. Weird?

Annie Clark; St. Vincent

One of my favorite artists, Annie Clark (St. Vincent) was kind enough to talk with me about NOT camping, outfits and music while enjoying the Sasquatch music festival last weekend. I appreciate a talented woman who can be funny and kind, be amazing at her craft, and wear designer outfits made by her friends. This woman is a powerful force. Her new album, “Actor” is gorgeous…angel voice with Jimi Hendrix guitar…a perfect combination.

Thanks St. Vincent and KEXP for making this happen!

My portrait session with the Silversun Pickups went beautifully on the edge of the Gorge canyon. They sounded amazing and were the highlight of my weekend, without a doubt.

Murder City Devils

The beloved Seattle goth rock band played the second night of a double header at the Showbox at the Market as part of a West Coast reunion tour. The group split in 2001 when Hardy left the band, and have played a few gigs here and there since 2006, but nothing of this magnitude. Part of the cause for celebration is Sub Pop’s limited edition vinyl reissue of all the Devils’ albums, which are for sale exclusively on this tour.

The Devils were joined by openers Past Lives at both Seattle shows and in Vancouver, B.C. and Portland before the Devils headed on to San Francisco. This local shrieking post-punk act rose like a phoenix from the ashes of the Blood Brothers demise in 2007. The mic was not very audible, causing Devin Welch’s saucy guitar riffs to drown out singer Jordan Blilie’s virile wails so that they sounded more like an impression of vocals. Aesthetically, the group is a sight to behold. The rapid motion of drummer Mark Gajadhar’s long limbs thrashing out the beat begins to resemble an octopus pummeling floor toms and smashing …

Matt & Kim

Matt & Kim are an old favorite of Seattle, having played many a house show at DIY venues around the city and on the mainstage at Capitol Hill Block Party back in 2007. Their self-titled first full length is a living room dance party staple, “Yea Yeah” a downright fist-pumping anthem. Watching them grapple with their DIY roots as they break into the big time has been so exciting, and the Chop Suey show, the second stop on a nationwide tour to promote their new album, Grand, was no exception. 

But first Seattle’s Champagne Champagne took the stage. Featuring MCs Pearl Dragon and Thomas Grey and Mark Gajadhar, aka DJ Gajamagic, the Seattle group garnered whines from irritated underage hipsters wanting the hip-hop to stop. All the Matt & Kim reaction did, though, is prove that this was a mismatched bill. Considering the gushing praise from all over the city, this group of hip-hop rebels have become a must-see. That grimy beat of “Soda and Pop Rocks” will make your lips purse into an “Oh, fuck yeah” sneer every time. Thursday night was no exception, as the song quickly took the energy in the room from 0 to 60 in .5. Gajamagic’s rib rattling bass paired with righteous flows that reference everything from the Murder City Devils to Peaches to Molly Ringwald give this act a …

It was feeling extra stuffy in my SoDo loft today. Maybe my body was predicting the snow that would fall in five hours- closing me in for another 3-4 days. I decided to grab my photo gear and head over to the Vera Project to see TacocaT! Perhaps I could even pull them aside for some impromptu portraits?

I’ve decided that the Vera project is a darling way to spend one’s Sunday afternoon. It’s walls are painted in all colors, kids playing air-hockey, trendy outfits and hairdos are plentiful, and Coca Cola is flowing like PBR. It occurs to me there was no place like Vera when I was a teen.

TacocaT did end up sitting for some band portraits and followed with an awesome set! They were wearing mittens, woven hats and scarves, knee-high rubber boots (and for the ladies- leggings and tights), which was appropriate for the winter-wonderland that was in progress outside. Their hilarious sound check quickly exposed their personalities to the audience and welcomed everyone to move closer. It was so good to see TacocaT today!

Thank you, TacocaT!

Emily, Eric, Bree and Lelah

©Blush Photo

I met up with Kaz Nomura of PWRFL Power and his parents at the Ace Hotel on 2nd Avenue in downtown Seattle last month. We decided to collaborate on a portrait shoot while he was in town from Brooklyn and his parents were visiting from Japan for a personal photo project I am cooking up for the new year. Nomura’s parents were both very sweet, very soft spoken, smiley and willing to sit for several different poses. This sort of glimpse into the lives of others makes my job so enjoyable. I feel very lucky to have had the opportunity.

The doting parents and their progeny

Kaz Nomura

Dad, son and mom

Mad Rad

The show switched gears a bit with Portland based thrash rock band, White Fang, taking stage. Well, a least part of the band took stage. Choosing to go the more intimate route, White Fang had the crowd surrounding the guitar player and lead singer on the dance floor as they rocked and rolled all over the floor (literally—the lead singer was rolling on the floor at one point). Although this band was a totally different genre than anything else on the bill, the group had really great energy, which segued nicely into Mad Rad’s irreverent rhymes and pulse-racing beats.

Looking like slinkster cool hipsters but spitting fresh rhymes, Mad Rad has something everyone can enjoy. With …

I assure you a proper live review of this show will be coming to you shortly, but this is just too funny. Is this Superfan ever going to wash her face again?