"This is an instrumental about weed," Acapulco Lips bassist Maria-Elena Juarez said pointedly as the band started their set at the KEXP stage. It got giggles at first, but the second they started leaning into their psych-meets-surf jam, the laughter turned into dancing and some serious vibing. It was hard not to be enamored by the band's enthusiasm as well, with drummer Christopher Garland beaming from his drum throne in his Green Day tank. Our stage may be the one stage at the festival with air conditioning, but the sweltering sounds of Acapulco Lips put that claim to the test. Each new song sizzled like hot pavement, capturing that feeling of walking home in the sun. If you think of the Bumbershoot Music & Arts Festival as the last hurrah of the summer festival season, Acapulco Lips' set truly embodied that spirit.
Punk trio Dude York has made a name for themselves in Seattle for being a guarantee for at least a half hour of overflowing joy. As "America's Band," they cannot tell a lie and totally followed through on the promise on Day One of the Bumbershoot Music & Arts Festival. Even when they had techni…
Covered in pink and gold paint, J GRGRY took the Mural Amphitheatre stage in Seattle Center. Under the gaze of the Space Needle with the sun beaming down on the band, it made for an electric opening for the first day of the Bumbershoot Music & Arts Festival. Lead vocalist, Joe Gregory, moved ac…
