FYM PREVIEW: THE CAPITOL HILL BLOCK PARTY- HIGHLIGHTS •SUNDAY• JULY 24TH, 2011

The final day of The Capitol Hill Block Party (July 24th, 2011) FYM hopes to catch a few bands we've never seen live before (and are very stoked about doing so). The following is a spotlight on a few of those artists we can't wait to check out in person.

Olympia Washington's LAKE (K Records) hit the Vera Stage this Sunday at 6:15pm for a 45 minute set. Their laid back vibe will create a fuzzy ambiance perfect for lazing on a sunny afternoon in Seattle. Listen to their latest record Giving & Receiving HERE.

And the night will continue to get better as instrumental wizards of sonic awakening- Explosions in the Sky (Austin Texas) close out Block Party 2011's Main Stage from 7:45-9pm. Their shimmering guitar-work paints pictures beyond words as seen above in their visual wonder jam- Last Know Surroundings.

FYM is excited to see Pink Mountaintops for the first time Sunday night at 10:15pm on the Neumos Stage. A surreal all-girl visualization of the band can be seen in their warm-eyed, wall of fuzz single Execution. Side-note: Stephen McBean's sister project Black Mountain plays the Mural Amphitheater at Seattle Center for Free! this August. Cheers, FYM.

Words. Graphics. J Thomas Codling.

FYM ON THE LIST: BLOCK PARTY, DAY THREE

The Dead Weather made the sun tremble, as they rambled through a seek and destroy mission of sonic dominance, closing the main stage Sunday night at Capitol Hill Block Party.

Block Party bystanders did just about anything (scaling telephone poles, buildings, phone booths) to get a glimpse of black magic front-woman Alison Mosshart, and her dark leather vocals.

"Die By the Drop" the first single off Sea of Cowards (released May 2010) played live sounds like a southern death trip/let's make a deal with the devil in Clarksdale Mississippi kind of song.

Mosshart and White's intense connection worked themselves into a  vocal frenzy, trading kinetic jabs during "Cut Like a Buffalo."

But the FYM highlight of the night was witnessing the "Will There Be Enough Water" duet between White and Mosshart. Seeing Jack White play guitar live is similar to seeing an unexplained stellar occurrence in the sky. You know you witnessed it, but it cannot be explained in words.

Go to Third Man Records and purchase Sea of Cowards on vinyl NOW!

FYM ON THE LIST: BLITZEN TRAPPER, CHK CHK CHK

As FYM rolled up to the main stage Saturday at Capitol Hill Block Party, we were expecting to see !!! bringing their discotheque pain. Instead, FYM was greeted with a cloud of green smoke rising up from the audience, and harmonious tunes that would make Levon Helm stoked to hear.

Of course this band turned out to be Blitzen Trapper. (Blonde Redhead canceled due to being boring) FYM has had a love/hate relationship with BT over the past two years. Their band name drives us crazy! Blitzen Trapper sounds like it should be a nazi-killing World War II superhero found in Inglorious Bastards. But on several occasions, our ears have perked-up at an unfamiliar tune on NPR, which turns out to be a jam by Blitzen Trapper. 

Lead singer Eric Earley, looking like a young Bruce Springsteen, busted through mostly new tunes off BT's latest album Destroyer of the Void, (which can be heard for free here) on SubPop records. It was a pleasant surprise to catch their tight set. And we can't wait to see them in a more intimate setting, low-lit smokey bars, is where this stoney-fest needs to be heard.

Sounds Like: If Neil Young, Jeff Tweedy, The Band, Elvis Costello, CSNY, and David Bowie,  all found themselves at the same party (and fucked) their sound-baby would be Portland's own Blitzen Trapper. 

It was also nice to see Erik Menteer, getting some beautiful lady-fan respect after the show!

As the smoke cleared from the Portland Trail Blazing Blitzen Trapper set, a friendly security guard cooled down the audience. And as the sunset sank behind the main stage, everyone geared up for the dance party to come!

Nic Offer (!!! frontman) worked the main stage like a gentlemen in short-shorts should. Offering up a performance everyone at  The Cuff would think was fabulous. (and we hope Nic keeps the short hair!) If there is a band that sums up the vibe of Capitol Hill/Block Party, it would have to Chk Chk Chk. The eclectic neighborhood/band are both fabulous, too hip for their own good, dangerous and dancey. FYM had a great time dancing the nite away!

!!! Sounds Like: It takes two to make you feel alright- dynamic, electro, dance-punk.

(all photos by FYM: j codling)