The Stranger

Stranger Suggests: Headbanging to Sludge Metal, Jumping into Freezing Water, and Eating Too Much Hot and Melty Cheese

Todd Hamm — Mon, 29 Dec 2025 10:00:00 -0800

One really great thing to do every day of the week. by Todd Hamm MONDAY 12/29

(CHEESE) For the second year, Hotel 1000 is going full vintage Swiss-alpine fantasy with the Rosebay Chalet. Once entering through the gingerbread-trimmed facade (made of actual gingerbread) and settling into a faux fur-decked fireside lounge, you might just forget you’re in Downtown Seattle. Festive cocktails aren’t the only treat in store here, as the food menu leans into winter comfort with Beecher’s fondue, giant Bavarian pretzels, and French onion soup. Plus, this year offers build-your-own gingerbread chalets, a shotski, board games, and a chairlift photo op watched over by a (reportedly very handsome, albeit fake) St. Bernard. (Rosebay, through Dec 31) LANGSTON THOMAS

TUESDAY 12/30

Eat Clam Chowder at Taproot Cafe & Bar

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(SOUP) Many may not know this, but I'm a clam chowder fan. I'm also very picky about this hearty form of soup. Clam chowder is often done wrong: Too thick or too thin, potatoes too hard or too soft, not enough clams, or the flavor of clams. Once in a while, however, I discover a place that gets all of these elements right, and that place, right now, is Columbia City's Taproot Cafe & Bar. They serve New England Clam Chowder with hickory bacon, steamed potatoes, and a herb emulsion. The bowl comes with a buttermilk roll and a warm feeling that is just perfect for long and cold nights. Heat must not come from the sun but from a stove operated by a cook who knows the secrets of clam chowder. (Taproot Cafe & Bar, open Tues-Sun) CHARLES MUDEDE

WEDNESDAY 12/31

Mudhoney, Student Nurse

(NEW YEAR’S EVE) Perhaps this is an unpopular opinion, but Mudhoney could have retired after releasing their 1988 debut single “Touch Me I’m Sick” and still achieved god-tier status in Seattle’s—and Earth’s—underground-rock scene. The foursome’s signature song swerved into the Stooges’ Fun House and pinched Iggy’s nipples hard, while vomiting into Scott Asheton’s kickdrum. How do you follow up such a monumental first release? Well, Mudhoney have soldiered on for 37 years with the same creative nucleus of Mark Arm and Steve Turner, putting subtle variations on their thunderous garage- and psych- rock templates, augmented by abundant and astringent guitar FX. One key to their greatness is, they’re masculine, not macho. Another key is, they possess humor and self-awareness; so even though their sound hasn’t changed much, they still don’t obviously repeat themselves. The band’s riffs and melodies still sting with the vitality of musicians a third of their ages, and even their last four albums—delivered at five-year intervals—rip musically, while spanking all the right people lyrically. These gr*nge warhorses are still thoroughbreds. (Neptune Theatre, 8 pm, all ages) DAVE SEGAL

Get plenty more New Year's Eve recommendations on EverOut!

THURSDAY 1/1

Polar Bear Plunge

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(BRRRRR) For generations, people around the world have been marking the start of each new year with a startlingly cold polar plunge. The tradition is celebrated in Canada, the Netherlands, England, Scotland—basically anywhere with ice-cold bodies of water and brave souls. Here in Seattle, amateurs and seasoned dunkers alike are invited to ring in 2026 with the annual Polar Bear Plunge on January 1 at Matthews Beach Park. Lifeguards will be on duty, and since there are hundreds of participants all rushing into the water at the same time, it’s a lot harder to wuss out. But if you want to up your chances of spotting seals or an orca or two, check out New Year’s polar plunge events with local groups, including Puget Sound Plungers and Coldwater Collective, who host plunges year-round at Alki, Golden Gardens, Redondo Beach, and more. As an experienced plunger, my advice to you is this: Wear a warm hat, and don’t be afraid to scream, laugh, swear, or cry through the first 30 seconds or so. It really does make a big difference. (Matthews Beach Park, noon, all ages, free) MEGAN SELING

FRIDAY 1/2

Welcome to Paradise: ¡Viva Puerto Rico Libre!

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(VISUAL ART) Part art exhibition, part act of resistance, Welcome to Paradise: ¡Viva Puerto Rico Libre! transforms tourism into protest and collective memory into defiance. Curated by Seattle-based Boricua artist Jo Cosme, the show expands on her solo work by featuring over 30 native Boricua artists from across the archipelago to confront colonialism, disaster capitalism, and displacement. Running through January, the exhibition is accompanied by La residencia: no me dejan quedarme aquí, a series of screenings, walk-throughs, and discussions exploring Puerto Rico’s history and ongoing fight for self-determination. (Office of Arts & Culture, various dates through Jan 10, all ages, free) LANGSTON THOMAS

SATURDAY 1/3

High on Fire, King Woman

(MUSIC) Consistency, as a critique of art, may connote poorly, but in a medium like metal, which requires an artist to retain an ungodly amount of thunderous energy to remain true and relevant, long-term consistency is rare. To see a High on Fire show—guitarist/vocalist Matt Pike inevitably bare-chested and imposing, bassist Jeff Matz gray-beardly purveying low-end sludge, and smashing new drummer Coady Willis (who happens to be the same Coady Willis of legendary Northwest outfits the Murder City Devils, Big Business, and occasionally the Melvins)—is to affirm heavy music as the lifeblood of eternal youth. The power trio’s ninth album, 2024’s Cometh the Storm, the first with Willis on kit, carries the same level of fire Pike and co. originally got high on, sounding nothing like you might expect from a group that has earned every right to have gone hoarse and nappy by now. That angle aside, the band still stands in 2025 as a torch-bearer of crunchy sludge metal, continuing to frolic in trippy metal pastures when similar bands of the era like Mastodon sadly could not. (Showbox, 7 pm, all ages) TODD HAMM

SUNDAY 1/4

Catch up on Frieren

(ANIME) Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End starts where most adventure stories end. The demon lord is defeated, the hero’s party disbands, and time moves on. The story follows Frieren, an elf mage who is over one thousand years old, as she reckons with what that victory cost her. How does an immortal process grief when everyone she loves ages and dies? What does a 10-year journey mean when it is only a fraction of your life? Frieren is a quiet, devastating meditation on memory, regret, and learning too late how much people mattered. If anime usually turns you off, trust me: The superb world-building, animation, and storytelling put Frieren in the rare company of must-watch anime like Ghost in the Shell or Akira. The English dub is also shockingly excellent, and I say that as someone who hates dubs. Catch up before season two premieres January 16. Bring tissues. “Frieren, you should treasure the encounters you have. Death isn't the only goodbye in this life.” (Streaming on Netflix and available to rent at Scarecrow Video) CHRISTIAN PARROCO

Stranger Suggests: Lord of the Rings Weed Pairings, a Comedian Who Speaks Truth to Power, and TRAINS!

Julianne Bell — Mon, 22 Dec 2025 12:28:00 -0800

One really great thing to do every day of the week. by Julianne Bell MONDAY 12/22

Sippin Santa

(FOOD & DRINK) This holiday-tiki-themed pop-up (a spinoff of Miracle on 2nd at nearby Rob Roy) returns to Belltown with a curated list of cocktails served in seasonal vessels. From classic drinks like a Jungle Bird served in a Santa-hat-wearing pelican mug to inventive originals like the "Frost Bite" (tequila, sage, pineapple, lime, cranberry syrup, and spiced cranberry bitters in a Santa shark cup), the menu has fun options that will warm the ice-cold heart in even the Scroogiest of us. New for 2025: the "Designated Sledder," a zero-proof option made with lime, coconut, pineapple, pandan syrup, and tonic water. The bar’s soundtrack of remixed holiday tunes and classics matches its decor, where stockings and lights have been hung with care and everything that could be covered in wrapping paper is. (Navy Strength, through Dec 25, 21+) SHANNON LUBETICH

TUESDAY 12/23

The 29th Annual Model Train Festival

(TRAINS) If you think model trains are boring, this is the perfect event to broaden your horizons. The Model Train Festival returns to the Washington State History Museum with a vast array of meticulously crafted layouts from railroad clubs across the region. Visitors can marvel at miniature steam engines, downsized Western Washington landscapes, and even the museum’s own massive permanent layout, which is apparently the largest in the state. Train operators are on hand to answer questions, and the auditorium is screening train-themed flicks throughout the festival. (Washington State History Museum, Tacoma, through Jan 1, all ages) LANGSTON THOMAS

WEDNESDAY 12/24

Lady Vengeance

(FILM) This bloody 2005 South Korean thriller, the third and final installment in director Park Chan-wook’s Vengeance trilogy, made the short list for my personal favorites of 2025 and has unexpectedly become my new favorite feel-good holiday movie. It tells the story of Lee Geum-ja (Lee Young-ae), a female prisoner who was framed for the kidnapping and murder of a five-year-old schoolboy. While in prison, she performs remorse and spiritual conversion to curry favor with the public, but as soon as she’s out, she is hell-bent on revenge. The film juxtaposes the potential for ugliness and sweetness in humanity to great effect, culminating in a surprisingly poignant conclusion in the snow that would be perfect to watch on Christmas Eve. It will also make you really want a polka dot dress, a leather trench coat, and blood-red eyeshadow. (Be warned that this movie contains some hard-to-watch scenes of sexual violence and child abuse, so proceed with caution. For a less violent Christmas Eve viewing alternative, may I suggest The Umbrellas of Cherbourg?) (Streaming free on Tubi, Pluto TV, and Kanopy, and also available to rent at Scarecrow Video) JULIANNE BELL

THURSDAY 12/25

Watch Lord of the Rings and Get High

(CHRISTMAS) I’m a Seattle transplant celebrating my tenth holiday season away from family. But even without family, you are never really alone when you have a fellowship and some pipe weed to ring in the holiday. That’s why my Christmas Day suggestion is simple: Get high and watch The Lord of the Rings trilogy straight through. True LOTRians know this means the extended editions. (I can’t believe how many people have never seen the Funeral of Theodred.) If you are committing to a full journey through Middle-earth, strain choice matters. Fellowship is cozy, hopeful, and Shire-heavy, so start with something relaxing and euphoric like Space Queen. By The Two Towers, the plot thickens and demands focus, making Jack Herer the ideal companion. Return of the King is epic battles and emotional payoff, and Gelato 33 keeps things euphoric and grounded, and will prep you for a good cry all the way to the shores of Valinor. CHRISTIAN PAROCCO

FRIDAY 12/26

The Jinkx & Dela Holiday Show

(PERFORMANCE) After eight years of extravagant holiday shows from drag queen icon besties Jinkx Monsoon and BenDeLaCreme, I think it’s time to ask: Is this just The Nutcracker now? Do we still need The Nutcracker? In this theatrical tradition, the pair interview sentient snacks before being kidnapped and held for ransom by holiday traditions. Imagine if that lay on the shoulders of a junior high drama department. Well, it’s not a canon work yet; it changes every year. Don’t miss the singing-dancing sweetness of these two very different queens serving Christmas—because I’ll be telling your kids this is The Nutcracker. (Moore Theatre, various showtimes through Dec 28, all ages) SUZETTE SMITH

SATURDAY 12/27

Eat Dumplings at Korochka Tavern

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(FOOD & DRINK) This little nook of a bar is easy to miss—a tiny storefront on 45th, tucked between Tres Lecheria and the Stop N Shop. But on a cold, wintry day, it’ll cure whatever’s ailing your soul. Their Eastern European menu is small, but I’ll tell you what to do anyway: at the very least, order the pickle plate and the vareniki (there are meat, vegetarian, and vegan options). If you’re still hungry, it’s time for Piroshki. And in the meantime, their cocktail menu is worth every moment of your time. We’ve emphatically recommended the Bonfire before, but we’ll do it again. And they house-make beet-infused vodka for their take on a lemon drop—the Lenin Drop. Once you’ve finished your food, and you realize that you’re not ready to leave the warm red light of the bar, it’s time for the Honey Cake. And when you leave, you’ll notice that you barely feel the winter chill through the padding of dumplings, good hospitality, and the beet vodka. (Korochka Tavern, open Tues-Sun [closed Christmas Eve and Christmas Day], 21+) HANNAH MURPHY WINTER

SUNDAY 12/28

Roy Wood Jr.

(COMEDY) Now more than ever, we need comedians who speak truth to power (with caustic wit, of course), because the MSM have proved themselves to be entirely too complicit in downplaying and normalizing 47’s world-class corruption and enshittifcation of America. Thankfully, Roy Wood Jr. is on the case. He’s shown his heady mettle as a correspondent on Comedy Central’s The Daily Show With Trevor Noah and as host of CNN’s Have I Got News for You. His jabs and uppercuts from the left have caused deep bruises on many deserving mofos. As MC of the 2023 White House Correspondents’ Dinner, Wood hilariously roasted Dems, Repubs, and the media in a tight 25 minutes. And his takes on race are among the most sizzling in the business, including this one: “But if we get rid of the Confederate flag, how am I gonna know who the dangerous white people are?” Beyond those topics, Wood has funny thoughts about relationships, fatherhood, white allies, the travails of grocery shopping, and the ramifications of getting a BBL, among other things. (Neptune Theatre, 7 pm, all ages) DAVE SEGAL

The Stranger's Guide to the Capitol Hill Block Party

Julianne Bell — Mon, 14 Jul 2025 15:43:00 -0700

The Capitol Hill Block Party is July 19-20. by Julianne Bell Saturday 7/19

DJ Pee .Wee
While the name DJ Pee .Wee might not ring any bells, I’m sure you are familiar with the man behind the pseudonym, Anderson .Paak, of both solo fame and duos like Silk Sonic (with Bruno Mars) and NxWorries (with Knxwledge). Now, one thing about me is that I absolutely cannot stand Bruno Mars, so naturally, I steered clear of Silk Sonic’s Grammy-winning An Evening with Silk Sonic. However, I recently discovered that the duo covers one of the best songs of all time on the album, Con Funk Shun’s “Love’s Train.” This is all to say that despite sometimes making embarrassing music, Anderson .Paak clearly has great taste. Don’t miss his headlining set, which, according to Redditors, promises a dance party with back-to-back bangers (Gwen Stefani’s “Hollaback Girl” and Kylie Minogue’s “Can’t Get You Out of My Head” have been played in the past), sing-alongs of his songs, and potentially live drum solos. AUDREY VANN

Dora Jar
California-based rising star Dora Jarkowski, better known by her stage name Dora Jar, burst onto the indie scene with the release of her debut EP Digital Meadow in 2021, which combined dreamy bedroom pop with confessional lyrics and garnered comparisons to Faye Webster and St. Vincent. Since then, she’s opened for artists like the Neighborhood and Billie Eilish. Most recently, she’s been in the news due to a particularly whiny subset of Gracie Abrams fans petitioning to oust her as the opener for Abrams’s tour, which seems more like a ringing endorsement than a drawback if you ask me. If you were a theater kid in another life, secretly still believe in fairies, are nostalgic for the ethereal vocals of pre-Elon Grimes, and/or enjoy the whimsical storytelling of artists like Laufey and Conan Gray, you’ll be into this. JULIANNE BELL

Slayyyter
Once likened to “Charli XCX on whippets” by The Fader, internet pop princess Slayyyter rose to fame via SoundCloud and sounds like an amalgam of Y2K icons like Britney Spears, Paris Hilton, and Lindsay Lohan in the best way possible. With songs like “Daddy AF” and “I Love Hollywood!,” her music is the aural equivalent of a bedazzled magenta Motorola Razr. She frequently collaborates with electronic artist Ayesha Erotica and was recently featured on Kesha’s pulsating new club banger “ATTENTION!” along with up-and-coming English singer-songwriter Rose Gray. I predict the crowd at her set will be populated by girls, gays, and theys dressed in leather and rhinestones. JULIANNE BELL

Thundercat
Thundercat’s music is weird, groovy, and kind of brilliant. It’s funk, jazz, R&B, and anime energy all smashed together by one of the best bass players alive. One minute he’s singing about his Dragon Ball durag, the next he’s shredding a solo that sounds like it came from another planet, and somehow it all works. His live shows are loose and unpredictable, but that’s what makes them fun. You’ll get jokes, you’ll get feelings, and you’ll definitely get a lot of bass. If you like music that’s funny, emotional, and groovy all at the same time, don’t skip this set. And if you see someone in the crowd dressed as Sayaman with a Dragon Ball durag trailing on the ground like a cape, just let them vibe. That’s me. Mind your business. CHRISTIAN PARROCO

Sunday 7/20

100 gecs
The unhinged hyperpop of 100 gecs, one of the internet's favorite bands, has been praised as propelling the genre forward, with the New Yorker calling their sound "an impressively precise maximalist exercise with no rules." Since their critically acclaimed 2019 debut 1000 gecs, their sound has grown exponentially, with fewer vocal filters and more guitar solos. If you look back at 2010s artists like 3OH!3, Sleigh Bells, Kreayshawn, Metro Station, and Skrillex without cringing, I think you will appreciate this music. 100 gecs are at once sincere yet ironic, hooky yet avant-garde, and terrible yet completely brilliant. AUDREY VANN

Lemon Boy
Lemon Boy's "Guitar Center (Sucks)" is one of the greatest fuck-yous to know-it-all guitar bros that I've ever heard. Not only does the band express their annoyance through an extremely catchy hard rock jam (à la the Runaways’ "Cherry Bomb"), they also showcase their musicianship with a medley of popular guitar riffs that you can hear played at Guitar Center at any given time ("Smoke on the Water," "Seven Nation Army," and "Crazy Train"). The “sour punk” band will make their CHBP debut with tracks from their first album, Eat. Skate. Die. AUDREY VANN

Maude Latour
Much like teen-stars-turned-experimental-pop-artists Rebecca Black and Addison Rae, Swedish singer-songwriter Maude Latour is leaning into sexier lyrics and unconventional beats on her debut album Sugar Water. On the album's title track, Latour asks, "Can you spit sugar water straight into my mouth?" atop a trance-like drum machine and sparkling electronics—the result is dreamy, fun, and danceable. Her newest single, “Miss America,” is a wordy queer love song that details her experience of touring the US with her partner last year. The track brings to mind reigning pop queens like Chappell Roan and Olivia Rodrigo with diaristic lyrics and punchy pop vocals. Latour is clearly at the very beginning of something huge, so be sure to see her set this weekend before she inevitably headlines arenas. AUDREY VANN

n8vboy
n8vboy is a rising force in Seattle’s EDM scene, melding bold rhythms, cultural depth, and community uplift. He’s bringing his genre-warping sound to Neumos, and if you miss it, that’s on you. n8vboy’s sound blends moombahton, trap, and dance-pop with a deep, bass-heavy pulse, making his set feel like a party and a prayer at the same time. What makes it unique is the way he works in sonic elements from his Yakama Nation roots. His latest project, EPOCH, builds around earthy percussion and haunting aural textures that cut through the mix. It’s not just a blend of styles, it’s something entirely his own. Pull up. CHRISTIAN PARROCO

Porter Robinson
It would be no exaggeration to say that Porter Robinson’s music helped save me during a very dark period of my timeline. There’s something about lyrics that acknowledge all the things that can make life suck, juxtaposed with positive messages about persevering, set to a synthy electronic anime-intro-type instrumental that really hits home with me. And it’s not just me—the crowd at Porter is sure to be full of teary-eyed fans yelling very similar stories about life-saving soundtracks. Current-day Porter has moved away from the full electronic world, with his latest album sporting a live band with a hyperpop sound. But if his set is anything like the rest of the tour, you’ll get a crash course in all the stages of Porter Robinson over the last ten years that still keep him relevant on my playlists today. CHRISTIAN PARROCO

Yaeji
Is there anyone cooler out there than Yaeji? The genre-bending singer, DJ, and producer, who’s known for mixing English and Korean lyrics, first cut her teeth in the nightlife scene by spinning at the legendary Pittsburgh electronic music dance party Hot Mass as a college student. Later, she moved on to making her own music with Ableton and blew up after her first Boiler Room set in 2017 went viral. She simultaneously pokes fun at herself and evokes the spirit of a sweaty dance floor in the quirky hit “Raingurl,” then muses on mundane everyday moments with “Drink I’m Sippin’ On.” Anyone who’s ever longed to party behind the booth while Yaeji works her magic is in luck: She’s slated for a DJ set, which will likely include her own vocals and visual elements and is sure to get even the most staid Seattleites moving. JULIANNE BELL

Dropping Into Baekhyun’s World

Christian Parroco — Mon, 07 Jul 2025 11:44:00 -0700

Baekhyun didn’t just perform. He connected. by Christian Parroco

Until this week, I’d never been to a K-pop concert. That being said, I do play a lot of video games that partner with K-pop groups for promo and overpriced in-game cosmetics (that I inevitably buy), so I thought it’d be cool to take a peek into a scene I’ve only dabbled in on a very surface level. While that disqualifies me from saying anything definitive about the genre, it also made Baekhyun’s Reverie tour stop at WaMu Theater on Tuesday night hit that much harder. Walking into the venue didn’t feel like showing up to a concert. It felt like being dropped into a world that had been going strong without me for a long time. The lights were intense, the crowd was already moving to the music playing over the house speakers, and, even though I didn’t know the lyrics to a single Baekhyum song, it was obvious that wasn’t going to be a problem.

Let’s start with the crowd. Imagine a Discord server come to life. Friends who’d never met in person were hugging for the first time. There were conversations about favorite League of Legends champions and whether or not Solo Leveling robbed Frieren of Crunchyroll Anime of the Year (which it did). This wasn’t just a show, it was an occasion. The outfits spanned Harajuku-core, streetwear, ethereal fae, and a heavy dose of glitter. No single theme, just a shared understanding: You show up looking good.

And there were a lot of moms. Like, a lot. Some of them were probably just escorting their kids to the show, but most looked like they were there for themselves, seemingly more excited than their much younger neighbors in the crowd. The crowd was overwhelmingly femme and shockingly diverse. People of all ethnicities, all body types, all ages, and they were all screaming when, in the second act, Baekhyun pulled out the fedora.

Yes, he really did that. His performance featured a fedora, some sexy hip choreography, and some smooth ’90s-sounding R&B. It was like being seduced by a man who only speaks in falsetto and finger guns. And as my friend Spencer put it, “Whatever he’s saying right now, I bet it’s sexy.”

Fedora not pictured. CHRISTIAN PARROCO

Which brings me to a strange truth: the language barrier didn’t exist. Or rather, it existed for me, but it didn’t really matter. A majority of the audience, many of them not even Korean, knew the lyrics bar for bar. Now, obviously, having never listened to Baekhyum until Tuesday, and only attending the show out of pure curiosity, I did not know the words. I don’t speak Korean, so I couldn’t even understand them. But that didn’t stop any of the emotions from landing. And that was enough. Baekhyum’s performance made it clear that meaning doesn’t always need translation. Sometimes the sound alone hits you first, and everything else makes sense after.

Every second of the production was deliberate. The visuals and choreography were intricately woven into the mood of each song. “Underwater” was performed to an aquatic backdrop and lighting, with choreography reminiscent of jellyfish and flowing currents. “Lemonade” introduced bright pops of yellow visuals and bouncy dancing. After every intermission, Baekhyun changed outfits, and each signaled a shift in mood.

Dance to his sadness. CHRISTIAN PARROCO

The setlist felt like we were being walked through the lifecycle of a relationship. The early songs were playful and jazzy, all flirtation and groove. The middle of the show leaned into something deeper. Slower songs that ached a little, and were full of tension and longing. By the end, everything had shifted. The bass hit harder, the guitars got louder, and Baekhyun looked just as ready to fall apart as he was to charm the crowd. He even joked that we seemed to really like dancing to his sadness.

Between songs, Baekhyun took his time connecting with the crowd, speaking through a translator. At one point, he talked about how he got lost in Seattle but decided to just keep walking until he stumbled across a spot that caught him off guard with how beautiful it was (after he visited Target and bought some chocolate-covered pretzels). The moral was simple: If you keep moving forward, you’ll eventually see wonderful things. That sentiment landed hard in a room full of people who clearly had an emotional bond with him. He wasn’t just an idol. He was a presence. A guide. A comfort. Baekhyun didn’t just perform. He connected. And for a first-timer like me, that was more than enough to keep me wanting more.

Baekhyun: Fan of chocolate-covered pretzels. CHRISTIAN PARROCO

George Floyd Was Murdered Five Years Ago Today

Christian Parroco — Sun, 25 May 2025 11:43:00 -0700

Five years ago today, Derek Chauvin arrested George Floyd Jr. in Minneapolis for using a counterfeit $20 bill. Chauvin pinned Floyd to the ground, knelt on his neck for nine minutes and 29 seconds, and murdered him. I photographed the protests that followed in Seattle. by Christian Parroco

I photographed the protests that followed in Seattle.

It took me weeks to stop panicking just touching my apartment door handle. Months to stop jumping when I heard the dumpster slam shut outside. Five years after George Floyd’s murder and the protests that took over Seattle’s streets, I’m still unpacking the trauma I carried from covering the frontlines — fighting for my right to live here as a Black man.

I didn’t have a choice but to document it. As a Black photographer, I felt a moral imperative to be there, to capture the raw truth. I saw a man get shot five feet in front of me for stopping someone from driving a car through a crowd. I watched cops tear-gas a child — a child — because they didn’t know how to defend themselves against a five-year-old holding flowers. I watched peaceful protests escalate under the heavy hand of the police, only to be twisted into “riots” for the cameras.

But I also saw something I never expected: a movement that transformed from trauma into community. I stopped focusing on the fear I felt at the frontlines and started focusing on the people who stood shoulder to shoulder, who kept me safe, who kept me coming back. We were terrified — but we were together.

My photos were never just about documenting the violence. They were about capturing the resilience of a community that showed up, day after day, to resist it.

Five years later, I’m not sure what’s changed. Things might honestly be worse now—I got slurred on the train three days ago. Police killings have continued to rise. But here’s what I do know: these photos aren’t some congratulatory souvenir of a moment we survived. They’re a reminder.

Five years later, the fight is still happening. And it still needs you to show up.

Love Is in the Air

Christian Parroco — Mon, 10 Feb 2025 13:15:00 -0800

Flowers and chocolate are a must for Valentine's Day, but nobody said the flowers had to go in a vase! by Christian Parroco

Photos by Billie Winter

You might be surprised to hear this, but next to 4/20 and Thanksgiving, Valentine’s Day is one of the more popular holidays for cannabis shoppers. And why shouldn’t it be? Flowers and chocolate are a must, but nobody said the flowers had to go in a vase! If you’re in the weeds about what to do for Cupid’s Day or green to the notion of pot as a present, here are some foolproof suggestions—from strains to lube—that are bound to elevate your V-Day experience.

Strain

Love by Fifty Fold

Fifty Fold’s Love is a cross between Limoncello 28 and Jealousy, two hybrid strains I’ve found to give a sort of giggly, euphoric high before mellowing out into a calming sensation without ever making me too couch-locked or trapped in my brain. In fact, I find I usually won’t shut up when I’m smoking this strain. Flavor-wise, think citrusy (duh) with a hint of sweet birthday cake. The mistake a lot of people make when trying to mix cannabis with activities is that they end up going too heavy on the strain and smoking too much too early, resulting in a snoozefest far before the night is over. Remember, tonight is about using cannabis to enhance your experience, not replace it. Pace yourself, and this strain will carry you through the phases of the evening, from first bowl to dinner to dessert. (And hopefully some, ahem, dessert after that—wink wink.) This is in no way medical advice, but I have found this strain to boost my libido and lower my inhibitions in bed. And with a name like Love, it’s perfect for the occasion. If you can’t find Love, try one of these strains instead: Jealousy, Lumpy Space Princess, or Dole Whip.

Don’t have a Valentine? These strains are just as well suited for staying home all night playing video games and munching down. Heavy emphasis on the munching.

Joint

SoulShine Narnia Luv Struck Infused Rose Petal Joints

I used to work in a dispensary, so I can tell you for a fact that people go searching specifically for these petal-covered joints in preparation for Valentine’s Day so if you’re trying to be romantic and get your partner a dozen, make sure you stock up ahead of time. (I recommend using SoulShine’s online tracker to find which dispensaries are currently carrying them.) The joint itself is pretty self-explanatory and is more about the aesthetic of smoking out of a rose petal than anything else. They can be a little harsh—you’re smoking flower out of a flower—so keep a glass of water nearby and maybe keep an eye on those printed processing dates so you can pick a product that hasn’t been sitting around for months. No one likes dusty joints. That said, the experience of receiving a bouquet of rose joints far outweighs the sometimes less-than-optimal smoking experience. Of the different strains available, I recommend staying away from the heavy indicas and going with Narnia, another energetic euphoric high, perfect for spending a couple of hours on the town. Do be careful, though; Narnia can go from being giggly euphoric to being a little bit of a spacy, deer-in-headlights high if you overdo it. Everything in moderation.

Edible

Sea Salt Dark Chocolates by 4.20 Bar

Sea Salt Dark Chocolates by 4.20 Bar

Did somebody say CHOCOLATE?! Your Valentine’s Day gift just isn’t complete without something sweet. My recommendation? Grab the Minis Sea Salt Dark Chocolates from 4.20 Bar. I’ve had a lot of edibles in my day, and 4.20’s Minis are the perfect combination of flavor, effectiveness, and price point. Want to feel your edible hit faster? Let it melt under your tongue—absorbing the THC sublingually allows it to enter the bloodstream faster, sort of bypassing the digestive system. Just be careful—these really do look and taste just like gourmet chocolates, so make sure you don’t accidentally eat a bunch while you’re feeling snacky.

Topical

Heylotion Body Budder

Heylotion Body Budder

Few things are more intimate than giving or receiving a massage, and now you can rub your partner down with this infused Body Budder from Heylo. Two of the hardest elements for topical producers to dial in on are scent and consistency. Nobody wants a massage balm that’s liquidy and smells like medicine, no matter how effective of a topical it is. (Except you, Dragon Balm. We expect that smell from you.) Heylo solved both of these issues with their body budder, which is all organic and made of ingredients that I don’t mind putting on or in my body—avocado oil, pure CO2 cannabis extract, shea butter, beeswax, vitamin E oil, and lavender, eucalyptus, and peppermint essential oils. Go grab a bottle and get your massage on.

Lube

Fairwinds O Intimate Lubricant

Fairwinds O Intimate Lubricant

Assuming your massage goes well, you may want to start introducing the birds to the bees. And guess what, we live in 2025 now, so even your lube has weed in it. There are a bunch of brands of infused lubricant on the market, but Fairwinds O Lube is the one I have some experience with. Let me get this out of the way right now: No, this lube will not get you high. For those with penises and buttholes, it mostly provides sort of a warming but numbing sensation, and that’s about it. But I’ve been told that it can be a totally different experience for those with clitorises. The extra nerve endings in the clit really create a playground for the cannabinoids in the lube, and can induce what’s been described to me as a “playful tingling sensation.” Infused lube can be a fun addition to the bedroom, but make sure if you’re using condoms that you don’t buy any lube (infused or not) that is oil-based, as this will increase the chance of condom breakage and Scorpio babies. (Also romantic: Check out ways you can get and abet abortion.) Fairwinds is a silicon-based lubricant, which makes it both condom-safe and a more pleasing consistency than water-based lubes.

Four Generations of Punk Under One Roof

Christian Parroco — Thu, 26 Sep 2024 10:00:00 -0700

Green Day brought Rancid, The Smashing Pumpkins, and The Linda Lindas to T-Mobile Park for a punk rock family reunion. by Christian Parroco

On Monday night, it didn’t matter if you were a boomer reliving your youth, a zoomer creating core memories, or somewhere in between: The Saviors Tour at T-Mobile Park was a multigenerational punk rock family reunion. The lineup—the Linda Lindas, Rancid, The Smashing Pumpkins, and Green Day—was a testament to the genre’s enduring legacy and constant re-imagination, and in the crowd, punk parents brought their punks-in-training to witness a lineage of rebellion.

The Linda Lindas opened the show with energy and passion. The band members are still in their teens, and the LA group is unapologetically fierce, blending their fresh take on punk with a DIY attitude that calls back to the genre’s early days. Performing songs like "Growing Up" and their viral hit "Racist, Sexist Boy," The Linda Lindas quickly won over the crowd.

Eloise Wong from the Linda Lindas Christian Parroco

Next up was Rancid—punk rock veterans of the scene. Rancid brought a grungy, unpolished intensity with their high-energy set with "Roots Radical" and "Time Bomb" fusing ska-punk rhythms with politically charged lyrics. Tim Armstrong’s gravelly voice and giant beard commanded the stage, while Lars Frederiksen’s guitar riffs kept the energy soaring—a more straightforward punk experience that excited old-school fans. As Rancid played "Ruby Soho," the crowd was singing, “Destination unknown, Ruby Ruby Ruby Ruby Soho!”

The final act before Green Day was none other than The Smashing Pumpkins, a band that added a moody, atmospheric touch to the evening. Opening with “The Everlasting Gaze,” Billy Corgan’s unique vocals and heavy guitar sound instantly pulled the fans in. The setlist featured a mix of classics like “Today” and “Bullet with Butterfly Wings,” plus deeper cuts for diehard fans (shoutout to your tender Gen X hearts). The highlight of their performance was definitely the “fight” on stage mid-set between two NWA wrestlers. This was undoubtedly a shameless plug for the National Wrestling Alliance (which Billy Corgan owns) but we’re not complaining.

Tim Armstrong from Rancid Christian Parroco

As the lights dimmed and a (still) unexplained pink bunny mascot rocking a Mariners jersey came on stage to hype the crowd up, it was clear that Green Day was about to deliver a performance for the ages. This may have been The Saviors Tour, but the real highlight for most fans in the stadium born before 2000 was getting to listen to Dookie and American Idiot live and in their entirety. Dookie turned 30 back in February, and American Idiot turned 20 this past weekend, so it only seemed appropriate that those albums took center stage on this tour.

That’s not to say that they ONLY performed songs from those two iconic albums—we got a few tracks off of Saviors, including “Dilemma,” which was preceded by a snippet of Tom Petty’s “Free Fallin.’” We also got to watch Billie Joe Armstrong bring a fan on stage and let them perform “Know Your Enemy” from 2009’s 21st Century Breakdown. But let’s be real, most of us were there for Dookie or American Idiot, and Green Day did not disappoint. While both albums have distinct identities, the setlist seamlessly combined the raw punk energy of Dookie with the more mature, polished, and politically charged American Idiot, making for an unforgettable night—especially for those of us (me) on the younger end of the millennial spectrum who never got the chance to see these albums performed live the first time around.

Christian Parroco

The moment Mike Dirnt’s iconic "Longview" bass line began, the crowd erupted. The song's infectious groove and rebellious lyrics perfectly captured the disillusionment of youth. The song is a testament to how timeless Green Day’s music really is—30 years later, lyrics like “Twiddle my thumbs for just a bit, I’m sick of all the same old shit” and “Where is my motivation, No time for motivation” seem more applicable to my 32 year old self than they did my angsty teenage self.

A Green Day classic, "Basket Case" had the entire arena singing every lyric at the top of their lungs. Armstrong stretched out the intro to tease the audience, making extremely exaggerated faces at the cameras before diving into the instantly recognizable riff, creating one of the most memorable singalongs of the night (which is saying something considering how many singalongs took place). I could literally feel the stadium shaking as 50,000 people jumped in unison.

Mike Dirnt from Green Day Christian Parroco

As one of the more melodic tracks from Dookie, "When I Come Around" offered a slight change of pace. Its memorable hook had everyone in the crowd bouncing, and I immediately felt like I was teleported into a 90’s coming of age romcom where the nerdy guy gets the girl just in time for summer vacation.

Moving to the next album, the band kicked off with the title track from their politically-charged rock opera. Green Day unleashed an adrenaline-fueled anthem that ignited the audience and set the tone for the American Idiot portion of the set.

Billie Joe Armstrong Christian Parroco

Before kicking off “Holiday,” Armstrong gave a little speech, the gist of which was “Fuck Fascism”—a message the whole crowd got behind. The high-energy anthem brought the political defiance of American Idiot to life. The crowd roared along to the infectious chorus, and Armstrong’s charismatic performance made it one of the most charged and exciting moments of the night.

One of Green Day’s most anthemic songs, "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" was a powerful moment in the set. As the band slowed things down slightly, the stadium filled with lights as fans waved their phones and sang the lyrics in unison. The raw emotion in Armstrong’s delivery made this a poignant highlight of the evening. Side note: I definitely tweaked my neck going a little too hard to this one. 13-year-old me would be so proud.

We love the dedication. Christian Parroco

"Wake Me Up When September Ends" was one of, if not the most emotional performance of the night. The crowd respectfully sang along to the heartfelt lyrics, while the band played with precision and sensitivity, and I definitely saw some tears among the crowd (I may have shed a few myself). They were probably a little alcohol-fueled, but a genuine response to the melancholy ballad nonetheless. The song's quiet, reflective beginning swelled into a powerful, cathartic climax, creating an emotional connection between the band and the audience that I’ll be holding onto for a while.

The Green Day Saviors Tour was nothing short of phenomenal. Green Day’s ability to mix high-octane punk rock with emotionally resonant ballads proves their staying power in the music world. From the way they were performing last night, you would never think that this group of dudes in their fifties have been doing this for 37 years. Green Day’s performance was a masterclass in how to command a stage and keep an audience engaged from start to finish. Whether it was the nostalgic energy of Dookie tracks or the grandiose storytelling of American Idiot, they showed why they remain at the pinnacle of the punk rock world. Fans left the venue with no doubt that Green Day continues to be the saviors of modern punk.

Capitol Hill Block Party Highlights

Julianne Bell — Mon, 22 Jul 2024 16:18:00 -0700

Recaps and photos from Capitol Hill Block Party 2024. by Julianne Bell

While Chappell Roan's Friday night set was indeed a highlight of this year's Capitol Hill Block Party, the president of the Pink Pony Club wasn't the only star of the weekend. Remi Wolf, Becky Hill, and tons of local artists, including TeZATalks, Linda from Work, and THEM, also put on memorable performances that wowed anyone brave enough to withstand the crowds and the summer heat.

Read on for recaps and more photos than your eyeballs can handle.

Chappel Roan Chappel Roan performing at the Capitol Hill Block Party. CHRISTIAN PARROCO

By now, you’ve probably seen videos that document the massive crowds at the queer pop princess Chappell Roan’s performance at Capitol Hill Block Party. Roan was booked in 2023, before the stratospheric rise of her now-ubiquitous breakthrough hit “Good Luck, Babe!” and many expressed concerns that Block Party was not equipped to handle the legions of fans she was sure to draw. The crowds were no joke; I was jostled and shoved as festivalgoers tried to hustle their way to the front and saw multiple people ushered to the medic tent. At one point, the mob compressed suddenly, and I had a moment of realizing just how fragile my internal organs and ribs really are and how little it would take to crush me. Much to my relief, my friends and I finally found a reasonably spacious spot near Neumos and watched from the screen, though elbow room was still scarce.

Chappel Roan performing at the Capitol Hill Block Party. CHRISTIAN PARROCO

In the moments before Chappell came onstage, the enthusiasm was palpable: The place had more hot pink than a Barbie Dreamhouse and enough drunk bathroom girl compliment energy to power a small continent. Finally, it was time. As an intro played on the speaker, skateboarders zoomed around on the stage doing kickflips, and Chappell herself emerged to thunderous applause in a sk8r boi outfit, complete with a green vintage '90s Alien Workshop tee, baggy JNCO jeans, a studded belt, and faux bruises and scratches, and launched into “Femininomenon,” her recognizable cherry cola curls blowing in the artificial wind.

During “Hot to Go,” attendees simultaneously hoisted their arms in the air to the viral dance. Chappell was joined onstage by a surprise guest, RuPaul’s Drag Race season 15 winner and Miss Continental 2012 Sasha Colby, who inspired Chappell’s oft-repeated Coachella line “I’m your favorite artist’s favorite artist” with her own catchphrase “I’m your favorite drag queen’s favorite drag queen.” (Chappell has been vocal about her admiration of Colby in the past.)

Crowd overflow just before Chappel Roan's set at Capitol Hill Block Party. CHRISTIAN PARROCO

Throughout the set, Chappell exuded star quality and displayed her powerhouse vocals, reaching angelic, window-shattering notes on her poignant unreleased track “The Subway.” Thousands of situationship-scorned women screamed out their pain in unison to songs like “Casual,” “My Kink Is Karma,” and “Good Luck, Babe!” The performance ended with the queer anthem “Pink Pony Club,” which imagines “a special place where boys and girls can all be queens every single day,” and sapphic couples swayed in each others’ arms and waved rainbow fans as the sun set behind the stage. JULIANNE BELL

Chappel Roan performing at the Capitol Hill Block Party. CHRISTIAN PARROCO Remi Wolf Remi Wolf performing at the Capitol Hill Block Party. CHRISTIAN PARROCO

The mass exodus of attendees who deserted Block Party after Chappell’s set missed out on an incredible performance by headliner Remi Wolf, the Californian “funky soul pop” singer-songwriter who’s recently supported Olivia Rodrigo on her European tour and who released her sophomore album Big Ideas earlier this month. For one thing, there was actually room to move around. “Drop It Like It’s Hot” began playing, which activated every millennial in the vicinity like a sleeper agent, and Remi made her entrance, looking eclectic and glamorous in a trucker hat, rhinestone tee, and flouncy tulle petticoat.

Remi Wolf performing at the Capitol Hill Block Party. CHRISTIAN PARROCO

After her opener, the carefree summer bop “Cinderella,” she announced that Capitol Hill Block Party was her first time headlining a festival, joking, “I can’t believe I get to say that Chappell Roan opened for me.” She also declared, “We’re gonna get our bodies even warmer than they are now!” and led the crowd through her “own routine of personalized exercises,” which included arm shakes, hip gyrations, and twerking. Her swagger served to loosen up the stereotypically stiff and staid Seattle audience and got everyone dancing. In between songs, Remi bantered and flirted with the crowd, made a cheeky reference to her new album’s 8.0 rating by YouTuber Anthony Fantano, and sang a few bars of “360” by Charli XCX.

Remi Wolf performing at the Capitol Hill Block Party. CHRISTIAN PARROCO

Remi performed a cover of Amy Winehouse and Mark Ronson’s iconic version of “Valerie,” which showcased her smoky, velvety vocals perfectly. Her formidable voice ranged from sultry to plaintive to playful as she sang a mix of new songs, including the Big Ideas tracks “Soup” (which joins MUNA’s “Crying on the Bathroom Floor” in my ranking of “most devastating yet danceable songs”) and “Toro” (a horny ode to a hotel sex marathon), alongside older ones, like the smooth grooves “Sexy Villain” and “Photo ID.” Finally, she brought the house down with the finale, her suave banger “Disco Man.” JULIANNE BELL

Becky Hill Becky Hill performing at Capitol Hill Block Party 2024. CHRISTIAN PARROCO

English singer and songwriter Becky Hill likely played to a crowd of Chappell Roan stans in her set preceding the pseudo-headliner, but Hill definitely earned some new followers after her highly danceable performance. She asked who in the crowd knew her music and a less confident performer might have blushed with embarrassment over the underwhelming response, but not Hill. She said she loves crowds that “don’t know who the fuck” she is because then she gets to show fresh ears what she can do.

The icon from across the pond told the Capitol Hill Block Party crowd that she’s plotting world domination, but it's hard for her to capture the American audience, particularly in the male-dominated genre that is dance music. While the crowd didn’t know the words to her new tracks “Outside of Love” and “Believe Me Now,” she had the Pink Pony brigade wiggling their hips and chanting her name. HANNAH KRIEG

Becky Hill performing at Capitol Hill Block Party 2024. CHRISTIAN PARROCO COBRAH COBRAH performing at Capitol Hill Block Party. BRITTNE LUNNISS

For the uninitiated, COBRAH is the stage name of Clara Blom Christensen, a Swedish elementary school music teacher turned cunty queer underground pop icon who rose to fame amid Stockholm’s BDSM club scene. I could tell her set was about to begin when hordes of stylish queers began to flock toward the mainstage, dressed in various shades of camo, mesh, and Brat lime green. COBRAH pranced out in a corseted black bodysuit, latex gloves, and sheer black tights, flipping her platinum blonde mane around aggressively enough to break her neck.

She served face and oozed confident sexuality, purring suggestive lyrics like, “Healthy juices flow like fjords/And when I cum I waterboard” over pounding beats on the song “Suck” while writhing around on all fours. During her track “BANG” she established a call-and-response with the audience, chanting, “Beat go hard with a bang, I just—” as the crowd screamed, “Bang my way to the bank!” She finished with her hypnotic hit “GOOD PUSS,” repeating, “I just wanna feel good/Gotta lay down with some good kush/Got a good girl, a real good bush/Come and go get a real good puss.” JULIANNE BELL

COBRAH performing at Capitol Hill Block Party. BRITTNE LUNNISS Fans dancing during COBRAH's set. BRITTNE LUNNISS COBRAH performing at Capitol Hill Block Party. BRITTNE LUNNISS Girl Talk and his toilet paper blower at Capitol Hill Block Party. BRITTNE LUNNISS Girl Talk's confetti at Capitol Hill Block Party. BRITTNE LUNNISS Toilet paper-covered fans during Girl Talk's set. BRITTNE LUNNISS Members of the Pink Pony Club at Capitol Hill Block Party. BRITTNE LUNNISS The Beaches at Capitol Hill Block Part. BRITTNE LUNNISS Terra Nobody at Capitol Hill Block Party. BRITTNE LUNNISS Cannons at Capitol Hill Block Party. BRITTNE LUNNISS Linda from Work at Capitol Hill Block Party. CHRISTIAN PARROCO Jaiden Grayson at Capitol Hill Block Party. CHRISTIAN PARROCO JNA at Capitol Hill Block Party. BRITTNE LUNNISS Who Is She? at Capitol Hill Block Party. BRITTNE LUNNISS chokecherry at Capitol Hill Block Party. BRITTNE LUNNISS TeZATalks at Capitol Hill Block Party. CHRISTIAN PARROCO TeZATalks at Capitol Hill Block Party. CHRISTIAN PARROCO Show Me the Body at Capitol Hill Block Party. BRITTNE LUNNISS Show Me the Body at Capitol Hill Block Party. BRITTNE LUNNISS See you next year, CHBP! BRITTNE LUNNISS

We'll be posting tons more pics and video on Instagram all week!

Sharks, Bubbles, Saxophones, and Carly Rae Jepsen

Brittne Lunniss — Mon, 15 Jul 2024 14:20:00 -0700

Here's everything we loved at Day In Day Out 2024. by Brittne Lunniss

Day In Day Out Festival took over the Seattle Center this weekend with performances by Carly Rae Jepsen, Bleachers, Mannequin Pussy, Peach Pit, Suki Waterhouse, and so many more. We'll be sharing lots of coverage from the event on our Instagram throughout the week—including video of some performances!—so be sure to follow along there. For now, here are a bunch of photos—and some words about a couple of our favorite headliners—from the three-day party:

Carly Rae Jepsen, our favorite theater kid, performing at Day In Day Out. BRITTNE LUNNISS

Carly Rae Jepsen: God, I love seeing a bottle-blonde theater kid make the big-time. In the world of overproduced pop music, Jepsen somehow comes off like the people’s pop star. It’s hard to explain why. I don’t think she ever played the mall circuit, but her skills seem honed from the grind. She’s got the charm of Dolly Parton, the moves of a mom dancing to a Stevie Nicks song in the car, and the crowd-control skills of an elementary school Teacher of the Year. She’s approachably unstoppable. When she closed out DIDO on Friday night, she wore an intricate leotard wrapped in what appeared to be a lot of flouncy bedding, and at one point she wielded three inflatable swords–or, more accurately, two inflatable long swords and one inflatable scimitar–which she procured from some audience members in the front row. Because why not? She played the major singles, starting with “Psychedelic Switch” off the newer album, The Loveliest Time, and she closed with “Cut to the Feeling” from Emotion. And she wasn’t too good for a rendition of “Call Me Maybe” in-between. Long live the queen. RICH SMITH

Carly Rae Jepsen, our favorite theater kid, performing at Day In Day Out. BRITTNE LUNNISS Carly Rae Jepsen at Day In Day Out. BRITTNE LUNNISS Mannequin Pussy performing at Day In Day Out. BRITTNE LUNNISS Mannequin Pussy performing at Day In Day Out. BRITTNE LUNNISS Amyl and the Sniffers performing at Day In Day Out. BRITTNE LUNNISS Amyl and the Sniffers performing at Day In Day Out. BRITTNE LUNNISS Bleachers performing at Day In Day Out. CHRISTIAN PARROCO

Bleachers: Watching a Born-to-Run-era Bruce Springsteen knock-off band close out a music festival a few hours after Donald Trump raised his little fist above his bloody ear with the American flag waving behind him created within me a profound sense of disconnect with my fellow man.

I’d spent the previous five hours staring at my phone, talking on my phone, and texting on my phone, but now here I was on a broad lawn with an absolutely necessary gin and tonic in my hand, listening to Jack Antonoff, one of the world’s biggest producers, lead a group of tastefully dressed men in a shouting chorus of, “I wanna get better!” It all just seemed so naive. But everyone else was having a good time, so what the fuck was my problem? I relaxed my shoulders and started paying attention.

The band had set up the stage like a recording studio, complete with a lit “Recording Studio In Use” sign hanging above their heads. They ran through the hits, sometimes mixing a couple of them together like a DJ, sometimes turning big numbers into acoustic numbers, always projecting a sense of urgency and sincerity. When I started paying too much attention, I got confused. I understood Antonoff was feeling deeply, and that some of those feelings carried a romantic valence, but what did he mean, exactly, by the lyric, “Baby, love me! You’ve got me, runaway!” I had no idea, but halfway into the set, I stopped caring. I felt like a New Jersey high school football player about to catch the game-winning touchdown. I was going to tell her how I felt tomorrow, damn it. I was going to be open and honest about my needs and expectations. I was going to confront my grief. I was going to cry. I did. The two saxophone players ruled, the drummers sounded amazing, and one of them reportedly had a hometown connection.

At a moment in American history when the most toxic form of masculinity imaginable seems poised to retake power, the kind of cute, communal, tee-ball masculinity that Bleachers projects into the world felt like a welcome counterweight. It felt like good politics. Oh god, and now here I am making music criticism all about Trump before he’s even completed his second ascension. Bottom line: Bleachers was fun as hell to watch, and no one can deny the power of a couple chatty saxophones cutting through all that warm summer air. I certainly couldn’t. RICH SMITH

Bleachers performing at Day In Day Out. CHRISTIAN PARROCO Bleachers performing at Day In Day Out. CHRISTIAN PARROCO Happy fans at Day In Day Out. CHRISTIAN PARRACO Peach Pit performing at Day In Day Out. BRITTNE LUNNISS Peach Pit performing at Day In Day Out. BRITTNE LUNNISS La Fonda (and a shark!) DJing during Day In Day Out. BRITTNE LUNNISS Acid Tongue & Sarah Savannah DJing at Day In Day Out. BRITTNE LUNNISS Waxwitch DJing at Day In Day Out. BRITTNE LUNNISS Sudan Archives performing at Day In Day Out. BRITTNE LUNNISS Sudan Archives performing at Day In Day Out. BRITTNE LUNNISS Les Savy Fav performing at Day In Day Out. BRITTNE LUNNISS Les Savy Fav performing at Day In Day Out. BRITTNE LUNNISS Les Savy Fav performing at Day In Day Out. BRITTNE LUNNISS

Rebecca Black! MUNA! Flesh Produce! And People Crowd-Surfing in Pool Floats!

Julianne Bell — Mon, 24 Jul 2023 16:27:00 -0700

Bands, bubbles, and Bob Ross. by Julianne Bell

Betweeen Taylor Swift, Barbenheimer, Bite of Seattle, Women's World Cup watch parties, and a Canadian baseball fan invasion—the Capitol Hill Block Party had a lot of competition this weekend. Still, every day inside the festival’s gates was full of enthusiastic music fans dancing, singing along, and crowd-surfing in pool floats. The Stranger was there, too! Here are the sights and sounds we managed to catch amidst the Busiest Weekend in Seattle. (Can we take a nap now?)

Rebecca Black performing at Capitol Hill Block Party 2023. CHRISTIAN PARROCO FRIDAY

To answer the question you're all no doubt wondering, no, Rebecca Black did not play her polarizing 2011 anthem "Friday," despite having a Friday evening slot at the festival. Rude! But also not totally surprising—after all her entire debut album, Let Her Burn (released this past February), is about being reborn, rising from flames that tried to burn her alive. In the song "Destroy Me" she sings, "Feeling pretty cute until I ran into you / Chewеd me up and spit me out like gum on your shoе." Her set at Block Party was all about introducing the crowd—which was big enough to give Goth Babe's audience over on the Main Stage a run for its money, by the way—to who she is today, rather than riding that wave of tainted nostalgia. We respect that.

Rebecca Black performing at Capitol Hill Block Party 2023. CHRISTIAN PARROCO Rebecca Black performing at Capitol Hill Block Party 2023. CHRISTIAN PARROCO Channel Tres performing at Capitol Hill Block Party 2023. BRITTNE LUNNISS Mooncakes' Drag Showcase at Capitol Hill Block Party 2023. BRITTNE LUNNISS Mooncakes' Drag Showcase at Capitol Hill Block Party 2023. BRITTNE LUNNISS The crowd at Capitol Hill Block Party 2023. BRITTNE LUNNISS Empress Of performing at Capitol Hill Block Party 2023. BRITTNE LUNNISS Goth Babe performing at Capitol Hill Block Party 2023. Brittne Lunniss Goth Babe performing at Capitol Hill Block Party 2023. Brittne Lunniss The crowd at Captiol Hill Block Party 2023. BRITTNE LUNNISS Sofi Tukker performing at Capitol Hill Block Party 2023. BRITTNE LUNNISS Sofi Tukker performing at Capitol Hill Block Party 2023. BRITTNE LUNNISS The crowd at Capitol Hill Block Party 2023. BRITTNE LUNNISS SATURDAY

We got to CHBP early on Saturday to avoid the crowds and were drawn in by the country-pop vibes of Eliza McLamb on the Vera Stage. The 22-year-old from North Carolina went viral on TikTok with her song “Porn Star Tits” in 2020 while she was working on a farm in Kansas, and the crowd was full of Gen Z-ers in cowboy boots. They all screamed loudly at how gracious she was playing her first-ever festival.

Eliza McLamb performing at Capitol Hill Block Party 2023. SHANNON LUBETICH

“I’m sure a day will come when I will stop writing love songs about homoerotic female friendship, but today is not that day,” she quipped before launching into the title track of her EP Salt Circle on the Vera stage.

True to her word, about half of her songs were about sisterhood imbued with a deep yearning that could only be called sapphic. “Salt Circle” is addressed to her best friend and spiritual soulmate: “It doesn’t feel quite right to call you a friend/When we take on new bodies I will scour the earth to find you again.” Fittingly, she also introduced an unreleased number about when a friend’s controlling boyfriend is “your enemy” and harmonized with her friend and fellow CHBP performer and tourmate Hana Bryanne on a dreamy cover of “Kiss Me” by Sixpence None the Richer, punctuating the song with a platonic smooch.

Bubbles at Capitol Hill Block Party 2023. BRITTNE LUNNISS

Her set on the Vera Project's stage marked a milestone of sorts: McLamb’s first-ever show was at the Vera Project two years ago. She’s definitely established herself as an act to watch, especially for fans of introspective indie pop like Lucy Dacus and Indigo de Souza.

Hannah Duckworth performing at Capitol Hill Block Party 2023. SHANNON LUBETICH

We made our way to Barboza to cool off from the sun and see local pop-punk artist Hannah Duckworth, who could be the lovechild of Enumclaw and Taylor Swift (she was even wearing a sparkle-studded collar). You can get tickets to her show at Neumos on August 24 if you want to see what we mean. She played all three of the songs in her discography, all released this year, and some new ones, which we’re excited to hear again once they come out.

Bob Ross at Capitol Hill Block Party 2023. SHANNON LUBETICH

Back to the Vera Stage for renforshort, a 21-year-old pop artist from Toronto who’s collabed with the likes of Travis Barker. She didn’t play that song, though, probably because she lacked a drummer, performing with just a guitarist and backing track. It was hard to hear her live vocals over the track, and lyrics were pretty simplistic, but sometimes “fuck, i luv my friends” is all you really need to hear at a summer music festival.

MUNA performing at Capitol Hill Block Party 2023. CHRISTIAN PARROCO

“Listen, this is a song about queer joy, but we’re also here for queer motherfuckin’ rage,” MUNA’s Naomi McPherson declared before the band launched into their breakout hit “Silk Chiffon” over on the Main Stage.

If you’ve only heard the carefree cotton-candy pop anthem, you’d be forgiven for assuming the band, who recently supported Taylor Swift on her Eras tour, is all sunshine and rainbows. But MUNA has always embraced the ecstasy of queerness alongside angstier, thornier realities—oftentimes in the same song.

MUNA performing at Capitol Hill Block Party 2023. CHRISTIAN PARROCO

While the group bounced around to the self-love ode “Number One Fan,” someone buzzed an illicit drone perilously close to the members’ faces, prompting lead singer Katie Gavin to say, “If that’s yours and you hit me with your fucking drone, I swear to God…” To whoever piloted that drone: Seriously?! Props to the band for still putting on an excellent performance amid what must have been incredibly frustrating and dehumanizing circumstances.

As Gavin mentioned onstage, the trio has over a decade of history together, which gives them a chemistry that is irresistible to watch. Guitarist Josette Maskin pogoed up and down and darted impishly around the stage, as Gavin twirled and McPherson nodded along. (In the grand tradition of Fleetwood Mac and Sleater-Kinney, Gavin and McPherson used to date in college but remain friends and bandmates.)

MUNA performing at Capitol Hill Block Party 2023. CHRISTIAN PARROCO

With the release of their 2022 self-titled album, MUNA has also emerged as queer heartthrobs. The crowd shrieked and swooned as Gavin danced up against McPherson and gyrated before a kneeling Maskin during the horny bop “No Idea.”

Gavin addressed the “queer and trans cuties” in the audience before segueing into the song “I Know a Place,” which imagines a haven where LGBTQ+ people are all safe to express themselves—something that’s particularly poignant in this age of banned books and anti-trans legislation. Fans swayed as the sun sank behind the main stage and a gentle breeze blew, and for a moment, it felt like that place was within reach.

The crowd at Capitol Hill Block Party 2023. BRITTNE LUNNISS More bubbles at Capitol Hill Block Party 2023. CHRISTIAN PARROCO SUNDAY

Things were off to a sleepy start on Sunday as festival goers, some visibly nursing hangovers, started to trickle into Neumos at 4:15 pm to catch Seattle DIY psyche/post-punk trio Weep Wave as they took the stage.

"Sunday baby!" exclaimed vocalist/guitarist Dylan Fuentes to a subdued round of hoots and cheers. The bass-heavy dance ability must have caught some ears, though, as dozens started packing in the venue. The band's tight-as-hell sound is the product of their strong touring hustle, as they have busted their asses on the road—and it shows. After the trio finished up the set, which included a few songs from their yet-to-be-named upcoming LP, it was obvious by the amount of rump-shaking on the dance floor and the merch line after that that Weep Wave had earned themselves quite a few new fans.

Neumos all dressed up for Capitol Hill Block Party 2023. BRITTNE LUNNISS

Later on Sunday, as the majority of the crowd headed toward the exits and the vendors started tearing down their booths, it took every ounce of energy we could muster not to walk out the chain link fence along with them. After a long day soaking up the sun with loud EDM beats echoing every which way and a bit of human interaction overload, we were pretty spent. But we're so glad we decided to stay and catch one last group for the final day of Capitol Hill Block Party because Flesh Produce woke us the fuck up.

It was 10:15 pm when vocalist Myla Proffit and drummer Karl Fagerstrom took the Barboza stage and lit the crowd up with a furious thunderstorm of what we would call breakneck glitch pop gone hardcore with some nu-metal flavor.

“Who would have thought?” Proffit asked the crowd. “Fleshy P at the Capitol Hill Block Party. Tell your friends that's what we call ourselves. It's uncomfortable, but so is our music.”

Fagerstrom pounded his drums brutally while simultaneously triggering old-school Nintendo-sounding samples and trip-hoppy beats. The sweaty crowded room swayed as dozens in the front moshed and jumped along to Proffit’s energetic flows that live somewhere between Mindless Self Indulgence and Bikini Kill. It was a fitting end to an eclectic day of music because truthfully, Flesh Produce’s music mixes so many of the sounds from across the day—punk rock, hip hop, EDM, metal and pop. Make sure you don’t skip out early (like we almost did) the next time Fleshy P takes the stage.

Follow The Stranger on Instagram to see so many more photos and videos from this weekend's festival!

Appaloosa performing at Capitol Hill Block Party 2023. BRITTNE LUNNISS Slayyyter performing at Capitol Hill Block Party 2023. BRITTNE LUNNISS The crowd at Capitol Hill Block Party 2023. BRITTNE LUNNISS The crowd at Capitol Hill Block Party 2023. BRITTNE LUNNISS Binki at Capitol Hill Block Party 2023. BRITTNE LUNNISS The crowd at Capitol Hill Block Party 2023. BRITTNE LUNNISS MAVI at Capitol Hill Block Pary 2023. BRITTNE LUNNISS Rawr at Capitol Hill Block Party 2023. BRITTNE LUNNISS

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