ElkFest 2010 Friday, June 4th through Sunday, June 6th on Cannon Street
Our grown up jobs kind of ruined ElkFest this year for us only because we worked 25 hours between Saturday and Sunday and had to run to the Elk after work to catch some of the bands. Bummer because there were some really cool acts playing during the day.
Friday night we caught SHIM and they are complete rock stars. We were over at Pacific Avenue Pizza and it was hilarious to watch people chug their beers and then run over to catch the start of SHIM, then again we were doing the same thing. The street was packed and the night and wouldn’t of been complete without Tambourine Man who was also in the crowd. It was a bit cold however it didn’t stop the crowd from wanting to feel that thunderbolt! If you have some how missed SHIM all of the times they have been to town you are out of your mind. They are the perfect live rock band, who managed to cover a Doors song and a ZZ Top song on top of the Spokane favorites “Animal,” “Made for the World,” and “The Highway.” The crowd couldn’t get enough of them, when the sound guy said there is time for 1 more even the drummer was feeling the energy and put up four fingers. We still only got one, but it was the perfect way to start the weekend!
Saturday afternoon we caught Real Life Rockaz, a Spokane band that has six members and consists of horns, drums, guitars, and rhythm that create a regagge funk sound. It was perfect as the sun set at ElkFest. Real Life Rockaz was also a great band for ElkFest because any age would love their music. We saw tons of kids dancing with families and even the beer drinkers were moving their feet in the tightly packed beer gardens. Between the guitars, percussion and at some points four vocals there was a lot to watch. It kept our attention and like I mentioned earlier they were a great band to watch as the sun set.
We could hear the Mt. St. Helen’s Vietnam Band sound check on our walk over to ElkFest… we were blocks away. It was great to see this band again, we caught a song of them at Sasquatch this year and they just keep getting better and better. It’s a indulgence to sing along to our jams live like “En Fuego” and “Albatross, Albatross, Albatross” plus get to hear new songs from them. They have so much energy live and are always a blast to see, it’s like how can we not want to see them every time they come through?
James Pants drew the biggest crowd (we saw) at ElkFest. He had everyone of all ages and sizes dancing. This was the first time I had seen James Pants without the Royal Zodiac so I was pretty stoked. I haven’t seen a DJ mix artists like Jay-Z, the Doors, Iggy Pop, and so muchhhhhhh mooorree into one entire set. On top of the variety of artists, he spins vinyl, playsa mini drum set thing and sings! He owned the night without a doubt. Even the kid who wears the skin tight green body suit was there dancing in the crowd. ElkFest is like our own Capitol Hill Block Party, you don’t have to go to Seattle to see really cool live music outside in the city. The Elk and Mr. John Blakesley make sure we stay hip and start Spokane’s summer off with a BANG and a major dance party!
Photos courtesy of Matt Auclair.
