The skies above the Seattle Center opened up to the sun just in time for the All-American Rejects on the Memorial Mainstage. Frontman Tyson Ritter took the occasion to work on his tan, appearing from backstage shirtless to the tune of “Move Along”. From my spot near the side of the stage it also appeared Ritter may have had some recent ink-work done. Either that or he just enjoys wearing plastic wrap. AAR guitarist Nick Wheeler’s chrome pick guard became like a mirror, signaling SOS with the reflecting, newfound sun. The band raced through a hit-filled set with songs like “Dirty Little Secret” and the oldie “My Paper Heart,” only pausing long enough for Ritter to drop stage banter lines like, the kids in the shade are “winning so hard right now.”
I cut the Rejects’ set short so that I could make it over to the Exhibition Hall where Sydney, Australia’s Sick Puppies were playing to a small, indoor crowd. The band’s youtube sensation song “All The Same” and current single “You’re Going Down” fell mostly on unfamiliar ears. But the band gave a convincing and tight set. Bassist Emma Anzai was the surprise of the performance, if only for appearing like the hottest Aussie export since Kylie Minogue.
Bumbershoot gets a little more frantic as we approach evening with sets from the hardcore Akimbo, singer-songwriter Eric Hutchinson, comedy from Nick Swardson, and classic hip-hop from De La Soul. All of which will be covered by me, myself, and I.
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