Capitol Hill Block Party 2019 was a quintessential city experience on steroids. The sights, smells, and sounds of Capitol Hill’s annual festival were as loud as ever in what felt like the most poppin’ block party in recent memory.
Artistry At Every Level
Local Talent Holds It Down
The lineup brought artists from all walks of genres from punk to hip-hop. Although I’m extremely biased, it’s safe to say Seattle acts had some of the highlight performances of the weekend. Whether it was Scarlet Parke’s emotional vocal display or Nick Weaver’s tributes to Mac Miller and Nipsey Hussle, there were plenty of heartwarming moments in the hallowed walls of Neumos. Teza Talks blew up the Wild Rose’s small stage and Kung Foo Grip took the vibes to complete hyphee levels as Greg Cypher surfed on a surging crowd. Tres Leches’s punk-inspired musical chair act (the bandmates switch instruments during the show) is one of the most fun live performances you’ll see in the city.
80s’ Rock Magic Lives On
Throughout the three days of listening to rock and roll acts; I noticed the sounds of the 80s’ are back in a big way. Two bands with deep roots in the Pacific Northwest showcased their own lively versions of new wave, synth-laden rock, and pop music. Moon Palace is a Seattle-based indie-rock band has recently been experimenting heavily with synth-wave sounds and infusing it with their old and new music. “A really cool 80s’ Stranger Things vibe going on,” the band said. Before their block party performance, they did a Bedstock show, which is a small concert performed in a bed in solidarity with bedridden sick children. After brightening some lucky kid’s day with their latest single “Bold,” the band took the Wild Rose’s stage to show off their upcoming album Shadowcast (dropping Aug. 23). Their performance was somewhere between psychedelia, 80s’ pop and glam rock dripping with melodic metaphors about female empowerment and catchy hooks.
“A really cool 80s’ Stranger Things vibe going on”
Moon Palace
Plastic Picnic was another band bringing the 80s’ back, but don’t tell them that. The Brooklyn based rock quartet sees their music as more than simply a nostalgia-based rock and roll. From Darkwave to contemporary or even Japanese house music, this band pulls inspiration from everywhere. After the group met up at Western Washington University in Bellingham, they moved to New York City to start their band. The big city provided some culture shock, but the fast-paced lifestyle created a unique set of scenarios that pushed them to create quality music in more sporadic settings. Whether Gordon is pulling from pop-punk drumming techniques or Emile is writing less cryptic lyrics in exchange for straight forward verses, these guys take favored aspects of any music they love and see what they can come up with. The crowd was melting like butter on pancakes while they were performing tracks from their newest album Vistalite (available now). The title track from the EP was the hardest to perfect during practice but rewarded the biggest dividends while performing at one of their favorite festivals in the country.
Headliners Bring The Masses
From Lizzo, to Phantogram, to RL Grime, the bill was absolutely smashed with A-list talent. While the main stage can break down into complete chaos, (especially if you’re brave enough to venture up front) there is something special about watching a giant group of people throw down for the artists they’ve been waiting to watch all year. Big Wild’s Friday night performance was a powerhouse showcase of electronic melodies and psychedelic funk.
Beer Garden DJ’s Throw Down
The beer gardens were the place to be. Raging waves of electronic music pulled me from the thoroughfares into a crowd of headbanging adults with drinks in their hands. Catch24 turned the entire Neumos beer garden into impromptu sunshine and alcohol-fueled dance party. Never has a line for Bok a Bok chicken been so lit.
Quiet Spots
On the surface, CHBP is one of the most hectic events of the summer, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t is a hidden oasis here or there. Chophouse Row is a gallery of restaurants, shops, and bars on 11th Avenue. There were ample tables and chairs to relax or schedule some last-minute tweets before venturing back out into mayhem.
The Cloud Room provided a rooftop escape from the frenzy below. Star bartender Jay Kuehner was happy to break down the collaborative origins of the Sprezza cocktail and talk about Yakima’s apples and hops found in a Tieton Cider. DJ’s played quiet sets in the background all weekend (seriously there were DJs all over the place).
Eat Your Heart Out
The food was hands down one of the best parts of the experience. Whether it was two-handed pizza slices from Mario’s or spicy chicken sandwiches with fresh jalapenos from Bok a Bok. However, the best deal of the weekend belonged to Athena’s food truck. The “extra meat” addition to my classic gyro yielded an extra wrap stuffed with lamb and beef. Two wraps for $11? A filling surprise that put a succulent cap on my festival weekend.
Capitol Hill Block Party 2019 Gallery
Robotaki 
Big WIld 
Catch 24 
Marshall’s Cut 
Samurai Del 
Scarlet Parke 
Nick Weaver 
Marshall Law Band 
