Bumbershoot Recommendations: Saturday, Aug. 30

Fuck Off And Die

Know someone who is a complete and utter a-hole? Chances are they were popular and loved in high school. The biggest tell, aside from general a-hole-ness, is that they still rock the clothes, lingo (can I get a hella?!), and hairdo they sported at the zenith of their now-faded youth. Like Napoleon Dynamite's poor old Uncle Rico, they never have anything interesting to say, debate, or contribute, because they don't realize how lame it is when your life peaks at 17. That's what's so great about Fuck Off and Die, a celebration of teen angst that is part stand-up and part well-curated depressed-adolescent poetry. Chances are that if you ever wrote, thought, or dared to speak the phrase "Fuck off and die" between the ages of 13 and 18, you are now fairly well-adjusted, and are sure to be the youngest-looking, hippest, and most with-it person at your high-school reunion. Literary Arts Stage, noon. MA'CHELL DUMA LAVASSAR

Throw Me The Statue

It's a pleasure to see a green local band bloom into confident performers, and Throw Me the Statue is a prime example of such heartwarming triumph. Whimsical monikers will only get a band so far, but the sunny confections Scott Reitherman's band produces are reminiscent of Guided by Voices' smart approach to a perfectly poured pop cocktail. Keyboards percolate, closely strummed guitars slice off bittersweet melodies, and droll, dreamy vocals tug at your headspace as much as your heartstrings. Their critically lauded debut, Moonbeams, is one of the most impressive local releases of 2008, and as long as they keep their adventurous spirit intact, nothing should stop their star from shooting even higher. Rockstar Stage, 12:30 p.m. HANNAH LEVIN

Neko Case

Neko Case's long, distinguished career as an alt-country icon began at the honky-tonk end of the spectrum; it doesn't get much twangier than her 1997 release The Virginian. But over the past 11 years, Case's music seems to have left the cowboy bars behind in favor of a folksier, cafe pop. And her most recent record, Fox Confessor Brings the Flood, bears almost no stylistic resemblance to her early work; even its direct predecessor, The Tigers Have Spoken, retained a distinctive Western style. While you can't really call Case a country singer anymore, she's become a better minstrel, and one whose music is no longer as readily pigeonholed. Though her new music lacks the tender twang that made Furnace Room Lullaby such a masterpiece, her vocals retain every ounce of their haunting, gut-wrenching sincerity. Seriously, listen to her sing "Star Witness" live and just try not to get a little weepy. Samsung Memorial Mainstage, 1 p.m. SARA BRICKNER

The Girls

One of the first local bands I fell hard for upon moving to Seattle in the early '00s was the Girls. How could anyone not—they had more energy than third-graders hopped up on Halloween candy, better fashion sense than anyone in town except maybe Michael Maker or Purple Mark, and great, fresh-sounding songs that ram together Cars-style new-wave/power-pop, New York Dolls–style glam-rock, and the good ol' Devo nerdy-herky-jerk. Alongside the Briefs and the Spits, the Girls seemed to be on the rise. Then they broke up for a while before reconvening with a bunch of lineup changes. But they seem to be back on track now—singer Shannon Brown's still front-and-center, and guitarist Vas Kumar is back in the fold—and a new album, fittingly titled Yes, No, Yes, No, Yes, No, is coming out in September. Definitely a good time to check out the Girls again. EMP Sky Church, 2 p.m. MICHAEL ALAN GOLDBERG

Estelle

London-based vocalist Estelle made headlines earlier this year when she accused the British music industry of promoting white soul singers such as Adele and Duffy at the expense of black artists. ("As a songwriter, I get what they do," she said. "As a black person, I'm like, 'You're telling me this is my music?'") Estelle's material, which is much more danceable and diverse than that of her aforementioned peers, reinforces her demand for a greater share of the spotlight. "American Boy," Estelle's collaboration with Kanye West, sounds like impeccably preserved vintage disco funk, while "No Substitute Love" reimagines George Michael's "Faith" as a hip-hop doo-wop number. Estelle isn't exactly unknown overseas, having amassed three consecutive "Best Female Artist" awards from the UK Hip-Hop Awards as well as a short-list mention for the Mercury Prize. She's still establishing herself as a rising star on this side of the Atlantic, but a fall tour alongside Gym Class Heroes and the Roots should certainly raise her profile. Fisher Green Stage, 5:45 p.m. ANDREW MILLER

Unearth

Unearth's 2008 double-disc DVD Alive at the Apocalypse convincingly documents the brutality of the group's performances of the past decade. With a new CD called The March set to arrive in October, fans should also hear some fresh material. The March's opening track, "My Will Be Done," which Unearth has played during recent gigs, suggests it's not straying far from its thrash-and-breakdowns sound, though the band might be clearing more room for harmonic solos. The March chronicles an epic clash between "The Evil" and "The Hopeful," and while such dichotomous battles are standard fare in the realm of concept albums, the increasing eloquence of Unearth's political lyrics bodes well for this project. Despite the Massachusetts-based band's recent erudite bent, singer Trevor Phipps won't be lecturing on stage: He pretty much limits his banter to profane exhortations of any mosh-pit stragglers. Exhibition Hall Stage, 6:30 p.m. ANDREW MILLER