Q&A
Why, John Oates?
Why lip-sync? Daryl [Hall] and I both had singles out with our respective bands that were played on R&B radio in Philadelphia, and a radio DJ invited us to play a teenage dance. In those days, you would go out and lip-sync your record. We were waiting backstage in a really bad neighborhood in Philadelphia and a big gang fight broke out. We went down the service elevator, and that’s how Daryl and I met.
Why shave? Last year, I was the guest of honor at the National Moustache Convention. I actually grew it back for the first time in 25 years, because I figured they’d stone me if I showed up without one. That said, it represents the person I used to be. Without going into too much psychobabble and gory detail, when I left that guy behind in the early ’90s and moved on with my life, the mustache had to go with it.
Why now? I’m way more excited to make music. It’s not even close. In the beginning, it was that excitement of youth and newness where you just want to suck in the world and absorb every waking moment and travel and [have] new experiences. Now it’s a much richer experience. Now it’s all about creating on my own terms, working with people I like, trying unique things, doing things purely for the sake of creating. (Daryl Hall & John Oates, Mon., 9:15–10:45 p.m., Mainstage.) GREG FRANKLIN
Monday, September 5
ALL WEEKEND: See visual arts galleries on Saturday morning.
Noon to 1 p.m., SIFF Cinema
Films4Families—Family Funtime: Our pick: A Canadian girl steals the carrot noses from all her neighborhood’s snowmen. In America that’s a felony! #ocanada! #crime #carrots. BRM
Noon to 12:45 p.m., Spectacle Stage
Balkan brass-band dance party with Orkestar Zirconium! #klezmery #oompah #circuscontraptionalumni. GB
Noon to 1 p.m., Leo K. Theatre
Head to Head: Young poets compete against adults in this slam event. #poetry. BRM
Noon to 1 p.m., Fountain Lawn Stage
Motopony makes catchy indie pop and their lead singer has really great hair. How can they not make it big? #icanhazpony! #groomedforsuccess. EKT
Noon to 1 p.m., EMP Level 3 Stage
The Horde and the Harem are the epitome of inoffensive, Pacific Northwest #beardcore. MS
12:15 to 1:30 p.m., Bagley Wright Theatre
The Trey McIntyre Project wants to “convey the emotion and grace of life’s journey” through ballet. Did we mention that his dancers are smokin’ hotties? #dance #menintightpants. MDL
12:30 to 1:30 p.m., Starbucks Stage
Seattle’s Legendary Oaks sprung from the ashes of Nada Surf to make warm, deep, string-laden roots-rock weepers. #localheroes. MDL
12:45 to 1:30 p.m., Fisher Green Stage
Local hip-hop label Sportin’ Life Records once again demonstrated their ear for the adventurous when they signed the soulful and inventive Fly Moon Royalty. Frontwoman Adra Boo is a force to be reckoned with. HANNAH LEVIN
1 to 2 p.m., SIFF Cinema
Around the World in 50 Minutes: Joel Edgerton, one of the Aussie stars of Animal Kingdom, directs a short about hair. Yes, hair. #australia #hair. BRM
1 to 2 p.m., Intiman Theatre
Eugene Mirman is Sub Pop-approved and one of the sharpest tacks in the box. Amy Schumer? Well, she’s sweet-faced, foul-mouthed, and way fond of booze. #comedy #boozehounds. MDL
1:15 to 2:15 p.m.,The Vera Project
Wing-It Productions offers wacky improv comedy. (Sorry, Luke Burbank canceled.) #comedy MDL
1:30 to 2:30 p.m., Fountain Lawn Stage
Two white kids from Denmark with a whole lot of bluesy soul, Quadron‘s created a unique fusion of old-school R&B + electronic beats. #veryblueeyedsoul. EKT
1:30 to 2:30 p.m., EMP Level 3 Stage
What distinguishes @CurtainsforYou from others in the Seattle folk scene is their sense of whimsy & refusal to fetishize the 19th century. MS
1:45 to 2:30 p.m., Mainstage
Kendrick Lamar: Compton ain’t had an MC this hot since hi-top fades were in style. Lamar spits fiercely intelligent raps about hood life. #hiphop #90srule. KEEGAN HAMILTON
1:45 to 2:45 p.m., Leo K. Theatre
Dublin Novelists: Seattle’s Fidelma McGinn hosts a chat with Chris Binchy (People Like Us), Kevin Holohan (The Brothers’ Lot), and Claire Kilroy (All Summer). #ireland #literature #guinness. BRM
2 to 3 p.m., SIFF Cinema
Song & Dance: Four shorts explore just that. #song #dance. BRM
2 to 3 p.m., Exhibition Hall Stage
My Goodness is a two-piece bluesy, garage- rock band birthed right in Seattle. Foot-stomping jams beg for your best dance moves. #boogie #localheroes. JW
2 to 3 p.m., Decibel Stage
Nerds rejoice in, then get trashed to, DJ Introcut‘s video-game-inspired space-funk beats. #glitch #brokenbeat #80srule #90srule #hiphop. JSW
2:15 to 3 p.m., Center House
Where the Mountain Meets the Moon: Book-It Rep performs this children’s tale by Grace Lin. #theater #childrensevents. BRM
2:15 to 3:15 p.m., Fisher Green Stage
The contributions of ex-drummer Trent Moorman are sorely missed, but Head Like a Kite leader Dave Einmo scored big when he convinced metal-minded Akimbo drummer Nat Damm to join his artful electronic project earlier this year. HL
2:15 to 3:15 p.m., Starbucks Stage
Grand Hallway are a soaring multi-piece ensemble whose magical arrangements have made them one of the city’s most influential bands. #localheroes. MDL
2:30 to 2:45 p.m., Spectacle Stage
A quarter-hour of street theater from Emerald City Improv. #comedy #urbanpranksters. GB
2:30 to 3:30 p.m., Bagley Wright Theatre
Helmed by visionary local choreographer Olivier Wevers, Whim W’Him pushes the boundaries of modern dance. #dance #localheroes. MDL
2:45 to 3:45 p.m., Intiman Theatre
Best known for their Auto-Tuned songs based on YouTube news figures, The Gregory Brothers (one of whom is a lady) will challenge your meme IQ. #bedintruder #doublerainbow #memes. MDL *With Wayne Federman
3 to 3:45 p.m., EMP Level 3 Stage
Purity Ring makes me think of a scene in a vintage #AndrewMcCarthy movie, where he walks in on his rich girlfriend giving another dude a BJ. MS
3 to 3:50 p.m., Decibel Stage
If fratty bro-step is the junk food of dub, DJ Nordic Soul‘s pure bass is the locally sourced organic meal. #d&b #mechanical. JSW
3 to 4 p.m., The Vera Project
Funbucket/Charles: Charles is two guys named Charles, who share not only a first name but a background in sketch writing. #comedy. MDL
3 to 4:15 p.m., Mainstage
Big Boi: The underrated OutKast co-founder went solo and finally got the #respect he deserves. Sir Lucious Left Foot was among the best albums of 2010. #00srule #oldies #secondbananas. KH
3:15 to 4:15 p.m., Fountain Lawn Stage
“Dystopia (The Earth Is on Fire),” “Psychic City (Voodoo City)” . . . is YACHT starting to creep anyone else out? #cultscultscults. EKT
3:30 to 4:30 p.m., SIFF Cinema
The Unexpected: Among other offerings, Spike Jonze makes a film about Arcade Fire and its acclaimed album The Suburbs. #spikejonze #arcadefire. BRM
3:30 to 4:30 p.m., Leo K. Theatre
Vegan Panel: “From Black Metal to Hip-Hop and Everything in Between” is a chat with Vegan Black Metal Chef, Kevin Tillman, Larry Brady, and Greg Bennick. #vegan #food. BRM
3:30 to 4:45 p.m., Center House
100 Heartbreaks: Local singer/actress Joanna Horowitz and her band render the musical tale of a Nashville songstress intentionally seeking bad men and broken hearts. #theater #countrymusic #onlinedating. BRM
3:45 to 4:45 p.m., Exhibition Hall Stage
Pegged as a breakout band in 2010, Dom‘s lo-fi indie pop features telephone samples and synth beats galore. The bread and butter of any hipster. #80srule. JW
4 to 4:50 p.m., Decibel Stage
Head-bob, chill, and get down to WD4D‘s down-tempo electronica, layered with soulful hip-hop and R&B vocals. #fusion #feelgood. JSW
4 to 5 p.m., Fisher Green Stage
A veteran of the Motown machine, Dennis Coffey penned some of the greatest hits of that label’s golden age, including many of the Supremes’ finest moments. His solo hit, “Scorpio,” has been sampled by everyone from Public Enemy to Mos Def. HL
4 to 5 p.m., Starbucks Stage
Turning their back on contemporary pop in the ’90s, Ian Moore and the Lossy Coils have since come up with moving hybrid rock they can proudly call their own. #secondacts MDL
4:15 to 5:15 p.m., Bagley Wright Theatre
The Improvised Shakespeare Company ad-libs completely original Elizabethan-esque performances that would have the Bard’s grave a-rollin’. #theater #comedy #notactuallyshakespeare. MDL
4:30 to 5:30 p.m., SIFF Cinema
SIFF Fly Films 2011: Four locals made their films in five days. #siff #inahurry. BRM
4:30 to 5:30 p.m., EMP Level 3 Stage
@LemoloMusic are total #sheroes for rallying back from DMB Fest at the Gorge to play Bumbershoot too. MS
4:30 to 5:30 p.m., Intiman Theatre
Deon Cole is the sweet chocolate center in the vat of rice pudding known as Conan O’Brien’s writing staff. #comedy #ebonyandivory. MDL *With Kurt Metzger
4:45 to 5:45 p.m., The Vera Project
Comedy Is O.K. thinks you’re a fool to pay to see them, and they will mock you relentlessly for it. #comedy #insulthumor. MDL
5 to 5:50 p.m., Decibel Stage
Mash Hall‘s flippant lyrics, set to Motown beats, will appeal to the #hipster set. #ironic #wompwomp #steadysnare. JSW
5 to 6 p.m., Fountain Lawn Stage
You Am I: an Australian export a lot more appealing than Vegemite. #australia. EKT
5 to 5:15 p.m., Spectacle Stage
Trey McIntyre‘s spontaneous-dance troupe SpUrbans makes performance flash mobs. FlashDANCE mobs! #random #fromboise. GB
5:15 to 6:15 p.m., Center House
The Lost Folio: Wing-It Productions enlists audience suggestions to create something new and sorta Shakespearean. #theater #comedy #notactuallyshakespeare. BRM
5:15 to 6:15 p.m., Leo K. Theatre
Why 3-D? Why AutoTune? Why Now?: Bruce Oberg, aka Astronautalis, and others (probably including the Gregory Brothers) discuss newfangled gadgets. #autotune #videogames #why. BRM
5:30 to 6:30 p.m., Exhibition Hall Stage
Texas siblings (plus a cousin) Eisley are indie-pop black sheep. Beautifully harmonic and instrumental with an honest, “homey” feel. #dontmiss. JW
5:30 to 6:30 p.m., SIFF Cinema
Frankly Female: Distaff directors get their due. #womeninfilm. BRM
5:45 to 6:45 p.m. Fisher Green Stage
Aptly dubbed “The Screaming Eagle of Soul,” Charles Bradley is one of Daptone Records’ crown jewels, grinding out a funk/soul/R&B fusion that will make Otis Redding fans swoon. HL
5:45 to 6:45 p.m., Starbucks Stage
Michigan’s Greensky Bluegrass celebrate hard partying, traditional music, and distortion pedals. #wahwah. MDL
6 to 6:50 p.m., Decibel Stage
Have separate music for walking, dancing, studying? Simplify and do it all to Ill Cosby. #dub #ukfunk #garage. JSW
6 to 7 p.m., EMP Level 3 Stage
Lake is what #KimyaDawson would sound like if she barfed up some butter beans onstage, & those butter beans could sing and play instruments. MS
6 to 7 p.m., Bagley Wright Theatre
Scott Aukerman’s Comedy Bang Bang Podcast exists so Scott and his funny friends can laugh, love, sing, improvise, and of course plug! #comedy #podcasts. MDL
6:15 to 7:15 p.m., Intiman Theatre
If you have no sense of humor about this city or its residents, Hari Kondabolu is not for you. He’ll skewer all the sacred cows of his former home. #comedy #harikondabolu. MDL *With Kyle Kinane, Anthony Jeselnik
6:30 to 7:30 p.m., The Vera Project
Not for the faint of heart, the People’s Republic of Komedy presents Laff Hole, which pushes the boundaries of humor. #comedy #edgy. MDL
6:45 to 7:45 p.m., Center House
Manos: The Hands of Felt: Based on a 1966 Satan-worshipping-cult movie, this puppet production (by Puppet This) is likely suited for adults, not kids. #theater #puppetry #satan. BRM
6:45 to 7:45 p.m., Fountain Lawn Stage
Brooklyn’s Sharon Van Etten is the whole package: gifted songwriting, gorgeous voice, cute as a button. #womenwhorock #nerdsinlove. EKT
7 to 8:30 p.m., SIFF Cinema
What’s Love Got to Do With It?: Too much sex, not enough sex, no time for sex . . . seven films cover all the bases. #sex. BRM
7 to 7:45 p.m., Spectacle Stage
Balkan brass-band dance party with Orkestar Zirconium! #klezmery #oompah #circuscontraptionalumni. GB
7 to 7:50 p.m., Decibel Stage
Lose your thoughts in the intricacies of 214‘s darkly hopeful synthesizer distortions. #IDM #futuristic. JSW
7 to 8 p.m., Leo K. Theatre
Battlestar Galactica Panel: Pegged to the ongoing exhibit at EMP/SFM, the TV show’s creator, Ronald Moore, talks with writers David Weddle and Bradley Thompson. #nerds #battlestargalactica #sci-fi. BRM
7:15 to 8:15 p.m., Exhibition Hall Stage
Seattle’s Vendetta Red fuses soaring, screamo/emo vocals with a heavier alt-rock bite akin to The Used or AFI nine years ago. #nostalgic #localheroes #00srule. JW
7:30 to 8:30 p.m., Fisher Green Stage
Hall and Oates may be the main nostalgia draw this year, but Urge Overkill is a close second for many old-school Seattle rockers. Expect a minor, middle-aged mosh pit when they kick into “Sister Havana.” HL
7:30 to 8:30 p.m., EMP Level 3 Stage
Like a low-tech #Menomena, @RavennaWoods proves that throwback ’70s acoustic rock can actually ROCK. MS
7:30 to 8:45 p.m., Starbucks Stage
Over the Rhine are an Ohio-based husband-and-wife duo who fuse folk, soul, and contemporary ballads. Devoted fans funded their last album. #mashups #diy #somebodysignthisband. MDL
7:45 to 8:45 p.m., Mainstage
Fitz and the Tantrums: Retro soul, a hip-shakin’ rhythm section, and smooth sax grooves. It’s Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings infused with SoCal sunshine. #danceparty. KH
7:45 to 8:45 p.m., Bagley Wright Theatre
Doug Loves Movies: Doug Benson is hilarious because he loves to talk movies like you do, with his funniest friends on hand. Usually stoned. #dougbenson #movies #stoners. MDL
8 to 9 p.m., Intiman Theatre
Who are Freestyle Love Supreme? Think of them as The Lonely Island throwing down with legitimate flavor, so comedic and quick you’ll wish they had a rewind button. #comedy MDL *With Rory Scovel
8:30 to 9:45 p.m., Fountain Lawn Stage
Phantogram: Beautiful people making beautiful music. Eyelid Movies is still the sexiest piece of dance-pop around. #danceparty #dreamboats. EKT
8 to 8:50 p.m., Decibel Stage
You were good earlier. Time to indulge in SPLATINUM‘s bro-step. #dupstep #fratmusic #unicorns. JSW
9 to 10 p.m., Decibel Stage
Truckasaurus re-envisions quirky, minimalist techno to images of monster trucks, explosions, and wrestling. #americana #ironictruckerhats. JSW
9 to 10 p.m., EMP Level 3 Stage
Sallie Ford & The Sound Outside sound totally unique. Uniquely shitty. #Mostannoyingvoiceontheplanet. MS
9:15 to 10:45 p.m., Fisher Green Stage
The Reverend Horton Heat is rockabilly royalty for a reason; showmanship this animated is a gift, and even if aggressive twang isn’t your bag, you’ll be mesmerized. HL
9:15 to 10:45 p.m., Mainstage
Daryl Hall and John Oates: Oh, mustaches and blue-eyed soul, you make my dreams come true. #80srule. #hipsters #momstopdancingyoureembarrassingme. KH
9:30 to 10:45 p.m., Starbucks Stage
L.A.’s Grant Lee Buffalo sailed through the late college-rock era with a string of records heavy on twang and social consciousness. #90srule. MDL
