Kicking off Seattle’s “Summer” with an Outdoor Show.
Every year my husband and I attend at least one show at Marymoor Park.
Marymoor is an outdoor concert venue located in Redmond, Washington - just 15 miles east of downtown Seattle. The venue is set on grass nestled between towering fir and cedar trees. Concerts at Marymoor are a summer tradition, where families, couples and friends spread out picnic blankets to enjoy warm nights filled with music.
Except when it rains... ☔️
Ok, more on that now... the weather was terrible.
“Reggae Rock” and Rain
We came out for the School’s Out for Summer tour. The tour is headlined by Slightly Stoopid and supported by the bands Stick Figure and Pepper. The summer vibe was strong, despite the “liquid sunshine” falling from the gray skies. 🌧 🌧 🌧
Opening Act - Pepper
Pictured: Pepper members - Yesod Williams, Kaleo Wassman and Bret Bollinger
Pepper are a three man act from Kona, Hawaii featuring Kaleo Wassman on vocals/guitar, Bret Bollinger on vocals/bass and Yesod Williams on drums. Wassman and Bollinger, childhood friends, formed the band in 1996 with Williams joining shortly thereafter. After achieving local success, the trio left Hawaii for San Diego in 1999. The band has released seven albums and recently started their own label - Law Records.
Give it Up 2002
This is the song that has stayed with me since Friday’s Show. One of my favorite Pepper songs, it’s a little bit raunchy, a little bit party and all kinds of sexy. ⬇️
Ashes 2004
Another favorite Pepper song. The crowd always gets fully involved with chorus of this tune. ⬇️
Next up - Stick Figure
Stick Figure is a band from Northern California fronted by Scott Woodruff. His Australian Shepherd, Cocoa the tour dog, also appears on stage at each show.
Photo courtesy stickfiguremusic.com
OK, I confess... we didn’t watch them play. It was raining hard and the music is quite mellow. This seemed like the perfect time to find some food!
What the schnitt indeed!!!
All the calories
OK, this THING is:
- French fries 🍟
- Fried cheese curds
- Bacon 🥓
- Mushroom gravy
- TOPPED with a small chicken schnitzel
- INSIDE a sweet waffle cone like icecream 🍦
CRAZY TOWN
Delicious
Headliner: Slightly Stoopid
As the sun set, theatrics increased
I have seen Slightly Stoopid perform around Seattle, across California and in both Sydney, Australia and London, England. They have a chill summer vibe that perfectly captures their upbringing in San Diego’s Ocean Beach neighborhood. The band is co-fronted by childhood friends Miles Doughty and Kyle McDonald.
Kyle and Miles
Before graduating high school, the boys and their band were signed to Skunk Records by the label’s founder Bradley Nowell. (Nowell is most famous for being the lead singer of the band Sublime before dying of a heroine overdose in 1996). In the years since, Stoopid have released eight studio albums (number nine is on pre-order) and started their own label, Stoopid Records.
Closer to the Sun 2005
Close your eyes and this song makes you feel like you are sitting on a Southern California beach as sunset. You can almost hear the waves crashing and feel the heat of a beach bonfire on your skin. At about 2:17 band member Daniel Delacruz takes center stage for an AMAZING saxophone solo. This song is made for making out. At least it seemed that way as I looked around the crowd Friday night. 😄 ⬇️
Mid way through their set, Slightly Stoopid were joined on stage by Jamaican Reggae legend Don Carlos. Don has been singing and songwriting since 1973 (both as a solo artist and as part of the band, Black Uhuru. Don’s positive vibe created a very uplifting feel during his portion of the evening.
Collie Man 2003
For the second to last song of the night, Slightly Stoopid performed another of my favorites, Collie Man. A “Collie Man” is a weed dealer, but this song is very sweet. According to co-lead singer Miles Doughty:
“Collie Man” is a lot of the same thing as far as life and love and liberty. “Collie Man” is the herbs man, but it’s also anyone that can make you feel good. It’s that kind of feeling, like the road to life goes up and down, it doesn’t really matter as long as the music goes on. For us, music is our life and it’s what brings smiles to our faces and the fans and the people that have been around us. I think it’s so important that when you don’t have it, you’re looking for it. We call it the Collie Man, the herbs man, and if you can get him and he’s around and makes all your pains go away, it lifts you up into that next level of life.*
After sunset the Edison lights cast a fairytale glow throughout the venue.
One more for the road? Nah... I just like the lights. ☺️