In my youth, Seattle was a pretty great place for community events.  Bumbershoot use to have great musical acts and only cost about $7, although I would sneak in every year anyway.  This year, Bumbershoot is $50 a day and has terrible headliners like Katy Perry, The Black Eyed Peas, and Sheryl Crowe.  The only thing that I even care about missing is Os Mutantes.  Why should it cost more now than it did in a year like 2001, when the lineup included WEEN, Built To Spill, Mos Def, David Cross, Daniel Johnston, Critters Buggin, Dj Logic, Sex Mob, Cat Power, King Sunny Ade, Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks, Taj Mahal, and Sam Bush?  The answer is because corporate elements have slipped in and raped everything out here.  Even the free events like the Rhythm Festival and Folk Life have had their community gatherings tweaked by the man.  Perhaps the one thing that I miss the most out here has been Pain in The Grass, a free weekly, summer concert series that used to be held at Seattle Center‘s Mural Amphitheatre.  Fortunately for us, two local radio stations are doing their part to bring it back.  One of them is resurrecting tradition to do it right, while the other is grasping on to the Pain in the Grass name, in an attempt to use nostalgia to fuck you in the ass.

The Mural Amphitheater isn’t much of a venue at all, but that actually adds to its benefit.  It consists of an open lawn that leads to a stage with a mosaic-like mural wall backdrop.  Every week a, generally local, band like Mudhoney or Modest Mouse would play their throughout the 90‘s.  It was always all ages and, since there is no fencing around the perimeter, it only meant FREE SHOW.  My friend KB recently attended the Pitchfork Music Festival in Chicago, hooked up with the members of Blitzen Trapper and, temporarily, traveled with them to some follow up tour dates.  He sent me a hopeful text informing me that the band would be performing at “Pain in the Grass” this year, but that isn’t “exactly” 100% true.

Back in 2007, local hard rock station, KISW, sent out a press release, which included the statement, “KISW brings Seattle’s legendary concert series Pain in the Grass 2007 to Cheney Stadium“.  Cheney Stadium?!  That place is just a shitty field in Tacoma.  Worse than that, it actually cost money: $40 in advance, $50 day of show, and $100 for VIP seats.  The acts?  Candlebox, Godsmack, and Buckcherry.  Yep, fucking terrible.  Being that it was only one day, I don’t see how they could even use the term “series” at all.  The press release included further statements like, “KISW brings back the Pacific Northwest summer tradition” and “proud to bring back this summer tradition“.  Getting fucked has definitely become a Northwest tradition, but it doesn’t need to be brought back.  They’re trying to pull this shit again this year in the same location.  This time, the one day event will feature bands like Mudvayne and Saliva, but who gives a fuck?  I’m over hyping their bullshit little festival.  What about bringing back the NW tradition of not getting fucked over?

Listener supported, KEXP, has decided to responded by hooking it up the right way.  The Blitzen Trapper show will kick off a weekly event of free concerts at The Mural, this Friday, July 31st.  However, since they do not own the Pain in the Grass name, the shows are being labeled simply as “Concerts at the Mural“.  One specific week will even involve a BBQ along with a set by Dinosaur Jr.  I’m not a hardcore fan of KEXP, like many, but I do like the station more than most.  After this announcement, however, they definitely go up a few more notches in my book.  Every show is FREE and All Ages.  Thank you KEXP.  As for KISW, go fuck yourselves.  Your station is wack anyway.

Here’s a rundown of the entire “Concerts At The Mural” lineup that has been posted:

Friday 7/31, 5-8pm

Blitzen Trapper

Throw Me the Statue

Friday 8/7, 5-8pm

Dyme Def

Fresh Espresso

Saturday 8/8, 7th Annual KEXP BBQ! 2-9pm

Dinosaur Jr

Viva Voce

Cymbals Eat Guitars

Japandroids

Born Anchors

Champagne Champagne

All Ages

Free

{Food and beverages will be available for purchase.}

Friday 8/14, 5-8pm

The Dodos

Army Navy

Friday 8/21, 5-8pm

Fruit Bats

Johnny and the Moon

TBD