Bumbershoot Review: Witty Stage Banter, a Guided By Voices Cover, and Explosive Pop Made BOAT Bumbershoot's Feel-Good Band

Paige Richmond

I've called BOAT ridiculous in the past, and I'd argue that assessment was admirably proven during their Sky Church performance. The band had a giant, cartoon man's head mounted on stage near the drum kit; attached to the man's mouth was a speech bubble with phrases that lead singer David Crane changed every few songs. (Example: "Kind of bummed there is not a gashuffer reunion.") There was also a hand-drawn cardboard horse's head attached to Crane's monitor.

Today, though, that ridiculousness was lovable, completely entertaining, and totally appropriate for the explosive pop that BOAT plays. With the Sky Church acoustics, songs like "We've Been Friends Since 1989"--which features three driving guitars and Crane, Mark McKenzie, and Josh Goodman all shouting the lyrics together--"Prince of Tacoma," and "Lately" were even louder, bubblier, and more crackling than they are recorded. Even the band's cover of Guided By Voice's semi-downer of a song "Tractor Rape Chain" was adorable.

It doesn't hurt that BOAT seemed totally aware of their own silliness, as evidenced by the band's stage antics and banter (they joke about "not being allowed back" at Bumbershoot next year; Crane announced a new album is coming out in March 2011, to his bandmates' surprise). Even though most the band appears 30-years-old or older, they still act like kids just messing around in their basement. The crowd must have sense this, too, because one fan yelled out, "How old are you?" to which Crane nonsensically replied, after drinking from a tiny soda can, "Old enough to be drinking soda! Old enough to be wearing each other's glasses, and flailing around on stage!"

Seconds later, he launched into "Forever in Armitron," a tribute to Neil Diamond.