Although this festival is all for charity, and no press are given comped tickets, I somehow managed to win a pair by telling Sub-Pop that Wolf Eyes’ Human Animal is the best album they’ve ever put out on the label. Although that may be true, one thing Sub-Pop 20 has allowed me to do is look into the bands that were a little before my time. No, not Nirvana.

Beachwood Sparks – Confusion is Nothing New

Beachwood Sparks – Drinkswater

One that has particularly struck me is Beachwood Sparks. I spent last weekend at the beach, and although my fondest memories are throwing up in the sand and tossing my car keys into the ocean, I can’t help but feel like I’m relaxing in the sand all over again when listening to Beachwood Sparks. Although the subject matter of their songs is hardly ever happy, “he dark times gettin’ a hold of me, and the sun don’t shine anymore, and i can’t hear the birds that sing” there is often a sense of hopefulness, ” while everywhere love’s to be found, this is where the heart of it is, i break it to you now, we’re gonna turn it around”. It’s like… yeah I threw my keys into the ocean, and I’m going to have to have my car towed, but at least I got to swim in the ocean… even if it was raining.

Sub-Pop 20 is this weekend in Redmond Washington, and although I’m mostly looking forward to a chance to chat with No Age, there are many other acts worth the $50 a day.

If you’re going, say hello!