In a weekend of blissful sun, Sunday seemed to offer even better weather. While three days of Partyin may have worn down concert-goers, a stacked line-up capped off with a heroic Explosions in the Sky sundown set revitalized any hung-over hipsters. Notable acts on the day included Seattlites Campfire OK inside Neumo’s for an early set. The folk band had played with fellow 206’ers Pickwick in Portland the weekend before and helped them with a KEXP live set during the week. Lemolo‘s Kendra Cox even helped out with some percussive duties. On the mainstage, prog-rock technical wizards Battles, who have just returned from touring Europe. We caught them at the very early stages of their touring for new album Gloss Drop at Portland’s Doug Fir Lounge in May, and their honing of the album’s material since them was very apparent. Plus, Ian Williams has grown a mustache.
Additionally, fellow Seattle pastoral rockers the Cave Singers handled their main stage set with ease. I’d seen them open for the Fleet Foxes Portland’s Crystal Ballroom  in May, offering somewhat of a mix between the former and the Black Keys. They replicated that set and added more, certainly contending for one of the weekends best sets. I’d highly recommend checking out that blossoming Seattle band. However, Explosions in the Sky stole the show, offering the performance of the weekend. We interviewed the epic instrumental Texans before their latest album Take Care, Take Care, Take Care dropped and they explained how excited they were to get back after it following a several year recording hiatus. That zealousness was on full display with their closing show Sunday night. Even better, the sun was perfectly settling behind the brick building lined streets on Pike, offering as epic of a finale landscape as Block Party could ask for. Their set featured an added bass player (neither too overwhelming nor understated in their performance), songs from the new album plus epic classics, and a very earnest thank you at the end.
Photos below.