by Rock The Boat Music Festival featuring Mudhoney, My Goodness, Fauna Shade and Duke Evers
Port of Everett – Waterfront Place, Everett, WA
August 1, 2015
A new music festival popped up at the Port of Everett Waterfront on a beautiful summer evening, with boats sailing in the cool breeze, cold beer being poured and Northwest legends Mudhoney rippin’ it up!
The first ever ROCK THE BOAT music festival drew easily over 1000 people to hear some great music and enjoy some craft beer from Scuttlebutt Brewery in an open field at the Port of Everett. Produced by the Everett Music Initiative in conjunction with Scuttlebutt, the first ever ROCK THE BOAT music festival got off to a great start.
Opening the evening was Duke Evers who provided a sonic blast to kick things off. This two-piece band provided an edgy performance that instantly won over some new fans. The northwest has seen a variety of bands like The Grizzled Mighty, Hobosexual and now Duke Evers who have been able to create a solid sound that captures the essence of rock and grungy blues.
Fauna Shade, the local Everett boys who are really taking their game to the next level, put on another fantastic set. Lead man and guitarist Scotty Smith performs with a passion that is fresh and exciting. With Derek Johnson on bass and Richie Owen on drums, Fauna Shade plays top-notch power trio rock that is garnering a lot of attention. With an excellent new album out, Fauna Shade is a band to watch.
Seattle’s My Goodness took the stage as the sun began to slowly set in the west and completely rocked out. Providing a high-energy set, My Goodness is also becoming one of those must see bands in the Northwest. Playing a solid powerful set, My Goodness put it all out there, at one point creating a feedback moment I thought would cause the ground to shake. Unbelievable!
To close out the evening, seminal northwest band, Mudhoney played their fuzzed-out rock ‘n’ roll which provided some of the standard stage diving and mosh pit excitement that is usually part of the Mudhoney experience. They are one of those bands that have endeared themselves as one of Seattle’s perennial favorites. This year Mudhoney has toured Europe and are going to be touring the West again this fall. I’ve now seen them several times this year opening for The Sonics and the Flesh Eaters respectively. One of the best around, Mudhoney always delivers the goods and continues to pack in the fans.
Tip of the hat goes to the folks at Everett Music Initiative for partnering with the Scuttlebutt Brewery and the Port of Everett to put this festival together. Not since the bygone days of Salty Sea Days has the Everett waterfront seen this kind of event. From the turnout, I would hope that there is a future for this festival. The challenge is the location, as future development will be changing the waterfront (which is actually very exciting). The ROCK THE BOAT music festival showed the community that this type of event is desired and can be sustainable. I’m already excited for next year’s event!
