Monday, September 6, 2004 - Page updated at 12:00 AM

My Bumbershoot: Everyone's a comedian

Comedian

More "My Bumbershoot"

Dispatches from artists about their Bumbershoot experience.

Bill Close, Mass Ensemble

Vienna Teng, singer-songwriter

Robyn Hitchcock, musician

Fred Armisen, comedian

Sarah Rudinoff, actress

Joshua Seftel, filmmaker

James Keblas, Vera Project

United State of Electronica

Dave Dederer, The Presidents of the United States of America

Editor's Note: We've asked about a dozen artists participating in Bumbershoot to send us dispatches about their Bumbershoot experience. Check for them every day as part of our Bumbershoot coverage.

Hi! I'm Fred and these are my experiences so far at Bumbershoot.

Thursday

Flew in to Sea-Tac Airport. I love this city. I love it because it is usually overcast and I hate the sun. I also hate it when other people love the sun. I love that there is good coffee everywhere. The guy who picked me up from the airport in a Bumbershoot van is also a geologist.

Friday

After a delicious hotel omelette I had to search the city for costume accessories for the character stuff I am going to do at the shows. Today it's for Billy Smith, the Native American comedian. Bought blue jeans and a cowboy hat downtown. Went to the festival and walked around with Andy [Blitz] and Demetri [Martin], two of the other comedians performing this year. I laughed the whole time. I love hanging out with other comics.

I had a salmon burger and ice cream. You know which salmon burgers I mean. Did my set and watched Zach [Galifianakis], Mary Lynn [Rajskub], Hard 'n' Phirm ... All great. I'll watch the others tomorrow. Met up with some friends and unfortunately missed Death Cab for Cutie who everyone said were amazing. Went out to dinner with a million other performers.

Saturday

Went to go see The Catch at EMP. What a nice place. So modern. All the staff have been very calm and helpful. The Catch were fantastic, very charming, too. Everyone there loved them and were very patient while the singer had to change her guitar. It was quiet and every once in a while, some guy in the audience would say something like "I'll be your boyfriend," followed by more silence. Then some other guy would be like "I'll be your boyfriend, too."

On the way to see Robyn Hitchcock, we passed by the huge stadium where Nickelback was playing. The crowd was going crazy, like rock-star crazy, when all of a sudden there was this huge explosion. We all grabbed each other NYC terrorist-ready style. It turned out to be pyrotechnics, but let me tell you, if a real explosion ever happens near me in the future, I am going to be really good at grabbing somebody's arm.