If it’s Labor Day weekend in Seattle, it must be time for Bumbershoot, the yearly music and arts festival that attracts tens of thousands of smelly, drunk, shirtless hooligans (and a handful of hardcore music fans too). This year boasts a busy and eclectic lineup across three days featuring bands, authors, films and comedians, plus hundreds of vendors, a massive half pipe and one giant Space Needle. Here are some highlights from day one:

Lucinda Williams and Neko Case played early, as did Barcelona and the new wave sounds of Seattle’s The Girls.

We caught a few songs from SubPop’s Band of Horses on the mainstage, who were tight and tuneful. Singer-guitar player Ben Bridwell was smashing bottles over his head, though we couldn’t figure out whether they were real or the breakaway movie prop kind. Regardless, it was a strange juxtaposition between his violent act and his pretty arrangements.

We checked out Anti-Flag, who bombarded the crowd with their high energy politico-punk anthems and bumpersticker between song banter.

“Fuck police brutality!” bassist Chris#2 screamed before extending his middle finger to the crowd and inviting them to do the same.

The band got airborne.

We’re pretty sure Justin Sane won’t be voting for McCain.

In between bands we checked out Flatstock, a collection of thousands of rock posters — for purchase and viewing — hosted by the artists themselves. It was like a fantastic lowbrow rock & roll museum exhibit, only the artists were standing right there next to their work.

Stainboy Reinel had a black light in his booth to show off the way his posters glowed in the dark. “Do you want me to pose happy or snotty?,” he asked. This is snotty.

Mike King was one of the lucky few who could see an outdoor stage from his location in the pavilion, which meant he could watch bands in between posing for photographs for websites he’s never heard of.

We enjoyed the set from Nada Surf. They’ve sure come a long way from their mid-’90s one-hit wonder status, finally cementing themselves as indie rock stalwarts a decade later.

Singer Matthew Caws’ hair was grayer than we remember, but we hear gray is the new black.

Bassist Daniel Lorca injured himself, so a buddy filled in, but you’d never know. He was great.

Beck closed things out on the mainstage, beginning his set with “Loser,” the song that began it all for him. “That’s your song Seattle,” he said when it was through. Whatever that means.

Tomorrow: The Weakerthans, The Black Keys, Adrine Tomine, Stone Temple Pilots and more.

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