About 30,000 people came together on Capitol Hill over the course of three days this past weekend for the 2010 Block Party. Among the booze, pot smoke and rowdy mainstage crowd, more than 60 bands and artists took to five stages. The Daily sent two reporters to bring you the best of what they heard, along with some download suggestions in case you couldn’t make it to one of the biggest parties of the year.

Macklemore

Though I can’t claim to be a hip-hop aficionado by any stretch, this is what I like about Macklemore — his music (and live shows) appeal to a wide audience, evidenced by the eclectic mix of people at his Block Party show. What I also find great about local hip-hop shows is the feeling that you’re truly home in Seattle. As he said at the show on Friday, “This is music from our backyard that we’re playing right here.” He and his band, coincidentally, made the audience feel right at home, leading them to join in chants and making them laugh as the Seattle rapper, his band, and several backup dancers donned long-haired wigs and outlandish outfits for one of the numbers, their excited dancing giving the crowd just the energy it needed in the Block Party’s opening show. —KS

Download: “The Town”

Bear in Heaven

In a stark contrast to Macklemore, the ethereal Brooklyn-based rock band Bear in Heaven put on a more subdued show, its members sticking to their original spots on the stage for the whole show, surrounded by pulsing synth. With mustaches that appear to have come straight from a bad ‘80s porn flick, the quiet rockers seemed somewhat shy to be on stage. However, once the vocals were turned up a bit (with lead singer Jon Philpot quipping, “You actually want to hear what I’m saying? I can’t take it”) the show improved significantly, the psychedelic-pop band’s dreamy, echoing sound reaching its full potential. —KS

Download: “Lovesick Teenagers”

Francis and

the Lights

After listening to the first song on the New York City band’s MySpace page, “It’ll Be Better,” straight-up funk was not exactly what I expected at their show. But when considering a band that will soon be opening for both psychedelic-pop group MGMT and hip-hop artist Drake, you can’t really cloister the band into one genre. One thing’s for certain: Lead singer Francis Farewell Starlite and his band’s funky dancing and singing at the Block Party got me doing both. —KS

Download this: “Night Watchman” and “It’ll Be Better”

Yeasayer

Though Yeasayer’s show started out oddly (some senate candidate came out and turned the band into a campaigning opportunity, ruining his credibility by calling them “The Yeasayers”), the rest of the set was one of the best of the night. Opening with the fitting “Wait for the Summer,” Yeasayer’s abundance of synths and perfect harmonies were executed with a ton of energy — the audience could see the passion almost dripping off lead singer Chris Keatings’ face. Though maybe that was just sweat. —KS

Download: “Wait for the Summer”

Fences

Getting away from the madness that was Macklemore on the main stage, I found some air-conditioned solace inside Neumos. After he admitted being a bit nervous (“Sorry, I’m scared s–less for some reason”), Fences’ frontman Christopher Mansfield settled down to perform an outstanding, sentimental set. Backed by soaring melodies, the best part was probably the announcement that a full-length album from this local band should come this fall. —BM

Download: “The Same Tattoos”

Modern Athletics

Inside a packed and sweaty Cha Cha Lounge, Seattle’s own Modern Athletics didn’t help the hygiene problem much with their energetic and up-tempo songs. And whether it was true or not, it was nice to hear that the band thought those in attendance were the best-looking crowd they’d ever played to. —BM

Download: “Give Us a Shove”

MGMT

We get it, guys — mainstream popularity isn’t exactly your thing. But letting that frustration with popularity (much of it garnered from songs like “Kids” and “Electric Feel”) show through in the show makes the audience uncomfortable. Breaking out the obscure “Destrokk” from a 2005 EP to open the show has to be the biggest musical “WTF? Moment” from the 2010 Block Party, while their psychedelic splurges from this year’s Congratulations came off as feeling less-than-electric live. —BM

Download: LPs Oracular Spectacular and Congratulations

Beach Fossils

I hadn’t even listened to Brooklyn’s Beach Fossils before they played on Saturday, but their mix of daydreamy pop songs struck a chord with everyone inside a packed Neumos. Without their regular guitarist, who apparently quit earlier in the tour, their set list was shorter. But by smashing their guitars after their last song, they left everyone wanting more. —BM

Download: “Vacation”

!!! (Chk Chk Chk)

Nic Offer proved one of the most compelling performers of the festival as !!! took the stage before Saturday night’s headliner, Atmosphere. The only time eyes came off Offer’s glitzy dance moves was when Shannon Funchess was funkin’ up a storm. It was a flawless show that left Capitol Hill dancing all night long. —BM

Download: “AM/FM”

Real Estate

The band’s self-titled, sunny debut has been stuck on repeat in my car all summer. So to bob my head along with their beach riffs felt perfect in the beaming Sunday sun. Even debuting a new song, Real Estate proved to be an afternoon delight. —BM

Download: “Green River” and “Beach Comber”

Blue Scholars

Former UW students DJ Sabzi and MC Geologic (“Geo”) absolutely delighted the mainstage crowd by tearing through a set list with familiar beats while also sampling The xx’s “Intro” and Owl City’s “Fireflies.” In reference to opening for rockers The Dead Weather, Geo mentioned how the crowd simply enjoyed good music. In fact, the Block Party’s tastes were as diverse as the crowd itself — something that was true of the entire weekend. —BM

Download: “The Ave” and “50 Thousand Deep”

The Dead Weather

Opening their headlining set with their first song off their first album, Alison Mosshart stood defiantly atop speakers at the front of the main stage. In that moment, with support from Jack White’s thunderous drumming, Dean Fertita’s wailing guitar and Jack Lawrence’s pounding bass, Mosshart shrieked, “I’m 60 feet tall.” Indeed, it’s doubtful anyone in attendance would have disagreed. They were true rock stars, in every sense of the word, closing out one hell of a party. —BM

Download: LP’s Horehound and Sea of Cowards

Reach reporter Bryden McGrath and Arts Editor Kristen Steenbeeke at arts@dailyuw.com.