Seattle's Blue Scholars are DJ Sabzi (behind turntables) and Geologic (right.) Sunday, they rocked the main stage with a little help from Common Market's Ra Scion (in black.)
ERNEST JASMIN

The Cure may have headlined, but for me the second day of Sasquatch was all about the Western Washington bands. Over at the Yeti stage, where I spent most of my time on Sunday, The Fleet Foxes’ J. Tillman and Sera Cahoon represented for King County’s alt-country scene, while Cancer Rising demonstrated how vibrant Jet City’s hip-hop scene has gotten. But it was Seattle quintet, the Cops, that delivered my one of my favorite sets of the day.

“You know what time it is,” singer-guitarist Michael Jaworski declared as his outfit took the stage. It was a reference to the 4:20 start, a hallowed stop on the dial for stoners worldwide. And the Cops did, ironically, fire up some herbal party favors and pass them to the fans down front.

But a fun, rowdy vibe had already been established by then, with the quintet galvanizing fans with primal, garagey sounds from their new release “Free Electricity.” And no performer at the festival has looked like they’ve had as much fun as guitarist John Randolph, who sported plaid golf pants and bounced around the stage like a grinning wild man throughout the 50-minute set. The dancing girls during “Modern Black Fats” (members of the band’s posse) were a fun touch, too.

But while a party hearty vibe prevailed, the new album does have political undertones. And Jaworski did rail against corporate greed and a certain presidential candidate in spots.

“How many more years is it (the war) gonna be?” he asked. “One hundred years? because John McCain said it’s gonna be? Until he changed his mind and said it’s gonna be 2013.”

Then, tugging on his “Obama for your mama” t-shirt, he added, “I’m not making an official endorsement, but there better not be another white man in the white house this fall.”

Photos from that set are on the way. But over on the main stage, George “Geologic” Quibuyen and Saba “Sabzi” Mohajerjasbi, aka Blue Scholars, showed why they’re the new kings of Seattle’s hip-hop scene.

“If you love that good Northwest hip-hop, make some noise,” Geologic declared to big applause. And the duo rocked the house with a little help from Massline collective posse members Ra Scion of Common Market and Gabriel Teodros At some point, we learned that Common Market’s forthcoming “Tobacco Road” album would drop in September.

Then later it was Seattle rock poster boys, Death Cab for Cutie. Three-quarters of the band was dressed all in black (Chris Walla being the exception), and a few songs into the set, band mouthpiece Ben Gibbard explained that there were two reasons why.

“One, I wear black on the outside because I feel black on the inside,” he joked. “More importantly, I’m so g------- excited to see the Cure you can’t believe it.”

Gibbard dedicated a solo, acoustic performance of “I Will Follow You into the Dark” to Robert Smith and company. And maybe the Cure’s presence was the main reason for Death Cab’s visibly high spirits. (Walla also confessed to being a huge fan when I interviewed him in April.) Plus, the band must have been pumped to be back at the Gorge after a two year’s absence, armed with possibly its best band to date, “Narrow Stairs.” (Haven’t made up my mind yet.) Whatever the reason, those Death Cab boys delivered the most inspired and energized set I think I’ve seen them deliver.

The hour-long performance included many of the expected fan favorites, cuts like “The New Year,” “Photobooth,” “The Sound of Settling” and “Soul Meets Body.” And new cuts were great additions to their repertoire. While I was disappointed they didn’t do “Pity & Fear,” “Long Division” was a rush and is quickly catching up with my favorite cut from the new disc. And the jammy “I Will Possess Your Heart,” which followed “I Will Follow You in the Dark” to form an obsessive romantic medley of sorts, also went over well.

Plus, the band seemed to be in kind of a goofy mood, with Walla prompting the crowd to with his dad a Happy Birthday, before Gibbard joked that he’d been carted off by security for being too disruptive. And news flash: Mr. Nice Guy Gibbard thinks “Juno” sucks.

“You know you’re in a weird setting when you’re having a conversation about the movie ‘Juno’ with Tegan & Sara’s mom,” Gibbard declared. “Sorry, Tegan & Sara’s mom, but I don’t like that @#%@%@ movie. Now that she’s gone I feel comfortable saying that.”

Anyway, let me get back out there and check out some more music. I’ll post some photos later.