SEATTLE — The worst-kept secret online brought throngs of people to Capitol Hill Wednesday night. Hip hop sensation Macklemore set up atop Dick’s Drive In to shoot a music video.
It attracted fans but it also snarled traffic and blocked a major street. Some Capitol Hill residents saw the crowd as just one more disruption to their lives.
“As if Block Party wasn’t loud and drunk enough. Tomorrow morning, I’m not looking forward to avoiding puddles of puke,” said local apartment dweller Ingrid Porter.
Police blocked Broadway for a block in front of Dick’s Drive In where Macklemore set up for the video shoot. Police were everywhere; on bikes, in cars, and directing traffic that was snarled for a block in every direction for about two hours.
Alex Mentele complained about his long commute home to Capitol Hill. “It took me an hour to get home and I work down in SODO and it’s never taken me an hour to get home,” he said.
Two Metro bus routes were re-routed. David Cory jumped off when he found out the Route 49 bus wouldn’t get him home. He didn’t know what the fuss was about.
“I can’t say I know who he is,” Cory said of Macklemore.
But hundreds of eager fans who do craned to see Seattle’s latest national sensation.
I decided to come down here and see if he was actually coming out or if it was a rumor,” said Chris Swadley, who learned of the shoot online.
But pedestrians approached the throng with trepidation. And cyclists trying to get through had to dismount.
“I wouldn’t recommend people taking a bike through crowds like that, little bit of a slow down,” said Adam.
Some say traffic is just bad anyway.
“So if it’s not Macklemore, it’s gonna be a Mariner’s game or it’s gonna be a Sounders game. Or it’s gonna be SeaFair’s next weekend, said Madeline McCarthy.
By 11 p.m., Macklemore’s musical partner, Ryan Lewis, stepped onto the roof to tell the crowd that part of the video was shot in a car driving around the area, but that Macklemore would treat fans to a song by 11:15 p.m. As of 11:38 p.m., he still hadn’t performed. Yet signs around the area of the shoot made clear to fans: "This is a video shoot. This is not a concert.”
KIRO
