Erasure w/Reed & Caroline @ the Moore, 8/14/18
Photos by Alex Crick
Memory Lane Series, part 62
Photos: Erasure w/ Reed & Caroline @ the Moore
Show Review & Photos: H.C. McEntire w/ Susy Sun @ Barboza
H.C. McEntire w/ Susy Sun @ Barboza, 2/24/19
Show Review & Photos by Lisa Hagen Glynn
Durham country artist Heather (H.C.) McEntire played Barboza on February 24th, accompanied by a trio of drums, bass, and guitar. Her tour supportsed her January 2018 solo debut, LIONHEART. McEntire (also of Mount Moriah) had been backing indie-folk artist Angel Olsen recently—you might remember her as the animated harmonizing vocalist with the tambourine at Olsen’s sold-out 2017 show at the Neptune Theatre.
McEntire stepped onstage wearing a fitted Western shirt and cowboy boots with an adorably messy pixie mullet. She continued to suck on a cough drop nonchalantly as she launched into the first tune, “One Great Thunder.” McEntire is a skilled guitarist, and her voice is pretty with an emotional rawness and a soft Appalachian twang. Her stage presence is shy, but with an intensity that hints at her past in feminist punk.
The 12-tune set included several songs from LIONHEART, along with Mount Moriah tunes “Davis Square,” “Miracle Temple Holiness,” and “Precita,” and the Led Zeppelin cover “Houses of the Holy.” In a humorous moment, McEntire paused to report, “I just had an out-of-body experience. I was at home in my soft pants writing this tune…and now I’m here.”
McEntire’s rural Southern roots and identity as an out gay woman blended throughout her lyrics. In particular, her gospel-inspired tune “A Lamb, A Dove” (“I have found heaven / In a woman’s touch / Come to me now / I’ll make you blush”) revealed a voice that has been rarely heard in country music.
The show was underattended because of the coinciding Academy Awards, but those who made it out were treated to a very personal evening. McEntire repeatedly thanked the audience, who appreciatively shouted “F*ck the Oscars!” She was warm and approachable, standing at the back of the venue during the opening set and greeting fans at the merch table afterward. Los Angeles singer–songwriter Susy Sun opened with a solo set on keys and vocals. The former Seattleite had family and friends in the audience, who nudged her to share the stories behind
Cool Cover: Lindsey Stirling’s Artemis
Artist: Lindsey Stirling
Details: Stirling’s 5th album, Artemis, just came out in September. Check out its awesome anime art by Juha Ekman. The Finnish artist also runs online anime drawing tutorials.
Photos: 2 Chainz w/ Young Dolph @ Showbox SoDo
2 Chains w/Young Dolph @ Showbox SoDo, 8/27/17
Photos by Casey Brevig
Memory Lane Series, part 61
2 Chainz – photos by Casey Brevig
Young Dolph – photos by Casey Brevig
Show Review & Photos: BEAK> w/Nordra @ Columbia City Theater
BEAK w/Nordra @ Columbia City Theater, 10/7/18
Show Review & Photos by Lisa Hagen Glynn
BEAK> drew a large crowd to the Columbia City Theater on October 7, 2018. This tour promoted their third album, minimalistically entitled >>>. The Bristol-based trio combines Geoff Barrow (of Portishead) on drums and vocals, Billy Fuller (of Robert Plant) on bass and vocals, and Will Young (AKA Moon Gangs) on keys and guitar.
Predominantly krautrock in their delivery, BEAK>’s tunes mix a motorik beat with gloomy synth drones, persistent bass, driving arpeggios, and sparse vocals. Their lyrics are self-aware and often devastating. Although BEAK>’s music isn’t exactly danceable, it is undeniably catchy and dares you to try not to nod along.
Barrow led BEAK> in a 12-tune set that emphasized their recent album. Particularly memorable were “Egg Dog,” “Allé Sauvage,” “Brean Down,” and the surprisingly balladic “When We Fall.” They skipped the drama of an encore, with Fuller instead quipping “This is our fake last one” before continuing with the remainder of the set. The audience left energized.
There is an unpretentious appeal about an internationally known band staffing its own merch table: Fuller made change, while Young ran albums to Barrow for a third signature as he chatted with fans nearby. BEAK> seemed like genuinely kind folks, and Seattle was fortunate to secure a stop on their limited North American tour.
Local artist Monika Khot (also of Zen Mother) opened the evening as Nordra, a noise and experimental project with an industrial element. Her compelling solo set combined processed vocals, guitar, a table full of pedals, and pocket trumpet.
Editor’s note: Apologies we had to take the > out of your name in the title. The html code would not accept it.
