Failure headlined, while Swervedriver opened at El Corazon in April. This fantastic double bill gave an audience a chance to see awesome bands who have split up, gotten back together and reformed in different lineups a few times. That can be stressful for fans, and of course, the bands as well! And what a great surprise it was for these two groups to pop up in Seattle. Each of them released new material very recently: Failure’s In the Future Your Body Will Be the Furthest Thing from Your Mind saw a release date of November 2018; Swervedriver’s Future Ruins was an early 2019 release. Also included are photos of NO WIN.
Swervedriver – photos by Lisa Hagen GlynnFailure – photos by Lisa Hagen GlynnNO WIN – photos by Lisa Hagen Glynn
Shpresa Lleshaj of Flora Cash – photo by John Rudolph
Flora Cash opened for loveleytheband in Seattle on April 20th. The Neptune appearance was part of lovelytheband’s Finding It Hard To Smile Tour, which gets its name from that band’s debut album. Flora Cash, comprised of Swedish singer Shpresa Lleshaj and guitarist Cole Randall, from Minneapolis, (they met via SoundCloud) are an item off stage as well. They married in 2014! Their 2019 EP, Press is getting great reviews, so do check them out. ~Dagmar
Flora Cash – photos by John Rudolphlovelytheband – photos by John RudolphFans at lovelytheband & Flora Cash – photos by John Rudolph
The beautiful Beach House, based in Baltimore, Maryland, play two headlining shows in Seattle this week. The first night is tonight, Wednesday evening, while the second show hits Thursday evening. I’m guessing both performances will feature at least one song off the soon-to-be released 7, out on May 11th. And it’s their seventh album. I’ve just been listening to the track “Alien,” the B-side of “Lose Your Smile.” It’s gorgeous. The duo (Victoria Legrand and Alex Scally) were also part of Sub Pop’s 30th Anniversary this summer. You can get ready for Thursday’s and Friday’s shows by checking out Lisa Hagen Glynn’s review and photos from that event.
Beach House rocked Alki Beach at Sub Pop’s 30thAnniversary Party. The free outdoor festival included four stages that featured 18 artists from the now-iconic Seattle record label. Scattered thunderstorms threatened the venue all day long, but hardly dampened the crowds.
Beach House‘s Victoria Legrand
Beach House stepped onto the Flippity Flop Stage to eerie golden backlighting courtesy of a wildfire-smoke sunset. The Baltimore dream-pop duo includes keyboardist Victoria Legrand and guitarist Alex Scally, who were joined by drummer James Barone. They emphasized tunes from their latest release, 7, which has been well-received for its complex sonic layers and weightier-than-usual psychedelia. Beach House did create a massive sound, but Legrand’s ethereal vocals still floated atop the clouds of synth, slide guitar, and steady drums. Both artists played covered up—Scally by a dark, full-length overcoat with forearm-rolled sleeves, and Legrand behind a stylish PVC suit, long auburn hair, and a mask of black eye makeup.
Alex Scally of Beach House
Earlier in the day, Los Angeles hip-hop group clipping‘s rapper Daveed Diggs coaxed an initially reluctant audience into frenetic jumping and stage-diving. A representative of Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan’s office then announced the official proclamation of Sub Pop Day to recognize the label’s musical and cultural influence. Seattle locals Shabazz Palaces followed with a set of Afrocentric experimental hip-hop and eccentric fashion. As Beach House concluded, the enormous crowd tried to filter next door to the Loser Stage to see closing act Father John Misty, but was disappointed by an impenetrable sea of earlier arrivals. With the popularity of SPF30, Seattle music fans are already anticipating SPF40 and beyond.
