Artist: BENEE Video: “Glitter” Why You Want to Watch: What a cute video! Director/animator Steven Mertens created a wonderful group of creatures for the New Zealand musician BENEE to interact with. BENEE hits the road in October and December, with a Seattle date on December 7th opening for Conan Gray.
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
H.C. McEntire – photos by Lisa Hagen GlynnSusy Sun – photos by Lisa Hagen GlynnH.C. McEntire – photos by Lisa Hagen Glynn
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.