Laura Pergolizzi, who performs under the stage name LP, played a sold-out show on Valentine’s Day at Showbox at the Market. Backed by her three-member bad, LP’s unique voice and 18-song set were just what the audience needed. The Years opened, followed by Noah Kahan.
LP
Noah Kahan
The Years
Show Preview: Romeo & Juliet @ Can Can
~Dagmar
Romeo & Juliet – photo by Bruce Dugdale
I am a big Shakespeare fan. I have a BA in English and studied Shakespeare at University. Sometimes I am a purist, as in I only want to see Shakespeare done approximately as it might have been done when the plays were new. With time, I became way more flexible, which is definitely good. The most important part, of course, is the timeless story. Excitingly, Can Can in Seattle shares its own take on the classic Romeo & Juliet cabaret-style, featuring fabulous costumes, original music and dance – all in the lovely venue. Congrats to Can Can and all involved for putting together a new spin on the classic. I mean, I took one look at the beautiful press photos for the show, and I was interested! Show runs through April 29th, and I’ve added a reminder on our show listing page so this stays fresh in your minds.
Romeo & Juliet Cast – photo by Bruce Dugdale
Catch up with more details on Can Can, and more on the Romeo & Juliet production on Can Can’s Facebook Page.
& enjoy some sweet live shots by photographer Nate Watters of the production to whet your appetite:
Romeo & Juliet – photos by Nate Watters
Show Preview: Real Estate @ Neumos, Wed. 2/21
~Dagmar
Real Estate
Real Estate fans are so lucky. The band has released a new album every two-three years since 2009’s self-titled debut. More important: they’ve got lovely songs. Although Real Estate recently lost one band member with the exit of a founding member, guitarist Matt Mondanile, they gained a new guitarist, Julian Lynch. That’s old news to Real Estate-followers, I am sure. And then, the new album, In Mind, which you’ve probably heard? You will want to hear that live. But before I go, I need to mention that the group has something on their site I have never, ever seen before. It’s an interactive video version of their song “Stained Glass.” You can color the video yourself! This is the link.
& check out the official video and live video on Late Night with Conan O’Brien for “Darling.”:
New Zealand pop star Kimbra played a sold-out show at Neumos, after being away from Seattle for three long years. The stop was near the end of her Primal Heart tour – the same name as her new album to be released in April. Backed by keyboards and guitar, Kimbra played her own array of electronic musical gadgets. Although she drew from mostly newer material, she mixed in several older songs with a new sound. Rhode Island-based Arc Iris, fronted by Jocie Adams, opened.
Kimbra
Arc Iris
Show Preview: Shame @ Chop Suey, Tues. 2/20
~Dagmar
Shame
A few weeks ago, I got a press release on this London band called Shame, and looked them up immediately to find out more. Their extremely well-reviewed (deservedly so) debut album, Songs of Praise, features the band holding piglets on the cover. That continued to draw me in, because that’s just adorable. But how is their music? It’s masculine, direct and it’s fantastic. There are sexy songs but no love songs (except that last track, “Angie,” that’s kind of romantic?). Describing themselves as “music for the weak,” Shame released what will be one of the very best albums of the year with Songs of Praise. It’s only mid-February, but I know I am right about this.
Placing bands in genres can be tricky, though I would put them strongly, as most people who hear them would, in the indie/punk areas. Post-punk? I guess, but Shame, more than any band I have heard in ages, sound like proper punk music that’s incorporated noises from the ’80s-on, more than the other way around. Ultimately, they sound incredibly awesome.