Show Preview: Shame @ Chop Suey, Tues. 2/20

Posted on by

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.

Photos: Judah & the Lion w/ Colony House & Tall Heights @ Showbox SoDo

Posted on by

Judah & the Lion w/ Colony House & Tall Heights @ Showbox SoDo, 2/16/17
~ John Rudolph


Judah & the Lion

Promoting the May 2017 release of their sophomore album, FOLK HOP N’ ROLL, Judah & the Lion played to a packed house at Showbox SoDo. The young and mostly female crowd sang and danced to every song enthusiastically.

I first covered Judah & the Lion when they opened for Kaleo last year. During that show I could see how talented they were, and I knew they would be going places. I enjoyed them almost as much as I did Kaleo. Since then, they have tightened up their performance and they now deserve to be the headliner.

As much as I liked their music, I loved their message. Judah grabbed the stage and stated, “No matter your background, not matter your religion, or your political beliefs, you are all welcome here.” That was so refreshing in the uncertain global political climate.


Judah & the Lion


Colony House


Tall Heights

All Photos by John Rudolph

Photos: Sound Off! 2018 Semifinals # 1 @ MoPOP

Posted on by

Sound Off! 2018 @ MoPOP, 2/9/18
Photos by Simon Krane


Strawberry Mountain

Seattle’s psychedelic rock five-piece Strawberry Mountain came in first place in Sound Off! Semifinals #1. The semifinals, held on February 9th, included three additional Northwest acts: Dreadlight, Jawzilla, and Maiah Wynne. Congrats to them as well for getting those competition spots! By the way, Strawberry Mountain just debuted a snazzy new band T-shirt on its Bandcamp. Maiah Wynne grabbed the second place in the Semifinals, so she’s a possible wild card in the finals!

Sound Off! Semifinals # 2 takes place on Friday, February 16th at 7:00 PM at MoPOP.


Strawberry Mountain


Maiah Wynne


Dreadlight


Jawzilla

First Aid Kit @ Moore Theatre

Posted on by

Swedish folk duo First Aid Kit – fronted by Johanna (bass) and Klara Söderberg (guitar) – played a sold-out show at the Moore Theatre. The sisters and their three-member backing band are on the road in support of their recently released, fourth studio album, Ruins. To the delight of the Seattle audience, they played “Crazy On You” by another sister band – Heart. Van William opened and joined First Aid Kit during the encore.


First Aid Kit


Van William

Music & Video: Bad Gyal’s “Blink”

Posted on by

Song: “Blink”
Artist: Bad Gyal
Why You Want to Listen & Watch: Barcelona’s Bad Gyal, a singer who performs her music in English, Spanish and Catalan, gives us a taste of her new mixtape with the track “Blink.” The video shows Bad Gyal singing and dancing while surrounded by flowers in Mexico City- and she shakes her stuff! You like what you hear and see? Then you’re in luck, Bad Gyal visits Seattle’s Barboza on March 7th. You’ll get to see her 2018 show before SWSW.


Photo by Alexis Gómez