The art-pop band Rubblebucket performing on stage at the Neptune Theatre in Seattle, Washington.
In a triumphant return to the stage, Brooklyn art-pop virtuosos Rubblebucket delivered a transcendent sonic odyssey at the Neptune Theatre, marking an electrifying renaissance after Annakalmia Traver and Alex Toth’s hiatus to pursue solo ventures and navigate personal health journeys.
The duo’s chemistry, a complex amalgam of brass-infused psychedelia and art-pop ingenuity, proved not only intact but seemingly fortified by their time apart. Traver’s unmistakable vocal acrobatics soared above Toth’s meticulously crafted horn arrangements, creating sonic textures that felt simultaneously familiar and boldly reinvented. In a scene that felt both cathartic and celebratory, the indie-dance polymaths Rubblebucket reclaimed their rightful place in the musical stratosphere at Seattle’s own Neptune Theatre.
Bob Mould & Craig Finn @ the Neptune – 4/7/25 Show Review & Photos by Mike Mitchell
Bob Mould – photo by Mike Mitchell
Alt rock icon and DIY hardcore stalwart Bob Mould played tunes from his new release, Here We Go Crazy, and selections from his sizable catalog (all the way back to 1984’s Zen Arcade) at the Neptune Theatre Monday evening with Craig Finn of the Hold Steady providing support. Mould’s most recent long player was released just over a month ago and is racking up glowing reviews and much acclaim from his ardent fan base.
Bob Mould – photos by Mike Mitchell
Mould was more than capably backed by Jason Narducy on bass and Jon Wurster on drums (who are also both featured on the new album). Wurster and Narducy were both at the Neptune a couple months back with actor/musician Michael Shannon performing REM’s Fables of the Reconstruction.
Bob Mould – photos by Mike Mitchell
Monday evening’s headlining set started strong with ‘Star Machine’ and ‘The Descent’, both from 2012’s Silver Age, before tucking into selections from the new album. Mould stuck primarily to material from his most recent releases before tossing in a couple songs from his halcyon days with fondly remembered and much venerated Minneapolis trio Husker Du (‘Celebrated Summer’, ‘Flip Your Wig’). This longtime Bob Mould devotee particular enjoyed a few of the more agro numbers that landed toward the end of the set, ‘American Crises’ and ‘Siberian Butterfly’. As always, Mould’s guitar playing was a thing of wonder. What at first may appear to the uninitiated as a formless squall of feedback eventually resolves to reveal moments of shimmering melody and beauty (albeit an exceptionally loud and sometimes challenging beauty). I’ve been seeing Bob Mould play live for close to 45 years and to say that he hasn’t lost a step would be to state the obvious. His dedication to his art, not to mention his longevity, is truly inspiring. The final section of Monday night’s performance was a gracious and enervating nod to all things Husker Du. In rapid succession, Mould, Narducy, and Wurster tore through ‘Hate Paper Doll, ‘Something I Learned Today’, ‘Love Is All Around’ (aka The Mary Tyler Moore Show theme song), and ‘Makes No Sense At All’.
Bob Mould – photos by Mike Mitchell
The show was opened by Craig Finn, lead singer and songwriter of the Hold Steady. Finn delivered a set of tunes all mined from his excellent new album, Always Been. The quiet, confessional tone of performance was a fitting and lovely contrast to the heavy and hard rocking headlining set that was soon to follow.
SXSW 2025 Day 5 – A combination of official showcases and day party performances at the six-day SXSW music festival in Austin, Texas. Photos by Kirk Stauffer
Stella Cole, an American standards (& more) singer with a voice that stuns, will appear at Seattle’s Jazz Alley on Tuesday, April 22nd & Wednesday, April 23rd. When I say this woman has a voice, I mean she has a once in a generation sound for which fans simply yearn. The young Northwestern graduate (she majored in theater and international studies) released her debut in 2024. Self-titled, it helped to make her a name that artists such as James Taylor noticed. Cole also made a Christmas album in December 2024, featuring a very smooth version of “White Christmas.” Love that! Her bio mentions that “at three years old, her mom pressed play on a VHS tape of The Wizard of Oz. Stella was immediately obsessed with the film, watching it at every opportunity.” Naturally, she’s done a beautiful version of “Over the Rainbow.”
English singer-songwriter Laurel headlined at a sold-out show at Barboza. It was the second stop on her North American Music For Sunsets Tour. Backed by a drummer and recorded music, Laurel performed material from her numerous albums while mesmerizing the audience throughout the show. And the varied lighting – from blinding to nearly non-existent – added to the mood of Laurel’s outstanding performance. Mid-show, Laurel went into the crowd and performed “Only One” with everyone illuminating her with their phones. For the encore, Laurel performed her hit single, “Scream Drive Faster”, while energetically swinging her long blonde hair from the beginning to end of the song. Singer-songwriter Kate Peytavin opened and will be back on tour with Dope Lemon in June.
