Video: Perrie‘s “Christmas Magic”
Why You Want to Watch: British singer Perrie lets us into her family life with “Christmas Magic.” I love the certain to be classic Christmas song, and the matching pajamas are adorable. Merry Christmas! (Click on photo to watch.)
~Dagmar
Seattle’s Moore Theater played host last night to the Allman Betts Family Revival, a project helmed by Duane Betts and Devon Allman as an ongoing celebration of the music and spirit of the Allman Brothers. This was the 8th year that the Revival has toured but it was the first time it has come to Seattle.
Backed by a revolving band of talented, Allman’s affiliated musicians and joined by an impressive roster of guest artists, Allman and Betts treated the full house to two generous sets of ABB classics. The first set began, appropriately enough, with music from side one of the band’s eponymous 1969 debut, and it consisted primarily of music from what most fans consider the band’s salad days. The second set was, with a few notable exceptions, culled from the period between the band’s revival in 1990 thru its dissolution in 2014.
Guests included Jake Shamabukuro, Jimmy Hall, Cody Dickinson, Larry McCray, Robert Randolph, Lamar Williams Jr., Lindsay Lou, Jackie Greene, Alex Orbison, Sierra Green, and Grace Bowers. It’s hard for this longtime fan to select highlights, as the entire evening was a rousing and inspired affair, but if forced to do so I might site ex Wet Willie frontman Jimmy Hall’s takes on ‘Statesboro Blues’ and a torrid and thrilling ‘Whipping Post’ finale, Jake Shamabukuro’s energetic and crowd pleasing appearances in both sets, Jackie Greene’s gorgeous rendition of ‘Melissa’, and Larry McCray’s soulful vocal/guitar performance of ‘Soulshine’.
The guests invited to the Seattle stop on the Revival tour where well-chosen but without the excellent core band on hand to push them the evening would not have truly taken flight. It was apparent from the frequent grin on Devon Allman’s face that he enjoyed the performance and even the usually stoic Duane Betts couldn’t help but occasionally break into a smile. The audience stayed on their feet for the better part of both sets and rewarded the performers with long and loud applause throughout the evening. Here’s hoping that the Allmen Betts Band make a Seattle visit a regular occurrence on future Revival tours.
Music: Baby Schillachi‘s “keep the change, ya filthy animals”
~Dagmar
Christmas music can come in all shapes and sizes, and Swansea, Wales’ rock quartet’s track, “keep the change, ya filthy animals” demonstrates that! The group describes the song as an “Elf soundtrack by Freddy Krueger and Reznor.”
Bailey Spinn @ Madame Lou’s – 12/10/2024
Photos by Kirk Stauffer
Pop-rock artist Bailey Spinn performed at Madame Lou’s in front of a very enthusiastic large group of fans. It was the second to the last stop on her North American Happy Ending Tour. Spinn and her three-member backing band that included guitarist Jayden Hammer, who frequently threw her long hair back and didn’t miss a beat, put on a high-energy show from start to finish.
Bailey Spinn – Photos by Kirk Stauffer
Blues guitarist and vocalist Samantha Fish and her outstanding 3 piece backing band brought her ‘Shake It On Down Tour’ to a packed Crocodile Cafe Wednesday evening with support provided by Mississippi’s Cedric Burnside and garage blues stalwart Jon Spencer.
Fish started strong with the rousing call to arms ‘Kick Out the Jams’ (MC5) before taking the audience on a tour of her impressive catalog. She’s a true triple threat as a performer with her fiery guitar playing, her powerful and heartfelt vocals, and her top-notch songwriting skills.
Fish worked her way through a seemingly endless series of guitars and playing styles, showcasing her excellent slide playing and crowd pleasing (make that ‘crowd igniting’) fingerpicking technique. The audience was attentive and engaged during her slower, soulful numbers and boisterous and responsive when she leaned into her more intense, distortion soaked R&R tunes.
Fish’s knack for effortlessly jumping from hill country fingerpicking and slide work on a 4 string cigar box guitar to roaring, feedback heavy jams to sweet and soulful ballads gives one hope for the future of the blues. With this most American of musical forms in the hands and fingers of artists such as Samantha Fish, Cedric Burnside, and Jon Spencer, there’s plenty of reason to be optimistic.
