Lily & Madeleine – sisters Lily and Madeleine Jurkiewicz, hailing from Indianapolis – headlined at the Ballard Homestead over the weekend. The venue is a former church and gave the show a house concert feel, thanks in part to the very attentive audience. Backed by Shannon Hayden (cello, guitar, mandolin) and Kate Siefker (drums), the sisters are touring in support of their third full-length album, Keep It Together.
Lily & Madeleine
Show Preview: James McCartney @ the High Dive, Thursday May 19th
British singer-songwriter James McCartney visits Seattle’s High Dive this Thursday, May 19th. McCartney, who has now released three full-lengths, including the 2016 album, The Blackberry Train, and two EPs, is very much conducting his career on his own terms. See, his parents are Paul and Linda McCartney, so there was always going to be artistic talent in his genes. There’s no getting around that, and so, we’ve addressed his lineage. What’s he like as an individual artist?: beautifully rocking.
James McCartney – photo by Mary McCartney
McCartney combines Britpop with grunge. The Blackberry Train‘s “Paralyis” and “Ballerina” are fine examples of his work, as is that album’s “Unicorn.” You can also hear psychedelic rock in many songs. There’s some Oasis with Nirvana and a bit of Blur. Then there’s simply the blissed-out nature of 2013’s Me. I have a strong feeling these, and, other tracks, will be powerful live. On “The Blackberry Train,” McCartney worked with engineer Steve Albini, whose credits include the Jesus Lizard, the Cribs and Veruca Salt, and it’s an excellent album.
James McCartney wrote, in “Thinking About Rock & Roll”: Life’s so fine and it’s already mine. I’ve got a Q&A for you that McCartney, who has such a strong outlook, recently did with me; check it out! And don’t miss him. He’s fantastic. I’m digging every single song he’s written.
“Unicorn” is one of my favorites from The Blackberry Train. Where did that lovely song come from?
James McCartney: I like the music to have elements of the avant-garde, psychedelic, and be just a little against the grain. But in the end, it’s about having as much emotion as possible for me, musically and lyrically. It’s all about the music being cathartic, heartfelt and true.
You’ve studied art. What kinds of art styles do you create in addition to music?
JMcC: I feel that they are deeply related, but are also different. In fact all the artwork for my first record, Me and for the the first single off that record, “Strong As You” are made up of paintings that I have done. And I feel that art and expression are always related like that.
What was the process like working with Steve Albini on The Blackberry Train?
JMcC: It was great. He is a very talented producer and it was great fun working with him.
I enjoy the honesty and positivity in your lyrics. How does your commitment to Transcendental Meditation inform your work?
JMcC: Ultimately, let your heart and mind guide you and strengthen you, and you’ll be where you want to be.
~Dagmar
Head over to Ticketfly’s event page for tickets & more details.
Artist: Adia Victoria
Song/Video: “Dead Eyes”
Why You Want to Listen/Watch: A stark and scary video, and one you might not want to watch alone. Spoiler: Victoria gets away from her pursuers in a Thunderbird! The southern rock/country/gothic artist just released her debut, Beyond The Bloodhounds, and hits the Seattle area for a June 11th show at the Sunset. The tour is called Me & The Devil. This is intense.
Adia Victoria
Selena Gomez recently brought her Revival Tour to KeyArena, one of the first stops on the North America leg. This is her second solo concert tour and is in support of Revival which was released last year. Complete with backing band and nine dancers, Gomez entertained the enthusiastic crowd for well over a hour. Joe Jonas’ new band, DNCE, and Bea Miller opened.
Selena Gomez
DNCE
Bea Miller
The Vaccines @ Neumos, 8/8/15
Review & Photos by Dagmar
The second installment of my British Bands Seen Live in 2015 features the Vaccines. The English quartet packed Neumos on August 8, 2015. I mention the venue being packed because it means they held their own against Taylor Swift, who was also in town that night. I mention it also because there was a large presence of the under-21 set, who might likely be in Swift’s bracket. So congrats, Vaccines!
Justin Young of the Vaccines
The band made their first visit to Seattle as openers for Arctic Monkeys in 2011. A rare thing happened to me at that show: I loved an opening band immediately. Five years later, and they’re still unbelievably great. I listened to their first album, What Did You Expect from The Vaccines? so often, I felt as if I lived it. Tracks “Wreckin’ Bar (Ra Ra Ra),” “If You Wanna,” “Wetsuit” and “All in White,” were played many times for my happy ears. As I remember, the band had a date in Seattle arranged as part of a tour for album two, 2013’s Come of Age. That tour didn’t happen, but five years in the waiting, the Vaccines returned.
Bringing with them three albums’ worth of material (including English Graffiti – brand new, out now), the Vaccines created a very well thought out set list. They put on a proper rock show, including those four songs I mentioned. English Graffiti‘s “Dream Lover,” “20/20” and “Minimal Affection, and Come of Age‘s “I Always Knew” and “No Hope” also caused audience frenzy. Melody Calling, their only EP, even had representation with its title track. Emotive and excitable, singer Justin Young really does have a uniquely cool presence. As an entire band, the Vaccines are a powerful example of what’s timeless about English rock.
The Vaccines
More Photos of the Vaccines @ Neumos
Set List:
Handsome (English Graffiti)
Wreckin’ Bar (Ra Ra Ra) (What Did You Expect from The Vaccines?)
Ghost Town (Come of Age)
Dream Lover (English Graffiti)
Wetsuit (What Did You Expect from The Vaccines?)
Minimal Affection (English Graffiti)
Bad Mood (Come of Age)
Blow It Up (What Did You Expect from The Vaccines?)
20/20 (English Graffiti)
Melody Callling (Melody Calling EP)
(All Afternoon) In Love (English Graffiti)
Give Me a Sign (English Graffiti)
Post Break-Up Sex (What Did You Expect from The Vaccines?)
Wolf Pack (What Did You Expect from The Vaccines?)
Teenage Icon (Come of Age)
I Always Knew (Come of Age)
If You Wanna (What Did You Expect from The Vaccines?)
All in White (What Did You Expect from The Vaccines?)
Encore:
No Hope (Come of Age)
Radio Bikini (English Graffiti)
Nørgaard (What Did You Expect from The Vaccines?)