Review & Photos: Hello! Exploring the Supercute World of Hello Kitty @ EMP

Posted on 01/31/2016 by Dagmar

I attended the opening party for EMP’s Hello! Exploring the Supercute World of Hello Kitty exhibition in November, 2015. EMP put on a dance party, fashion contest and added special Hello Kitty-themed items to its menu. The big merch line into the Hello Kitty store proved that attendees definitely wanted their Hello Kitty items.

The exhibit includes a huge variety of Hello Kitty art and memorabilia. As promised, the display explores Hello Kitty’s pervasiveness. The English-born/Japanese-created icon is beyond famous. But there’s a weird ambiguity about what, exactly, Hello Kitty is. Sanrio has said, “Just like Hello Kitty isn’t a human, she’s not quite a cat either. . . Hello Kitty was done in the motif of a cat. It’s going too far to say that Hello Kitty is not a cat.” It doesn’t matter. I like to think she’s an adorable hybrid. In the the cyborg sculpture (see below), she appears as a goddess.

I took a few photos of items, and was impressed by the exhibit. There’s a Hello Kitty response to practically everything. Erasers, tampons, tarot cards. . . The Hello Kitty-themed art work is also worth seeing close up. Remember: 5 generations of children have grown up with her.

Follow this link for details. Closes May 15, 2016.
~Dagmar

Hello! Exploring the Supercute World of Hello Kitty – photos by Dagmar

More Photos of Hello! Exploring the Supercute World of Hello Kitty

Photos: The 1975 @ Showbox SoDo

Posted on 01/30/2016 by Dagmar

One of my favorites, Britain’s the 1975 made their third visit to Seattle when they played Showbox SoDo last winter. After a listen to the group’s first album, The 1975, many others have likewise embraced them. With an elegant pop quality to their songs, the Manchester-based 1975 made the sold out venue dance. And while I waited for the show to begin, I heard a woman say, “This is like a religious experience.” I didn’t want to be creepy (a problem generally part of eavesdropping), but I wanted to yell at her, “I know. I know.”

My top songs: “The City,” “M.O.N.E.Y.,” “Chocolate,” “Sex,” “Settle Down,” “Girls,” “fallingforyou,” “Love Me,” “A Change of Heart” and “Somebody Else.”
~Dagmar

The 1975 – all photos by Dagmar

More Photos of the 1975 @ Showbox SoDo

Photos: Sasquatch Lineup Announcement @ the Neptune

Posted on 01/26/2016 by BBS

On January 11th, Sasquatch! Music Festival announced its lineup at the Neptune. M. Ward (on this year’s lineup) and Charles Bradley performed sets at the party. The event, including Grimes, M83 and Leon Bridges, takes place at its traditional location and during its traditional days: The Gorge Ampitheatre/Memorial Day Weekend.

All photos by Simon Krane:

Charles Bradley

M. Ward

Music: DJ Shadow’s “Swerve”

Posted on 01/23/2016 by Dagmar

Artist: DJ Shadow
Song: “Swerve”
Why You Want to Listen:
DJ Shadow released “Swerve” last month as a Christmas present to fans. I’m still listening. The presser described the song as a battle weapon, and that’s a true way to present it! Download this puppy.

DJ Shadow – photo by Dirk Lindner

Photos: Vanessa Carlton @ Tractor Tavern

Posted on 01/20/2016 by Kirk

The 30-something audience formed a line outside the Tractor well before doors. Several hours later, Vanessa Carlton took the stage. She started off with a few oldies, then essentially played her new and fifth album, Liberman, start to finish. And while not on the set list in front of me at her feet – and maybe a tease – Vanessa wrapped up the set with her debut single, “A Thousand Miles,” which reached the top five on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2002 and was nominated for a Grammy. She wrapped up the evening with a two-song encore without leaving the stage. Skye Steele opened and accompanied Vanessa on keys, guitar, fiddle and vocals during her set.

VanessaCarlton_Tractor_KRS_1