The third semifinals for this year’s EMP Sound Off! brought winner Emma Lee Toyoda just one step closer to winning the entire competition. One Above Below None, Mystery Machines and Righteous Minds made it through as well to the finals. By the way, Mystery Machines have a song called “Vlad Putin,” who has apparently moved into music muse. Okay! Well done, everyone.
All photos by Simon Krane:
Emma Lee Toyoda
Mystery Machines
One Above Below None
Righteous Minds
Marty Balin @ the Triple Door, 6/13/15
Show Review & Photos by Dagmar
Marty Balin
One of the world’s great singers and songwriters, Marty Balin made a rare appearance at Seattle’s Triple Door in June. I’m a big fan, so I was super excited to be able to see Balin live, and to see him in such a beautiful venue. In my interview with Balin ahead of the show, I mentioned how Jefferson Airplane’s Surrealistic Pillow was given to me as a present (one of the best I ever got), and a couple of that present’s songs (“Comin’ Back to Me” and “Today”) were done live that evening.
While Balin dug deep into his catalogue, he also played songs that were instantly recognizable to the audience such as “Miracles” and “Hearts” (although I am pretty sure everyone in the sold-out venue was also a big fan, and knew every song). One guy kept shouting out for “Miracles,” while another, in the front row saluted Balin numerous times. Also excellent were Balin’s solo songs “Goddess,” “Sheherazade,” “Superman” and “The Stripper” (where Balin stepped out from behind guitar and did some dancing). A big surprise was Jefferson Airplane’s later song, “Summer of Love,” which sounded very cool. Thematically it bookended well with one of the Airplane’s earliest songs, “Come Up the Years,” which came near the end of his set. Balin talked about the background of that song, based on the all ages shows promoter Bill Graham would have Jefferson Airplane play in the afternoon to get as much as he could out of the band. Unfortunately, one of Balin’s young fans was only fourteen years old, so she had some aging to do before he could even think of having anything to do with her – thus, “Come Up the Years.”
Some evidence that Balin’s and Jefferson Airplane’s music has made it to newer music fans was a couple, perhaps in their ’30s, who listened to “Comin’ Back to Me” at their table, with their faces touching, cheeks side by side. And among the night’s surprises was Donovan’s “Fat Angel,” from Jefferson Airplane’s live album, Bless Its Pointed Little Head. Fly Jefferson Airplane gets you there on time, yeah! Marty Balin: thank you, and you’re glorious!
Marty Balin
Got some shots from the Pride Afterparty Benefit Show feat. Nightspace, Aeon Fux, Seaside Tryst, Celibacy Now at Vera Project to share with you!
Showgoers
Aeon Fux
Chi & Friends
Very helpful Vera Volunteers
Group Gathering at Vera
Cotton Candy Pals
Styled.
Joe R. DJ Set
On March 11th, Coal Chamber headlined Showbox at the Market, apparently setting that venue on fire. The metal band reunited in 2011, with singer B. Dez Fafara and guitarist Miguel Rascón staying in the group from the very beginning. Coal Chamber will spend all summer of 2015 on tour of North America!
For openers, Filter (described as neu industrial) and Combichrist (created by Norwegian Andy LaPlegua) kicked things off.
All photos by Alex Crick:
Coal Chamber
Combichrist
Filter
The constantly hot Rick Springfield performed his Stripped Down tour set at the Neptune in March (okay, pictures are little late; it’s taken me a while to recover). Springfield, a really awesome guitarist, who has played guitar since was very young, began his craft in Australia. You may have forgotten he’s Australian. By the time his true breakthrough album, Working Class Dog, came out, he’d already released four albums. For his Stripped Down tour, he performed just with his guitar, and talked to the audience about his life, his experiences in acting, and how he dedicated the song “Love Somebody” from Hard to Hold, to his beautiful co-star, Patti Hansen. He also mentioned how her husband, Keith Richards, visited the movie set to be sure nothing untoward was happening. Love you, Rick! You’re awesome to hear and you made the evening feel like just a cool hangout!
Rick Springfield – all photos by Dagmar
