Photos and Review: Tori Kelly @ Neptune Theatre

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Tori Kelly @ the Neptune Theatre, 6/5/15
Show Review & Photos by Kirk Stauffer

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Tori Kelly

The Where I Belong Tour stop in Seattle started with loud screams and shouts of “I love you Tori!,” “I love your hair!” and “Tori, Tori, Tori!.” I’ve seen Tori Kelly several times before – solo, just a girl with a guitar – but her 4-member band added a whole new dimension to her music and gave her the freedom to make the complete stage her own. She would frequently prance from one corner to the other with the crowd stretching their arms forward as she went by. Her voice was amazing!

Tori mainly played songs from her upcoming album, Unbreakable Smile, due to be released on June 23. This will be her first LP, following several successful EPs. She also played a few songs that made her famous on YouTube. About half way through, the band left the stage for 10 minutes while she played and sang on her own. Included during this part of the show was “Paper Hearts,” where she stepped away from the mic and let the audience sing … they knew every word. She also did a great rendition of “Crazy” by Seal, which was followed by the obligatory 15 second crowd video. What a terrific show!

Husband and wife team Us The Duo (Michael and Carissa Alvarado) opened and were a great complement to Tori’s music.

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Tori Kelly

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Us The Duo

Show Preview: DMA’s @ Barboza, Th. 6/18

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The instantly-attractive song “Laced,” by Australia trio DMA’s (that’s no typo – that’s how they spell their name), came to my attention quite recently. I wish I’d heard these guys earlier, but now that I know them, I will appreciate them greatly. Originally I was going to feature the video for “Laced” on its own, and then I got more into this band and kept listening. So I was really happy to see they’re playing here on Thursday, at Barboza, where you can be kind of close and personal.

Get the pesky Oasis comparisons out of the way. Since I am an Oasis fan, I’ll admit that might have given this band an edge in my will-I-or-will-I-not listen to them. And that’s just fine. Obviously DMA’s are their own band, and come up with their own cool songs. Based on their debut, named after themselves, which just came out in May (yay!), that ’60s sound bleeding into the ’90s is alive and very well. It’s a little spooky NME called them Britpop revivalists (what?? Britpop never dies!!), but I’ll take it. And dig it.

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DMA’s – Photo by McLean Stephenson

Fan Review and Photos: Andrea Bocelli in Vancouver

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Andrea Bocelli

My wife and I had the rare opportunity of seeing legendary opera singer Andrea Bocelli from the 13th row at Rogers Arena in Vancouver, B.C. While not opera aficionados, we thoroughly enjoyed his show. Bocelli took the stage gracefully and his voice was sublime.

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Andrea Bocelli

Andrea Bocelli performed with the Vancouver Symphony and a 50-piece choir. Bocelli was joined by soprano Maria Aleida for the first set and by Tony Award-winner Heather Headey for the second. Both women were spectacular.

Bocelli ended the show with his version of Elvis Presley’s “Love Me Tender.” According to Stuart Derdeyn of The Vancouver Sun, nobody sings Elvis like Andrea Bocelli.

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Andrea Bocelli

Photos: Refused & White Lung @ the Crocodile

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One day, specifically May 30th, Refused, a hardcore band from a place called Umeå, in Sweden, headlined the Crocodile. And the show looked dangerous indeed. The group, gearing up for the release of its fourth album, Freedom (ready on June 30th), has had quite the rotating lineup. However, the current lineup includes original members Dennis Lyxzén (vocals), David Sandström (drums) and Kristofer Steen (guitar). Basically it’s an awesome reunion. A cool FYI: Lyxzén was voted Sexiest Man in Sweden by Elle Magazine in 2004. Sounds good!

Opening the night was Canada’s White Lung! All photos by Paul Israel:

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The Refused

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White Lung