Noelle Bean – who simply goes by Bean – played at the Neptune Theatre last week as part of the iHeart Radio On The Rise Tour. Accompanied by a DJ, Bean played guitar on several songs and had a lot of interaction with the audience. She wrapped up her set with “Rollercoaster,” the single off her new EP with the same name. Colette Carr also performed with dancers Nicole Russo and Monica Douglas.
Bean
Colette Carr
Bumbershoot – Day 1 w/ the Lonely Forest
Show Review by Abby Williamson
Photos by Simon Krane, Kirk Stauffer & Abby Williamson
The Lonely Forest‘s John Van Deusen – photo by Abby Williamson
This whole story may sound like déjà vu, and that’s because it is.
I thought the last time I was going to see the Lonely Forest was at the Sasquatch Festival back in May, but then I was able to go to Bumbershoot too. So my cryfest at Sasquatch was a bit unfounded, but I’m glad I was there for the band’s last show.
The Lonely Forest have been a mainstay at Bumbershoot over the years, so it’s fitting that their last show was on the lawn in the Seattle Center, surrounded by their peers in the music scene, families, and fans – like me – that have been with them for a long time.
The Lonely Forest – photo by Simon Krane
Amidst the sincere and emotional banter that John, Tony, Eric, and Braydn shared, they went out with nothing less than a bang. Playing new hits, old favorites, and everything Seattle has grown to love over the last nine years. The crowd howled along to “Coyote,” wailed on “Two Pink Pills,” a song about Benadryl, and carried both Tony and John through some epic crowd surfing.
For being a 3 p.m. set, they made it seem to go all night, all while feeling painfully short. I – as well as the crying fans in the front row – didn’t want it to end. They closed the set with “We Sing In Time,” the song we all think of when we think of the Lonely Forest. I – for one – thank those guys for letting the photographers stay in the pit the whole time. So many of us shared the same feelings with the people in the front row that we didn’t want to miss any of it. I know for a fact that I wasn’t the only one crying. You know who you are. The Lonely Forest was the first show I photographed five years ago, and I was able to be there for their last show. Perfect, isn’t it?
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I’ve been listening through the Lonely Forest’s catalogue over the last few weeks and I noticed something so brilliantly poignant and coincidental that it gave me monster chills when I heard it. The last album, Adding Up The Wasted Hours is not only an amalgamation of the band’s last nine years, but it’s also a goodbye, even if they didn’t know it when they recorded it. So I hope that I can speak for everyone in the crowd that day, and the crowds over the years when I say: the Lonely Forest, oh what a beautiful way you wasted our time.
The Lonely Forest – photos by Kirk Stauffer
The Lonely Forest – photos by Simon Krane
The Lonely Forest – photos by Abby Williamson
The Lonely Forest Also played the KEXP Lounge – photos by Simon Krane
The Lonely Forest – photos by Simon Krane
Walking Papers, the Mothership & Tango Alpha Tango @ the Crocodile, 9/19/14
Review by Ira Leonard
Photos by Dagmar
Duff McKagan & Jeff Angell of Walking Papers
On Friday, September 19th, a sold out audience at the Crocodile Café bore witness to the triumphant return of Walking Papers, featuring some of the Pacific Northwest’s most accomplished musical sons. The Seattle-based supergroup, which consists of vocalist/guitarist Jeff Angell (the Missionary Position), bassist Duff McKagan (Guns N’ Roses, Velvet Revolver), drummer Barrett Martin (Screaming Trees, Mad Season, Queens of the Stone Age), and keyboardist Benjamin Anderson (also an alumnus of the Missionary Position) delivered a swaggering, incendiary performance that included all eleven songs from their self-titled debut album, peppered with a few more recent compositions as well. And, unlike many other “supergroups,” who collapse almost immediately under the weight of the individual egos of their members, Walking Papers appears to function as a real band capable of writing memorable songs that stand on their own merit rather than merely resting on the laurels of their respective former bands.
Jeff Angell of Walking Papers
I will preface my review by freely admitting to one personal bias: I am a HUGE fan of the organ in rock and roll. From Billy Preston to Al Kooper to Ray Manzarek, the kaleidoscopic sound of the organ, when tastefully applied, can hover like the Holy Ghost above the rest of the instruments and provide just a touch of the sacred in an arena typically dominated by the profane. In addition to the fine work of Benjamin Anderson, the opening band Tango Alpha Tango also provided a bit of soulful organ grit to go along with the Zeppelinesque brand of blues rock served up by this young, but impressive Portland-based ensemble. They were followed by the Mothership, a Seattle outfit with a gift for writing extended form compositions that meld elements of psychedelia, stoner metal, and progressive rock into a compelling hybrid.
Tango Alpha Tango‘s Nathan Trueb
Johndus Beckman of the Mothership
Though this was an all ages show, the audience was overwhelmingly comprised of thirty-somethings and above. So when Duff McKagan led Walking Papers onto the stage, the low-slung bass guitar and artfully disheveled mane of blond hair were instantly recognizable to those like me, who had spent many an adolescent summer’s afternoon wearing out our cassette tape copy of Appetite For Destruction. Though McKagan garners the most name recognition of the group, Duff, as he did in Guns N’ Roses, seems content to play the role of sideman and de facto musical director while letting a charismatic frontman be the star of the show. And Jeff Angell did just that. A consummate showman, the lithe, fedora-donning Angell cut an onstage figure that seemed equal parts Jack Skellington and Izzy Stradlin as he coaxed a bevy of Stonesy rock licks from his Les Paul Custom Black Beauty. The ethereal organ playing of Benjamin Anderson provided the perfect bed for Angell’s guitar lines. On few songs was the interplay between the two musicians more symbiotic than on the rootsy “Leave Me in the Dark,” a standout track from the group’s debut album that was a highlight of this show as well. From there, the band launched into “Red Envelopes,” an uptempo rocker in the tradition of “Highway Star” by Deep Purple. Throughout the course of the evening, Jeff Angell was on point when it came to playing the guitar AND playing the audience, a necessary skill for any lead singer. At various points he lent the microphone to someone in the front row and let them sing a line or two. During a song entitled “The Butcher” he left the stage entirely, walked all the way through the crowd, and ended up finishing the number on top of the bar to the delight of those who could not get a spot in front of the stage. Barrett Martin was stellar behind the drum kit as well. A musician equally comfortable in rock and jazz drumming techniques, his nuanced cymbal work provided just the right groove on “Already Dead.” Walking Papers closed out the night with a spirited rendition of “Your Secret’s Safe With Me.” They returned to the stage for one encore “A Place Like This,” which was the lone song they had in their catalogue that they hadn’t already played. It is always a great night for rock and roll when both the audience and the band leave the venue wanting more.
Walking Papers
The Mothership
Tango Alpha Tango
Sloan (Jay Ferguson / Chris Murphy / Patrick Pentland / Andrew Scott) played some good ole Rock and Roll at the Tractor Tavern in Ballard on Monday night. Like most of you, I didn’t know anything about Sloan but they are immensely talented and accomplished. Originating from Halifax, Nova Scotia, they (according to a Chart Magazine readers poll) have some of the best albums ever recorded by a Canadian band. Super fan “Bruce” told me to watch how they share songwriting and instruments.
Yep, Andrew Scott and Chris Murphy switched drums, guitar, and vocal duties. This brought a fun fresh twist to the show that the crowd really appreciated it. They played songs from their new record, Commonwealth and from their old records like Twice Removed and Peppermint.
So what do they sound like? My thoughts were of 1970s California rock. I was struck by how each member of Sloan could really sing. They are each so talented.
Sloan
Photographer: John Rudolph
“Spirit,” the new song from New Orleans-based Luxley, is now out for the public! Luxley’s debut EP, which will be called Spirit, releases in early 2015 – the earlier the better as far as I am concerned. He’s got a cool, twinkling electronic sound with very pretty melodies, and he is joined by Royal Teeth’s singer, Nora Patterson in “Spirit.” Enjoy.
Luxley – photo by Daniel Waghorne