Yuna, a singer-songwriter from Malaysia, was one of the first acts of this year’s Bumbershoot. Yuna – who is also a lawyer – released her U.S. debut, Nocturnal, in 2012. All photos by Simon Krane and Kirk Stauffer:
Yuna – photos by Kirk Stauffer
Yuna – photos by Simon Krane
Yuna – photos by Kirk Stauffer
Yuna – photos by Simon Krane
Yuna – photos by Kirk Stauffer
Yuna – photos by Simon Krane
Kawehi, Julia Massey & Susy Sun @ Barboza, 8/25/14
Show Review & Photos by Michelle Woods
Kawehi
One-woman musician and performer, Kawehi (aka: I am Kawehi), headlined on a Monday night at Barboza and drew in a very engaged crowd. A live looping artist and musician, Hawaiian native who is currently living in LA, Kawehi looped and layered live, using vocals, beat boxing, body percussion, an electronic keyboard, guitar, a looping machine, and a laptop computer. She started out each song by building upon a foundation of live background loops (vocals, percussion, instrumentation) and layered them into song – a practice that prevails amongst artists in the electronic digital genre.
Kawehi did an impressive mashup as she interpreted and drew a connection between seemingly unrelated songs (Gotye’s “Somebody That I Used To Know,” Britney Spears’s “Toxic,” and Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin'” to name a few). Her mashup started by laying the foundation, which consisted of recording her own background vocals “oooooohs,” a finger snapping loop, and a bass riff loop. She then created a live musical collage using these same background loops as she slid from song to song.
Along these same lines, she performed a multitude of covers – the audience unsure which song she was re-creating until it all pieced together. She did one hell of a badass cover of Nirvana’s “Heart Shaped Box,” and the provocatively industrial NIN’s “Closer.” The audience sang alongside as she sang Michael Jackson’s “The Way You Make Me Feel” and Elvis Presley’s “Can’t Help Falling in Love.”
Her talent is not lost merely in cover songs. She also writes her own songs and has an EP out called Robot Heart. She opened the set with “Like Her,” and performed other songs throughout her set from the album, including the album title “Robot Heart” and “Anthem.” Her sound has R&B pop influences, and as described above, she pulls you in layer by layer as her voice invites you further with her sweet vocal innocence.
I was impressed by her live performance as she pulled me in with each layer of sounds and vocals, her amazing beat boxing, and her occasional climactic vocal projections. Kawehi, who terms herself “I am Kawehi” does indeed know who she is. She knows what she’s doing and she’s clearly enjoying it.
Kawehi
Seattle-based vocalist and keyboardist Julia Massey – along with Drummer Dominic Cortese – opened for Kawehi. Normally a trio with bassist Geoff B. Gibbs, that night they performed as a duo. Several days later it was announced that Gibbs would be leaving the band. That might explain why he wasn’t there. Nevertheless, Massey and Cortese entertained us with a raw and upbeat set. They performed one of my favorite songs, the tropical and resonant “Sri Ma” from the album Five Letters from Far Away. They also performed new songs from their soon to be released album, A.L.I.T.E., two of which are now additional favorites of mine: the lyrically purposeful and melodic “The Story of the Earth So Far” and “Nuclear Disarmament.” It was great being able to hear some of their new songs live, and even though they were missing one of their band members, their performance turned out to be a very electro, dreamy, and moving show!
And you can pick up the new album, A.L.I.T.E. at their CD release party on November 8th at Conor Byrne. It’s apparent new things are in store!
Julia Massey
Singer-songwriter Susy Sun, also from Seattle, started out the evening’s lineup. This was my first time ever hearing and seeing her. I was impressed by her classical piano playing, her heartfelt songwriting and soft voice. Susy is trained in classical piano and so it’s no wonder she decided to forgo her stint at Microsoft to pursue her musical career and passion. Violinist Andrew Joslyn played alongside her. I was instantly impressed by his talent and how his classical playing infused an emotional dreamland alongside Susy’s piano. The set included the heartfelt and sad songs “Down” and “Love Thing,” as well as a cover of Savage Garden’s “Truly, Madly, Deeply.” Keep an eye out for Susy Sun; she’s definitely going somewhere!
Susy Sun
Magic Man @ the Crocodile, 7/15/14
Show Review & Photos by Dagmar
Magic Man‘s Alex Caplow
An all-ages show can be a really cool experience. The fans are usually open to new things, and they’ve got an enthusiasm for music adults sometimes lose. The fans are sometimes more expressive. This was definitely the case when fans of Boston’s Magic Man were able to enjoy the band’s first Seattle headlining show at the Crocodile. Magic Man’s very first show in Seattle was opening for New Politics, and they appeared already to have their own fan base.
If all music on earth had to be wiped out except for one genre, I’d most likely plump for any type of music involving a synthesizer to survive. So I’m coming at this band and show with a definite bias. I waited in a sold-out, non-airconditioned room for three and a half hours to see this quintet. I found a perch, and loved every minute of their awesome set. The lighting really only allowed me to get photos of singer Alex Caplow (hey, I will never complain about taking photos of him); forgive me if I show a bias in this article. Caplow’s got a super stage presence and. . . magical voice. He’s made to be a rockstar.
The band’s set list drew from their fresh debut, Before the Waves, an album I’d urge you to get. Songs such as “Paris,” “Texas,” and “Catherine” just soar damn high, on record or live. As part of their encore, Magic Man performed a cover of Bruce Springsteen’s “Dancing in the Dark,” a song I’ve always had mixed feelings about. But when Magic Man did it? Really nice.
Don’t trust me? You can decide for yourself when they open for Smallpools at the Neptune on November 24th.
Magic Man
Heart @ Showbox at the Market, 9/18/14
Show Review & Photos by John Rudolph
Thursday night, September 18th was an extremely good night. I had the privilege of seeing Rock and Roll Hall of Famers, Heart play for the second time this year. Heart rocked an intimate yet enthusiastic crowd at the 75th anniversary of the Showbox at the Market. Heart and the raucous Seattle crowd have clearly had a long relationship, where the adoration goes both ways.
Seattle natives Heart have rocked the music scene since the ’70s. They haven’t lost any of what has made them so popular over the last 40 years – if anything they’ve just gotten better. Ann’s voice is still one of the best in music and Nancy’s lead guitar work and stage craft are timeless.
As you would expect, the Wilson sisters soulfully played their most popular hits. For their encore, Heart played a tribute to Led Zeppelin with 3 fantastic performances. Their Zeppelin covers are some of the best I‘ve ever heard. It was an amazing experience seeing such a talented and powerful band in such a historic venue.
Heart
I finished my last day at Capitol Hill Block Party catching three local bands, and a bit of the War on Drugs‘ soundcheck. You read that right: the War on Drugs’ soundcheck. That band was running at least 45 minutes behind schedule (I don’t know when the time schedule got thrown off, might have had nothing to do with them), and though I wanted to get pix of them, after standing in the sun for over an hour I just lost my strength. I did see a lot of Ricky & Mark, a rap/synth band (or as they call it: rappa comma everything). I also saw Gibraltar at the Barboza Stage and Haunted Horses at the Cha Cha Stage. I enjoyed all the acts, and was especially glad to see Haunted Horses, whose sonic weirdness went well with the Cha Cha Lounge’s strange walls and bloody red lights.
Ricky & Mark
Gibraltar
Haunted Horses
The War on Drugs – all photos by Dagmar