Bumbershoot – Day 1 w/ Big Freedia

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Bumbershoot – Day 1 w/ Big Freedia
Show Review by Abby Williamson
Photos by Abby Williamson & Simon Krane

I’m not one to get easily shocked, especially when it comes to music. The only time I can remember being even close to offended was when Die Antwoord spit on photographers during a show, so when Big Freedia stepped out on stage with so much booty in our faces, I was caught off guard. Granted, I know Big Freedia meant twerking (in fact, a friend of mine from Brooklyn used to be one of the twerkers), but datum.

Besides the booty, Big Freedia brought the “bounce” to Bumbershoot that day. It was the perfect level of energy for the early afternoon. It might not be your cup of tea, but the crowd drank it all up, so to speak. Twerking wasn’t the only move happening up there – those dancers had skills. And I’ve got the photos to prove it.

Seattle doesn’t do “normal,” so Big Freedia’s brand of hip-hop was fast, loud, and refreshing. For any passersby heading to the Starbucks Mural Stage, it might have been too much, but Big Freedia certainly lives up to her name.

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Big Freedia – photos by Abby Williamson

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Big Freedia – photos by Simon Krane

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Big Freedia – photos by Abby Williamson

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Big Freedia – photos by Simon Krane

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Big Freedia – photos by Abby Williamson

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Big Freedia – photos by Simon Krane

Photos: Basia Bulat @ Columbia City Theater

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One of my favorite Canadian singer-songwriters, Basia Bulat, played a solo set at the Columbia City Theater last week. Bulat has been touring with Bahamas, and the Seattle show was their last stop as well as a sold out show. Her unique voice combined with the talent to play a variety of instruments – guitar, autoharp, charango and pocket piano – make her a real treat to see live. Bulat’s beautiful folk music can be heard on three studio albums, the most recent being Tall Tall Shadow.

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Basia Bulat

Photos: Rey Pila @ the Paramount

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Rey Pila made their first ever Seattle appearance in September, when they opened for Interpol. The quartet from Mexico City, Mexico, put on a cool set with several songs recalling dark ’80s pop. Singer Diego Solórzano has quite the voice: a bit of David Bowie, a bit of Bryan Ferry. 2010’s self-titled Rey Pila debut sounds different from many of the new songs, with Solórzano’s voice coming off stronger in songs such as “Alexander.” All photos by Dagmar:

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Rey Pila

More Photos of Rey Pila @ the Paramount

Show Review & Photos: Swans w/ Carla Bozulich @ Showbox at the Market

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Swans with special guest Carla Bozulich, 9/4/2014
Review by Nick Nihil
Photos by Dagmar

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Swans‘ Michael Gira

Carla Bozulich has always been an odd one. I mean that in the best way. Touring with a trio, which she says is incredibly difficult for her material, she began the show hopping around on stage as a menacing loop starts. If that sounds conflicting that’s because it was.

“Is my head bleeding?” she inquired after the first couple of songs.

“Play guitar! It’s awesome!” She retorted to herself.

Throughout the set, one of her band members moved back and forth from percussion to electric musical saw, at one point doubling her vocal melody, producing one of the most enthralling sonic affectations of the evening.

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Carla Bozulich

Swans built their set off of mostly new material, presumably for the next record. When they called upon material already released, they never went further back than The Seer. Their new material took a bit longer to unfold than the material on To Be Kind and The Seer. “Frankie M” opened the show with untold minutes of hypnotic percussion work, moving to a full band drone, and climaxing in a full but non-brutal way. Being at the foot of the stage I could watch Gira directly above, with his intense glares, smirks, and silent gestures. Those cued his charges, and he often lost himself in spasmodic dances, speaking in tongues like a Pentecostal raising of the spirits. Another new one, “Don’t Go” was the most delicate and beautiful of the night. If the new material hints at the overall direction of the new record, I’d say expect a quieter, mournful and melodic affair.

Both Carla Bozulich and Swans have developed over the years a distinct ability to take traditional folk and blues, collapse the forms on themselves, and reconstruct them into visions that uniquely mirror people’s divisions of sacred and profane, the tainting of one with the other, and the desire for the other when embracing one. Much like the saw, whose original purpose was destroyed and reappropriated, these two artists are masters of taking sound and form, ripping them from their original aesthetic and purpose, and infusing them with an entirely different mission and vitality. These are two of our most important artists working today. Ignore at your own loss.

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Carla Bozulich

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Carla Bozulich & Michael Gira

More Photos of Swans @ Showbox at the Market
More Photos of Carla Bozulich @ Showbox at the Market

Show Review & Photos: Kitten @ the Vera Project

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Kitten @ the Vera Project, 7/22/14
Show Review & Photos by Dagmar

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Kitten

This summer the Vera Project in Seattle had a thrilling headliner from California: Kitten. This band has singer Chloe Chaidez – an absolute superstar – at its helm. Chaidez, who co-writes all Kitten’s songs, performs as few people I have seen. For star quality, I’d put her up there with Mick Jagger. You might say, what? Jagger? Someone who could match Jagger? She’s a stunning presence, embracing a room with a set of pipes that could destroy you, and dance moves to match. I’ll interchangeably refer to Chaidez and the band as Kitten, so pardon any confusion that may cause.

Though still very young, Chaidez has been at this thing called music for quite a long time. For her July show she performed a huge, and enjoyable, group of songs. This year’s self-titled debut, Kitten, includes, among newer songs, several from her prior releases (3 already!), Like a Stranger, Cut It Out, and Sunday School My only complaint is that “Japanese Eyes” is not on the new album. She did, however, perform it at the show, plus some of my other favorites such as “Cut It Out,” “Like a Stranger,” “G#,” “I’ll Be Your Girl,” “Yesterday,” and “Sensible.” A trained gymnast, Chaidez pounced all over the stage.

She’ll open for Gary Numan this fall, which includes a set at Seattle’s Neptune on October 28th. I encourage you to check her out. Chaidez is someone that, if everything in the world aligns with her, should have a mega future.

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More Photos of Kitten @ the Vera Project