ZZ Ward and her band – Erick Walls (guitar), Shadarrius Shields (bass) and Chris Patt (drums) – played at a very packed Neptune Theatre this week. The Seattle stop was one of many sold-out shows during their current Last Love Tour, in support of the debut album, Til the Casket Drops. Born Zsuzsanna Eva Ward, the Oregon native graced the stage in her signature fedora. The O Mys! And GRIZFOLK opened.
ZZ Ward
GRIZFOLK
The O Mys!
Straight from several shows at SXSW and an appearance on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, London Grammar played at a sold-out show at Neumos on Saturday. Fronted by Hannah Reid (vocals), Dan Rothman (guitar) and Dominic ‘Dot’ Major (keyboard, drums) add some great harmonies. They are currently touring the US in support of their album, If You Wait. Norwegian group HighasaKite opened.
London Grammar
HighasaKite
Iska Dhaaf, Don’t Talk to the Cops & Stickers @ Neumos, March 13th 2014
Show Review & Photos by Abby Williamson
I’m actually writing this from across the street from Neumos, so it’s fitting that this is about Iska Dhaaf’s show at Neumos. I find myself recycling ideas when writing about shows lately – but that might be because so many of the shows I’ve covered have featured at least one or more of the same people. This one is no different. After
his solo record release at the Triple Door, Benjamin Verdoes, joined by Nathan Quiroga as Iska Dhaaf had their album release a week later at Neumos. So many new albums coming out of Seattle, it’s crazy.
Iska Dhaaf
Opening said show was another group of locals – Stickers, and it was definitely the first time I’ve – wait, my mistake – the second time I’ve seen a saxophone utilized in a rock show. The other time was last month when I saw Cataldo. Stickers had a gritty, simple sound. Think shoegaze without the ethereal overtones and add a bursting saxophone. That’s what Stickers was.
Next up was Don’t Talk To The Cops, the dance hip-hop b-boy b-girl party rockers. That’s the best way to describe them honestly. It was undeniably fun and catchy, and a perfect way to bring up the energy about 200% before Iska Dhaaf’s closing set. My favorite part was that Don’t Talk To The Cops made it impossible for anyone to
forget their name, since the DJ pressed that button on his turntable at least a dozen times. At least. It went from being a regular rock show to ’90s night at a dance club, and it was kind of awesome.
But then it got really awesome, when the duo of Verdoes and Quiroga took the stage. Elaborate lights shined upon a fantastic collaboration of local musicians that have been making music for over 10 years combined between the two of them. While there was no physical album to release that night (but from what I’ve heard, the album art is going to be epic), the sonic release of this thing into the atmosphere was stellar. The highlights of the night were the retro pop hints of “Everybody Knows,” the haunting vocals of “Happiness,” and the grandiose “Same Indifference.” Iska Dhaaf and Brick Lane Records certainly have a hit on their hands, and I was happy to be there to witness the initial spark.
Iska Dhaaf
Don’t Talk to the Cops
Stickers
Always happy for their return to Seattle, Celtic Woman brought their Emerald World Tour 2014 to the Comcast Arena last week. With a slight change in members since last year, vocalists Susan McFadden, Máiréad Carlin and Lynn Hilary, along with fiddler Máiréad Nesbitt, delighted the audience with a broad variety of modern-day numbers and customary Celtic tunes. A five-member backing orchestra and six dancers/singers rounded out the cast.
(L-R) Máiréad Nesbitt, Lynn Hilary, Máiréad Carlin and Susan McFadden
Celtic Woman
I had the great opportunity of enjoying Kings of Leon at KeyArena on Friday night as a music fan instead of as a working photographer. Armed with a small pocket camera instead of my full camera bag, my wife and I were joined by Trista and Herb Siltman for a wonderful dinner and a very entertaining show.
Aside from the veil of very colorful lights, Caleb, Nathan, Jared, and Matthew liked a very dark stage, which made it difficult to see them playing. I liked the music first approach but it’s also nice to see the musicians pouring their heart and soul in their performance.
The buzz from everyone around us was about how tight the band sounded and how vivid the light show was. The Kings of Leon faithful were really enjoying themselves, singing and dancing through the 26-song set list. The band played a combination of older songs and new ones from their recent release, Mechanical Bull.
It really was a great show and one that I will definitely catch again the next time they are in town.
Kings of Leon
Photographer: John Rudolph