The expressive and talented Janelle Monáe charmed fans at Showbox SoDo last Wednesday. Three albums into her career, she’s been nominated for – and won – many awards. She’s also one wonderful COVERGIRL. With her was label mate and musical collaborator Roman GianArthur. All photos by Dana Pleasant:
Janelle Monáe
Roman GianArthur
I shot Charli’s set for the first (and second!) time at SXSW in March and knew that I had to cover her show in Seattle. Originally scheduled to be here in early September for Bumbershoot, Charli XCX instead took advantage of the opportunity to go on tour with Paramore in the UK. Fortunately she was able to reschedule and was here as the headliner at Neumos this past week. LIZ and Kitten opened.
Charlie XCX
Kitten
LIZ
I personally had never heard of Aryon Jones and The Way until recently when my friend Mike brought them to my attention and let me tell you, they are a fantastic discovery!
Ayron Jones (Ayron Jones on vocals and lead guitar, DeAndre Enrico on bass , Kai Van DePitte on drums) absolutely tore up Neumos with his fast, bluesy guitar riffs while whipping the sold out crowd into a lathered frenzy. Ayron’s energy and talent was something that I haven’t seen come out of Seattle in a long time and it was an absolute treat to be a part of it.
Jones appeared to be heavily influenced by Kurt Cobain and Jimi Hendrix. Jones surfed the crowd with his guitar wailing the way Cobain did, and, like Hendrix he physically abused his guitar and fell to his knees at the end of “Aberdeen.” The only thing missing were the flames like when Hendrix lit his guitar on fire in 1967.
Saturday night was the debut of Ayron Jones and The Way’s new release Dream. Grammy Award-winning rapper, Sir Mix A Lot produced and launched Ayron’s record by performing as opening act to Ayron Jones and The Way. Dream is a complex mix of strong, powerful songs like “Feedin’ From the Devil’s Hands” and slower soulful songs like “My Love Remains.”
Seattle is known for such musical luminaries as Kurt Cobain, Jimi Hendrix, Chris Cornell, Quincy Jones, and Macklemore. I have no doubt that Ayron has the energy and talent to be listed alongside of them.
Ayron Jones and The Way
Sir Mix-A Lot
Photographer: John Rudolph
Katharine McPhee, best-known for her singing on American Idol and acting on Smash, played to a near-capacity crowd at the Snoqualmie Casino last week. Singing numerous songs from Smash, covers, as well as her several studio albums, the audience thoroughly enjoyed McPhee and gave her standing ovations both before and after the encore. After the first two songs, McPhee acknowledged her grandmother was in the audience and the two of them exchanged some playful banter. A few songs later, grandma was escorted by security to one of the few empty seats – front row, center.
Katharine McPhee
Little Comets, from Newcastle upon Tyne in the United Kingdom were at the Vera Project in August with Portland, Oregon’s the Ecstatics as openers. The English trio, made up of two brothers Robert Coles and Michael Coles plus Matthew Hall, opted to self-produce their second album, Life Is Elsewhere. All photos by Simon Krane:
Little Comets
The Ecstatics