Photos and Review: Ayron Jones and The Way with Sir Mix-A-Lot @ Neumos

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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.

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Photographer: John Rudolph

Photos: Katharine McPhee @ Snoqualmie Casino

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.

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Photos: Little Comets & Ecstatics @ the Vera Project

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:

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Kat Edmonson @ the Triple Door

In her first visit to Seattle, Kat Edmonson performed with guitarist Steve Elliot at the Triple Door — one of the city’s classiest venues and one befitting her throwback jazz vocal stylings. As the audience dined in the dimly lit lounge, Kat commented that the tinkling of silverware brought her back to the early days of her singing career when she performed jazz standards for diners at steakhouses in her native Austin, Texas. While most of her set drew from her Kickstarted album, Way Down Low, it also included an audience requested cover of the The Cure’s “Just Like Heaven” via a bottle of champagne strategically placed stage left.

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Photos: Io Echo @ Neumos

Io Echo made a stop at Neumos this week after performances at Coachella and Lollapalozza earlier in the year. The indie rock band formed by Ioanna Gika and Leopold Ross are touring in support of their debut album, Ministry of Love. Io Echo also composed the score to the Harmony Korine + James Franco film Rebel.

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