The Welsh alternative rock band, The Joy Formidable, made a stop during the second leg of their US tour at the Neptune Theater last week. Fronted by Ritzy Bryan (guitar, vocals), with childhood friend Rhydian Dafydd (bass, vocals) and Matt Thomas (drums), they are on the road in support of their second LP, Wolf’s Law.
The Joy Formidable
Duff McKagan @ the Moore, 3/26
Show Review & Photos by Dagmar
“It’s so easy, easy/when everybody’s tryin’ to please me baby” are lyrics in Guns N’ Roses track , It’s So Easy, off their 1987 debut, Appetite for Destruction. Guns N’ Roses bassist Duff McKagan chose the track as the title for his 2011 autobiography, It’s So Easy: and other Lies, a remarkable and compelling work. There’s really no other album like Appetite for Destruction, an album that swooshes, and includes several huge hits you have to like at the least, including “Welcome to the Jungle,” “Paradise City,” and “Sweet Child O’ Mine.”
Duff McKagan
Guns N’ Roses smartly arranged writing credits for all five members, and though this was accurate, it did not stop other problems from arising. Though McKagan left Seattle in the early ‘80s to avoid the ubiquitous drug scene, drugs became a problem for the band – and McKagan. By the time of Use Your Illusion I and Use Your Illusion II, and then “The Spaghetti Incident?,” drugs were a really big problem. For McKagan, until drugs hurt his bass playing, he felt he could handle it. But then the drugs damaged his playing. His fingers cracked and bled from dehydration, he couldn’t keep in time. McKagan does not shy from talking about anything in It’s So Easy, and his fluid writing style added with this honesty makes for gripping reading. For his reading on Tuesday evening, which began with a cool slideshow of his interests and influences, McKagan picked an excellent selection from the book, perfect to share in the beautiful environment.
For Tuesday’s reading the Moore’s stage was decorated with lovely candelabras holding red, lit candles and a gorgeous chandelier. Bathed in mostly red light, wearing a drape style suit, McKagan connected with the audience in an intense way. He made eye contact, stood several times and got us clapping to the music. Oh, and he received many standing ovations. Talented musicians, including a string section, played softly along McKagan’s readings the songs “Patience,” “November Rain,” “Sweet Child O’ Mine,” “Paradise City,” and cover of Dylan’s “Knocking on Heaven’s Door.” McKagan read parts about his Seattle childhood, which happened fast with early shroom ingestion and young appearances at legendary punk spots such as Gorilla Gardens. When he moved to Los Angeles he eventually formed, along with Izzy Stradlin, Slash, Steven Adler, and Axl Rose, what would become Guns N’ Roses.
Duff McKagan
When McKagan read selections revealing how he coped with his drug addiction, how he felt horrible about being the sick one in the hospital while his mother was battling Parkinson’s, how he coped with becoming a good husband, father – a person – it was genuine. Audience members were hushed. Right before he read the part of his book dealing with his wife having their first child, he looked out at her with so much respect it was really moving. It was more as if a really cool guy was just up there sharing his life. Which is exactly how it was, and how he wanted it; he eschews being called a rock star.
In his book he talks about a Clash show he saw as a teenager, where the emphasis was on musicians and fans all being in this thing called music together. No fans. No musicians. Just music. Duff McKagan has formed or been in four other great bands since Guns N’ Roses, which, I think emphasizes how he is into music rather than just being known as a rock star, or “that guy from Guns N’ Roses.”
Duff McKagan
The Ocean Blue & Math and Physics Club @ the Tractor, 2/24
Show Review & Photos by Abby Williamson
I’ve seen a lot of bands in my day, and that sounds ridiculous because I’m only 23 years old, but I have. If I tried to sit down and come up with all the artists I had photographed – let alone seen play – it would take me a lot of time and brainpower to do so.
So any time I get to see a band that I don’t know anything about – it’s a bit of a feat. That’s what it was like when I saw the Ocean Blue a couple weeks ago. Seriously, between bands I Googled the Ocean Blue to see if I did actually know who they were. And I call myself an indie music fan. Slap on the wrist for me.
The Ocean Blue
I had missed the first band by the time I got there, but the second band I also knew nothing about – Math and Physics Club. Now I don’t know if it’s just me, but I was slightly underwhelmed. Not to say that Math and Physics Club was bad, but they seemed out of practice, and lacked a bit of stage presence. Like I said before, I see a lot of bands so I have a “learned palette” if you well.
The Ocean Blue, on the other hand – it seemed like old hat. And it kind of was, actually. The older crowd absolutely loved their set, and I – even knowing nothing of the band – enjoyed it as well.
As I was leaving the Tractor that night, I was a bit embarrassed that I hadn’t heard of this band that had been around since I was in utero, but it was pretty cool to know that I’d seen a band that had been around for that long. I have yet to photograph any other bands that have been playing music longer than I have been on this earth, so this was a good start.
The Ocean Blue
Math and Physics Club
Volbeat, Danko Jones & Spoken @ the Showbox, 3/22/13
Show Review & Photos by John Rudolph
When I mention Danish metal, what is the first image pops in your head? Scandinavian Black Metal, Mayhem, and burning churches? Yep me too. Volbeat, as one fan described them, is more like a cross between Metallica and Elvis. In truth, Volbeat is one of the most versatile, best sounding rock bands that I have ever heard.
When I first saw Volbeat during Gigantour in 2012 I commented that they were the surprise of the night. I was blown away by their stagecraft at the time. I was no less blown away Friday night at The Showbox when they commanded the stage and rocked the house.
It has been 3 years since Volbeat released Beyond Hell/Above Heaven. In April they will release their new record, Outlaw Gentlemen & Shady Ladies, which was produced in collaboration with new Volbeat guitarist (formally of Anthrax), Rob Caggiano. Caggiano revealed that the new album will be more guitar oriented, peppered with Country and Western influences. The lineup for the album consisted of Michael Poulsen (vocals), Jon Larsen (drums), Franz Gottschalk (guitar) and Anders Kjølholm (bass).
Michael Poulsen describes his family’s impact on his music: “When I was growing up, my dad and mother played a lot of old records – Elvis, Fats Domino, Jerry Lee Lewis and Chuck Berry. I love that stuff – it’s a drug somehow. My own record collection growing up was metal. But I listen to a lot of different styles of music. If something moves you, I don’t care what it is.”
Poulsen also states that “you can hear the influence of the Old West right from the start in “Let’s Shake Some Dust.”
Volbeat
Volbeat
In 2012 I said that Volbeat was the suprise of the night. For this show, Danko Jones was the surprise. Once they grabbed the stage, they never looked back. Danko Jones stepped up to the mic and said forcefully “Our music is about F’ing”.
Right at that moment he noticed a few young kids in the audience. Jones genuinely seemed shaken and apologized to their mother. Jones said that he wouldn’t swear anymore but that the songs still had the same meaning. He said that he would refer to F’ing as “The Process”. The crowd laughed and cheered all at once.
I have to say that the gesture was nice and Danko was a class act. His show was no less adult and exciting.
Django Django @ the Neptune
Show Review & Photos by Dagmar
Yes, Django Django’s show in Seattle was astonishing. The British quartet hit the Neptune as headliners with a frenzy shared by the audience. When people talk about energy being palpable, this was a case of energy you could feel and see through the entire set. That the band has just one album meant fans could have an easy time getting to the know music, but the way audience members knew the songs was not just a cursory knowledge. Fans danced, sang along and appreciated a show that made a statement: Django Django is, and will remain, one of this decade’s best bands. Even if all they create is one album.
Django Django‘s Vincent Neff
With beautiful harmonies, enthusiastic performance, individual band member charisma, Django Django flew through an eleven-song set, plus an encore of “Silver Rays.” This meant they did every song off Django Django, out of album sequence, with the exception of “Zumm Zumm” (sorry if that’s your favorite!). Singer/guitarist Vincent Neff was a star front man; there was something really special about his presence you don’t always see in the bandleader. Each member played enormously well, and I especially enjoyed “Hail Bop” (with those laser beam sounds), “Default,” “WOR,” “Storm,” although “Skies Of Cairo” was the cherry on top of this show. More laser beam sounds added to an Arabian backdrop? Fabulous.
In addition to guitar, bass, drums and keys, the British group brought along various instruments such as maracas, cowbell, and what appeared to be their very own cardboard drum. Part of the show’s lighting bathed the band in black lines, making them appear as musical bandits. Or prisoners. I liked it.
Django Django
