Show Review & Photos: Donots @ the Paramount

Donots @ the Paramount, 3/12
Show Review & Photos by Dagmar

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Germany’s Donots, who hit their 20th anniversary next year, made their first visit to Seattle last week. I cannot explain why this super band had not made it to our city earlier, but let’s not complain. They made it here; give thanks to Flogging Molly, who brought the band to the Paramount as openers for many North American dates.

With their prior releases seeming to be very difficult (or expensive) to get here in the States, I’m most familiar with Donots’ most recent albums, 2012’s Wake the Dogs and 2010’s The Long Way Home. I’d recommend purchasing these albums, whose songs featured strongly in last Tuesday’s performance (along with 2008’s Coma Chameleon in the set). I especially loved “You Got It,” “Wake the Dogs” and “Stop the Clocks, They Are Saddening.”

I was really excited to see Donots, and the group put on an exciting and crowd-captivating show. Singer Ingo Knollmann got a large section of the floor into a crazed mosh pit circle, joining them towards the end of the set. Donots are one of those bands you want to cooperate with, and there was no way you can’t be on their side during a show. The band was into the audience, the audience was into them – Donots were energized and totally happy. I was also impressed by how guitarist Guido Knollmann and brother Ingo Knollmann traded off with vocals. Sometimes that just does not work. In this case it was right on.

Unfortunately I had to miss their headlining performance the next day in Seattle. Still, what I experienced at the Paramount thrilled me and showed me a band who’s just getting stronger, and whose music is solid punk rock with every album. I’ll have my interview with singer Ingo Knollmann up on the site very soon!

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Donots

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Photos: Sallie Ford & The Sound Outside w/ Thao & The Get Down Stay Down @ Neumos

Portland, Oregon’s Sallie Ford & The Sound Outside and California’s Thao & The Get Down Stay Down were at Neumos for a show on March 7th. Sallie Ford & The Sound Outside have been described as rockabilly, and has had some marvelous album art for their albums, including Untamed Beast. Thao & The Get Down Stay Down and Sallie Ford & The Outside will continue touring through the spring. All photos by Simon Krane:

Sallie Ford & The Sound Outside perform at Nuemos. 07.03.2013.

Sallie Ford & The Sound Outside perform at Nuemos. 07.03.2013.

Sallie Ford & The Sound Outside perform at Nuemos. 07.03.2013.

Sallie Ford & The Sound Outside perform at Nuemos. 07.03.2013.
Sallie Ford & The Sound Outside

Thao & The Get Down Stay Down perform at Nuemos. 07.03.2013.

Thao & The Get Down Stay Down perform at Nuemos. 07.03.2013.

Thao & The Get Down Stay Down perform at Nuemos. 07.03.2013.

Thao & The Get Down Stay Down perform at Nuemos. 07.03.2013.

Thao & The Get Down Stay Down perform at Nuemos. 07.03.2013.

Thao & The Get Down Stay Down perform at Nuemos. 07.03.2013.

Thao & The Get Down Stay Down perform at Nuemos. 07.03.2013.

Thao & The Get Down Stay Down perform at Nuemos. 07.03.2013.

Thao & The Get Down Stay Down perform at Nuemos. 07.03.2013.

Thao & The Get Down Stay Down perform at Nuemos. 07.03.2013.

Thao & The Get Down Stay Down perform at Nuemos. 07.03.2013.

Thao & The Get Down Stay Down perform at Nuemos. 07.03.2013.

Thao & The Get Down Stay Down perform at Nuemos. 07.03.2013.
Thao & The Get Down Stay Down

Thao & The Get Down Stay Down perform at Nuemos. 07.03.2013.

Thao & The Get Down Stay Down perform at Nuemos. 07.03.2013.
Atmosphere @ Sallie Ford & The Sound Outside w/ Thao & The Get Down Stay Down

Show Review & Photos: Ben Folds & Nataly Dawn @ Showbox at the Market

Ben Folds & Nataly Dawn @ Showbox at the Market, 2/4
Review & Photos by Abby Williamson

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Ben Folds

The line was all around the block. A Monday night, and there was a line around the entire block from 1st to 2nd and Pike. Several people walked by me and asked what the line was for.

“Ben Folds is playing at the Showbox,” I replied.

They understood.

Opening the show was singer-songwriter Nataly Dawn, whom you might know from the YouTube-famous duo Pomplamoose. On this particular tour Dawn performed songs off her new solo album, How I Knew Her, which I absolutely love. I’ve seen Pomplamoose perform before, so this was a treat to get to see Dawn doing all her own songs. “Oh in case you guys hadn’t noticed, I’m not Ben. He’ll be up next,” Dawn told the audience.

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Nataly Dawn

Two songs into the set, my night was interrupted when I face-planted in the photo pit, narrowly saving my camera, in exchange for my knees. Seriously, my left knee looked like something out of Wile E. Coyote and The Road Runner.

After Dawn finished her set – my knee was causing considerable pain – Ben Folds took the stage to a huge amount of applause from the crowd. I never listened to a lot of Folds’ music growing up, but what I can tell is that it’s universally enjoyable and I did get to hear songs that I did know, “Brick” being my favorite.

I can tell you, it’s nice to see Folds get so much excitement from the audience. He’s honed his craft and has a huge catalog of songs to choose from, so we really didn’t know what we were gonna get. That’s exactly how it was. Folds has so many darn songs that we could have stayed there for three hours and people would still be surprised.

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Ben Folds

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Nataly Dawn

Photos: Flogging Molly & Mariachi El Bronx @ the Paramount

On Tuesday evening at the Paramount, there was more green in any one place besides a St. Patrick’s Day parade or perhaps a bar on St. Patrick’s Day. Green shoelaces, green hair accessories, green pants, green shoes . . . green Flogging Molly shirts, naturally!. The Los Angeles septet Flogging Molly, specializing in Celtic punk, headlined the evening and had support from Mariachi El Bronx and Donots (we’ll have Donots coverage up shortly). Flogging Molly continues touring with stops in Germany this August. All photos by Joshua Daniels:

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Flogging Molly

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Mariachi El Bronx

Photos: Great Big Sea @ Moore Theater

Great Big Sea, the folk-rockers from Newfoundland, really got the crowd going at the Moore Theater last week as everyone stood for nearly the complete show. It’s their 20th anniversary tour, hence the XX backdrop. Founding members include Alan Doyle (vocals, guitar, banjo), Séan McCann (vocals, bodhrán, guitar, whistle) and Bob Hallett (vocals, fiddle, accordion, mandolin, concertina, bouzouki, whistle). Murray Foster (bass, vocals) and Kris MacFarlane (drums, vocals) round out the band.

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Great Big Sea