ZZ Ward played a sold-out show at the Crocodile Café last week. Born Zsuzsanna Eva Ward, the blonde-haired, blue-eyed singer-songwriter is touring in support of her debut album, Til The Casket Drops. Delta Rae co-headlined and Martin Harley opened.
ZZ Ward
Delta Rae
Martin Harley
Retox @ Showbox at the Market, 2/12
Show Review & Photos by Dagmar
From the second Retox took the stage at Showbox at the Market I had a feeling I would like them. Maybe it was singer Justin Pearson’s mohawk. Maybe it was the bassist Thor Dickey’s black sheep tattoo. Maybe it was guitarist Michael Crain’s rather sinister look, or drummer Brian Evans’ ready to explode vibes. I am not sure what it was in particular, but if you hope you’ll like a band based on its combined look alone, I loved this band something rotten. Then they started playing, assaulting the audience with a vigorous pelting of screams and loud, angry guitars and drums. Hell yes, I loved them – after adjusting to the volume. Was I expecting this? No. Was it great stuff? Yes. As I moved to the back of the Showbox, I appreciated the grooves within the groove of Retox’s songs. The songs were short, punching and exciting. As openers for Tomahawk, it all made sense. Sure they’re label mates, but that doesn’t always mean the opening band will do it right. Somehow I’ve missed Retox’s other appearances in the Seattle area – and I kind of hate myself for it. This will not happen again. Get yourself a copy of 2011’s Ugly Animals, right away. I am happy I did, right after the show.
Retox
Puyallup, Washington’s SHEBEAR beat the competition in Sound Off! 2013‘s Semifinals #2, which were held at EMP on February 16th. The only definite band they’ll face in the finals is Semifinals #1 winner, the Fame Riot; Dave B. and Maiah Manser secured wild card spots. Tomorrow, February 23rd Semifinals #3 goes down at EMP at 7:00 PM. All photos by Simon Krane:
SHEBEAR
Maiah Manser
Rose
Sound Off! 2013 Semifinals #2
Tomahawk @ Showbox at the Market, 2/12
Show Review & Photos by Dagmar
Tomahawk, a titanic supergroup consisting of Faith No More’s Mike Patton, Battle’s/Helmet’s John Stanier, The Jesus Lizard’s Duane Denison and Mr. Bungle’s Trevor Dunn (who joined the band after founding member Kevin Rutmanis of Melvins left), was last in Seattle ten years ago. Ten years is a long time. For Tomahawk fans ten years would be an eternity.
Tomahawk‘s Mike Patton
When I heard good buzz regarding Tomahawk’s new album, Oddfellows – the band’s third since its 2001 debut,Tomahawk – I listened. I listened hard and repeatedly. The buzz had it right; Oddfellows is a work of experimental rock greatness. It’s possibly the band’s very best album – I have a hard time picking between their debut and this one. Then, when I heard that Tomahawk would be in Seattle, I had to see them.
Last week’s show was on Fat Tuesday, and I expected at least a couple random Mardi Gras revelers. It turns out Seattle is just not a Mardi Gras town, and I should know this by now. The people who came out to this show were Tomahawk fans, ones who concentrated on the songs and really appreciated the performance. This felt great. From the 20-minute loop of the Tomahawk Chop song to introduce the show to the indeterminate length of the same song looped at the close of the show, the audience dug Tomahawk.
Tomahawk from top to bottom: Duane Denison, Trevor Dunn and John Stanier
And Tomahawk deserved the appreciation. The group played a rapturous set that spanned their work. Nearly equal attention was paid to all albums, Tomahawk, Mit Gas and Oddfellows – with Anonymous the only album with a single song, “Totem.” They closed the show for an encore with Totem, followed by Bad Brains covers. Singer Mike Patton was a timeless front man who talked with the audience frequently. I liked the banter. The other band members played so well; were so cool as well. I think I heard Patton mention that the evening’s “I.O.U.” was their first live performance of the song. It was brilliant. Other greats were “101 North,” “Laredo,” “Stone Letter,” “Odd Fellows,” “White Hats/Black Hats,” “Rotgut” and “Rape This Day.”
More Tomahawk! More Tomahawk! Please, and sooner than ten years from now.
Tomahawk
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We waited patiently for fun.‘s Seattle February 5th show – okay, maybe not so patiently – and we’ve got photos by Dan Rogers, who brought back these lovely shots. We’ve followed this band for a bit, and tonight fun. will appear on a little show called the Grammy Awards. You probably know it. On hand to open the Seattle show was Jack Mannequin’s Andrew McMahon, who is now a solo artist.
fun.
Andrew McMahon
Related Items:
Dagmar’s Interview with Jack Antonoff
Dagmar’s Interview with Nate Ruess
Dagmar’s Photos of fun. @ Showbox SoDo
Dagmar’s Photos of fun. @ Chop Suey
