We’ve got loads and loads of beautiful photos of Kina Grannis, a Californian singer-songwriter who appeared at this year’s Bumbershoot. Right after you gaze upon Kirk Stauffer’s photos, watch Grannis’ video for “In Your Arms,” which won two MVPA Awards this year.
French DJ/producer Martin Solveig – in his characteristic athletic headband – opened for Madonna’s two Seattle dates this week. This was fortunate for us and made sense – Solveig was one of the producers of Madonna’s most recent album, MDNA (several tracks on the album, such as “Turn Up the Radio,” “Give Me All Your Luvin’,” “Beautiful Killer” and “I Don’t Give A” were all co-produced with Madonna). Smash, Solveig’s fifth album and 2011 release brilliantly features Sunday Girl, Dragonette and Kele Okerke. Probably the most recognizable song to audience members unfamiliar to Solveig was “Hello,” one of the collaborations on Smash with Dragonette’s Martina Sorbara. This was the case on Wednesday night while Solveig got everything started for Madonna. “The Night Out,” with vocals by Solveig appeared a close second in recognition by Madonna fans, but Solveig also mixed in songs by other artists, including Lipps Inc.’s “Funkytown,” Gotye’s “Somebody That I Used to Know,” Adele’s “Rolling in the Deep,” Madonna’s “Love Spent” and “Da Funk” by fellow French musicians, Daft Punk. Whether the songs were Solveig’s own or ones by other artists he mixed in, I was hooked.
Solveig’s DJ table swirled with digital colors creating rainbows, bird wings and the name Martin Solveig in giant capital letters. There were random explosions. He also had a boy onstage with him who got to DJ his first show – and that’s quite something to boast of. Years from now the kid can say, “My first DJ appearance was with Martin Solveig, opening for Madonna. What about you?” Solveig’s prepping of Madonna fans was perfect, “Seattle, you want to spend the evening with the Material Girl?” Yes, and yes again, but Seattle loved Solveig as well.
Martin Solveig
The gorgeous Canadian musician Lights was one of this year’s stars at Bumbershoot. Synth or electropop are just a few musical descriptions you could give to her sound – we’ll just call it awesome. Great photos of Lights’ appearance from photographer Kirk Stauffer are here for you to peek at. Also? She loves cats.
Rufus Wainwright @ Benaroya Hall, 10/1
Show Review & Photos by Dagmar
Rufus Wainwright returned to Seattle’s Benaroya Hall on Monday evening for a mesmerizing and moving show. Wainwright, who appeared at Benaroya Hall in November 2009, was here to share songs from his beautiful catalog, including his latest release, the excellent Out Of The Game.
Rufus Wainwright @ Benaroya Hall, Home of the Seattle Symphony
I love Wainwright’s voice. It’s uncommonly heartrending. So, being able to hear his voice in such a venue as Benaroya Hall, where classical music is played – Seattle Symphony plays there – was just splendid. Wainwright’s lyrics are always impressive, and they carried as well in the atmosphere. The venue filled up with Wainwright fans that hung on every note and sound. I saw Wainwright in 2010 at the Paramount, and am so thrilled I got to cover another of his shows!
The set list was strong, including “Martha,” which he prefaced by saying, the “song is about my darling sister, Martha,” “America” – dedicated to Mitt Romney, whom Wainwright encouraged to “keep up the good work,” – “Who Are You New York?,” “Cigarettes and Chocolate Milk,” “Want,” and “Out Of The Game” title-track of the new album. He also performed “Respectable Dive” (“I had my honeymoon at Big Sur, it’s appropriate to do a country song,”) “Poses,” “Montauk,” “Sanssouci” and a gorgeous cover of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah.”
Rufus Wainwright @ Benaroya Hall, Home of the Seattle Symphony
Wainwright became a parent in 2011 and married his partner in 2012. These new roles appear to have even strengthened his performance and artistic gifts. He worked with producer Mark Ronson on Out of the Game, and the new material is, dare I say this, more accessible to the mainstream. That is not a bad thing. In Wainwright’s case it shows he can create all kinds of perfect music, and keep fans guessing – and keep them attached to his great intrigue.
Rufus Wainwright @ Benaroya Hall, Home of the Seattle Symphony
Colbie Caillat and Gaven DeGraw were on a co-headlining tour over the summer and made a recent stop at the Evergreen State Fair in Monroe. Colbie is working on her fourth album, Christmas in the Sand, due for release on October 23.
