Show Review & Photos: Greg Laswell & Elizabeth Ziman @ the Tractor

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Greg Laswell @ the Tractor, 6/3
Show Review & Photos by Heather Fitzpatrick

A few years back, I missed seeing a musician at the Tractor because I was unable to buy tickets before they sold out. After the show I decided to look on YouTube to see if anyone had posted any videos from the show. There were some, but unfortunately, they had so much “bar noise” it was hard to decipher the musicians’ lyrics and melody. A year later, I went to a show at the Tractor, and I was in awe that when these musicians played, you could hear a pin drop. I must say, this happened again on Sunday when Greg Laswell took the stage. Not only did he play songs off previous albums – and new ones off of his latest CD, Landline – but within those songs, he played not one, not two, but three completely unplugged, and you could again hear a pin drop in the venue. Seattle holds a special place for him, as he uses our city in a few songs. When he’s asked if he changes the names of the city, depending what city he’s playing in, he says, “No. Why would I change it? It’s about Seattle, not another city.”


Greg Laswell

Laswell is known for a singing covers, hence his prior CD release, Covers. He chose to play Kate Bush’s “This Woman’s Work,” solo onstage at his keyboard. Along with his band, he was also joined onstage by Elizabeth Ziman or Elizabeth and The Catapult, who opened the evening and then sang BGV with Greg’s band, including taking on the Sara Bareilles part on his hit single, “Come Back Down.” For all of you under 21 crowd that may have missed him this time around, he says his next tour should include an all-ages show in Seattle. Until then, he encourages you all to follow him on twitter, and when you’re having at @greglaswell kind of day, whatever you consider that to be, tweet him. Especially if you’re enjoying (or not) a Dorito Taco. He’d love to hear about that.


Greg Laswell


Elizabeth Ziman

Photos: Best Coast & JEFF the Brotherhood @ the Neptune

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Los Angeles’ Best Coast and JEFF the Brotherhood appeared at the Neptune in Seattle on May 22nd. We recommend that you check out Best Coast when they return to Seattle for Bumbershoot on September 3rd. The duo has released two strong albums, each featuring an animal on its cover. Excellent! JEFF the Brotherhood, which is made up of brothers who were in bands such as Be Your Own Pet, just released an EP called Hypnotic Knights. It’s sounding pretty damn good. Check out their song, “Sixpack,” and enjoy photographer Simon Krane‘s shots from the Seattle show!


Best Coast


JEFF the Brotherhood

Photos: Danny the Street @ the Comet

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Danny the Street got things started at our Comet show in October – yep, I’m wrapping up the October show soon! Why so late? Data loss issues. Back to this really, really excellent band. You can get their album, Promise Is King, by heading over here. Singer Jared Mills has one of the most compellingly unique performing styles I have ever seen. I love it.


Danny the Street – all photos by Dagmar

Gallery of Danny the Street @ the Comet

Show Review & Photos: Bob Schneider @ the Triple Door

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Bob Schneider @ the Triple Door
Show Review & photos by Heather Fitzpatrick

Bob Schneider played his first of two dates at The Triple Door on June 4th. That night marked the third time I’ve seen him live, twice with a band and once solo. If you’ve ever been to one of his shows, you know to expect the unexpected. He incorporates a whole lot of comedic prose, hilarious stories of his upbringing, and stories from the road to name a few. This tour, simply called “Bob Schneider Heads West,” brought all of that and more. He was accompanied by a full band, played songs from his latest CD, A Perfect Day (4/12), and got a little irritated when the ENTIRE audience wouldn’t sing along to (one of my older favorites) “Tarantula,” off of his Lovely Creatures CD. He literally stopped once the chorus began, had ALL of the house lights brought up, demanded that EVERYONE get on their feet, and sing along. It was all in great fun, and it wasn’t a hard sell, as you could tell everyone was more than eager to participate, and even dance in the aisles. In addition to being able to pick up his entire set from a show that night on a USB drive, he makes most of the audio performances available from past shows as a download here. Just know that it may take a while for the recent shows to be added. (Whether or not you saw him at his last solo show in Seattle at the Tractor in February 2011, you should definitely get that too. I mean, 24 tracks for $5. WIN! It includes a 14 minute version on his song “Batman.” I was there for that show, and if you haven’t heard that track yet, you’re in for a real treat.)


Bob Schneider

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