Post-punk shoegazers the Raveonettes played The Crocodile on June 3, 2024. The duo includes Sune Rose Wagner (guitar, vocals) and Sharin Foo (bass, vocals). New York City indie rockers Wild Pink opened.
The Danish noisemakers released The Raveonettes Sing…, a cover album of their most influential songs. Their tour was the first in ten years, with two shows in NYC and hitting additional cities such as Portland and Los Angeles.
A neon ORVILLE PECK rattlesnake sign flashed during the lighting check, foreshadowing the alt-country artist’s arrival. Soaking rain subsided just as Orville Peck took the stage at Chateau Ste. Michelle Winery. The stepwise bass line for “Big Sky” started up, and Peck’s velvety baritone sang a doleful ballad about relationship loss. He paused between tunes to invite the audience to “sing along, dance, and even cry.”
The South African native has maintained a secretive identity, only recently revealed as punk drummer Daniel Pitout. He famously performs in sharp western wear and a face mask covered with long fringe—although this time it was just a short leather eye mask.
Backing Peck was a five-piece band that included guitar, vocals/guitar/keys, bass, drums, and pedal steel. A vocalist announced as Emily Rose supplied beautiful harmonies, accompanying Peck on several tunes.
Peck’s set included tunes across his discography, including his August 2024 album Stampede, a series of cross-genre duets with notable partners. An audience favorite from that album was “Cowboys Are Frequently, Secretly Fond of Each Other,” a Ned Sublette cover that Peck recently recorded with 91-year-old country great Willie Nelson. Peck announced, “Willie Nelson wanted to do a song with me, but about gay cowboys. I’m gay!” In just half a decade, Peck has become a queer and a country icon.
Orville Peck & Willie Nelson – “Cowboys are Frequently Secretly Fond of Each Other” (2024)
Peck also played his favorite song from Bronco, “Hexie Mountains,” about his struggles with depression. Peck later moved to an upright piano, and asked if there were any truckers in the audience. He dedicated his song about gay truckers, “Drive Me, Crazy,” to trucker “Aaron” (whose name we could have sworn was actually “Kevin,” but he took it in stride).
A great showman, Peck swung and shimmied, dueled with each band member, and pulled off some daring high kicks in cowboy boots atop a damp stage. He returned for a one-song encore of “Bronco,” met by restarting drizzle and enthusiastic applause.
Opening were Nashville artists Nikki Lane and Emily Nenni. Unfortunately this writer arrived too late to hear Nenni due to a traffic snarl on I-405. Lane fronted a six-piece group that played a twangy, catchy set. Peck’s tour continues through October.
Set List
Big Sky Turn to Hate The Hurtin’ Kind C’mon Baby, Cry No Glory in the West Hexie Mountains How Far Will We Take It? Conquer the Heart Drive Me, Crazy You’re an Asshole, I Can’t Stand You (and I Want a Divorce) Blush The Curse of the Blackened Eye Lafayette Any Turn Cowboys Are Frequently, Secretly Fond of Each Other Outta Time Kalahari Down Dead of Night Daytona Sand — Bronco
Tori Kelly headlined at the Showbox SoDo shortly after the start of her “Purple Skies World Tour”. Backed by keys and drums, Kelly thrilled the audience with her beautiful vocal tone and extensive range while she performed songs from all her albums, including the latest, Tori. Pop singer-songwriter Maisy Kay opened.
Sidney Australia’s Hoodoo Gurus came full circle by playing their debut album start to finish 42 years after its release during what will likely be the band’s last visit to Seattle Monday night at the Neptune Theatre.
Dave Faulkner, Brad Sheperd, Richard Grossman, and Nik Rieth treated an amped audience to the entirety of ‘Stoneage Romeos’ followed by a generous selection of hits and deep digs from their lengthy catalog. That the Gurus play with the same passionate intensity four decades after their college radio/indie rock salad days is a thing of wonder and could stand as an inspiring example to other bands that are in it for the long haul.
This fan will continue to hope for a Hoodoo Gurus return to these shores sometime in the future but, if that doesn’t come to pass, they will have bid farewell to America with their guitars blazing, their drums pounding, and their heads held high.
