SMASH is a non-profit organization that provides access to free and affordable healthcare services for musicians living in King, Snohomish, Pierce, Mason, Kitsap, and Thurstan counties as well as assistance in navigating our Byzantine and often confounding healthcare system.
SMASH throws a benefit concert/party annually and this year’s edition was at the Crocodile Cafe, celebrating the music of Fleetwood Mac. Wild Rumors (who specialize in recreating the music of Fleetwood Mac) acted as the house band for the evening and the roster of special guests was chock-a-bloc with many of the Pacific Northwest’s biggest names, including Shaina Shepherd, Ayron Jones, Eva Walker, Star Anna, Pete Droge & Elaine Ian Moore, Jeff Fielder & Tekla Waterfield, Mark Pickerel, John Roderick, Molly Sides and many more.
The performances were strong across the board and the large crowd responded enthusiastically. The evening ended on a raucous high note with all of the artists onstage, aided and abetted by the Seahawk’s Blue Thunder marching band, performing a roof raising rendition of ‘Tusk’. The ovation at the end of the show was long and smiles in the satisfied crowd were abundant.
Kylie Minogue Delivers Pop Spectacle on Tension Tour Stop in Seattle
Climate Pledge Arena, Seattle, April 25, 2025 – Australian pop icon Kylie Minogue brought energy, emotion and dazzling visuals to her Seattle stop on the Tension Tour 2025, her largest global tour since 2011.
Minogue, who first gained worldwide recognition with her 1987 breakout hit “The Loco-Motion,” has since become one of pop’s most enduring figures. With two Grammy Awards and six total nominations, she most recently earned a win in 2024 for best pop dance recording for “Padam Padam.”
Ahead of the tour, Minogue expressed her excitement: “I am beyond excited to announce the Tension Tour 2025. I can’t wait to share beautiful and wild moments with fans all over the world, celebrating the Tension era and more! It’s been an exhilarating ride so far and now, get ready for your close-up because I will be calling, ‘Lights, Camera, Action’ , and there will be a whole lot of Padaming!”
Joining her on tour was British singer-songwriter Rita Ora, who made her Seattle debut as the opening act.
Wearing a short white minidress and high-heeled white boots, Ora kicked off the evening with “Ask and You Shall Receive.” Her high-energy set featured a string of fan favorites, accompanied by dynamic choreography and a team of dancers.
During her remix of Fatboy Slim’s 1998 hit “Praise You”, famously performed at Eurovision 2023, Ora dropped to the floor laying on her stomach in a playful pose with her feet swaying in the air behind her, as she teased the crowd. Rising to her feet, she rallied the audience with: “Is my microphone on? Can you hear me? I can’t hear you!” The crowd responded with a roar. She then dashed down the runway into the audience, interacting with fans before striking a sultry pose with her dancers as the lights dimmed.
Ora closed her set with “Let Me Love You,” pausing mid-song to thank the Seattle audience for their warm welcome before soaking in the crowd’s energy one last time.
A Five-Act Pop Odyssey
As the arena lights dimmed, a cheer rose from the crowd. Minogue appeared seated on a swing suspended above the stage, opening the show with “Lights, Camera, Action” against a dreamy blue backdrop with fog and spotlights focused on her.
What followed was a masterclass in pop showmanship. Minogue performed an expertly curated mix of global hits and deep cuts, every moment designed to resonate with the crowd. Visually, the production was mesmerizing, LED screens, fog machines, custom staging, vibrant costumes, a two-stage setup, and a massive disco ball that illuminated the venue.
Each act brought new excitement. Fans sang, danced and screamed as their favorite tracks played. Early in the evening, the crowd erupted so passionately that Minogue paused, visibly moved, placing her hands over her chest. She stood silently, soaking in the love, prompting even louder cheers. The emotional bond between Minogue and her audience was palpable.
The hits kept coming. From “Spinning Around” to “In Your Eyes,” Minogue navigated decades of her discography with precision and charm. She even dusted off “The Loco-Motion,” playfully telling the audience: “If you’re an OG, you’ll know this one.”
Act Three took Minogue through the crowd to a B-stage at the rear of the venue, allowing her to perform up close to fans in all directions. Surrounded by audience members on all four sides, she paused to take song requests, calling out to fans with handmade signs. She then delivered a rare live rendition of “Tightrope,” performing it for the first time since 2012.
Midway through the B-stage set, Minogue began her tradition of handing out roses and selecting one fan to be her “Wild Rose” for the night. For Seattle, that was Vanessa, a young woman in a furry hot pink jacket who had come alone. Minogue held her hand and chatted with her, giving the moment warmth and authenticity that fans will long remember.
Vanessa, Seattle’s “Wild Rose”
This portion of the show marked the beginning of the “Disco” set. As a massive disco ball descended from the ceiling, casting shimmering lights throughout the arena, Minogue, surrounded by her dancers, changed costumes and delivered a glittering performance of “Supernova” before returning to the main stage.
Act Four shifted gears with a more introspective mood. During “Confide,” a moody LED backdrop featured a slide for those feeling alone in Seattle to “Confide” with the image of phone next to a sign reading 1-555-CONFIDE (not a real mental health call line, but leading into the song being performed). Minogue emerged in a black floor-length cape under pulsing blue and red lights, her vocals soaring in a solo spotlight that added theatrical weight to the moment.
The final act brought the energy back with high-tempo fan favorites “Tension” and “All the Lovers.” The arena reached fever pitch during the unmistakable opening beats of her 2001 mega-hit “Can’t Get You Out of My Head,” with the crowd dancing in unison.
The encore featured three explosive tracks: “Padam Padam,” “Love at First Sight” and the title track “Tension.” An evening packed with lasers, confetti, and deafening cheers filling the air ended this show on a euphoric high.
Kylie Minogue’s Tension Tour 2025 is a triumph of sound, visual spectacle and emotional connection. With its hit-packed setlist, theatrical production, and deeply human moments, it’s a tour no pop fan should miss.
Phish electrified the crowd at Climate Pledge Arena with their signature brand of psychedelic rock, delivering an expansive musical journey that transformed the sustainable Seattle venue into a cosmic playground.
The Vermont-based quartet, known for their improvisational prowess and devoted fanbase, filled the space with swirling guitar solos, intricate bass lines, and hypnotic rhythms that had fans swaying and dancing throughout the night. As colorful light displays washed over the audience, the band’s lengthy instrumental explorations created an immersive experience that showcased why they remain legends of the jam band scene after nearly four decades of performing.
Pop duo KTJ & CARLY joined the west coast leg of IDER’s North American tour last week and made a stop at Madame Lou’s, one of several stages at the legendary Crocodile. The identical twins – Katie and Carly – have been performing together for five years and were on the road in support of their most recent album, Forever Young. The sisters’ beautiful harmonies and original songs won over a large group of new fans that evening.
Neptune Theatre, April 9, 2025 – In a night of relentless energy and genre-blurring sound, Japanese metalcore phenoms Hanabie. and Australian genre-bender Kim Dracula delivered an unforgettable co-headlining show to a sold-out Seattle crowd. Joining them was Philadelphia’s emotional hardcore outfit Kaonashi, setting the tone for an evening of chaotic brilliance.
The Neptune was buzzing before the first note rang out. Kaonashi opened the show, blending vulnerability and raw aggression with a mix of older material and their latest single, “When I Say,” which officially dropped worldwide just hours after their set. In a surprise twist midway through their performance, the band briefly exited the stage, only to return donning quirky costume accessories, jokingly announcing themselves as “Hanabie.” before launching into the final few songs. The crowd lapped up the playful energy.
Kim Dracula followed, though not from where fans expected. As the lights dimmed, a voice over the PA asked the crowd to part down the middle of the floor. Suddenly, Kim Dracula emerged from the back of the house, striding through the audience like a theatrical antihero en route to the stage. Fans erupted as the set kicked off.
Known for their unpredictable fusion of metal, trap, and theatrics, Kim Dracula did not disappoint. The set included hits such as “Paparazzi,” “Seventy Thorns,” “Drown,” and a fierce cover of Pearl Jam’s “Even Flow,” a fitting nod to Seattle’s grunge legacy. The mosh pit barely took a breath, fueled by an hour of sonic assault and spectacle.
Then came Hanabie., whose contrasting aesthetic, bright, colorful visuals and hyperenergetic choreography, created a euphoric end to the night. One by one, the members took the stage to greet fans, who responded with deafening cheers. The band wasted no time, launching into “O・TA・KU Lovely Densetsu” with unstoppable momentum.
Unlike Kim Dracula’s brooding atmosphere, Hanabie. lit up the stage, literally, with brilliant lighting and infectious energy. Their setlist was packed with fan-favorites, including “Bucchigiri Tokyo,” “Reiwa Dating Apps Generation” and “Drastic Nadeshiko.” High-flying jumps, precision instrumentation and nonstop crowd engagement turned the venue into a carnival of chaos and joy.
Seattle got more than a concert, it got a full-sensory experience. With the North American leg of the tour now wrapped, fans across the country will be talking about this triple-threat performance for months. If you missed it, don’t make the same mistake twice. Catch these genre-breaking artists next time they storm a stage near you.
