If you know me, you know I love Bee Gees. My mom just told me Robin Gibb died. A music genius has died today. Would musicians I love stop dying? Thank you, Robbin Gibb, for the magic music.
Robbin Gibb
Carina Round @ The Crocodile Cafe
British born, LA based singer-songwriter Carina Round headlined at the Crocodile Café last Wednesday. The show was the second stop on her tour in support of her new album, Tigermending. Round’s music and dynamic voice were well-received by the large crowd. Local artist Anomie Belle opened.
Anomie Belle
Show Review & Photos: Rusko @ Showbox SoDo
Rusko @ Showbox SoDo, 4/27
Review by Gabrielle Gribbin
Photos by Geoffrey Gribbin
The suspense from Skism increases as the lights still shine upon the crowd, eager to hear the bare footsteps of Rusko. Each one of us looks around, unsure of how we ended up next to this sweaty man, kandi-filled arms, and glow stick-covered fellow.
When the faces surrounding us seem to gradually become engulfed by darkness, cheers echo the wood paneled Showbox SoDo. Blinded momentarily by a pulse of light, quick, then illuminated are five letters R, U, S, K, O! Not a single body is still. We beg him to play, chanting his name, hoping it wills him to send our ears into his control for the next couple hours.
Rusko
Now, there he is, dirty blond hair bouncing as he greets us with open arms. His deejay set surrounds him, looking like a three-sided wrap-around piano. Each tap gains volume, each pressed button sets us off. He entices us with his pounding bass while the throng begins to lose its mind. Over and over again the thumping trance consumes them. I divert eyes elsewhere. The seizure-inducing purple, blue, and white lights catch my attention for a good two minutes until I remember where I had originally wanted my vision to go. Down. Down to the stage floor, below the flashing blows, under the DJ set, I look towards Rusko. Still down, lower, lower to his signature solely socked feet.
“The sun is shining everyday!” Yes, the sun is truly shining inside the venue. Virgin hands shielding eyes from the welcoming shine, which is synced to each song he plays. The sway and hammer like motion of bodies is a constant movement to each sequence of beats created. No, we do not ever think that the music would stop, because in this time, in these moments he is able to make us all forget. We have lived in the moment.
Rusko
Show Review & Photos: The Drums & Craft Spells @ Neumos
The Drums & Craft Spells @ Neumos, May 9th
Review by Blake Madden
Photos by Dagmar
What would you call the opposite of a rain dance? Something warm and fresh to bring about the summer sun? It was on display at Neumos Wednesday night in the form of Craft Spells and The Drums. Their smooth surf pop of thin guitar-lines over propulsive beats, pronounced melodies, and dreamy vocals hinted at Seattle’s golden season, just around the corner.
The mild-mannered Craft Spells kept their banter to a quiet minimum, letting their music do the talking. They played the part of the high school prom band, bathed in blue and red lights, getting the kids in the all-ages crowd jumping and dancing. The adults looked on stoically from the booze-approved heights of Neumos, making sure no one spiked the punch.
The Drums
Craft Spells
The Drums took the stage and were led by singer Jonny Pierce’s fluid bravado. Pierce sashayed and danced across the stage like a front man from an old American Bandstand performance, stopping just short of swinging his microphone in circles. Musically, The Drums share some of the melodic sensibilities of The Strokes, except their songs are faster and their singer looks like he actually cares and wants to be there. They kept up the fast pace for the majority of the set, only slowing down when Pierce seemed to do the same. Their encore began with an interesting left-field synth and vocals duet and ended with their moneymaker “Let’s Go Surfing.”
The audience shuffled out into the night, warm from the stuffiness of Neumos, warmer still from the energy and promise in the music. Summer came early. Let’s Go Surfing.
The Drums
Craft Spells
Gallery of The Drums @ Neumos
Gallery of Craft Spells @ Neumos
Show Review & Photos: Katie Herzig & Andrew Belle w/Matthew Perryman Jones @ the Crocodile
Katie Herzig & Andrew Belle w/Matthew Perryman Jones @ the Crocodile, 5/9
Review by Heather Fitzpatrick
Photos by Heather Fitzpatrick & Kirk Stauffer
Katie Herzig headlined The Crocodile last night, but didn’t come alone. Supporting Katie on this leg of the tour was Andrew Belle. Andrew is a singer/songwriter from Nashville (via Illinois). Andrew’s latest EP, The Daylight, was release back in February. You might have heard songs from it, as well as from his earlier CD, The Ladder, on TV shows such as Pretty Little Liars, Grey’s Anatomy, The Vampire Diaries, One Tree Hill and more. His song “Sky’s Still Blue” was featured in a major campaign promoting Windows 7, Windows Live and Windows Phone 7. Andrew is also a part of “Ten out of Tenn,” a group of 10 musicians out of Nashville who tour together, collaborate on songs, sing together onstage, as well as perform their own originals, utilizing the other musicians as their back up performers. (Katie Herzig is also a part of that group). Belle asked Herzig (who also is featured on his CD) to join him onstage to perform his song, “Static Waves.” Seattle was Belle’s last show for the tour, as he is off to get back home for his wedding this summer!
Katie Herzig
Andrew Belle
Herzig and her band played a lengthy set which included songs from her latest release, The Waking Sleep. Like Belle, Herzig’s songs can also be heard on many TV series. To the audience’s surprise, she asked a special guest out on stage 1/2 way through her set. Matthew Perryman Jones (who will be joining Herzig on the next leg of her tour) stepped from behind the curtain, and they sang a beautiful version of their duet, “Where The Road Meets The Sun.” Perryman Jones, a singer/songwriter from Nashville, is also a part of “Ten Out of Tenn” with Herzig and Belle.
Prior to the encore, Herzig and her band played a very fun cover version of “Sweet Dreams” (The Eurythmics), which actually culminated in showcasing a memorable portion of “Seven Nation Army” (The White Stripes). Katie continues to tour, with this tour ending May 19 in Kentucky, and she will play some summer festivals including Seattle’s Bumbershoot in September. Her next CD is slated to be out later this year.
Katie Herzig
Andrew Belle
Andrew Belle & Katie Herzig
Matthew Perryman Jones
Matthew Perryman Jones & Katie Herzig
Jordan Hamlin
Claire Indie
Katie Herzig Setlist:
Wasting Time
Make A Noise
Midnight
Oh My Darlin’
Free My Mindon stage
Hologram
I Hurt Too
Where the Road Meets The Sun
Hey Na Na
Lost & Found
Closest I Get
Daisies & Pews
Wish You Well
Sweet dreams
Way To The Future