Photos: City Arts Fest 2011 w/ Mad Rad @ Neumos

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Mad Rad‘s fans are wild. You’d expect them to be wild, but they really, really are wild – as is a Mad Rad performance. And you know what? That’s how it should be. Mad Rad may be all about the good times, but it’s a good, tight group too. It’s a band that brings you into its world for a short time, while listening to them wherever you may be, or while seeing them fill up a room in a way only Mad Rad can. City Arts Fest featured Mad Rad as the headliners on an October evening at Neumos. Here are some of my photos.


Mad Rad – photos by Dagmar

Gallery of Mad Rad @ Neumos

Show Review & Photos: Puscifer @ The Paramount Theater

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Puscifer @ the Paramount Theater
Review & Photos by Suzi Pratt

Maynard James Keenan, best known for his work with bands Tool and A Perfect Circle, is back on tour, performing in his side project known as Puscifer.  On November 7, Puscifer made its second performance in two years at The Paramount Theater before an audience of fans who were sitting on the edge of their seats to see what Keenan had up his sleeve.  In typical Tool and A Perfect Circle fashion, photography from the audience was strictly forbidden, and ushers patrolled regularly, sometimes interrupting the show by shining their flashlights into the audience.

This experimental band is more like a personal exploration project to Keenan, who uses his creativity to weld a live performance that makes use of not only music, but comedy and technology as well. The show was a spectacle that combined live music with short video skits featuring Laura Milligan of Mr. Show, and variable monologues by Keenan. He made full use of his peculiar on-stage setup, which included an Airstream trailer and mock campsite complete with folding chairs and a BBQ grill, with a large video screen behind it.  Much of the live music featuring songs off Puscifer’s latest release, Conditions of My Parole, which the audience seemed to know as they sang along to certain songs.

Puscifer is touring North America for the remainder of the year.  Check out photos below to recap their eve

Show Review & Photos: Black Star & THEESatisfaction @ Showbox SoDo

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Black Star & THEE Satisfaction @ Showbox SoDo
Review & photos by Ellie Mansfield

Black Star, which is composed of Mos Def and Talib Kweli are always animated and full of life. Their enthusiasm and intensity never wained and neither did their clear pleasure of interacting with the audience. Showbox SoDo is a tight venue, and even tighter during a packed hip-hop show, but the staff was kind and the people were respectful, even though they were stuffed in like sardines in front of the stage. Talib Kweli threw down some awesome freestyle, letting everyone know that he’s still got it.

The two ladies from THEESatisfaction have soulful voices and great dance moves. I wonder if they were happy to be there though? Not once did I see them crack a smile, or interact with the audience. This was a sharp contrast to Black Star and I’m curious if they were just nervous, or bored?

Photos: Rachael Yamagata @ The Crocodile Cafe

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Seeing Rachael Yamagata at the Crocodile Café was a real treat – it’s been nearly 3 years since her last visit to Seattle. She’s in the middle of her US tour supporting her new album, Chesapeake. If you liked her first album, Happenstance, you’re sure to enjoy Chesapeake as well – both were produced by John Alagia.

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