Show Review & Photos: Jimmy Eat World @ Showbox SoDo

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When most people think Jimmy Eat World they probably think one-hit wonder. This could not be farther from the truth. On Friday at Showbox SoDo the band pulled hit after hit out of their songbook. Many of their deep album cuts even sound like hits. They are also one of those bands that sound just as good, if not better, live than they do in the studio.

Jimmy Eat World took the stage shortly after nine. The crowd went wild when the first chords of “Bleed American” emanated through the speakers. It didn’t take long for singer/guitarist Jim Adkins to work up quite the sweat. The audience could tell that he and the rest of the band were giving it their all. A few songs in they broke out “Coffee and Cigarettes,” the insanely catchy first single from their new album, Invented.

About halfway through the set Adkins mentioned that 2011 is the tenth anniversary of the release of their breakthrough album, Bleed American. It was represented well throughout the set with the title song, “A Praise Chorus,” “Hear You Me” and “Cautioners.”


Jimmy Eat World – photo by John Rudolph

The Clarity era was represented by “Lucky Denver Mint,” “Blister” and “Goodbye Sky Harbor”. Other than that Jimmy Eat World stuck strictly to the 21st century. The band was musically spot-on all night and Adkins vocals sounded great. One thing that bugs me are vocalists who mumble their way through singing their songs, basically phoning it in. Not only does Jim Adkins not mumble he clearly enunciates his words so the audience can understand what he is singing. I have to give him extra credit for that.

Other highlights of the set included a spirited sing-along of “Work” and flawless performances of “Pain” and “Big Casino.” The new songs display a maturity not found in Jimmy Eat World’s earlier work. “Invented” started as a melodic, acoustic number exploding into a wall of distortion to start the encore. They closed the set strong with their two biggest hits. “The Middle” inspired the most energetic sing along of the night. They followed this with “Sweetness.” Jimmy Eat World gave the crowd everything they could have hoped for. They played just about everything you’d want to hear them play then they went out on a high note leaving everyone wanting more. That is how it is done.

Review by Chris Senn & photos by John Rudolph.

To see more of John Rudolph’s Jimmy Eat World photos click here.


Jimmy Eat World – photos by John Rudolph

Setlist

Bleed American

A Praise Chorus

My Best Theory

Coffee and Cigarettes

Lucky Denver Mint

Let It Happen

Cautioners

Futures

Big Casino

Dizzy

Action Needs An Audience

Pain

23

Evidence

For Me This Is Heaven

Hear You Me

Work

Blister

Goodbye Sky Harbor

Encore:

Invented

The Middle

Sweetness

Photos: The Chain Gang of 1974 @ Neumos

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I had gone to Neumos to see the fantastic French band, Jamaica, and caught some fabulous openers – The Chain Gang of 1974, MK Speed Dial and Helvetia (unfortunately Helvetia’s lighting was just so low no photos really came out). The Chain Gang of 1974 comes from Denver, Co, is led by Kamtin Mohager, and holy moley Mohager’s created some truly fun and great songs. They’re returning to Seattle this Sunday, May 29th for a *free* show with Biffy Clyro at the Showbox Market. PS: Mohager, you’re a trooper for going on with the show after getting a couple healthy looking shocks from that mic stand right before your set.


The Chain Gang of 1974 – all photos by Dagmar

Gallery of the Chain Gang of 1974 @ Neumos

Show Review & Photos: Eisley & The Narrative @ Neumos

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Eisley brought their powerfully melodic indie-rock to Neumos on Thursday, playing to an enthusiastic audience. The Narrative, a guitar/keyboard duo from New York, opened.

You can almost always tell the bands that have barely traveled to Seattle because they seem to always break out the coffee banter onstage. The Narrative is guilty of this infraction. Seattle? Starbucks? Yeah, we get it. Once past that, The Narrative play some pretty catchy pop. Guitarist Jesse Gabriel vocally sounds like a cross between Ben Gibbard and Conor Oberst, especially on songs like “Trains” and “Silence and Sirens.” Keyboardist Suzie Zeldin has that extra pep in her vocals that is hard to explain but draws you in at the same time. Their impressive cover of Radiohead’s “Karma Police” was the highlight of their set.

Fronted by the talented and beautiful DuPree sisters, Eisley took the stage. Stacy (keyboards), Sherri (guitar) and Chauntelle (guitar) projected their powerful three-part harmonies as all three took turns trading off their lead vocals. They played every song from their new album, The Valley, their first since breaking from Warner Bros. The audience could definitely tell that most of the new songs have a slightly darker edge than their old ones. Much of the lyrical content has to do with personal heartbreak stemming from failed relationships.

They kicked off the set with the keyboard heavy “Watch It Die.” “Smarter” is the story of a woman telling off her partner in a failed relationship. Eisley’s vocal harmonies were best showcased on “Marvelous Things,” a beautiful older number from their Warner Bros. Debut, Room Noises. Unfortunately, the sound wasn’t as great as it could have been with the vocal and instrument levels in constant disagreement. At points the music drowned out the vocals.


Eisley

Towards the end of the set Eisley truly turned the night into a family affair when they invited their 16-year-old sister, Christie, who also opened the night, up on stage to sing a verse on a song. She hung out back on the stage out of the spotlight, stepped up to the mic when it was time, sang beautifully and bolted offstage as soon as her part was through. I think it’s safe to say there was a mild case of stage fright in there somewhere.

Before the encore Eisley announced that they just found out they are returning to Seattle for Bumbershoot. If you go, be sure to check them out. Their music and vocal harmonies are truly enchanting.

Review by Chris Senn & photos by Kirk Stauffer


Eisley – photos by Kirk Stauffer


The Narrative – photos by Kirk Stauffer


Christie DuPree – photo by Kirk Stauffer

And to see more of Kirk Stauffer’s Eisley, Christie DuPree and the Narrative shots visit:

Eisley by Kirk Stauffer
Christie DuPree and the Narrative by Kirk Stauffer

Show Review: My Jerusalem @ the Funhouse

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I’m pretty sure we’ve all been to this bar before at some point in our lives, whether it was motivated by a desire to drown out your sorrows or simply your choice of night life. But tonight, it was to see the band My Jerusalem take the stage. The lights were dim, the floors were checkered, the walls were dark red and the ceilings were low. Siouxsie and the Banshees was playing as I walked in the door.

They were preceded by what seemed like the lone ranger – Michael Kingcaid of the band What made Milwaukee Famous, to be exact – and his solitary guitar. He played a solid five song opening, which was ended with a surprisingly poignant a cappella cover of Billie Holiday’s “I’ll Be Seeing You.”

Then we got on to the main event – the hodgepodge of musicians that make up the collective band My Jerusalem, brainchild of singer-songwriter Jeff Klein, who got all of these creative minds together – including band members of St. Vincent, the Polyphonic Spree, and many more. The speakers were deafeningly loud, making the cacophony of different sounds (drums, keyboards, bass, guitars, bells, a trombone and a trumpet) bounce from one corner of this particularly boxy room to the other. This made it a bit difficult to hear with any sort of clarity, but somewhere underneath all the noise was a collection of
well-written rock songs that could stand up to the likes of orchestral pop groups like the Arcade Fire.

Favorites were their single “Sleepwalking” and “Shake the Devil” – both catchy songs with good melodies, which were accentuated by Jeff Klein’s vocal energy, as well as guitar and brass hooks that could get even the most sullen to move to the beat.

Review by Jeremy Calvo


My Jerusalem