Retro Pop Done Right: The Postelles @ The Crocodile

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I know it was a Tuesday, the beginning of the week and most still hadn’t quite recovered from the weekend’s excesses.  But so many of us missed out on a breakout show by The Postelles, Brooklyn’s gift to catchy tunes.  I suggest you don’t make that mistake next time they cruise through Seattle, because they are well worth seeing and even more worth hearing.

An hour or so of their unique yet classic pop tunes filled the venue, and after a couple of minutes the sounds were joined by people, all enjoying themselves.  They covered Elvis’ “Hound Dog” with great success and when they played their single “White Night” (one of my favorite songs of 2010), there were smiles, both on the stage and in the audience.  It was a great performance and I am glad I’ll be able to claim “I knew of them when…”

(photos and words by Amber Barni)

Show Review & Photos: WAR @ Jazz Alley

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Imagine the best block party you could ever attend – fun and friendly, people hauling out their smokin’ dance moves, smiling, singing along to one of the hottest Latin-rockin’-funkin’ bands ever. That was the celebratory atmosphere as legendary group WAR began a four-night run at Seattle’s Jazz Alley. A very diverse crowd of all races and cultures and ages was treated to an incredible performance from WAR founder, vocalist/keyboardist Lonnie Jordan, Fernando Harkless on sax, flute, vocals, and percussion, Marcos J. Reyes on Latin percussion, Sal Rodriquez on drums and vocals, Stuart Ziff on guitar, Mitch Kashmar on harmonica, percussion, and vocals, and Mohawk-haired Ecuadorian Francisco “Pancho” Tomaselli on bass and vocals .

Jordan proved to be a delightful frontman, easily charming the crowd. It is always a pleasure to attend a concert where the band seems to be having as good a time as the audience. The band proved to be impressively versatile, moving from Latin funk to bluesy rock to sunny pop with a perfectly-paced set (the second of the night) that ran an incredible 2+ hours, with hits like “The Cisco Kid,” “Low Rider,” and “Why Can’t We Be Friends?” and a very funny “tribute” section featuring snippets of classics like Deep Purple’s “Smoke On The Water.”

The crowd would have stayed for more, I am a sure, but even the best block party has to end sometime. Don’t miss seeing WAR!

More photos are available here.

By Marianne Spellman

Show Review & Photos: Interpol @ Showbox SoDo

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There’s only one problem with Interpol – they just might spoil other bands for you. I saw them for the first time in Seattle in 2003 (after the release of Turn on the Bright Lights and the Interpol EP), and that sealed my status as a fan. They set a mood so well with their sounds and their live presence; they are a crushing force. On Friday night they were absolutely in top form, with Paul Banks’ voice filling the venue with all its cutting strength, Daniel Kessler’s whipping guitar work (and fast dance moves), and Sam Fogarino’s assured drumming. Add to this new bassist David Pajo, who fits in just nicely thank you. Each album they’ve released, including last year’s Interpol, has been brilliant, and they brought a good mix of songs from each one for the set. Particularly strong for me were “NYC,” “Slow Hands,” “Say Hello to the Angels,” “Take You on a Cruise,” “Summer Well,” “Barricade,” “The Heinrich Maneuver,” “Obstacle 1,” “Not Even Jail,” “Memory Serves” and “Narc”. Interpol is wickedly excellent. I think every person in the packed Showbox SoDo was an intense Interpol fan. You could feel it and see it.


photos & review by Dagmar

Gallery of Interpol @ Showbox SoDo

Show Review & Photos: School of Seven Bells @ Showbox SoDo

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School of Seven Bells are made up by former band members from the Secret Machines (Benjamin Curtis) and On!Air!Library!(Alejandra Deheza). They’re now two albums into their career with the 2010 release of Disconnect from Desire, and I finally saw them when they opened for Interpol on Friday night. We’ve covered them on Back Beat Seattle before, but I had yet to see the band perform live. I am totally smitten with this band now. The guitar playing and rhythms they produce are stirring, as are the vocals. I snagged their set list at the end of their show, which featured “My Cabal,” “Babelonia,” “Dust Devil,” “Joviann,” “I L U,” “Windstorm,” and “Sempiternal/Amaranth”. I will make it a point to see these excellent artists next time they visit Seattle – you should too.


photos & review by Dagmar

Gallery of School of Seven Bells @ Showbox SoDo