HIRIE @ Neumos – 3/3/23
Photos by Kirk Stauffer
Reggae songstress HIRIE and her band played a sold-out show at Neumos. The Seattle stop on her headlining tour highlighted songs from her recent album, Mood Swing. The high energy performance – start to finish – kept the crowd totally engaged. Long Beach, CA based Vana Liya opened.
HIRIE – Photos by Kirk Stauffer
Vana Liya – Photos by Kirk Stauffer
Harry Connick, Jr. @ Benaroya Hall – 12/17/22
Show Review & Photos by Lisa Hagen Glynn
Harry Connick, Jr. – photo by Lisa Hagen Glynn
Outside the snow was falling. Inside, Harry Connick, Jr. glided past Benaroya Hall’s giant Fisk organ and cued up “Sleigh Ride.”
Connick tickled the ivories of a magnificent Steinway and crooned Christmas carols from a stool, meanwhile conducting his ensemble with just an occasional gesture. He was accompanied by a 14-piece orchestra and jazz band, boasting a fine lineup of players. The whole jazz band soloed during the set, and Connick announced their names to enthusiastic cheers. Most notable were features for New York City mainstay Jerry Weldon on tenor saxophone, Neal Caine on bass, and Arthur Latin II on drums. Connick’s concertmaster led a local string section.
Connick sang mostly holiday classics, but also included a few of his originals, some trad-jazz standards, and the career-launching “It Had to Be You” from When Harry Met Sally. “Silent Night” invited audience participation, and Connick declared that they had sung like angels. For a change of pace, he unveiled the Harpejji, an unconventional string instrument with a pedal-steel sound. Connick admitted having been recently unfamiliar with the Cajun classic “Papa Noël,” despite being from New Orleans. An extended solo-piano introduction to the Brazilian hit “Tico Tico” crescendoed to include the full ensemble, and showed off Connick’s skills at the keys. “Bourbon Street Parade” featured the front line in a NOLA-style concurrent improvisation. A round of red and green-accented applause coaxed Connick back to the stage, where he and the jazz octet closed with a cheerful encore of “Jingle Bells.”
Unsurprisingly, the award-winning musician, composer, actor, and TV host had an effortless stage presence. Connick was dressed in a snazzy black suit, but his real charm lied in his between-tune engagement with his fans. “I love your city, I love your state,” he exclaimed, noting that he has toured here frequently and usually performs summer shows at Chateau Ste. Michelle winery. Connick was gentle and witty in addressing front-row filmer “Peggy,” who gladly stowed her cellphone in exchange for a selfie and a song dedication. He wanted her to be present, he explained, so that he could be fully present to the audience and everyone could experience the moment together—and, because nobody looks good on camera at a 45-degree angle.
Detracting from an otherwise strong set was some recurrent distortion that obscured Connick’s vocals, seemingly due to over-amplification of the brass and piano during the louder numbers. Benaroya Hall was designed for acoustic ensembles, and the space can struggle with boosted acts. The audience took it in stride, offering two standing ovations.
This show was the first of two nights at Benaroya Hall. Connick’s 28-date “A Holiday Celebration Tour” supported his fourth holiday album, Make It Merry.
—
Set List:
Sleigh Ride
Santa Claus Is Coming to Town
When My Heart Finds Christmas
It Had to Be You
The Way You Look Tonight
Blue Christmas
Silent Night
I Pray on Christmas
The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)
(It Must’ve Been Ol’) Santa Claus
Please Come Home for Christmas
Papa Noël
Tico Tico
Bourbon Street Parade
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
Make It Merry
What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve
Come By Me
(Encore)
Jingle Bells
Harry Connick, Jr. Merch – photo by Lisa Hagen Glynn
Preview SXSW 23 – Catching Bands T-Y
~Dagmar
Japanese artists are on my mind as I post this final SXSW 23 preview. Also, some other great female musicians make themselves heard in a big way. I hope these posts have helped make any attendee decide on which shows will be fun!
The Tiva
Tokyo, Japan
Schedule for the Tiva
Garage duo the Tiva – singer/guitarist Maya Akechi, and drummer Sachi – have a couple of appearances lined up, including the Tokyo Calling showcase on March 13th.
The Tiva – photo from the Tina’s Facebook
~
Warmduscher
London, England
Schedule for Warmduscher
Rock band with the most peculiar member names – Clams Baker Jr, Lightnin’ Jack Everett , Quicksand , Mr. Salt Fingers Lovecraft and The Witherer aka Little Whiskers – have just released a new song called “Love Strong.” A fan? Check it out over here.
Warmduscher – from Warmduscher’s Bandcamp
~
Alexandra Whittingham
Manchester, England
Schedule for Alexandra Whittingham
Do you like some classical guitar? Alexandra Whittingham is a classical guitarist with an impressive education (Chetham’s School of Music, London’s the Royal Academy of Music in London). She has performed all over the world, and has an adorable cat.
Alexandra Whittingham – photo from Alexandra Whittingham’s Facebook
~
Woodes
Melbourne, Australia
Schedule for Woodes
Woodes will be worth checking out just for her clothing itself, but she’s also a wonderful pop artist. Not sure if she will work some creative outfits into her set – maybe? The producer/songwriter draws from different arts, and incorporates them into her presence.
Woodes – photo by Jordan Drysdale
~
YU-KA
Tokyo, Japan
Schedule for YU-KA
Singer-songrwriter YU-KA will have her first tour of the US this year. Welcome, YU-KA! Last year, she had a huge hit with the song “No Stars.”
YU-KA
Preview – SXSW 23 – Catching Bands R-S
~Dagmar
Close to wrapping up features on just some of the great bands coming to SXSW this year. Today’s list includes artists from Spain, Ukraine, Ireland and more. Electronic, rock, metal. . . whatever you fancy is there for you.
Rakky Ripper
Granada, Spain
Schedule for Rakky Ripper
Rakky Ripper just celebrated her birthday – happy belated birthday! The Spanish electronic pop artist captured the attention of none other than Charli XCX, and has been in Vogue.
Rakky Ripper – photo from Rakky Ripper’s Facebook
~
Red Rum Club
Liverpool, England
Schedule for Red Rum Club
Indie sextet from Liverpool – one band member plays the trumpet – has an excellent label home at Modern Sky Records. The label includes Sad Boys Club and Crawlers, and that’s awesome.
Red Rum Club – photo from Red Rum Club’s Facebook
~
Rikas
Stuttgart, Germany
Schedule for Rikas
Not many German artists popping up this year, so if you are a Germanophile, check out Rikas. The pop rock band also has released an amazing looking blue vinyl of their first album, Swabian Samba.
Rikas – photo by Lisa Nguyen
~
Salarymen
Sydney, Australia
Schedule for Salarymen
Australia’s Salarymen have four shows at this year’s SXSW, plus thee rock duo had shows in Japan last year. Renee (de la Motte) told AnalogueTrash, about their beginnings: “We started dating while Thom (Eagleton) was in bands around Sydney (several of which fizzled out sadly) and decided together that now was the time to start our own project! That way, the only way the band could break up is if we did!”
Don’t break up.
Salarymen – photo by Matt Sitas
~
The Scratch
Dublin, Ireland
Schedule for the Scratch
Rock group the Scratch, who are from Dublin, gamely posed with pugs one time. This is the best. They will tour the United States and Canada for the first time, and, while scratch can mean many things, I’m guessing they mean money.
The Scratch – photo from the Scratch’s Facebook
~
Sparkling
Cologne, Germany
Schedule for Sparkling
Sparkling, the second German band to turn up in today’s suggestions, is a trio from Cologne. Their track “I Want to See Everything” got remixed by fellow German Felix Martin of Hot Chip. That’s some wonderful attention.
Sparkling – photo courtesy Moshi Moshi Records
~
SpivOberta
Dobropillia, Ukraine
Schedule for SpivOberta
Electronic duo from the Denotsk region in Ukraine. Returning for a third visit to SXSW, they’re electronic and folk (Kirill Vakare plays the flute!) Last year, the pair released an EP called Tysha, which means silence in Ukrainian. On their SoundCloud, they described the EP as “. . . songs about love, about separation of people and strong feelings that help us deal with war.”
SpivOberta – photo from SpivOberta’s Facebook
~
Sports Team
London, England
Schedule for Sports Team
London’s Sports Team have been around approximately 6 years and they’ve already had one Mercury Prize nomination. They’re known for great live shows and this will be their first appearance at SXSW. The rock group formed at the University of Cambridge, and I think that gives them intriguing clout.
~
Sports Team – photo from Sports Team’s Bandcamp
~
Sunflower Bean
New York, New York
Schedule for Sunflower Bean
New York’s Sunflower just rocks. I saw them open for Interpol a number of year’s ago and I was so involved in their set. The trio makes a return appearance at SXSW, and I say, don’t miss them.
Sunflower Bean – photo from Sunflower Bean’s Facebook
Preview – SXSW 23 – Catching Bands N-P
~Dagmar
Now, onto artists N-P. Female Japanese musicians stand out, as does an English stoner rock band from England called Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs.
Haru Nemuri
Yokohama, Japan
Schedule for Haru Nemuri
Tokyo-based Haru Nemuri (real name Haruna Kimishima) could be loosely described as J-pop, although she brings in other elements to her music. She’s filmed her videos everywhere from Moscow to Los Angeles. Good to see her back in the States after her tours kept getting postponed due to COVID.
Haru Nemuri – photo from Haru Nemuri’s Facebook
~
NEMOPHILA
Tokyo, Japan
Schedule for NEMOPHILA
Another female act from Japan! A metal quintet from Tokyo, NEMOPHILA, they’re named after the flower. Don’t let that fool you though, these women shred. And scream.
NEMOPHILA – photo from NEMOPHILA’s Facebook
~
New Order
Manchester, England
Schedule for New Order
The always-loved New Order is one of the biggest acts of this year’s music festival and they really don’t need an introduction. I do want to point out the electronic band now has an awesome shirt, whose profits go to the British Red Cross to help the Ukraine.
New Order – photo from New Order’s Facebook
~
NTsKi
Kyoto, Japan
Schedule for NTsKi
Yet one more female Japanese artist! A bit of Jpop, a bit of experimentation, NTsKi’s 2021 album, Orca, was released on Orange Milk Records. It’s a very intriguing label.
NTsKi – photo from NTsKi’s Facebook
~
NOISY
Worthing, England
Schedule for NOISY
English drum and bass trio is a definite yes. From the same city as Royal Blood’s Mike Kerr, I’m thinking that is a great place.
NOISY – photo from NOISY’s Facebook
~
Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs
Newcastle upon Tyne, England
Schedule for Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs
Call them Pigsx7 if you want to make it easier. The psychedelic rock should do their song, “Big Rig’. Is that too much to ask? Seattleites: Pigsx7 will be at Madame Lou’s on March 25th.
Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs – photo from Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs’ Facebook
~
Pol
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Schedule for Pol
Siblings Ruben Pol and Matthijs Pol come from the Netherlands and make new wave music. I’m checking out their song “Modern Strange Love,” and it is spot-on.
Pol – photo from Pol’s Facebook