Blood Red Dancers have an interesting take on experimental rock. Forgoing the futuristic sounds employed by many bands that similarly push the envelope, this trio blends classical piano, dark soul, and even a little rockabilly into their unique mix. Aaron Poppick’s abrasive vocals are wrenching. However, the overall sound of the band is coherent enough to carry the groups unique direction.
Long before headliner Blood Red Dancer takes the stage, their show will be opened by a band I’ve been following for sometime, Constant Lovers. Though seemingly born to thrash on stages in the Comet and Funhouse, the Lovers will be sweating under the hot lights of Neumos tonight as they deliver their particular brand of hard hitting rock music. Just as likely to play their guitars with drumsticks as they are floor toms, this band rarely disappoints.
In the face of the devastation witnessed by Haiti, it has been heartening to see the multitude of benefit concerts organized by the music community. Tonight Nectar is doing their part by hosting a benefit event with all proceeds supporting the American Red Cross Haiti Relief Fund. Melancholy duoLark vs Owl headline this chance to see a great show while supporting an excellent cause. Their spurring guitar, stark vocals, and popping percussion will keep the crowed going. Lark vs Owl is energy cloaked in darkness.
For more concert ideas, please visit our friends at ReignCity.com
It’s the last day of the first month of the a decade. Are you still sticking to your resolutions … lose twenty pounds, quit _____ (insert naughty vice here)? Hopefully supporting our local music scene and opening up your philanthropic wallet to help those in need is on your list of do-gooding. If so, you’re in luck this evening and have another opportunity to do both by attending the Luvin’ Haiti benefit in Ballard at Tractor Tavern. SSG has already offered the option to support the Haitians tonight at High Dive, but if Ballard is more accessible for you, go to Tractor Tavern. Suggested donation is $10 and 100% of the proceeds go towards Haiti relief and development. Check out the clips below for a little flavor of what each band is bringing to this great charitable event.
This post is something of a special feature. Special occasions call for special feature posts! November 17th at The Fremont Abbey was a red carpet affair for Seattle’s finest musicians. There were best of performances, a worst of, and a couple that were somewhere in between. Hats off to Scott Teske and the Seattle Rock Orchestra.The Seattle Rock Orchestra created an event where people felt like Gods gallivanting in the clouds. Five thousand years from now, there will be a class on Seattle Rock Mythology where they will tell about music being played by angels among humans. Scott’s conductor hand was as powerful as a titan, and the celebrity guest singers were like the children of God’s among us.
The outstanding celebrity guest performers will be given SSG awards with blurb explanations. The first goes to . . .
Matt Shaw, with the “Way to kick off the set, you understated hottie!” award.
Matt Shaw, of With Friends Like These, started the set off with “Neighborhood #1 – (Tunnels).” He walked to the front of the room, handsomely understated, and sang with fire, energy, and yearning. He embodied the desperation of the song perfectly. Shaw set the bar high for the other guest singers. When he completed, the audience roared.
Ian Bell receives the “Yeah I’m a tool, and what are you going to do about it?” award.
Ian Bell, of Black Swedes, took the stage as if he were the main act, and everyone else in the room just happened to be there.It was very awkward.Shenandoah Davis joined Ian to sing “Une Annee Sans Lumiere.” She was speaking to him privately before the song about God only knows what, then directed him to the microphone as if he were drunk. “Une Annee Sans Lumiere” was very awkwardly preformed. There was about a minute where Bell and Davis danced at the end of the song that felt like the audience was peering in on a private moment–that we shouldn’t have been peering in on. NEXT!
Ian Bell had center stage for “Neighborhood #3 (Power Out).” This song started a bit awkward with Bell’s face contorting and him not singing directly into the microphone, but about halfway through, he really brought joy and happiness to the song–and the room. The second half of “Neighborhood #3 (Power Out)” almost made me forget that when they announced his name he looked at the audience with water bottle in his mouth and lifted his eyebrows like he was Cosmo Kramer. Ian Bell FTW!
Alessandra Rose gets the “MORE, MORE, MORE–HOT! HOT! HOT!!!” award.
Alessandra Rose, of The Kindness Kind, was dressed to kill! Her blonde hair was in a full-on Sonic the Hedgehog hawk, she had a golden sequenced dress on, she could have walked on anyone’s back with her golden spiked heels. Even with all that going on, Rose was nothing of an egocentric performer. Her rendition of “Wake Up” embodied pure strength. Each note off of her lips was powerful, poignant, and s-e-x-y! She was a high note of the evening.
Alessandra Rose and Shenandoah Davis performing “Haiti” was another high note. This song is simple and sweet, but three minutes of it was not enough. 10 minutes of “Haiti” would have been perfect, but thankfully SSG came FTW and brought the video camera–you can watch these leading ladies sing sweetly over and over.
Last but NOT least, Shenandoah Davis with the “DAHHHH!” award.
What is there to even comment about this? For most of the show, Shenandoah Davis played the fine roll of supporting actress, coming in with those intrinsic harmonies that made the leading vocalists shine. When Shenandoah Davis humbly took front and center to sing “In the Backseat,” she delivered controlled explosions. Her rendition was so emotional, there were tears falling all over the room. After the set, Shenondoah had an exchange with a fan that sounded something like, fan: “Shenandoah, you were making me cry!” Shenandoah Davis: “Good! I thought I was the only one crying.” No Shenandoah, you were NOT the only one crying. Thank you for being an integral part of the evening, and closing the set, pre-encore, with a BANG.
Thanks again to Scott Teske, for setting up a beautiful evening, and for letting the early bird Seattleites be a part of it.
Seattle Show Gal is in hot pursuit of undiscovered talent! How many great bands are out there that are slipping through the cracks? Seattle is saturated with so much music, it would be nearly impossible to sift through it all to find the good stuff. The Seattle Show Gal staff is not so proud to think that we can bring you all of it, but we are actively pursuing all different types of acts to give you a pulse on what is going on--right here in Seattle! (See more in "About")
