The day is finally upon us when Seattleites have another opportunity to enjoy Grand Hallway with the accompaniment of grand Seattle Rock Orchestra. The first time the two aforementioned entities played together, it sold out, and there was a standby list of eager attendees that was hundreds of people long. Of course, when tickets went on sale for the event scheduled for tomorrow at The Triple Door, it sold out in days.
This preview isn’t to tease the ones that wish to be part of this event but didn’t buy a ticket, nor is it to hi-five the ones that did, but it is in fact to share the happy, urgent news that Grand Hallway added a second show and there are approximately 50 tickets left!
Reasons to put this show at the top of your “to see” list: Based on the practice session, this show is going to be amazing. Last time SRO played with Grand Hallway, there wasn’t a horn section. There will be one at tomorrow’s show, and it sounds fantastic. Another special treat, Shenandoah Davis is going to be performing a couple of her songs from her solo project, accompanied only with the string section. I wanted to post footage from the practice performance so badly, but all parties wanted to keep these special tidbits secret until the actual event. The seat assignment you get from The Triple Door is first come first serve, so get your tickets NOW before you’re in the nosebleeds, or worse, they sell completely out. They can’t add a third show, don’t sleep!
The Kindness Kind(TKK) has taken some time off, but they are back and they will not be stopped! We’ve been seeing members of TKK popping up in Seattle Rock Orchestra shows, they put out a new song in October 2009, but it’s time for them to reclaim the front row seats in the hearts of their Seattle fans. Shows, shows, shows, will be coming, and not a moment too soon.
Tomorrow night will be their first show this year, and they will be gracing the stage of The Sunset Tavern. I hear that Alessandra Rose has put a little extra fire in her eyes, wind in her pipes, and shake in that booty. Be at The Sunset Tavern tomorrow night to find out.
I had an opportunity to get the low-down regarding The Kindness Kind from Nic Danielson this morning. Here is how the conversation went:
Nikki: What’s been going on with TKK in the past few months?
Nic: Lots of things! Towards the end of ‘09, we flew to New York City to play at CMJ. It was a really fun show, and we met some great people and bands. We walked away as fans of The Low Frequency in Stereo, from Norway. Check ‘em out. We did some tourist-y things as well, like checking out the Soup Nazi’s place and getting in a shouting match with a cabbie.
Much of this year so far has been spent working on new material. With Scott (bass) and Adrian (drums) in the band now, we’ve been bringing our ideas to the group environment closer to conception of the songs, as opposed to when they’re more fully developed outside of the Petri dish. Both ways have their merits, but this way feels pretty damn cohesive and wonderful all around.
Besides all that, we’ve been really bonding over group bass-fishing trips, David Bowie songs, and getting sick together (what a winter…).
Nikki: Will you be playing new material tomorrow night?
Nic: Yes indeed … we’ll be doing a few. One is called “Labor Day,” a demo of which you can find on the Internet (including SSG). We have many more that are close, but they’re still being refined in said Petri dish.
Nikki: What will TKK be bringing to the Seattle scene this time around?
Nic: How about an orchestra? That’s been the other big part of 2010 – as you know, we’re playing at the Moore as the backing band for the Seattle Rock Orchestra’s (SRO) tribute to David Bowie. We’ll also be opening the night with TKK songs backed up by the SRO, so be there early! It’s been a large chunk of work to learn all these amazing Bowie songs, and it’s been an educational process to dig deep and really internalize them. David Bowie is such a huge influence on all of us. Generally, I’m not a fan of putting people on pedestals, but if there was ever someone to idolize it would be Bowie.
I can also say that we’ll be bringing in album number three.
Nikki: What’s your favorite color?
Nic: I can’t speak for the rest of the band, but I’m 50/50 between periwinkle and oxblood.
Nikki: Thank you so much for taking time out to answer my questions! I look forward to seeing your show tomorrow night.
Check out this video taken last year, and get ready to rock.
Levi fuller is best known for his unflinching support of the Seattle D.I.Y. Music scene. He puts together shows on a monthly basis to support the acoustic community, yearly shows to support the avant garde noise community and much more. What some might not have realized is that Levi Fuller also has his own band–and it’s pretty great. Levi Fuller’s sound, complete with accompanying musicians, infuses lots of different sounds such as Americana and folk. It is in large part is acoustic and would be best described as easy listening. Check out the videos/audio samples below, and show up at 9 o’clock sharp to support one of Seattle’s greatest independent music supporters, Levi Fuller.
Seattle has a couple more rising stars that eat, sleep, and breath music. I’m talking about none other then Shenandoah Davis and Scott Teske. Davis, fresh out of college, made her way to Seattle two years ago. Not having any family or friends here, she made a home inside of her music, and opened her home for anyone who wanted to come in. Davis’s story continues. Her music has lead her to find a family inside the band Grand Hallway, she has had much success with her self titled solo work, and she has had lavish experiences with the Seattle Rock Orchestra.
Speaking of Seattle Rock Orchestra, SSG took the opportunity to get up close and personal with Scott Teske, founder, lead bass player, and conductor, of Seattle Rock Orchestra(SRO), and new bass player in The Kindness Kind. Scott Teske has been making so many waves with SRO, it was time to get the inside scoop directly from the horse’s mouth. In the following interview with Scott Teske, joined by Shenandoah Davis, you will see me, Nikki Benson, doing my utmost to start rumors and get the hidden juice. Before you enjoy that, please enjoy the solo interview with Shenandoah Davis, some exclusive, private performances, and some oh-so-silly banter.
Enjoy your afternoon tea with Shenandoah Davis and Scott Teske.
An interview with Shenandoah Davis
Private Performance with Shenandoah Davis and Scott Teske
Shenandoah Davis & Scott Teske performing “Proof”
Shenandoah Davis & Scott Teske performing “These Rocks”
Shenandoah Davis & Scott Teske performing “We Camera”
An interview with Scott Teske joined by Shenandoah Davis
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.
Grand Hallway Band Members:
Tomo Nakayama – vocals, piano, guitar
Jeramy Koepping – electric guitar
Alina To – violin, percussion
Jaclyn Shumate – violin, percussion
Joel Harmon – drums, bells, vocals
Kevin Large – bass, piano, vocals
Chris Zasche – pedal steel, banjo, mandolin, piano
Shenandoah Davis – keyboards, accordion, vocals
To celebrate the release of their new album Promenade, Grand Hallway had an album release that will be remembered for many years to come. Their usual set up consists of eight players, but on September 17, 2009 they played with the 30 piece Seattle Rock Orchestra, directed by Scott Teske, and the Perikins School Children’s Choir. The front of the room overflowed with musicians, and it was a beautiful thing.
Starting off with the old favorite “Seward Park,” Grand hallway got the audience in the mood for love! The romantic shrill of Tomo Nakayama intertwined with the harmony of Shenandoah Davis is always sure to bring smiles, but with the backing of a full orchestra, I think I saw someone get down on bended knee and propose marriage. I can’t blame the person for taking the moment; the music was gosh-darn romantic!
Bringing out the out the children’s choir, Grand Hallway graced us with a few more songs. Tomo said to the children, “We’ll start with an easy one.” They played “Happy New Year” with ethereal additions from the kiddies; the crowd just about did a standing ovation. Then, with his arms stretched in an elongated gesture, Tomo turned to the choir and said, “Twice as big this time,” and started playing “Raindrops.” Tomo’s voice boomed, the orchestra swelled, and the children sang out! It was amazing.
Grand Hallway wasn’t finished giving the audience chills, there were still three more songs to go! If there were one other song that competed with “Raindrops” in terms of sheer beauty, it was “Sirens.” Tomo started that song off slowly, and when we were least expecting it his voice sounded off – much like a siren. The audience was pretty much pulverized at this point. As a celebratory close to the evening, Grand Hallway ended it with “The Passenger,” a full participation song that was more on the relaxed side.
It was a momentous occasion. If you weren’t in attendance, I hear they are coming out with a DVD later in the year. Be sure to pick up Promenade, and enjoy clips of the evening.
Grand Hallway’s upcoming shows:
Oct 17 2009 7:30P Tomo and Shenandoah, acoustic at DOE BAY Olga, Washington
Nov 7 2009 8:00P UW HUB (Benefit for Fishery Dept) w/Massy Ferguson, Colonies Seattle, Washington
Nov 13 2009 8:00P Sunset w/Final Spins, guests Seattle, Washington
Dec 1 2009 8:00P Great Pacific Pendleton, Oregon
Dec 4 2009 8:00P State Room w/Band of Annuals, The Devil Whale Salt Lake City, Utah
Dec 6 2009 8:00P Eliot Street Collective w/Paper Bird Denver, Colorado
Dec 9 2009 8:00P The Bootleg w/Devon Williams Los Angeles, California
Dec 11 2009 8:00P The Woods w/Carcrashlander Portland, Oregon
Dec 13 2009 8:00P The Tractor Seattle, Washington
Dec 21 2009 8:00P TOKUZO Tomo Nakayama w/Shenandoah Davis, 野村和孝 Nagoya, Japan
Dec 24 2009 8:00P NANAHARI Tomo Nakayama w/Shenandoah Davis, 野村和孝 Tokyo, Japan
Dec 25 2009 8:00P NANAHARI Tomo Nakayama w/Shenandoah Davis, 野村和孝 Tokyo, Japan
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")
