Mary Lambert Part 2

Well, it was really easy to think of a follow up title.  I'm trying to think of a word to describe how the show left me feeling.  I think I felt the full gamut of emotions.  Damn, this girl is talented! It's good to know if for some reason she ever lost her singing voice (knock on wood) she's got a career in comedy.  I was immediately captivated by the music and forgot to take pictures like I planned.  Mary was so open and vulnerable on stage as she performed some "New shit" as as its called in the poetry world and it was so real and so great.  She also told us about a secret surprise she was planning in Everett and we're not supposed to tell.  Very hush hush. And Oh my God, when she hit that note, you know the one, it was magic.  There was romance, a standing ovation a couple of times and for the encore song everyone was dancing.  She's so comfortable on stage, you know that's where she belongs.  It's no surprise why she has an enormous following and I will be one of those following the life of her career.

Mary Lambert part 1

It's been a quite a while since I've made a blog post.  Summer has passed and here we are already in the month of November.  Time sure flies when you're busy, but I think it's important to stop for a moment and reassess life and goals and direction.  And a great way to slow down and enjoy life is to go see a show.  Tomorrow I'm going to see Mary Lambert perform in Tacoma, WA at the University of Puget Sound field house.  I've seen her one other time at the Tractor in Ballard at a fundraiser for the Oso Mudslide victims and it was incredible.  This chic is a local hero and a real class act and makes me so excited about music, but also the message.  She is an indie musician, and she is maintaining creative right and speaks her mind about things she believes strongly in.  These are the qualities of an indie musician if you ask me.  She has no qualms about calling out the bullshit she sees in the world and that's one of the many things I like about her.  (Not to mention her brilliant poetic lyrics and angelic voice).  Other things that really impress me; she spoke and performed at the United Nations HQ for Human Rights Day.  I'm very excited for this show!! I will give you the details in my next post Mary Lambert part 2.

The Weepies

The Weepies left quite the impression on me, at the Neptune Theater, having never seen them live before and my only experience with their music was someone else’s cover of one of their more popular songs.  I don’t know how to explain it, but they had an aura of love.  You know how you just get a feeling from certain people, how you just know in your gut whether you can trust someone or not.  It sounds ridiculous.  Sometimes words are not enough to describe the feeling you are left with after a show.  You could just tell every word in every love song they sang was the truth and how much they loved singing it.  You could tell every band member believed it too.  Their instruments and voices melded so well to create a single work of art.  So much more than the sum of its parts. I think about how much time they have spent on the road, what dificulties they have overcome to get to this one performance and how many times they may have played these songs already, but still they were so untiringly sincere.  Sirens is their 5th Album release.

S, Jenn Ghetto, Jenn Champion

On May 1st I went to a show at the Neumos in Seattle to see S open for Sera Cahoone.  It was my first time seeing them play live, although I had heard S' song Vampires, the artist also known as Jenn Ghetto, numerous times on KEXP and on the internet.  You might know her from her former band Carissa's Wierd. My spell-check really wanted to fix that.  It was a great show.  Sera Cahoone played with a full band and it sounded so full.  I was also introduced to another band, Horde and the Harem.  They were unique and played a skillful show and I appreciate both of those things.  They really appeared to believe in their performance and I think that is a vital component to putting on a good show.  I have to say, though, that when Jenn Ghetto performs it really feels like she is exposing her soul. These are three extremely talented local artists/bands that you should definitely see live.

Support independent artists! #seattlemovement

Lowland Hum

Yesterday, I met Lowland Hum, an incredibly talented and kind husband and wife duo from South Carolina. I got to set up their mics and sit in on their awesome performance and interview with Ron Taffi on 90.7 KSER which you can listen to on kser.org.

I've gotten busy and put the blog on the back burner, but I'm going to try to update it at least once a week and keep you posted on what I'm up to and the great music that I've found.

Here's my short CD review of Lowland Hum:

Daniel and Lauren Goans, the married folk, duo Lowland Hum and their album by the same name, evoke serenity and splendor.  From rural North Carolina, they weave their appealing high-tenor and soprano voices into intricate harmonies over string-band arrangements.

Includes acoustic guitar arpeggios, ghostly vowels and thoughtful poetic lyrics.

lowlandhum.com