Judas Priest exploded back into action on their re-scheduled 50 Heavy Metal Years Tour Tuesday Night at the Shrine in Los Angeles. Opening for Judas on Tuesday night were none other than Seattle based prog-rockers, Queensryche.
Just months after guitarist Richie Faulkner’s health alert forced them off the road last September right before the previous LA show at the Nokia Arena. Faulkner suffered an aortic aneurism while on stage at the Louder than Life Festival. In an epic display of Metal, he continued to play and finished playing “Painkiller” and the rest of the set before being rushed to the hospital. Faulkner had an emergency surgery, and was soon on the road to recovery.
In the meantime Metal God Rob Halford had an odd epiphany that he thought Judas Priest should go back on the road as a 4-Piece band in honor of the bands early days. Guitarist Andy Sneap was unceremoniously out and they were heading out as a 4-piece. Luckily for fans the insanity only lasted days, and Sneap was brought back in and all was forgotten. The twin guitar sound of Judas Priest has become so integral to the live show that it’s impossible to imagine seeing them just as a 4 piece. Sneap and Faulkner with both on fire with their dueling flying V’s commanding the stage.
The 20-song set perfectly encompassed the tone of the night which was to celebrate the legacy that is Judas Priest. The Pitchfork cross, Halford Riding his Harley onto the stage and even the encore featuring Glenn Tipton for the final 3 Songs all struck the right tone of nostalgia mixed with the raw power of Halford’s searing voice. Make no mistake, he still has the pipes and the rage of the band rocked the stage for hours. For those who have waited for over a year since the concert was announced the throngs were head banging in the aisles by the time “Living after Midnight” brought the house down.
Halford and the gang are far from done. If Faulkner’s brush with death has done anything, it’s instilled a burst of passion in the band to create more higher octane Metal. The new more progressive album looks to hit the world sometime in 2023 but for now fans have to be thrilled to have Judas Priest back at full throttle on stage to continue their tour.
Full Set List
One Shot at Glory
Lightning Strike
You've Got Another Thing Comin'
Freewheel Burning
Turbo Lover
Hell Patrol
The Sentinel
A Touch of Evil
Rocka Rolla
Victim of Changes
Desert Plains
Blood Red Skies
Diamonds & Rust
Painkiller
Encore:
The Hellion
Electric Eye
Hell Bent for Leather
Metal Gods - (with Glenn Tipton)
Breaking the Law - (with Glenn Tipton)
Living After Midnight - (with Glenn Tipton)
I had been itching for a show and when I saw this one got confirmed, I was super hype. I have been listening to Chelsea Cutler since 2018 around when she first got going and I have not heard a song I didn’t vibe to. This show was sure to be a banger and I couldn’t wait to show up to the box office and pick up my ticket. Chelsea Cutler was joined by Adam Melchor and ROSIE at the House of Blues in Dallas, Texas Thursday night and we were all in for a great time.
Starting out the show was New York native, ROSIE. Bringing her pureness to the stage was quite the presence. Praised for showing everyone her 100% true self, she has garnered a massive following around her music and the lyrics she sings. It was communicated so well in her performance. She has such a soft and gentle voice that really hits you deep. She gave the crowd everything they wanted in her set. I really enjoyed all her songs given I had not listened prior to the show. She brought her talent and I’m sure gained some new listeners that night. All around beautiful performance.
Next up was Adam Melchor – another act I hadn’t listened to prior to the night but I can tell why Chelsea would bring him on tour with her. Him and his band have such a vibey sound. I really connected with them and the music they were playing. I found myself moving back and forth while snapping some shots of them. You could also tell they were having the best time on stage too. I feel like that gives so much to a performance when you can tell the people playing are into their own tunes as well. I will be adding them to my playlists. Very enjoyable and memorable performance.
And now the moment everyone had been waiting for, Chelsea Cutler. The stage set up was sick with this box LED structure and a platform for the band. Made for some great lighting. I hadn’t realized how packed the venue got until I hit the balcony after the set, but it was a packed house at that point. She walked out on stage and the roar from the crowd was insane! She started the set out with “Under” and then it began. Chelsea Cutler is one of those artists whose voice instantly captivates you. Hearing it live was a whole other experience. She played all of my favorite songs and more including “Cold Showers”, “Walking Away”, “Stay Next To Me”, and “the Reason”. All of these were such an awesome experience to hear live. I already can’t wait to see here again.
If you can, catch her on this tour. You will not regret it!
Included in The FMs' double single release is a spirited cover of Ultravox’s ‘77 classic “My Sex” out now. The song hits homes home for the duo, it explores the versatile nature of "sex/gender," something that wasn't mainstream at that time when it came out in ’77. Deciding to go in a less traditional route in terms of covering this song, each verse is tailored to our own personal connections with the original lyrics. "My Sex," directed by Matt Mahurin, is a vibrant burst of colors, painting a surreal dance party. It displays the different forms of love that mirror the lyrics and meaning of the song.
-Morgan DeShields McClure
Slash with Myles Kennedy and the Conspirators doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue.
It might be easier to say, “I saw Slash at the YouTube Theater on February 18th.”
You could kind of shorten it to, “I saw Slash with Myles Kennedy.”
But that would be a disservice to the band. Because make no mistake about this, Slash with Myles Kennedy and the Conspirators is a real band, not just Slash and some backup guys playing some tunes. After 10 plus years and four albums, they have their on-stage sound down.
Sure, that sound is built around the unmistakable tone that Slash pulls out of his Les Paul and a few others axes during the show. (Slash on the Flying V! Slash on the double-neck!) Vocally, Myles Kennedy is almost the perfect compliment to Slash’s playing. (There is that other guy in that other band.) Being with Slash shows a slightly different side to Myles compared to his work in Alter Bridge. He has a confident, strong voice that breaks through and takes on a bluesier feel when he works with Slash. He also is a multi-talented musician as he proved with his work on the triangle to open “Whatever Gets You By.” Myles isn’t afraid to show his feelings either. The touching new song, “Fill My World” is written about his dog, Mozart.
But Myles isn’t the only one singing on stage. Bassist Todd Kerns not only provides backup vocals and harmony, but also took the lead on a cover of Lenny Kravitz’s “Always On the Run” and “Dr. Alibi,” a Slash track that originally featured Lemmy from Motorhead. The band’s drumming engine is Brent Fitz and on rhythm guitar is Frank Sidoris. Slash likes to work with a second guitarist and Sidoris can hold his own next to a hall-of-famer.
This is a powerhouse of a band and really, there aren’t many of their kind still around. So we can the thank the gods of rock that a guitar god like Slash has an itchy vibrato finger, makes new music and brings it to the people. And although his name fronts the band, Slash didn’t say a lot during the show. He obviously prefers to let his music do the talking. The one time he did come to the mic to address the audience was to introduce his version of the Elton John classic, “Rocketman” which really became another chance for Myles Kennedy to show just how amazing and effortless his range is.
The YouTube Theater is a totally modern venue, connected to the home of this year’s Super Bowl, SoFi Stadium. So if you’ve seen Slash and the guys in a smaller, funkier, grittier, dirtier setting, the upscale, almost bougie feel might have thrown you for a moment. But halfway through the opener, "Driving Rain", from their last album, the band showed that they owned that extra large stage. Although there were moments during certain solos that Slash was so far away from the band he seemed to be in his own little corner of the universe. A Slashverse unto himself. One more step and it was exit, Stage Left. But then when the solo ended, he would head back and join Myles and the others.
There weren’t any big surprises or guest stars like certain past shows when Duff McKagan might join them onstage for a song or two. So maybe that was a surprise in and of itself, no GN’R songs, no Velvet Revolver songs. But the audience was on their feet the entire show, singing along. They knew the lyrics. They knew the catalog. They loved this band for who they are now. Not for what they represented from the past. Or songs they hoped to hear.
Setlist:
Driving Rain
My Antidote
Shots Fired
Serve You Right
Back From Cali
Bad Rain
The River Is Rising
Whatever Gets You By
Always on the Run (Lenny Kravitz cover) (Todd Kerns on Vocals)
No More Heroes
Speed Parade (Slash’s Snakepit cover)
Actions Speak Louder Than Words
Fill My World
The One You Loved Is Gone
Call off the Dogs
Doctor Alibi (Slash song) (Todd Kerns on Vocals)
Rocket Man (I Think It’s Going to Be a Long, Long Time) (Elton John cover)
Nothing to Say
You’re a Lie
World on Fire (Extended)
Encore:
Anastasia
A note about the set list: There were five songs from the new album, 4. The first single, “The River is Rising”, as well as, “Whatever Gets You By”, “Actions Speak Louder Than Words”, “Fill My World”, and “Call Off The Dogs.”
So that meant they literally played half the album. That’s because 4 rocks. And apparently, they are also playing “C’est La Vie” while on tour. So that makes six songs they are confident enough to play on the road. And those are at least six great reasons to listen to Slash featuring Myles Kennedy and The Conspirators 4.
It was the first SMKTC album with all five members recording as a group instead of parts being pieced together. It could also be the first album where the band completely sounds like a band track to track. Maybe because it was executed in more of an old-school way by producer Dave Cobb and I think Slash made the right decision in gathering the band on a bus and heading to Nashville to get it done. Even if they faced unexpected COVID issues along the way.
Hunnypot Live #457 was a very successful convoy of music and entertainment.
Hot Tub Johnnie hit the gas early with top hits and whips.
TWO guest hosts, Kristin Engineer & Adam Ehrlich, protested mediocrity with their origin stories and new endeavors in music.
Sophie Gold trucked in a Fort Knox sized pop performance.
Honest Family Outlaws returned to our stage hauling hip, hopped, country jams.
We got the 10-4 from Nadia Vaeh's 4 on the floor rock/pop heavy load.
Hot Tub navigated the rest of Hunnypot highway with hits to keep on trucking to.
Photos/Recap: J. Gray Audio mastering: James Coffman
Adam Ehrlich is a music industry veteran who has been in the music department at Paramount Pictures for the last 15 years. After graduating Berklee College of Music, he played with various acts as a live performer in all genres all over. He has worked at record labels, radio stations, studios, and publishers. He has been composing and producing music for over 20 years and has been a composer/producer with networks including HBO, MTV, Nickelodeon and many others. He developed a children's app called Sing N' Send that taught children how to sing and record and share that went to #1 worldwide in multiple territories and had millions of downloads.
Now Adam enjoys his family band Honest Family Outlaws that is taking over the world by storm.
MotoGirl’s boots on the ground: a deep knowledge of music, road-tested production skills and writing chops for miles. What pumps pistons of MotoGirl’s heart: producing driving pop that puts the wheels under brands … and lighting up the road ahead for up-and-coming artists.
MotoGirl Music LLC is a creative collaborative, producing kinetic original music for brand advertising, TV and film, trailers and promos. It is also a non-exclusive music licensing representative for artists and an artist management company. Kristin Engineer/MotoGirl (owner and founder of MotoGirl Music LLC) is a top liner, songwriter, project manager, and top track executive producer based in Los Angeles, CA who specializes in dance pop, indie pop, and electro pop genres. A lifelong musician, Kristin’s ride has taken her from orchestral work and classical training, to performing as lead singer and songwriter in three bands (including a stint as a chanteuse named Velvet), to the launch of MotoGirl Music. Motogirl collaborates with creators in the music industry who identify as women, non-binary, LGBTQIA+, and BIPOC. The vision: build a talent foundry and drive transformative change in the industry, where these groups are historically underrepresented.
MotoGirl LLC is in motion and launching new music, projects, and artists in 2022. The sign on the company garage is turned to Open…. for collaboration and custom work for your project or brand.
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Sophie Gold is the bad-ass brainchild of MotoGirl Music and Ava King. Sophie combines a boisterous attitude with a side of dark pop and leaves the niceties at home where they belong. Proud to be among MotoGirl’s projects, in the short few months that she has materialized, Sophie is already featured on some of Netflix’s hottest shows. Previously, She had her music featured in Red Bull Commercials and the Ellen Degeneres Show. Recently, with MotoGirl Music, she placed in Twenty Something’s Austin in two episodes featuring her vocals and Ava King’s amazing track.
Sophie Gold is the child of a Gucci bag and a London pub, she makes music that children are not welcome to listen to, and spends her spare time staring out of the window moodily onlooking the Hollywood sign. She’s unhappy, but has her life figured out. Check out her new singles Something From Nothing, Stellarlike, and No Paradise produced by MotoGirl Music and engineered by Ava King. Sophie guarantees you’ll find her music to be just what you were missing.
Formed in the Spring of 2021, Honest Family Outlaws is a trap country family band from Tujunga, California. Veterans of the stage, studio and music business, each member brings their own unique personality and skill set to the table forming a super-group with great crossover multi genre potential.
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Atlanta native and IMA “Vox Pop” winner, Nadia Vaeh, found her way into artistry through modeling and an unexpected stint with a local Atlanta circus. She started singing in their productions, but began writing her own poetry and music at a young age. Her mother was a poet who passed on her love of words, which later fueled Nadia’s talent as a lyricist. Nadia’s life took an unexpected turn at the age of 17 when she lost her mother to suicide. After this tragic loss, she strayed from songwriting and singing for years and went down a path of self-destruction to ignore her pain. When she decided to begin again with artistry, she struggled deeply to deal with her heartbreak. “I made a lot of missteps when I first began my career; had to learn a lot of things the hard way and spent time reflecting to get to a place where I could create hope from the pain that life can bring via my music.”
With her endless resilience, Nadia has grown into a deeply connected and engaging performer. Her music has been played on U.S. and international radio and has been praised by Wonderland Magazine, Pop Wrapped, Music Connection Magazine, Dark Beauty Magazine, AudioFemme, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and more.
Vaeh loves to pull inspiration for her music through many genres and sounds from all over the world and has been heavily influenced by island sounds from her time spent in the Netherland Antilles island, Curaçao. She also draws from the roots of her father's homeland of Lebanon and has an affinity for middle eastern music. The conscious-pop singer also makes it a point to give back whenever she can. Through her music, she has donated proceeds to a number of nonprofits including the Human Rights Campaign, The Trevor Project, among many others.
Having written in several genres, Nadia’s fascination lies with pop because as she puts it, “I love the vast playground that is pop music and how it can transcend and connect people through all cultures. It’s a powerful healer. So many pop songs have helped me feel seen and understood!”
Nadia Vaeh is managed by Kristin Engineer of MotoGirl Music and will be sharing some of her classics as well as a sneak peek from her upcoming debut album, “My Face Hurts” which drops in July 2022.
When I first watched this video, memories of that horrific day at The Station Nightclub back in February 2003 immediately flooded back. So many died, so many were injured, rock concerts as we knew them changed forever. Although not written specifically written by Dee Snider for the upcoming documentary, America’s Deadliest Rock Concert: The Guest List, "Stand" ended up being a solid choice for inclusion based on the track and it's uniquely powerful lyrics. Add in David Bellino's magic behind the camera (including stunning documentary footage), and "Stand" immediately pulls at the viewers heartstrings and puts into perspective that fateful evening nearly 20 years ago. Aside from all of that, what touched me most was Snider's powerful vocal delivery of these lyrics and and how he brought them to life throughout the entire video. His performance immediately awoke powerful emotions in me that I had been long since buried, and allowed me to peacefully reflect on those who lost their life that fateful evening. That's the magic of music, and Dee Snider's impact couldn't have been more welcoming (and needed) in the current world we all live.
Killswitch Engage put on an incendiary show at the Wiltern on Friday Night and it was one fans will never forget. The rabid crowd was whipped into frenzy by opening acts August Burns Red and Light The Torch and the energy didn’t let up for hours. All three bands are on steady stream on Sirius XM Octane, and the Howard Jones fronted Light the Torch is really gaining traction. His history of fronting Killswitch Engaged is well known and made the bookend of the night that much more explosive. Jones and his squad ignited the stage in immediate fashion, launching into “More than Dreaming”, the lead track off their new album You Will Be the Death of Me. It was immediately followed up by “Calm Before the Storm”, “Let Me Fall Apart”, and then the wrapped up their hit “Safety of Disbelief”. If you thought Howard Jones left it all on the stage, you would be surprised…he wasn’t done yet.
Next up came the thrashing August Burns Red. The roaring growl of Jake Luhrs launched the mosh pit into a fury of limbs and energy as they fired into “The Truth Of A Liar”. Flanked by guitarists JB Brubaker and Brent Rambler (all poised on risers, they set the tone for the set with pounding aggression. They fired through a setlist with their crushing hits “Meddler” and “Paramount”. The madness continued as they breezed into “The Legend Of Zelda Theme” (where the first crowd surfers hit the stage) and closed out their set with the audience in full mayhem mode with “White Washed”. When the dust settled, I finally knew why August Burns Red came so highly recommended live. They were nonstop passion and energy from start to finish and the perfect opener for what was about to come.
The audience was now warmed up, and the shirtless crowd in the mosh pit was ready for Killswitch Engage. The Wiltern had become a powder keg of excitement just waiting for the band to come out and light the fuse. The concussive opening salvo of the Grammy nominated “Unleashed” was all the audience needed and it didn’t stop there. They throttled into “Hate By Design” and Guitarist Adam Dutkiewicz strutted the stage around the stage while bassist Mike D’Antonio was whipping his hair around with breakneck speed. “Know your Enemy” was recently added to the setlist as a response to the current tone. Jesse Leach noted on Instagram:
“I am pleased to have “Know Your Enemy” added to the set list. This song was written in 2018 and it will stand the test of time for the way I feel and have experienced this world we all live in. There has always been more than meets the eye when it comes to the way we are governed. A clever and clandestine manipulation to divide and control. So clever a vast majority can not see it. If you’ve been paying attention this is nothing new from my lyrics or the way I think and truly feel. I just choose to let the music speak for me as opposed to plastering my opinion all over the internet. We are representing 6 songs of “Atonement” in this current set list as well as playing a song from each album. Never been more happy to have new songs in the set! I’m proud of this album. I’m glad it’s getting it’s chance that shine.”
Killswitch Engage hit all of the classics on Friday evening including “I Am Broken Too” as well as fan favorite “Reckoning”. As good as the show had been, it was about to go to a whole new level. For many it was an epic surprise, but if you had been following the tour you knew what was coming and reveled in the moment as Howard Jones came out to sing the last three songs. Hearing the “Rose of Sharyn”, “The End of Heartache” and “The Signal Fire” with Jesse Leach joining back in truly showed the depth and character of these artists. There was an energy and brotherhood of Metal that left the audience totally spent by the end of the 18-song set.
At the end of the set, Leach stated, “You all have no idea how much pride I have in knowing everyone resonates with the fact that these heavy songs are about hope and love for yourself and one another. We are all the same. We all have issues, we all have day-to-day stuff that makes life hard.” It was the perfect way to end the show and one I am sure fans will never forget!
Killswitch Engage Setlist
The first in person audience for 2022, Hunnypot #456, did not disappoint. Erez Safar (Bancs Media) joined us as a co-host and returned to the stage with his eclectic collective, h2the. There were musical bowls, tap dances, familiar and fresh tunes, typewriters and more. MO debuted at Hunnypot with his first live performance of his first of many hip hop pop unreleased tracks. LATECH mashed multiple genres for an upbeat, super danceable, organic flowing set.
A packed house of birthday celebrations (Mikelyn turns 22!), music fans and party people made it one for the books.
Check out the rebroadcast.
Photos: J. Gray/L Boogie
Bancs Media Founder and CEO, Erez Safar a.k.a. Diwon (pronounced dee-wan) is an LA-based creative machine producing video, music and art that pops in a world where popular styles have been left in a state of static. Safar has been featured in countless publications and TV programs including the New York Times, BBC and CBS. His businesses have been item--team-memberd in The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg Business Week, Time Magazine, and on NBC. Safar is the producer of the extremely successful annual Sephardic Music Festival, devoted to producing and developing dynamic multicultural artists and interactive media, in New York City and Los Angeles and the co-founder of Gallery 38 a creative art space and art gallery in Los Angeles which he curates with Badir McCleary of ArtAboveReality.
As a producer, Safar has been dubbed a "buzzmaking beatsmith" by The DJ Booth, URB noted that "Diwon is something else...in a profound kind of way". Safar is "producer as auteur as every track takes you through the emotional space of the artist, like Kanye or Godard."
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When Mo was 17 years old, his father was incarcerated, forcing a new but conflict-ridden outlook on life. Pushing through the obstacles, Mo found music to be his truest form of self-expression. His ability to relate his emotions into song began far before his need for it. At the age of 12, he had already begun learning the guitar and using songwriting as a therapeutic outlet.
After leaving Orthodox Judaism and navigating an uncertain reality, Mo’s talents led him to the musical prodigy, Benzo Lombardo, and Eugene Sky Compton, a talented visual artist, and creative director. Over a two-year period, the three cultivated Mo’s sound and image, bringing a rebellious new perspective to the music industry. “Over that time we worked a lot, but having the support of those two kept me grounded and focused on my goals,” the young artist said reflecting on the formative period. “I had music and friends. That was all I needed.” Mo’s songs focus on his struggles within himself and his relationship with love, loss, and loneliness. Soon to be releasing his debut single “High,” Mo’s journey is just beginning and he’s excited to bring you along for the ride. @mightbemoses
h2the is an LA based producer and artist who merges 80s synths and layered beats, brought to life through dynamic visuals and sound. The h2the live band brings the songs to life with some of h2the’s favorite musicians, including Buwi (bass), Tal Vaknine (harp), Calireiki (reiki bowl), Sounten (op1 & vox) and generally a few guest vocalists.
“Brilliantly blending 80’s synths with an new cutting edge sampling style, rising hip hop/experimental producer h2the released his debut single titled “Taste Of The“, a teaser/cut-up off his new beat tape exclusively available on cassette!” – UGHH URB Magazine wrote that “[h2the] is something else…in a profound kind of way,” calling his sound titillating and “juicy for the ears,” while The Village Voice described his productions as “adventurous and banging.”
2DOPEBOYZ and Vibe Magazine’s allhiphop.com have also noted h2the’s rap flips of 80?s inspired sonics. It’s the producer as auteur as every track takes you through the emotional space of the artist, like Kanye or Godard.
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If you were looking for concert to rock out to on February 16th, Mayday Parade’s 11th anniversary tour of their self-titled album was the place to be. I immediately knew the moment I saw the announcement that this was a show I needed to be at. With special guests Real Friends and Magnolia Park, this lineup was sure to go off. To top it off, the Dallas show was sold out, so we had quite the night ahead of us.
Starting out the show was Florida natives, Magnolia Park, and as expected, they absolutely crushed it. I first heard of them late last year and was able to catch them at Unsilent Night in December. I knew I needed to see them again. They played all their top hits, and the crowd was loving it. They also broke out a cover of Fall Out Boy’s “Sugar, We’re Goin’ Down Swingin’” and delivered an awesome performance of it. My favorite song of their set had to be “Sick of it All” which was their closer. Josh, their lead vocalist, was jumping all over the stage giving me some great action shots. Loved everything about it.
Next up was Real Friends, a band that I hadn’t seen live in almost 4 years. At that time, I was just getting started taking photos, so it was nice to catch them on this tour. I have been a fan of this band since probably 2015 and since then, they have continued to rock it. Cody Muraro brings such a great energy to the stage and has one of those awesome pop-punk voices in the scene. They played some of my favorite songs including “I’ve Given Up”, “Me First, and “Mess”. I forgot how much I really enjoyed listening to them after seeing them that night. Being up close and in the action really brought back some great moments! To close out their set, they played one of their more recent songs, “From The Outside”, and it was a fantastic ending to a great set.
And lastly, we had Mayday Parade which was just about to take the stage. At this point the entire venue was jam packed and it was almost a chore to make it through the crowd. It’ always a treat getting to see this iconic band that we all grew up listening to, so I get why this show sold out. They came out and Derek Sanders started singing the words to “Oh Well, Oh Well” and the crowd went wild. They were all wearing black suits and the stage was set up with almost a Victorian themed setup with colorful pained windows and soft candle lights to create the backdrop. It was a super unique way to set the stage and the music complimented it well. They went on to play some of my all-time favorite songs from their self-titled like “Stay”, “You’re Dead Wrong”, and “When You See My Friends”. And of course, it’s not a Mayday Parade show without “Miserable At Best” and their finale song, “Jamie All Over”, so we were lucky enough to get those ones too.
Overall, I can’t wait to see these bands again because they are all crushing it. It was a 10/10 show, and you'd be best served to see this one live when they roll through your town!
Valentine’s day, the day of love, is the perfect day to attend a Faye Webster concert. Faye has been on her I Know I’m Funny haha tour with her band, and they recently performed at the beautiful (and packed) Seattle venue Neumos on Feb 14th. Neumos is perfectly sized for a show like Faye’s, it’s big enough to hold a large crowd with a main floor and balcony that overs looking the stage, but small enough to make the music experience intimate. Let's dig in to the show.
Kate Bollinger, an up and coming indie pop songwriter-singer from Richmond, VA, opened the show with a mix of songs from her many EP’s and single releases. Under the shimmering disco ball, Kate’s cool laid-back performance got the crowd grooving. Throughout her set, I found myself bobbing my head and dancing to her ultra-smooth melodies. Looking around Neumos, the near-capacity crowd was also mesmerized and one could tell they were digging what Kate was putting out. Bollinger's definitely a star on the rise, so keep a watch out for her as I'm sure she'll be breaking out in a big way in 2022.
After Kate Bollinger's beautiful performance, the crowd was ready for the headliner, Faye Webster. Before getting on stage, Faye and her band got on the mics backstage and goofed around making laughing sounds, like “Haha.. Haha.. Haha.. Haha…” the crowd stood in silence not really sure of what was happening. Then suddenly the lights went down and Faye and her band took the stage. Opening with “Better Distractions”, the first song on her new album I know I’m Funny haha. It was followed by a few more songs from the album and then Faye took a small pause to interact with her fans, wish them Happy Valentines, along with sharing some of her fun road stories.
The audience asked Faye about her Yo Yo, which she has been known for carrying around with her, and someone from the audience gave her flowers for Valentine’s Day. She then started telling the the crowd how she had picked up a new hobby on the road and had been playing Super Smash Bros on her Nintendo Switch, which also doubled as an iPod listening to the game soundtracks on loop. Webster then began to play a special track covering the song “7 PM” from the game Animal Crossing. The iconic track was elevated by her amazing melodies, a touch of jazz guitar and keyboard, creating a funny yet nostalgic performance. Very fitting to the name of her album and tour.
For the final song, Faye Webster's band exited the stage leaving her alone for a solo acoustic performance of her song “Half of Me”. The place went completely quiet and everyone just listened to her lovely voice. It was a perfect way to end the show, and one that I am sure will stick with me for quite some time.